Gulf Coast Winter Fishing Report: Trout, Reds, and Bull Reds Biting in Louisiana

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in from down here on the Louisiana side of the Gulf. We’ve got a light winter pattern holding across the coast this morning. National Weather Service marine forecasts are calling for east to southeast winds around 10 knots with 2 to 4 foot seas offshore, so it’s a go-day for most boats, just a little roll on the outside. Closer in, the marsh and bays are plenty fishable with decent clarity on the protected shorelines. Tides are on the softer side but moving enough to matter. Tides4Fishing’s charts for South Pass show a daytime high riding mid‑morning with a falling tide through the afternoon, and that’s been the trigger all week in the passes and bayous. When that water starts easing out of the grass, the bite’s been noticeably better two hours around the turn. Sunrise along the lower coast is right around 6:45 a.m., with sunset just after 5:15 p.m. According to FishingReminder’s solunar tables for Louisiana, the prime major window lines up with early morning and again near dark, so that first light wade or drift is absolutely worth rolling out for. Action-wise, it’s been a good mixed bag. Guides out of Venice and Empire have been boxing solid speckled trout and slot reds in the inside bays and along oyster-lined shorelines; most boats are seeing easy double‑digit trout catches and a handful of reds when they stay on moving water. Lake Calcasieu reports from Calcasieu Pass have trout stacked on deeper reefs and ship channel edges, with some flounder still hanging on dropoffs. There’ve also been scattered bull reds at the passes and outer jetties—nothing like summer numbers, but enough to bend a rod if you soak bait on the bottom. Best producers right now are pretty classic. Under a popping cork, 3–4 inch soft plastics in glow, chartreuse, or opening‑night colors are whipping trout; think Matrix Shad, Down South–style baits, or anything slim on a 1/8‑ounce jighead. A noisy cork like Strike King’s Saltwater Ploppin Cork has been clutch when the wind puts a chop on the surface. For reds, gold spoons, spinnerbaits with a paddle‑tail, and simple live shrimp or cocahoe minnows under a cork around drains and broken marsh have been steady. Out at the passes and near jetties, cut mullet or crab on a fish‑finder rig is still the go‑to for bull reds. If you’re looking for a couple hot spots, I’d start: - Down river out of Venice, working the pockets and drains off South Pass and Southwest Pass—anywhere you see birds dipping on shrimp and a little current line, you’re in the game. - On the western side, the reefs and points around Calcasieu Pass and the lower ship channel have been giving up nice winter trout, especially on that late‑afternoon falling tide. Water’s cool, fish are bunched up, and if you play the tide and the low‑light windows, you’re gonna do just fine. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.