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Venice Louisiana Redfish Fishing Reel Rusty
- Published Date: December 24, 2025
- Fishing
- $800 price range
Summary
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Best Catches Gallery
Half Day Fishing Trip in Venice, Louisiana
When you're looking for authentic Louisiana inshore fishing, Venice is where the magic happens. Captain Mark Wagner knows these waters like the back of his hand, and he's ready to put you on some serious fish. This isn't your typical tourist boat ride – we're talking about a genuine 6-hour adventure that'll have you fighting redfish in the shallows and working structure for sheepshead. With room for up to 4 anglers on our 23-foot Fish Master, you get the personal attention that makes all the difference between a good day and a legendary one.
What to Expect on the Water
Your day starts at Venice Marina, the gateway to some of the most productive inshore waters on the Gulf Coast. Captain Mark runs a tight ship – literally and figuratively. The 23-foot Fish Master is built for these waters, stable enough to handle the Gulf swells but shallow enough to chase redfish into the skinny water. You'll be targeting the heavy hitters of Louisiana inshore fishing: redfish that'll bend your rod double, sea trout that fight like they're twice their size, and black drum that'll test your drag system. The $800 all-inclusive rate covers everything except your fishing license, which you'll need to grab before you show up. Captain Mark provides all the tackle, bait, and local knowledge – you just bring your game face and maybe some snacks for the crew.
Techniques and Tackle
This isn't about dropping a line and hoping for the best. Captain Mark switches up techniques based on what's working and where the fish are holding. Early morning might find you throwing topwater plugs at cruising redfish, watching the surface explode when a bull red decides your lure looks like breakfast. As the day heats up, you might switch to live bait around structure, working the pilings and oil rigs where sheepshead hang out. The captain keeps his tackle box stocked with everything from soft plastics to spoons, and he's not shy about changing up the game plan when the fish tell him to. Whether you're a fly fishing purist or a conventional tackle devotee, he'll match the gear to your skill level and the conditions at hand.
Species You'll Want to Hook
Redfish are the bread and butter of Venice inshore fishing, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers can push 30+ pounds and they fight like they mean it. Spring through fall, you'll find them in the shallows, tailing in the grass flats or ambushing baitfish around structure. What makes redfish special isn't just their size – it's their attitude. They'll take topwater baits with explosive strikes that'll get your heart pumping, and once hooked, they'll use every trick in the book to break you off.
Sea trout might look delicate, but don't let that fool you. These spotted beauties are ambush predators that love soft plastics and live shrimp. They're most active during the cooler months, and Venice's grass flats are perfect trout habitat. A quality sea trout will run hard when hooked, making blistering runs that'll test your reflexes. Plus, they're excellent table fare if you decide to keep a few for dinner.
Black drum are the bulldogs of the inshore world. These bottom-dwellers can exceed 40 pounds, and they fight with pure, stubborn power. You'll typically find them around oyster reefs and bridge pilings, where they root around for crabs and shellfish. When a big drum takes your bait, there's no mistaking it – they'll load up your rod and dig for the bottom like they're trying to pull your boat down with them.
Sheepshead are the technical challenge that keeps things interesting. These black-and-white striped fish have human-like teeth and a knack for stealing bait without getting hooked. They hang around structure – pilings, reefs, anything with barnacles and small crustaceans. Landing a quality sheepshead requires finesse and quick reflexes, but they're worth the effort both for the challenge and the dinner table.
Summer flounder round out the target list as the chameleons of the bunch. These flatfish bury themselves in sand and ambush passing baitfish. They're most active during the warmer months, and Venice's varied bottom structure provides perfect flounder habitat. A big flounder will surprise you with how hard they can fight, especially in shallow water where they can use the bottom to their advantage.
Time to Book Your Spot
Venice, Louisiana represents some of the best inshore fishing the Gulf Coast has to offer, and Captain Mark Wagner knows how to make the most of it. This half-day trip gives you enough time to really get into the fish without breaking the bank or burning a whole vacation day. The 4-person limit means you're not fighting for rod space or the captain's attention – this is personalized fishing at its finest. Whether you're looking to introduce someone to saltwater fishing or you're a seasoned angler wanting to explore new water, this trip delivers the goods. Don't forget that Louisiana fishing license, pack some drinks and snacks, and get ready for a day that'll remind you why inshore fishing is so addictive. Book now and secure your date – the fish are waiting, but the best spots on Captain Mark's calendar won't last long.
Learn more about the species
Black Drum
Black Drum are powerhouse fighters that can range from 5-30 pounds, with some monsters hitting 90+ pounds. These grey-black fish love shallow muddy flats and oyster beds where they cruise around crushing shellfish with their strong jaws. They're actually the largest member of the drum family and make those distinctive drumming sounds you'll hear underwater. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning, making them much easier to target. Most guests love the challenge - they're strong pullers that test your drag. For eating, keep the smaller ones under 15 pounds as the meat stays tender and flaky. My local tip: use fresh crab for bait since catfish and other bait stealers usually leave it alone, and make sure you're fishing right on the bottom where they feed.
Redfish
Redfish are the stars of our Louisiana marshes - these copper-colored beauties with the distinctive black eyespot near their tail are what most folks come here to catch. They typically run 20-35 inches and love super shallow water from 1-4 feet deep, often cruising oyster reefs, grass flats, and muddy shorelines where their backs show above water. Year-round fishing is good, but spring and fall offer the best action when they're most active. What guests love most is watching these fish explode on topwater lures in skinny water - it's pure adrenaline. They're also fantastic eating when kept under slot size. My local secret: use a Skitter Walk or similar topwater plug early morning or late afternoon, and don't be afraid to upsize your lures to 5-6 inches to target the bigger fish that patrol these flats.
Sea Trout
Sea Trout, or Speckled Trout as we call them locally, are beautiful silvery fish covered in spots that typically run 14-24 inches and 1-5 pounds. They love grass flats and shallow waters, especially at night when they become much more active. These fish are great fighters that readily take artificial lures - topwater plugs, plastic shrimp, and spoons all work well. Spring through fall gives you the best action, though they school up in deeper water during winter months. Guests really enjoy the consistent action and the fact that they're excellent table fare with delicate, flaky white meat. Just don't overcook them or they'll get mushy. Local tip: try trolling at idle speed along grass flats if you're having trouble locating them, and remember they often suspend at different depths, so work your bait up from the bottom in one-foot increments until you find where they're holding.
Sheepshead
Sheepshead are the "convict fish" with their distinctive black and grey stripes, but what really gets people talking are their human-like teeth. These 1-8 pound fish hang around any structure they can find - docks, bridges, barnacle-covered pilings, and oil rigs. They're notorious bait thieves with powerful jaws, so you need to set the hook hard once you feel them nibbling. Spring months are prime when they school up for spawning around structures. Guests love them because they're excellent eating with sweet, white meat, plus there's always that moment of surprise when they see those teeth. The challenge is getting close to structure without spooking them. My go-to tip: use fresh crab bait since it stays on the hook better, and if regulations allow, scrape some barnacles off nearby pilings to create a chum line that draws them right to you.
Summer Flounder
Summer Flounder are the chameleons of our waters - these flatfish lie on the bottom and change colors to match their surroundings perfectly. They're ambush predators with both eyes on one side, typically running 15-20 inches though we see some pushing 26 pounds. You'll find them on sandy bottoms in estuaries and nearshore waters where they blend in waiting for baitfish to pass overhead. Fall months from September through November are your best bet when they're most active and easier to locate. Guests love the challenge of spotting them and the excellent table fare they provide - sweet, white meat that's hard to beat. Here's a local trick: hook smaller baitfish through the eye socket and larger ones through the lips, then use just enough weight to keep your bait moving naturally near the bottom where they're waiting.
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
