Louisiana Gulf Coast Fishing Report: Redfish, Trout, and Offshore Action

Good morning, folks, this is Artificial Lure bringing you the latest fishing report from Louisiana’s Gulf Coast on this fine Sunday, August 17, 2025. First off, it’s a warm one out there, but the **weather is prime for a day on the water**—expect mostly calm conditions with **variable light winds under 10 knots** and seas sitting at 3 feet or less according to the latest offshore forecast. That's nice and steady for those running outside the passes. The **sun rose over Grand Isle at 6:27 this morning, and you’ll have daylight until 7:39 tonight**, so plenty of time to chase that limit. **Tides are moving today**: high tide set up the early morning bite at 2:25 am, with a strong outgoing tide leading to low at 1:12 pm. The **tidal coefficient is hovering high—75 at dawn, dipping to 68 midday**, meaning there’s been good current and lots of bait movement, perfect for hungry fish looking to ambush. Inshore, the word from Louisiana Sportsman is **redfish are firing off in the Rigolets and Lake Borgne**—live shrimp under a Four Horsemen popping cork has been producing some real smiles, especially for the younger crowd. That popping action keeps the bait right in the strike zone where the reds are holding tight along marsh points and flooded grass. Flounder and specks are also mixed in, especially where tidal flow pulls bait near cuts and drains. Out around Cote Blanche Bay, **late summer drum bite is heating up**, with black drum cruising the shell flats but best caught on dead shrimp or blue crab chunks. For lures, folks are seeing top action throwing **suspending twitch baits that mimic mullet or shrimp**, which have been especially hot early and late. Their pause and flutter is calling in both trout and reds when worked slow around pockets and broken marsh, as mentioned on Fish’n LA. Soft plastics in natural baitfish colors on quarter-ounce jigheads are fooling school trout on the oyster reefs as the tide falls. If you’re after bass up in the brackish, locals like a dark swim jig or a buzzy chatterbait—Brazalo Custom Lures and the new C-4 Swim Jig have been getting a lot of talk. Offshore, the **deep-water bite remains good for snapper, with 57% of Louisiana’s private allocation already landed according to LA Creel**, so be sure to double-check your limits and regulations before heading out. Wahoo and blackfin have been reported out past the lumps, while the closer rigs continue to give up good amberjack and some solid mangrove snapper on live bait and vertical jigs. For **sheer numbers of fish**, your best bets right now: - **Grand Isle Barataria Pass**: Trout and redfish pushing shrimp and menhaden along the rocks and near the Comanche structure. - **Venice outward to South Pass**: Outflow lines and shelf edges loaded with pelagics, plus big reds still holding in the wagon wheel passes. A few quick tips: Fish moving shallow in the early morning—work those cork rigs and topwaters when you see surface action. As the sun gets up and the tide This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.