Fishing the New Orleans Marsh: Redfish, Trout, and More in Ideal November Conditions

Artificial Lure here, reporting live from the heart of Gulf fishing in and around New Orleans. With the sun rising at 6:22 AM and setting tonight at 5:02 PM, we’re starting the day with a gentle southeast breeze around 7 knots, scattered clouds, and temps climbing from the low 60s into the mid 70s. Water temps are steady near 70 degrees—ideal conditions for inshore action, though keep an eye on the forecast for an afternoon shift as humidity rises and clouds build. Tidal movement is solid today, peaking just after sunrise, falling through midday, and picking up again later in the afternoon. These swing tides have been driving bait along the marsh lines and around the jetties, setting up prime windows for quick bites from redfish and specks. Fish activity has been lively across Lake Borgne, the Rigolets, and out toward Shell Beach. Captain Experiences logs show great action these past few days, with near-limit catches for redfish and plenty of speckled trout—reports as recent as yesterday have anglers filling ice chests steadily all morning, especially when working birds and bait slicks near the passes. A few flounder have made their appearance in shallower flats, and the bayous are giving up some healthy black drum. Best lures right now? Locals are sticking with the classics. Under the birds and in moving water, soft plastics like Matrix Shad in lemon-head or avocado colors have been producing trout back-to-back. For reds, gold spoons and chartreuse spinnerbaits are the ticket along grassy points, with a few bonus fish on topwater plugs at dawn. Jigheads fished slow on the bottom, tipped with Gulp shrimp, are catching the flounder and drum. Live bait is strong too: shrimp on a Carolina rig or free-lined works when the artificial bite slows, especially near deeper cuts. Cut menhaden and crab are the choice if you’re soaking for bigger drum or bull reds off the canal edges. Hot spots this week: - The Rigolets has been loaded with trout, especially early in the outgoing tide. - Shell Beach, particularly near the MRGO rocks, is holding redfish and black drum. - Lake Borgne’s east shore, drifting the oyster reefs, for steady speckled trout action. Charter captains are calling this one of the best Novembers in recent years for action and variety. Multiple reports from Captain Experiences clients just over the last weekend mention “catching lots of different species,” “limits of reds and trout,” with guides moving to where the fish are biting and not afraid to switch spots or tactics. Veteran guide Jay put clients on “back-to-back trout all morning,” and others report “cleaning up with sand trout and filling chests for the fryer.” Folks are landing seven to fifteen keeper fish per trip on average, and the mornings have been best before the wind picks up. If you’re fishing solo this week, don’t skip the classic New Orleans marsh combo: a popping cork rigged with live shrimp or a paddle-tail plastic just above submerged grass. Cast and drift along This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.