5.0(3 Reviews)8 Hour Private Louisiana Marshes Inshore Fishing
5.0(3 reviews)
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Full-day private charter targets five inshore speciesExpert guide provides all tackle and equipment includedTwo-person capacity ensures personalized fishing experience
Looking for a serious full-day adventure in some of the most productive fishing waters in the country? Captain Brad at Speck Dat Charters knows these Louisiana marshes like the back of his hand, and he's ready to put you on fish. This private 8-hour charter is built for anglers who want to experience what makes Louisiana inshore fishing legendary – endless grass flats, productive bayous, and five different species that'll keep your rod bent all day long. Whether you're targeting your first redfish or trying to land a personal best speckled trout, these marshes deliver consistent action that keeps anglers coming back year after year.
Your day starts early in the Louisiana marshes, where Captain Brad will have you fishing prime spots before other boats even leave the dock. These aren't your typical coastal waters – we're talking about a maze of grass-lined canals, shallow bays, and productive points where gamefish ambush baitfish all day long. You'll be casting to visible structure, working productive drops, and covering water that most weekend warriors never see. The boat stays comfortable for two anglers maximum, giving you plenty of room to fight fish and work different techniques without crowding each other. Captain Brad provides all the tackle and knows exactly what's working each season, so you can focus on setting hooks instead of rigging gear. Pack your own lunch and drinks because once we start finding fish, you won't want to waste time running back to shore.
Louisiana marsh fishing is all about reading the water and adapting your approach throughout the day. Captain Brad runs a variety of techniques depending on conditions – from throwing topwater plugs at first light to working soft plastics through grass beds when the sun gets high. You'll be casting to visible structure like oyster beds and grass lines, but also working deeper holes where big drum and sheepshead hang out. The tackle stays medium-action to handle everything from 14-inch trout to 30-pound redfish, with enough backbone to pull fish away from structure when they try to wrap you up. Artificial lures dominate most of the time, but live bait comes into play when targeting sheepshead around pilings or when black drum are being finicky. The key is staying mobile and hitting multiple spots throughout the day, which is why having a captain who knows these marshes inside and out makes all the difference.
"Highly recommend Captain Brad! We had an amazing experience and will be back!!" - Michelin
"Captain Brad was awesome. He found the best spots and knew the answer to every single fishing question we had. We had never done a charter fishing trip before. I think we're hooked!" - Rebecca
Speckled trout are the bread and butter of Louisiana marsh fishing, and these fish are aggressive year-round in the right conditions. They typically run 14 to 20 inches in these waters, with bigger fish holding in deeper holes during summer months and moving shallow during cooler periods. Specks hit artificials hard and put up a great fight for their size, making them perfect for anglers who love consistent action. Spring and fall offer the best numbers, but Captain Brad knows where to find them even during the tougher summer and winter periods.
Redfish are what most anglers dream about when they think Louisiana fishing, and these copper-colored bulldogs live up to the hype. Ranging from 20 to 35 inches in these marshes, reds are aggressive feeders that crush baits in shallow water and make powerful runs that test your drag system. They're catchable year-round, but fall months bring the biggest numbers as schools move through the marshes. Nothing beats the sight of a big red tailing in two feet of water, and Captain Brad positions you for those visual opportunities whenever conditions allow.
Black drum grow huge in Louisiana waters, and landing a 20 to 40-pound fish in the marshes creates memories that last forever. These bottom feeders require patience and the right technique, but when they eat, you know it immediately. They're most active during cooler months and often feed around structure like old pilings and shell beds. The fight is all about power and endurance, making them a favorite among anglers who want to test their tackle and technique against a true heavyweight.
Sheepshead are the technical challenge of marsh fishing, requiring precise presentations around structure to get them to bite. These black-and-white striped fish have incredible eyesight and human-like teeth that make them notorious bait stealers, but landing a quality sheepshead proves your skills as an angler. They run 12 to 18 inches typically, and while they're not the strongest fighters, outsmarting them requires real finesse and patience.
Southern flounder are the marsh chameleons that lie flat against the bottom waiting to ambush prey, making them one of the more challenging species to target consistently. These flatfish typically range from 14 to 22 inches and provide excellent table fare for anglers who want to take dinner home. They're most active during moving tides and often hold near grass lines and channel edges where they can ambush passing baitfish. Captain Brad knows how to work soft plastics slowly across the bottom to trigger strikes from these patient predators.
This isn't your average half-day trip – eight hours with Captain Brad means you're getting the full Louisiana marsh experience from sunrise to afternoon. You'll cover more water, try more techniques, and have legitimate shots at all five target species in a single day. The private boat setup means no crowds, no compromises, and all day to perfect your technique with a captain who genuinely wants to put you on fish. Don't forget to grab your Louisiana fishing license before the trip, and remember that prime dates fill up fast during peak seasons. Captain Brad's reputation for finding fish and teaching anglers keeps his calendar busy, so book now to secure your spot
Your fishing adventure starts aboard our reliable 24' Blazer Bay, perfectly suited for navigating Louisiana's shallow marsh waters. This 2008 motorboat packs serious power with its 300HP Yamaha engine, cruising at speeds up to 38 knots to get you to the hotspots quickly. The spacious deck comfortably handles your 2-person group with plenty of room for casting and fighting fish. We've equipped her with everything needed for successful marsh fishing - a whisper-quiet wireless trolling motor for sneaking up on speckled trout and redfish without spooking them, plus a quality fish finder to locate structure where sheepshead and black drum hang out. GPS navigation keeps us on course through the maze of channels, while VHF radio ensures safe communication on the water. The shallow draft design lets us access those back-bay honey holes where the big reds cruise the grass flats. Whether we're drifting oyster reefs for sheepshead or working the drop-offs for flounder, this boat handles Louisiana's diverse inshore waters with ease. Built tough for these challenging environments, she's your ticket to 8 hours of serious marsh fishing action.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavy hitters of Louisiana marshes, ranging from 5-30 pounds with some bulls pushing 90 pounds. They're built like tanks with powerful jaws that can crush oysters and crabs. You'll find them around oyster beds, muddy flats, and shallow areas where they root around like underwater pigs. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when you can really get into them. These fish are famous for their drumming sounds they make to communicate. Guests enjoy the challenge because big drum fight hard and test your tackle. Smaller ones under 15 pounds are great eating with firm white meat. My go-to technique is bottom fishing with fresh crab - cut it in half and let the scent work. When you feel that steady pull, don't set the hook too hard - just lift and start reeling.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the marquee species of Louisiana marshes - copper-colored bruisers with distinctive black spots near their tails. They range from small "rat reds" around 16-20 inches to monster bulls over 30 inches that'll test your drag. You'll find them in skinny water from 1-4 feet deep, cruising grass flats, oyster reefs, and marsh edges. They're year-round residents, but fall brings the best big fish action. Guests love reds because they eat almost anything, fight like freight trains, and the sight-fishing opportunities are phenomenal - watching a big red's back fin cutting through shallow water gets everyone excited. Smaller ones are fantastic eating too. Fall and spring offer the most consistent action. Here's a guide secret: look for them "tailing" in super shallow water on calm days. Approach quietly and drop a spoon or soft plastic right in front of their nose.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled Trout are our bread and butter fish in Louisiana marshes, running 14-24 inches with the occasional 5-pounder showing up. They're covered in distinctive black spots and have a beautiful silver-green coloration. You'll find them over grass flats, around drop-offs, and near structure in 2-8 feet of water. Spring through fall provides consistent action, but early morning and evening are money times. They also bite well under lights at night. Guests love specks because they fight well for their size, hit topwater lures aggressively, and make excellent table fare with tender, flaky white meat. They're also cooperative - when you find one, there's usually more around. My favorite setup is a popping cork with live shrimp about 18 inches below. Work it slow with gentle pops. These fish have soft mouths, so don't jerk too hard on the hookset or you'll pull it right out.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" of our marshes with their distinctive black and white stripes, but what really sets them apart are their human-like teeth. They typically run 1-8 pounds and 14-20 inches, though 20-pounders do show up. These guys live around any structure - docks, pilings, oil rigs - anywhere barnacles and crabs hang out. Spring through fall gives you the best action, especially around spawning time in early spring. Guests love them because they're notorious bait thieves that'll test your patience, but the payoff is some of the best eating fish in the Gulf. Their white, flaky meat is worth the effort. Here's the trick: get your bait right up against the structure and keep it pinned on the hook tight. When you feel that nibbling, don't wait - set the hook hard because those teeth will steal your bait every time.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern Flounder are masters of disguise - these flat fish bury themselves in sand and mud, waiting to ambush prey with both eyes positioned on their left side. They typically run 15-18 inches but can reach over 30 inches. You'll find them on sandy or muddy bottoms in shallow bays, estuaries, and around structure where they hunt shrimp, crabs, and small fish. Fall and winter are prime time when they move through our marshes heading to spawn offshore. Guests love targeting them because they're excellent table fare with sweet, white meat. They're also a unique species - watching one change colors to match the bottom is pretty cool. Here's a local tip: when drift fishing, use a Carolina rig with live shrimp and work it slowly along the bottom. These fish have soft mouths, so don't horse them - steady pressure is key.
5.0 out of 5.0Highly recommend Captain Brad! We had an amazing experience and will be back!!
Thank you both very much!! My apologies for just getting to replying to your review but I remember y...
Captain Brad was awesome. He found the best spots and knew the answer to every single fishing question we had. We had never done a...
Rebecca, Thank you again. It was a pleasure having you both aboard and you guys were awesome to fish...
Mr. Mike thank you very very much!! Looking forward to our upcoming trips too, always a blast with y...
Louisiana