Artificial Lure here, bringing you the November 16th, 2025, fishing report fresh outta Louisiana’s Gulf Coast. It’s another early morning down on the marsh, and conditions are looking fair for anglers chasing trout, reds, flounder, and more, especially as we ease into late fall.
Let’s talk **weather** first. National Weather Service says we’re waking up to moderate winds out the northeast at 8-12 mph, skies partly cloudy, and temperatures climbing from the mid-60s to upper 70s by midday. Humidity’s steady, so pack some light gear, stay hydrated, and expect less chop on protected bayous and inland lakes.
Sunrise hit at 6:39 am and sunset is going down at 5:17 pm. That means your best bite will come early and late, especially around major and minor solunar stamps – with peak activity happening 3:30–5:30 am and again 3:54–5:54 pm, just as the sun touches the grass, per FishingReminder.
Now to the **tides**: Out at Calcasieu Pass today, tide tables from Tides4Fishing show a low of 0.5 ft at 6:29 am, a big push to 1.9 ft by 1:57 pm, then tapering down to 1.3 ft at 7:11 pm. That afternoon rising tide is the ticket for trout and reds moving into shallower grass flats. Water clarity is looking good, with minimal runoff thanks to this week’s dry spell. For Hackberry Bay, expect similar timing, with the highest tide rolling in later tonight.
**Fish activity**? Here’s the dish: The bite for speckled trout, redfish, and flounder is still hot, especially in Calcasieu Estuary and surrounding marshes, according to the latest Gulf Coast Fishing Report. Anglers have been landing solid stringers with plenty double-digits on the reds and keepers on trout. Flounder action picked up most on outgoing tides, hugging points and oyster shell banks.
Looking at what’s **being caught** recently:
- Speckled trout are reliable in Lake Charles, Calcasieu Lake, and Sabine, with most fish hitting 15-20 inches.
- Redfish are thick in the marsh ponds off Big Lake, West Cove, and Rockefeller, averaging 20-27 inches.
- Flounder, though fewer, are being caught along marsh drains and near the Gulf jetties, running 14-18 inches.
- Couple bonus sheepshead and black drum popping up in deeper channels, not a bad haul for November!
Best **lures and baits**? Local guides and Mud Hole’s Four Horsemen Tackle recommend popping corks rigged with live shrimp (the gold standard) and matrix shad plastics in lemon head or shrimp creole colors. That popping sound calls reds and trout like dinner bell, especially if you clip a jighead underneath. When fishing deeper drops, try a 3"–4" paddle-tail swimbait in shad or ghost color, slow-rolled on a light jig head—FishGPT rates this combo ideal for cooler water. If you’re drifting, don’t overlook the classic Carolina rig with fresh mullet or crab for bull reds. For flounder, Gulp! swimming mullet in white or chartreuse rigged on a 1/4oz jig is putting fish on the cleaning tables.
Couple **hot spots** this week:
- West Cove, Calcasieu Lake: Channel edges and oyster reefs prime for large reds and trout.
- Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge: Marsh cuts and deeper pockets near Weirs #2 and #4 have held mixed bags, especially at dusk.
- Sabine Pass: Working marsh drains and sand flats bringing solid trout in early morning.
- Lake Pontchartrain Trestles: For those trolling, this bridge is still hammering big trout, as seen on recent YouTube gear breakdowns.
Keep an eye on the tide swings throughout the afternoon and move with the water—fish follow those bait migrations. If the wind picks up after noon, focus south shorelines, and use heavier jigheads for stability.
Thanks for tuning into your local Louisiana fishing report with Artificial Lure! Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss the bite. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
