Full Day Fishing Trip in St. Louis Bay
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Full 8hour inshore fishing adventure in St. Louis BayTarget redfish, trout, drum with Captain Elijah TroutmanPrivate charter for 4 guests with gear and license included
When you're looking for a serious day of fishing on Mississippi's Gulf Coast, Captain Elijah Troutman's got you covered. This 8-hour adventure launches from Pass Christian Harbor and puts you right in the heart of St. Louis Bay's best fishing grounds. You'll be working productive waters where redfish cruise the grass flats, speckled trout stack up around structure, and black drum patrol the deeper channels. It's the kind of fishing that keeps locals coming back season after season, and now you get to experience it firsthand aboard a well-equipped 23' Lightning Marine boat.
Your day starts early at Pass Christian Harbor, where Captain Troutman will have everything ready to go. The 23' Lightning Marine is built for these inshore waters – stable enough to fish comfortably but nimble enough to chase schools when the bite gets hot. You're looking at 8 solid hours on the water, which gives you time to work multiple spots and really dial in on what the fish want. The captain provides all your rods, reels, and live bait, plus he's got your fishing license handled, so you can focus on what matters most – putting fish in the boat. With room for up to 4 anglers, it's perfect for family trips or a group of buddies who want to spend a full day chasing whatever's biting.
St. Louis Bay offers incredible variety, and Captain Troutman knows how to fish it all. You'll be working live bait around oyster reefs, grass flats, and channel edges where these fish like to hang out. The technique changes throughout the day depending on conditions and what you're targeting. Early morning might have you drifting live shrimp under popping corks for trout, then switching to bottom rigs for drum when you hit the deeper water. When redfish are tailing in the shallows, you'll be sight fishing with live bait or soft plastics. The captain reads the water and adjusts tactics based on tides, weather, and fish activity, so you're always fishing the most productive method for the conditions.
Redfish are the bread and butter of St. Louis Bay fishing, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers average 18-27 inches in these waters, with plenty of slot-sized fish that fight like freight trains. They're most active during moving tides, especially around dawn and dusk, when they push up onto the flats to feed on crabs and baitfish. What makes redfish so special is their aggressive nature and bulldogging fight – once you hook one, it's going to make multiple runs and test your drag. You'll find them year-round here, but spring and fall offer the most consistent action when they're feeding heavily before and after spawning season.
Speckled trout, or sea trout as the locals call them, are another crowd favorite that keeps anglers coming back to St. Louis Bay. These fish typically run 14-20 inches, with occasional 3-4 pound "gator trout" that'll make your day. They school up around structure like oyster bars, drop-offs, and grass beds, especially during cooler months when baitfish concentrate in these areas. Trout have soft mouths, so you need to keep steady pressure without horsing them, but their explosive strikes and acrobatic jumps make every hookup exciting. The best trout fishing happens during spring and fall transitions when water temperatures are in the 65-75 degree range.
Black drum might not win beauty contests, but they'll definitely test your tackle and patience. These bottom-dwellers can reach impressive sizes in St. Louis Bay, with fish ranging from 2-15 pounds being common catches. They're most active during warmer months when they move into shallower water to spawn, typically from March through May. What makes black drum fishing addictive is their incredibly strong pull – they use their broad bodies and powerful tails to make long, sustained runs that'll have your drag singing. You'll typically find them around oyster beds and mud flats where they root around for crabs and mollusks.
Great pompano are the speed demons of the inshore world, and St. Louis Bay holds some beautiful fish. These silver bullets typically run 12-16 inches but pack serious punch for their size. They prefer sandy bottom areas where they can dig for sand fleas and small crustaceans, making them a bit more challenging to locate than other species. Pompano fishing peaks during spring and early summer when they're most active in the shallows. What makes them special is their incredible speed and the quality of their meat – many anglers consider pompano one of the best eating fish in the Gulf.
Crevalle jack round out your target list and bring pure chaos to the fishing experience. These aggressive predators school up and attack baitfish with reckless abandon, creating surface explosions that'll get your heart racing. Jack crevalle in St. Louis Bay typically range from 2-8 pounds, but don't let the smaller size fool you – they fight way above their weight class with blistering runs and never-say-die attitudes. You'll encounter them most often during summer months when they're chasing schools of menhaden and other baitfish in open water areas of the bay.
This full-day fishing adventure with Captain Troutman gives you everything you need for a top-rated Gulf Coast experience. Eight hours on productive waters, expert local knowledge, quality tackle, live bait, and fishing licenses all included – you just bring yourself and get ready to fish. St. Louis Bay's diverse ecosystem supports healthy populations of redfish, trout, drum, pompano, and jacks year-round, so there's always something biting. Whether you're planning a family outing, celebrating with friends, or just need a serious day on the water, this charter delivers the kind of fishing that makes Mississippi
The Lightning is your ticket to some serious fishing action on St. Louis Bay. This 23-footer cuts through Mississippi waters like butter with its 250 HP Yamaha, getting you to the fish fast and keeping you comfortable all day. With room for 4 anglers, she's rigged for success with a fish finder to spot those redfish and trout hiding below, plus GPS to hit all the best spots. The wireless trolling motor lets you sneak up on spooky fish without spooking them, while the livewell keeps your catch fresh. Between bites, grab a cold drink from the icebox or tune into the multimedia system. When the Gulf gets foggy, the radar keeps you safe, and the VHF radio connects you to other boats and the coast guard. This boat's built for the serious angler who wants comfort, safety, and fish in the box.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the bruisers of St. Louis Bay - these powerful bottom-feeders can range from 5-30 pounds, with some monsters hitting 90 pounds. They love hanging around oyster beds and muddy flats in 2-15 feet of water, using their crushing jaws to feast on crabs and shellfish. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning, making them easier to target. What makes them special? They're serious fighters that'll test your drag, plus smaller ones under 15 pounds make excellent table fare with firm, white meat. Pro tip: use fresh crab for bait and fish it right on the bottom - they won't chase anything more than a few inches off the mud. Listen for their distinctive drumming sounds underwater when they're feeding heavily.
Caranx HipposCrevalle Jack are the bulldogs of St. Louis Bay - aggressive, powerful fish that average 3-8 pounds but can hit 20+ pounds when you find the big ones. These brassy-green fighters love both shallow flats and deeper structure, from 5-50 feet, especially around bait schools. Summer through fall is prime time when they're actively feeding in schools. What guests love most? They're absolute tackle-busters that fight harder than fish twice their size, making long runs and never giving up. You'll often smell them before you see them - schools give off a watermelon scent when feeding. They're not great table fare, but the fight is worth it. Pro tip: watch for diving birds - when jacks push bait to the surface, the action gets wild. Cast silver spoons past the school and retrieve fast.
Trachinotus GoodeiGreat Pompano are the silver bullets of the Gulf - sleek, fast, and built for speed. These beauties typically run 1-2 pounds with deep, compressed bodies that shimmer silver-blue in the water. You'll find them around sandy bottoms, shallow reefs, and near structure in 10-30 feet, especially during warmer months when they're most active. What makes them a blast to target? They're lightning-fast fighters from the jack family that'll test light tackle, plus they're absolutely delicious with sweet, white meat that's highly prized at the table. They can be picky eaters though, preferring small baits. My best advice: use tiny pieces of fresh shrimp or small crabs, keep your bait moving, and be ready for a screaming run when they hit - these fish don't give up easy.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of our inshore fishing here in St. Louis Bay. These copper-colored beauties with their signature black spots average 20-30 inches and put up one heck of a fight. You'll find them cruising super shallow flats, sometimes with their backs out of the water, around oyster beds and grass lines in 1-4 feet. They bite year-round but fall and spring are magic when they school up. What makes them special? They hit topwater lures with explosive strikes, fight like crazy, and the smaller "slot" fish are excellent eating with sweet, firm meat. Plus, watching them cruise the shallows gets everyone's heart pumping. My secret: look for nervous water and tailing fish on the flats, then cast past them and work your bait back slowly.
Salmo TruttaSpotted Sea Trout are one of our most consistent fighters in St. Louis Bay, typically running 1-5 pounds with that beautiful silvery body covered in distinctive black spots. They cruise grass flats and shallow waters around 3-8 feet deep, especially near structure like oyster bars and drop-offs. Best action happens during cooler months and low-light periods - early morning and evening bites are stellar. Guests love them because they hit hard, fight smart, and taste fantastic with delicate, flaky white meat that's perfect for the dinner table. They're also great for kids since they bite readily on live shrimp. Here's my go-to tip: work your bait slowly along the bottom near grass beds, and when you feel that subtle tap, set the hook quick - they'll spit it fast.
undefined, undefined