Where do I start! Eli was amazing!! I had told him when I booked that my stepson was eager to catch “a big one” and boy, did Eli help make that a reality!!

First, he contacted me about perhaps altering our planned area to fish because he had noticed a lot of activity in another area. I agreed and we ended up fishing in the barrier island area instead of the Bay.

After not catching anything at the first spot, Eli was en route to the next spot when he spotted dolphins in a feeding frenzy. With knowledge that only he possessed due to experience, Eli immediately sped up the boat and got us in front of the dolphins. Threw a line in and my stepson was able to bring in a massive redfish!! We weren’t able to keep it due to its large size, but boy was my stepson on cloud 9!!

We continued to the next spot where we brought in sheepshead after sheepshead. After catching about 20, we went out to a barrier island and just puttered around for a bit before heading back to shore.

Captain Eli was amazing! Friendly, knowledgeable, and he made my stepson’s dreams come true (and ours, too!!) Book with him! You will NOT regret it!!

We had an outstanding trip with Captain Elijah! From the start, he made it clear that his priority was putting us on fish. Originally, we planned to head out to Cat Island, but Captain Elijah was honest and upfront that the bite hadn’t been great out there. Instead of sticking to the original plan just for the sake of it, he adjusted and took us to the pillars by the train bridge — and that decision paid off big time.

We ended up catching multiple sheepshead, a big black drum, flounder, and even a mullet. The action stayed steady, and it was clear he really knows the local waters and how fish are moving.

He also kept a close eye on the weather and made smart decisions throughout the trip to give us the best opportunity to catch fish safely and comfortably. You can tell he cares about both the experience and the results.

If you’re looking for a captain who’s knowledgeable, adaptable, and focused on putting you on fish, Captain Elijah is your guy. We’ll definitely be booking again!

Captain Troutman exceeded every expectation when it came to scheduling, services, professionalism, and most importantly: fishing expertise. Black drum, flounder, trout redfish, simply non-stop action and fun with my group of friends as the Captain was constantly putting us on fish, rigging us up to cast back out, or helping getting the fish unhooked and into the boat. The best part is the preparation and care he ensures with the fish at the end, sending you home with an incredible dinner to cook that night, sea to table. To anyone in the area, you won’t regret going out on these waters with a true native and fish whisperer.

It was easily the best fishing day I’ve ever had off the Mississippi coast. Captain Eli Troutman set the tone from the start—friendly, prepared, and completely at home on the water. We headed out under perfect skies, and almost immediately the snapper started hitting. Then came the cobia, powerful and thrilling, each catch made smoother by Eli’s calm, expert guidance.
He kept us well-fed with snacks and drinks throughout the trip, making the whole experience feel effortless and fun. By the time we headed back in, the cooler was full and so were our smiles. Eli cleaned the fish for us at the dock, sending us home with beautiful fillets and even better memories.
A fantastic captain, unforgettable fishing, and a day I’ll be talking about for years.

I’ve booked Capt Eli for inshore MS sound trips, offshore trips, and Chandeleur Island trips. I don’t think I’ve ever had more fun fishing, and my PR trout and redfish were both caught with him at the wheel. He grew up on the coast and I think he can smell where the speckled trout are - maybe that comes with the last name. He consistently puts his customers on limits of stud trout. If you want to fish the MS/La coast, look no further because you just found the best charter out there.