Bayou Slam to Plate: Catch, Clean & Cook in Chalmette

Catch, Clean & Cook is a hands-on charter experience based in Chalmette, Louisiana, that pairs inshore bayou fishing with a Creole kitchen’s water-to-table lunch. Your day begins with door-to-door black-car service to the marina, where Captain Mike welcomes up to four guests aboard a top-of-the-line bay boat. The fishable landscape here is coastal wetland and bayou: shallow flats, oyster beds, and grassy marsh channels that hold Speckled Trout, Redfish (Red Drum), and Flounder—the local Bayou Slam.

On the water the rhythm is deliberate: poling over skinny water, drifting bait or casting light tackle, reading current seams and mud lines where redfish patrol. Captain Mike provides guided instruction and a hands-on tutorial in how to hook, land, and handle the catch; after the trip the crew cleans and fillets your fish so it’s ready for the kitchen. That close link between angling and cuisine makes the trip more than a typical charter—it’s a tasting of place and process.

From the marina you and your catch are taken to The Wharf and Lucille's Landing, where Chef Tiger prepares a custom Creole lunch showcasing local techniques and seasonings alongside other locally sourced ingredients. Expect spice-forward preparations, classic roux accents, and preparations tuned to the texture of flounder and the firm meat of redfish. The included bar and grill atmosphere keeps the mood relaxed: anglers trade stories over cold drinks while the chef finishes the plate.

Practical details are tidy: trips run as a 4–5 hour charter with a 7–8 hour total experience including transportation and lunch; groups are limited to four people; all gear and parking at the marina are provided. The format suits curious anglers who want both instruction and a culinary payoff rather than a competitive, heavy-duty fishing slog.

Why this matters locally: the charter threads recreation, local fisheries knowledge, and New Orleans–area culinary tradition into a single afternoon. It’s ideal for travelers who want saltwater learning without a long fleet scramble—families with older teens (minimum age 12), small groups, and food-minded visitors.

The charter’s small-group limit and full-service inclusions mean beginners learn rod setup, knot-tying, and etiquette for local species while more experienced anglers can refine sight-fishing and live-bait tactics. Because Captain Mike and crew handle cleaning and transport to Lucille's Landing, you spend less time prepping and more time enjoying a lunch that celebrates terroir of the delta—bright citrus, piquant peppers, and bayou herbs. Bookings require 48 hours’ notice; expect flexible add-ons for drinks, hangout time, and transport.

Bring a camera for marsh light, a hat, layered clothing, and a sense of appetite. With Captain Mike at the helm and Chef Tiger in the kitchen, Catch, Clean & Cook converts a day on Louisiana’s water into an edible memory.