Coastal Louisiana Fishing Report: Trout, Reds, and More Biting Across the Region

Artificial Lure here, bringing you your New Orleans and Gulf of Mexico fishing report for Monday, November 17, 2025. We started the morning under a solid coast sky with the sun breaking at 6:26 AM, expecting sunset right about 5:02 PM. Weather’s mild, humidity’s hanging in the air typical for late fall, but winds are light—perfect for both inshore and nearshore work. If you’re looking for today’s tide info, the low hit just after midnight at 1:09 AM, with the first high swinging in around 12:24 PM, cresting at 0.36 feet. Movement’s modest but expect stronger bite windows at the morning and evening majors: 6:42–8:42 AM and again from 6:59–8:59 PM, according to FishingReminder. In the marshes and bridges out Lake Pontchartrain way, action’s centered on classic fall patterns. Cooler water has pushed shrimp and baitfish up, and plenty of speckled trout and schoolie reds are shadowing these pods. Right at dawn on a moving tide, trout are firing near the trestles and causeways, with solid reports of full limits before mid-morning. A few flounder are making surprise cameos at points and cuts, snatching up slow-rolled jig and minnow combos. Redfish are feeding steady along windward grass edges—especially where that tide’s pulling bait out from the drains. A local captain told me Saturday’s trip on the St. Bernard marsh landed eight keeper reds plus a bonus chunky flounder using gold spoons and weedless paddle tails. Those north winds midweek have cleaned things up, giving us favorable water clarity, so don’t hesitate to try topwaters at daylight; color recommendations lean natural for soft plastics and gold or copper flashes for hard baits. Copper spinnerbaits are getting hot reviews right now, especially in shallower haunts where that flashing blade will draw preliminary strikes from both reds and big drum, according to the New Orleans Gulf of Mexico Fishing Report podcast. If trout is what you’re chasing, swap to a popping cork setup with live shrimp as the breeze drops off—no shame in keeping it simple. Recent catches have been solid: multiple boats reporting trout limits and a mixed bag of redfish, flounder, and even the odd black drum. Further out, deeper rigs are seeing fair yellowfin tuna on jigs and poppers—chunking and live baiting always an option when you mark the bait. As for bait, you can’t go wrong with **live shrimp** or menhaden, especially worked under a cork near drains, bays, and bayou mouths during a falling tide. Artificial lure fans, Berkley’s new soft plastics and the ever-classic weedless swimbaits are turning heads and catching fish. Best fishing hot spots today? Try the Toulouse Street Wharf early for good runoff action and easy access, or lace up your boots for the Bayou Bienvenue Marsh, which has seen a run of slot reds and quality trout at sunrise. Don’t discount Lake Borgne cuts—steady bites reported all week. Whatever your plan, keep an eye on feeding birds, slicks, and nervous bait—the fish are right behind them. G This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.