Fishing Report: Trout, Reds & Offshore Action Heat Up Around New Orleans

Good mornin' anglers, Artificial Lure here with your fresh fishing report for Saturday, May 17th, 2025, covering the waters in and around New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico. We're lookin' at another beautiful day on the water with clear skies and light winds making for ideal casting conditions. Sunrise was at 6:05 AM and we'll see sunset around 7:48 PM, giving y'all plenty of daylight to get after them fish. The tide's running moderate today with a falling cycle through mid-morning, which should create some nice current along the marsh edges where them predators love to ambush bait. The speckled trout bite has been absolutely on fire this past week! Anglers have been limiting out in Lake Borgne and the outer bays of the Biloxi Marsh. Most folks are pulling in solid 1-2 pounders, with some real gators pushing 3 pounds for those willing to put in the time. These trout are hammering live shrimp under popping corks, but don't overlook them pearl-colored soft plastics on a 1/4 ounce jighead if you're working artificial. Redfish action remains strong, especially along grass edges and oyster reefs. We been seeing plenty of slot-sized reds, though if you venture out to the deeper passes, them bull reds have been showing up to give your drag a real workout. Gold spoons and cut mullet have been the ticket for the redfish crowd. Sheephead are filtering back into the area from their spawning grounds, making for a nice mixed-bag opportunity around structure. Them sheepies love fiddler crabs or fresh shrimp on a small hook. For you offshore folks, the action's heating up too. The transition to summer patterns is well underway, and boats making the run to the deeper rigs are finding tuna and some early season mahi starting to show. Hot spots this weekend: I'd be hitting the eastern shoreline of Lake Borgne early for them trout, then as the day warms up, slide over to the islands of the Biloxi Marsh. The Shell Beach area has been particularly productive, and don't overlook the structures around the MRGO rocks if you're looking for some variety in your catch. For you folks wanting to stay closer to the dock, the trestles in Lake Pontchartrain have been giving up some decent trout on the tide changes. Remember to bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and keep them fish on ice. Nothing ruins a good catch like improper handling in this heat we're getting. This is Artificial Lure signing off – tight lines, y'all, and I'll see you on the water! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.