Premium Louisiana Fishing | 7-Hour Inshore Trip

Full Day Fishing Trip In St. Bernard, LA

If you're looking for a serious inshore fishing adventure in Louisiana waters, SaltyFrog Charters has you covered with this full-day trip out of St. Bernard. This isn't some rushed half-day deal – we're talking seven solid hours on the water targeting some of the Gulf Coast's best inshore species. Captain will pick you up bright and early at 6:00 AM from 5717 Hopedale Hwy, and from there it's just you, your fishing buddy, and miles of productive marsh and shallow water structure. The boat handles four comfortably, but this trip is designed for just two anglers, so you'll have plenty of room to work and won't be bumping elbows when the fish are biting. Bring your Louisiana fishing license, pack some snacks and drinks, and throw in a small cooler for your cleaned fillets – that's all you need to worry about.

What to Expect on the Water

St. Bernard Parish sits right where the Mississippi River dumps into the Gulf, creating some of the most nutrient-rich inshore fishing grounds you'll find anywhere along the coast. The area is famous for its maze of marshes, bayous, and shallow flats that hold fish year-round. Your captain knows these waters like the back of his hand and will adjust the game plan based on conditions, tides, and what's been biting lately. Some days you'll work the grass lines for sea trout, other times you'll be sight-casting to tailing redfish in skinny water. The beauty of a seven-hour trip is there's time to hit multiple spots and adapt when one area isn't producing. Weather permitting, you might work everything from protected marsh ponds to more open bay areas where the bigger fish like to cruise. The boat is well-equipped for inshore work, and since it's a private charter, the captain can focus entirely on putting you and your partner on fish without worrying about a crowded deck.

Techniques & Tackle

Inshore fishing in Louisiana is all about versatility, and your captain will have you covered with the right tackle and techniques for whatever you're targeting. Live bait is king down here – expect to work with shrimp, mullet, and maybe some pogies depending on what's available at the dock. Artificial lures play a huge role too, especially soft plastics rigged on jig heads for working grass beds and drop-offs. Topwater action can be fantastic during the right conditions, and there's nothing quite like watching a redfish blow up on a spook or popper in shallow water. The captain will handle all the tackle and bait, so you don't need to stress about rigging up or figuring out what to throw. Depending on the bite, you might be drift fishing over shell reefs, working structure with carolina rigs, or making precise casts to visible fish. The Louisiana marsh demands different approaches than open water fishing, and having a local guide who understands how to read the water, work the tides, and present baits properly makes all the difference between a good day and a great day.

Top Catches This Season

Redfish are the bread and butter of Louisiana inshore fishing, and St. Bernard consistently produces some beautiful bulls and slot fish. These copper-colored bruisers love the shallow marshes and grass flats around the area, especially when the tide is moving. Redfish here typically run anywhere from keeper-sized slot fish around 20 inches up to oversized bulls pushing 30-plus inches. Fall and spring offer the best action, but you can find reds year-round if you know where to look. What makes catching them so addictive is their aggressive strike and bulldogging fight – they'll make long runs and use every bit of structure to try and break you off.

Sea Trout are another customer favorite and for good reason. The grass beds and deeper holes around St. Bernard hold some quality speckled trout, especially during cooler months when they school up in deeper water. These fish are absolute tackle-busters when hooked on light gear, known for their acrobatic jumps and head-shaking runs. Most trout you'll encounter range from 14 to 18 inches, but the area produces some legitimate gator trout over 20 inches that'll have you talking for years. They're also some of the best eating fish in these waters, with firm white meat that's perfect for the dinner table.

Black Drum might not win any beauty contests, but they're incredible fighters that'll test your tackle and your patience. These bottom-dwellers can grow massive – we're talking fish that can push 40-plus pounds in these waters. They're most active during spring and fall, often found around oyster reefs and shell beds where they crush crabs and shrimp. When you hook into a big drum, get ready for a sustained battle that's all about leverage and endurance rather than speed. Smaller drum in the 5-15 pound range are excellent table fare, while the bigger ones make for great catch-and-release photo opportunities.

Summer Flounder round out the target species list and provide a nice change of pace from the other fighters. These flatfish are masters of camouflage, lying buried in sandy bottoms waiting to ambush baitfish swimming overhead. Louisiana's flounder run tends to peak in fall when they're staging for their offshore spawning migration, but you can find them throughout the warmer months. They typically range from 14 to 20 inches, though the area produces some doormat-sized fish over 24 inches. Flounder fishing requires patience and finesse – you'll often feel just a slight tick on the line before setting the hook on these sneaky predators.

Time to Book Your Spot

This seven-hour adventure gives you the best shot at experiencing everything St. Bernard's inshore fishing has to offer. With just a 15% deposit holding your date, there's no reason to wait around hoping conditions will be perfect someday. SaltyFrog Charters has built their