Gulfcast: Speckled Trout, Redfish, and Offshore Action Heating Up in Louisiana's Backwaters

Hey y’all, Artificial Lure bringing you today’s Gulf of Mexico and New Orleans fishing report for Sunday, September 28, 2025. We started out this morning with a sunrise at 6:51 AM, and you’ll have daylight until nearly 7 PM—plenty of time to chase after your favorites. Weather was classic Louisiana early fall, mixing up some humidity and a warm breeze with patchy clouds overhead. Temps climb quick this time of year, so keep some water handy. The tides today are running strong in our area. Grand Isle’s tidal coefficient is at a whopping 91, meaning those currents are moving hard and we’ve got a good swing between high and low tide. This brings in bait and gets those fish fired up. If you’re working the marsh edges, look for fastest currents near passes like Barataria or Caminada. Solunar tables show extra fish activity this morning and again at sunset—get on the water for those big bite windows. This past week’s catches around New Orleans and the southeast marshes have been solid. Speckled trout are still holding on the deeper side of shoreline drop-offs, especially between Bayou Bonfouca and Goose Point. John Gibby outta Mandeville reported a real lively bite on live shrimp under a popping cork, with limits coming easy before noon. Slot reds are cruising flats and oyster beds around Shell Beach and Lake Borgne; folks drifting cut pogies or gulp shrimp plastics have been seeing good action. In addition, the annual blue crab run is on, and folks are hauling heavy baskets from the marsh edges—these make fantastic bait for everything from drum to reds. Don’t forget about the offshore scene—marlin, tuna, and wahoo are still popping for anglers running past the rigs, using deep-diving jigs and big skirted lures. Plenty of king mackerel being caught on hard-trolling spoons about ten to fifteen miles out, and there’s some chatter about a few big amberjack coming off the deeper structures. Top-producing lures this week: - **Gulp shrimp (New Penny and White)** - **Matrix Shad (lemon head, shrimp creole)** - **Live shrimp or croakers** for the trout and reds - **Silver spoons** and **topwater plugs** for the early red bite Best bait? Live shrimp is hard to beat for trout and reds. Cut mullet or menhaden does wonders for the bigger reds and drum. For the offshore crowd, rig those skirted Ballyhoo and try some big soft plastics around the platforms. Couple hot spots you can bank on: - **The Rigolets**: Trout and reds on moving tide, especially in the deeper cuts and channel points. - **Shell Beach and Lake Borgne**: Steady action for reds, drum, and sheepshead; good crabbing too. - **Barataria Pass around Grand Isle**: Trout and flounder drifting live shrimp or tossing plastics. If you’re putting in around New Orleans, slip out from Paris Road or Chef Menteur Pass to hit those marsh lines at sunup. The fish have been active with the big tides and feeding heavy! That wraps your report for today—get yourself out there, grab a cold drink, and enjoy Loui This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.