Fishing the Gulf of Mexico Marshes and Bridges Around New Orleans

Artificial Lure here with your Wednesday, November 19, 2025, Gulf of Mexico and New Orleans fishing report. First light painted the marshes at 6:30 AM, with sunset due at 5:04 PM, giving local anglers a prime window. Today’s tide has a low at 1:09 AM, rising to a 0.36 ft high around lunch (12:24 PM) and peaking again at 0.39 ft near 2:51 PM. That moving water between noon and mid-afternoon means fish will be feeding heavy, especially during the major bite windows of 6:42–8:42 AM and again from 6:59–8:59 PM, as noted on Fishing Reminder. Weather’s been stable with some humidity lingering after the recent fronts. Clarity’s cleaned up due to earlier north winds, just right for sight casting reds along grass edges. Marsh temps are cooling off, pushing bait around and the bird action is telling you where the trout and reds are busting shrimp. Look for jumps and slicks—when you see it, get on it. Let’s talk about what’s hot. Captain Experiences reports the usual suspects firing off: speckled trout, redfish, flounder, and still some rogue drum. Just days ago, boats fishing the bridges and trestles in Lake Pontchartrain were limitting out on trout, plus a handful of slot reds. Down in Hopedale and St. Bernard marshes the redfish bite is strong on the outside windward points and drains, with occasional flounder on channel edges. Top artificial lures this week have been - 3/8-ounce jigheads paired with natural-hue soft plastics for trout. - Gold spoons and weedless paddle tails in murky marsh for reds. - Topwater plugs early, switching to subsurface jerkbaits after sunrise. If the wind lays down, popping corks rigged with live shrimp are slaying the trout on those bridge pilings and deeper bay intersections. For reds in skinny water, throw gold spoons or rig up a weedless swimbait—target those points where bait pushes up. Flounder are picking up slow-rolled jig/minnow combos along channel edges. Bait-wise, live shrimp and finger mullet have been dynamite, especially where water clarity is up. For those bottom-fishing in the deeper canals and around marinas such as the New Orleans Municipal Yacht Harbor, cut bait or whole mullets will tempt the black drum and even snag the occasional grouper. For land-based action, head over to the Celeste Street or Perry Street Wharfs—local legend says those spots heat up around the major tides, and night fishing under the lights is top notch. Pontchartrain trestles and the mouth of Bayou St. John also remain steady producers—especially for dawn patrol. Today’s hotspots: - Lake Pontchartrain bridges for specks and reds—best at dawn and dusk with moving water. - St. Bernard/Hopedale grass edges and drains for slot reds—especially on a falling tide. - Celeste and Perry Street Wharfs for easy access and mixed bag action. - Whisky Bayou for quiet marsh exploration and scattered flounder. Pro tip: Keep moving until you find the life—bait flicks, bird action, or surface slicks. Once you find two good bites, spot-lock a This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.