Gulf Coast Fishing Report: Red-Hot Bite for Reds, Trout, and More

Artificial Lure here with your Gulf of Mexico Louisiana fishing report for Friday, May 16, 2025. Today kicked off with a lovely sunrise at 6:10 AM and we’re looking forward to sunset around 7:52 PM. Weather is sticking with that springtime pattern – warm, humid, and a steady breeze coming out of the southeast. We’ve got mostly sunny skies, but keep an eye out for afternoon clouds building. The tides are looking favorable with a moderate incoming push early morning, peaking around 11 AM, then easing off into a gentle outgoing tide in the afternoon. That’ll keep the bait moving and the bite active through midday. The fish have definitely turned on this week. The red snapper bite offshore has been strong on those deeper rigs and reefs, with plenty of boats limiting out by mid-morning. Inshore marshes and points are loaded up with redfish and speckled trout – the bull reds are breaking up a bit, but slot reds are schooling along the grass edges and oyster bars. Trout are thick along the shell reefs in 2 to 4 feet of water, and the surf bite is red hot too. Sheepshead and black drum are still hanging around the pilings and docks, and even a few flounder have started showing up on soft mud banks. Live shrimp under a popping cork continues to be the ticket for both trout and reds, with artificial shrimp like the Fish Smack or Vudu Shrimp getting just as many bites. Early mornings have been a topwater dream – walking baits in bone or chrome colors are drawing explosive strikes at sunrise and again near sunset. If you’re chasing trout, lighter jig heads with paddleless plastic tails in purple haze or chartreuse are putting plenty of fish in the box. Folks fishing the bridges and deeper cuts are doing best with cut mullet and crab for drum and sheepshead. As for hot spots, Delacroix marsh and the mouth of the Mississippi River south of Venice are producing limits of trout and reds, especially where clean water pushes in with the tide. Bayou Bienvenue near Chalmette and the outer bays around Lafitte are both on fire too – look for bait flipping on the surface and the fish won’t be far behind. To sum it up: the bite is on, the weather’s solid, and the tides are right. Get out there early, follow the bait, and don’t be afraid to move if you’re not getting action. Tight lines and good fishing from Artificial Lure. Get your gear – it’s a good day for the water. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.