New Orleans Fishing Hot Spots and Catch Report for June 18, 2025

Artificial Lure here with your June 18th, 2025, fishing report for New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico. Sunrise hit at 6:01 AM with sunset set for 8:04 PM. Today we’re rolling into a classic muggy Louisiana summer day—expect highs near 92°F, humidity off the charts, and light southwest winds ramping up to 10–15 knots by the afternoon. Tides are running moderate, with a high around 11:14 AM and a low just after sunset, making for a perfect window to get lines wet from daybreak until the heat sets in. Fish activity around New Orleans and the nearby Gulf is red-hot right now, with plenty of local anglers reporting strong catches of speckled trout, redfish, and flounder. According to Captain Experiences, Shell Beach and Hopedale are the prime spots for speckled trout, and they’ve been coming in thick—limits aren’t uncommon by mid-morning. Look for redfish pushing up into calmer marsh waters on higher tides, and flounder hiding near shoreline structure and cuts. June bug and purple soft plastics fished on a swinging jig head or a classic popping cork setup are working wonders, especially early in the day when the fish are most active. If you want to mix it up, largemouth bass are still biting well in the city’s bayous and backwaters. Fishing Booker recommends working plastic lures, crankbaits, or jigs along current edges or structure. If you prefer live bait, try small minnows or crawfish for both bass and larger panfish. Offshore action has been picking up with the Loop Current eddies bringing bluer, warmer water closer to the Mississippi Delta. Reports from Paradise Outfitters mention chunky grouper and some early runs of snapper and cobia showing up around the rigs and nearshore reefs. For these, bring cut bait—mullet or squid will do—or get flashy with big, brightly colored jigs. Some hot spots to hit today: - Shell Beach: For limits of speckled trout early and solid redfish action as the tide peaks. - Hopedale: Shallow marshes holding mixed bags, especially where the grass meets deeper water. - Bayou Bienvenue: Reliable for bass, but also a sneaky good spot for big bluegill and even the occasional slab crappie. - The nearshore rigs south of the Mississippi Delta: Great for grouper and snapper right now, especially if you’re set up for deeper drops. Best lures and baits today: Junebug plastics, chartreuse or purple paddle tails, popping corks with shrimp imitations, and for live bait fans—can’t miss with live shrimp or finger mullet. That’s your dockside rundown for June 18th, 2025. Thanks for tuning in—be sure to subscribe so you never miss a bite! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease dot ai. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.