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Kid Friendly Venice LA Fishing Reel Rusty
- Published Date: December 24, 2025
- Fishing
- $800 price range
Summary
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Kids Catching Fish
Half Day Kid-Friendly Fishing Trip in Venice, LA
Looking to get the kids hooked on fishing? This 6-hour family adventure in Venice, Louisiana is exactly what you need. Captain Mark Wagner knows how to keep young anglers engaged with high-action inshore fishing that'll have them talking about it for months. We're talking Redfish, Sea Trout, Sheepshead, and more - all in the protected waters where kids can actually land fish without getting seasick or frustrated. At $800 for up to 4 people, it's a top-rated way to introduce your little ones to the sport while creating memories that'll last a lifetime.
What to Expect on the Water
We kick off early at 6:00 AM from Venice Marina, which gives us the best bite and cooler temperatures for the kids. The 23-foot Fish Master is perfect for families - stable enough that nobody's getting green around the gills, but nimble enough to chase fish in the shallows. This isn't some cramped boat where everyone's bumping elbows either. Four people have plenty of room to move around, and the kids can get excited without anyone ending up overboard. Captain Mark's been running these family trips for years, so he knows exactly how to keep the energy up when attention spans start wandering. We're targeting the marshes and grass flats where the action stays consistent - none of that deep water waiting around that bores kids to tears.
Techniques That Work for Kids
We keep things simple and effective with light tackle that won't wear out small arms. Live shrimp and cut bait work best since we want fish in the boat, not casting lessons all day. The beauty of Venice's inshore waters is you can fish shallow structure, oyster beds, and grass lines where fish actually feed aggressively. Kids learn to feel the bite, set the hook, and fight fish without getting overwhelmed by heavy gear or complicated techniques. Captain Mark provides all the rods, reels, tackle, and bait - you just need to bring a valid Louisiana fishing license for any adults on board. The boat's equipped with a fish box to keep your catch fresh, and we'll clean them right there so you can head home with dinner and bragging rights.
Species You'll Want to Hook
Black Drum are absolute bruisers that'll test young anglers without being impossible to land. These copper-colored fighters hang around oyster beds and bridge pilings, crunching crabs and making that distinctive drumming sound with their swim bladders. Spring through fall gives you the best shot at them, and kids love how these fish pull drag and make the rod bend. They're perfect starter fish for learning how to pump and wind because they fight hard but don't run like crazy.
Summer Flounder, or fluke as locals call them, are the masters of disguise lying flat in the sand waiting to ambush baitfish. These flatfish can surprise kids when they come up sideways, and their size varies from keeper doormat to throwback shorts. Late spring through early fall is prime time, and they love live shrimp bounced along sandy bottoms. Kids get a kick out of how weird these fish look with both eyes on one side of their head.
Sheepshead are the convict fish with black stripes that'll steal your bait if you're not paying attention. These guys have human-like teeth for crushing barnacles and crabs off structure, making them one of the trickiest fish to hook consistently. But when kids master the timing, they're hooked for life. Fall and winter are best, and Venice's oil rigs and pilings hold good numbers of keeper-sized fish.
Sea Trout, especially speckled trout, are probably the most reliable fish we target for young anglers. They're aggressive, relatively easy to catch, and make great table fare. These silver and green spotted beauties cruise grass flats and drop-offs feeding on shrimp and small baitfish. Spring and fall offer the best action, though we catch them year-round. Kids love how they jump and shake their heads trying to throw the hook.
Redfish are the crown jewel of Louisiana inshore fishing and every kid's favorite fish to catch. These bronze-backed bulldogs with the distinctive black spot near their tail are built for fighting in shallow water. They'll bend rods, pull drag, and give young anglers a real workout without being impossible to land. Year-round fishing with peak action in fall, these customer favorites cruise oyster beds, grass flats, and marsh edges where we can sight-cast to them in skinny water.
Time to Book Your Spot
This world-class family fishing experience books up fast, especially during peak season when the fish are most active. At $800 for a private 6-hour trip, you're getting professional guide service, all equipment, and the kind of memories that turn kids into lifelong anglers. Venice's renowned inshore fishing grounds are right in our backyard, and Captain Mark knows every productive spot that'll keep young hands busy. Don't forget those adult fishing licenses, pack some snacks and drinks for the kids, and get ready for a day on the water that'll have them begging to go again. Book now and let's get those kids on some fish - the bite won't wait forever.
Learn more about the species
Black Drum
Black Drum are the heavyweights of the drum family, running anywhere from 5-30 pounds with some monsters pushing 90. You'll find them around oyster beds, shallow muddy flats, and pier pilings in our brackish waters. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when we get the best action. These fish are famous for their human-like crushing teeth that make quick work of crabs and oysters. Kids love hearing them "drum" underwater, and the smaller ones under 15 pounds make great table fare with firm, white meat. My tip: use fresh crab bait and keep it right on the bottom. When you feel that first tap, don't set the hook immediately - let them take it and run a bit first.
Redfish
Redfish are the poster child of Louisiana inshore fishing, easily spotted by their copper-bronze color and that distinctive black spot near the tail. Most run 20-35 inches, but we see everything from schooling "rat reds" to bull reds pushing 40+ pounds. They love super shallow water - sometimes so shallow their backs show above the surface. You'll find them year-round in our marshes, around oyster reefs, and grass flats. Kids go crazy for these fish because they fight hard and that tail spot makes them easy to identify. They're great eating in the slot size range with mild, sweet meat. My go-to trick: look for nervous water or tailing fish in the shallows and cast gold spoons or live shrimp just ahead of them.
Sea Trout
Sea Trout, or "Speckled Trout," are beautiful silvery fish covered in distinctive black spots. They typically run 14-24 inches and 1-5 pounds, making them perfect for kids to handle. You'll find them over grass flats in shallow water, especially early morning and late evening when they're actively feeding. They're year-round fish but really shine in spring and fall. Families love them because they hit lures aggressively and fight well for their size, plus they're delicious with tender, flaky white meat. The key is working topwater plugs or soft plastics over the grass beds at dawn or dusk. Don't overcook them - their meat is softer than other fish and gets mushy fast.
Sheepshead
Sheepshead are the "convict fish" with their black and white stripes and those famous human-like teeth. These structure-loving fish typically weigh 1-8 pounds but can surprise you with 20-pounders around docks, bridges, and barnacle-covered pilings. They're year-round residents but really fire up in spring during spawning season. Families get a kick out of their unique look and they're fantastic eating - sweet, white meat that's hard to beat. These notorious bait thieves will nibble and steal your offering, so use fresh shrimp or fiddler crabs and keep that bait pinned tight to the hook. My advice: get as close to structure as possible and set the hook hard when you feel their weight - they've got powerful jaws.
Summer Flounder
Summer Flounder are the chameleons of our waters, changing colors to match the sandy bottom where they lay flat waiting for prey. These ambush predators typically run 15-20 inches but can reach impressive sizes up to 26 pounds. You'll find them on sandy bottoms in our estuaries and nearshore waters, both eyes looking up from the left side of their head. Fall months from September through November give us the best shots at them. Families love the challenge of these smart fish - they're excellent eating with sweet, white meat. The trick is using live minnows or mullet, hooking smaller bait through the eye and letting it drift naturally near the bottom. Keep your rod tip up and feel for that subtle bite.
About the 23-foot Fish Master
Vehicle Guest Capacity: 4
Manufacturer Name: Mercury
Maximum Cruising Speed: 40
Number of Engines: 1
Horsepower per Engine: 300
