Spring Fishing Heating Up Across the Louisiana Gulf Coast

Artificial Lure here bringing you the latest on fishing in and around the Gulf of Mexico down in Louisiana for April 19, 2025. We’re rolling into prime spring weather with warm days and water temps moving up fast. The sunrise was at 6:28 this morning and sunset will be around 7:34 this evening, giving us plenty of daylight to chase after some hot bites. Tides this week have been running higher, and when they start to fall, it’s been lights out along the marsh and barrier islands. Redfish action is heating up, especially in the marshes and along shoreline grassbeds. Folks are pulling in solid slot reds, with a few oversize bulls mixed in, especially near current breaks and points. The bite is best on a falling tide, with cut mullet, live shrimp, and gold spoons being top producers. Soft plastics in chartreuse and shrimp or crab patterns are working well too, especially around muddy pockets and shell points. Speckled trout are showing up in better numbers, and the arrival of big schools of baitfish like rain minnows and mullet is only making the bite better. The trout are hitting live shrimp under popping corks, as well as soft plastics and twitch baits early and late in the day. Most of the action for trout is near oyster reefs, points with moving water, and in the deeper pockets of the larger bays. There are still plenty of smaller trout, but keepers are coming over the rails more reliably every trip now. Sheepshead are thinning out as water temps keep climbing, but some are still hanging near nearshore reefs and bridges. Puppy drum are around the same areas and taking dead shrimp or small crabs. Offshore, amberjack and tuna are keeping the bluewater crews busy with good action reported in the last week on jigs and live bait. For bait, live shrimp is king right now, but don’t sleep on cut mullet or soft plastics in natural colors. Gold spoons, chatterbaits, and topwater plugs are all putting fish in the box. Match your lure size to the current baitfish and you’ll do fine. A couple of hot spots to target today: the Biloxi Marsh in St. Bernard Parish is on fire for redfish and trout, especially near the mouths of the larger bayous. Breton Sound is another sure bet, with trout stacking up on the outer reefs and redfish cruising the edges. Closer to the city, the bridges around Lake Pontchartrain are holding some puppy drum and the occasional speck. With warming water, bait moving in, and steady tides, the fishing is only going to get better in the coming weeks. Get out early, watch the weather for those strong spring winds, and you’re set for a great day on the water. Good luck and tight lines everyone! References: Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana Daily Fishing Report, April 2025; Shore Thing Fishing Report, April 2025[1][2]. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.