Venice, LA Inshore Charter Pricing and What a Trip Looks Like
Below Venice the river breaks up into passes, bays, and thousands of acres of marsh. That is where I fish inshore. The Blackjack draws very little water, so I can get into ponds and cuts a bigger boat cannot reach, and the fish in there hold in places you would never guess from the road.
Trip Details & Pricing
The Blackjack, 25 ft
$1,000 for 1-2 people | $1,100 for 3 people | $1,400 for 4 people
Duration: 4 to 6 hours | Capacity: up to 4 anglers | Fuel is included
Each trip includes rods, reels, tackle, bait, and fish cleaning at the dock. Gratuity is not included.
A Day on the Boat
The day
- I run us to whichever part of the marsh is fishing best that day. The river decides that more than anything. Some days that means clean water down the passes, and some days it means running to find it.
- Trips run 4 to 6 hours. If the fish are biting I would rather stay on them than watch the clock, and if it is slow we fish through it.
- Back at the dock I clean your fish. Louisiana law keeps heads and tails on until fish are on shore, so that is how they leave the boat.
How we fish
Mostly light spinning tackle. Live shrimp under a popping cork is hard to beat for redfish, trout, and drum. When fish are up shallow I will switch to soft plastics or a gold spoon and cast to them. [TROY: confirm your real go-to setups]
What We Fish For, and When
The fish
Redfish
The main event. They fish shallow enough that you can often see them, and on the right day you are casting to tails. Big bull reds run the river in the fall and are catch and release only.
Speckled trout
The lighter, more finicky fish. They follow fresh water and clean, moving water, so where I find them depends on the river.
Black drum
Common around structure and in the marsh. Strong, and a good fish for kids.
Sheepshead
Winter and spring around pilings and rocks. Bait fishing rather than casting.
Flounder
A fall fish. Louisiana closes keeping them from October 15 to November 30, so we would catch and release then.
Season by season
Fall (Sept to Nov)
Prime time. Bull reds show up from around August into mid-October, and the redfish bite is often best when the river is low and the water clears. Cool fronts in October make it better.
Winter (Dec to Feb)
Slower for trout, but good for black drum, sheepshead, and redfish. I need clear water in the low 40s or warmer to fish with confidence. Two warm days in a row can pull fish out of the deep holes onto the flats.
Spring (Mar to May)
Trout are spawning and reds get active as the water warms. Some days are slower, but the fish we catch tend to be quality ones.
Summer (Jun to Aug)
Redfish and trout work the marsh, flats, and cuts. A high river can leave the water muddy into early summer, and I will tell you that before we go.
[TROY: correct anything here that is not how you actually fish it]
How the river decides everything
The Mississippi is the variable that matters most below Venice. When it is high the water turns brown, and I may move us to cleaner marsh or push the date. When it is low in late summer and fall it clears and the fishing gets good. Wind matters too: a north wind pushes muddy river water down on us, while a northeast wind keeps the marsh cleaner. [TROY: confirm, and add your own rules of thumb here. This is the part only you can write, and it is what makes this page different from every other charter site]
Before You Book
Includes
Fuel, rods, reels, tackle, bait, and fish cleaning at the dock.
Fishing licenses
Anglers 17 and younger do not need a Louisiana fishing license. Anglers 18 and older do, and that includes a trip with me. Visitors can buy a 3-Day Charter Passenger Saltwater License for , which is valid on a charter with a licensed guide aboard.
Kids
Children 16 and under must wear a life jacket while we are underway on a boat under 26 feet, and the Blackjack is 25. I have life jackets aboard. [TROY: confirm sizes and how many]
What to bring
Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, rain gear, a cooler for your fish, and your own food and drinks. A camera if you want one. [TROY: confirm you do not supply drinks]
Deposit and weather
A $500 deposit holds your date and is good for one year. If weather cancels the trip, we reschedule within a year. If you cancel, the deposit is forfeited unless I can rebook the date. [TROY: these terms were copied from the offshore site, confirm they apply to inshore trips]
Payment
Cash or check, payable to Extreme Fishing, LLC. Credit cards carry a 4 percent fee.
Questions I Get Asked
How long is the trip?
Four to six hours. I will tell you the plan when you book.
How many people can come?
Up to four anglers.
Do we need fishing experience?
No. I will set you up and show you what to do. [TROY: confirm]
When is the best time to go?
Fall is the peak, but there is fishing every month. It depends on the river as much as the calendar.
Will we catch fish?
I cannot promise fish, and nobody honest can. I can promise I will put you where they should be and tell you straight when conditions are against us.
What if the weather or the water is bad?
We reschedule, within a year of your deposit.
Will we get seasick?
It is unlikely. We are in the marsh, not the open Gulf.
Can kids come?
Yes. Life jackets are required for children 16 and under, and anglers under 18 do not need a fishing license.
Do you clean the fish?
Yes, at the dock. Heads and tails stay on until we are on shore, as Louisiana law requires.
How many fish can we keep?
Louisiana sets size and bag limits, and they change. I will go over the current ones with you. [TROY: confirm this is how you handle it]
What should I tip?
Gratuity is not included. Most guests tip around 20 percent for a good day. [TROY: confirm or delete]
How far are you from New Orleans?
About an hour and a half by car, down Highway 23 to the end of the road at Venice. [TROY: confirm]