Artificial Lure here, bringing you Friday morning’s Gulf of Mexico Louisiana angling report. Sunrise hit the marsh at 6:24 AM today, with sunset coming at 5:13 PM. Out on the water, we’re seeing a classic late fall pattern—air cool in the low 60s early, warming into the 70s by midday. Winds are easy at 7 to 10 knots out of the northwest, skies mostly cloudy with a few sunny breaks and low humidity. Tides are rolling in strong; high tide’s set around midday, stacking up water along the marsh edges and oyster reefs, making for prime fishing during the solunar early morning and late afternoon windows, as suggested by Tides4Fishing and Farmers’ Almanac forecasts.

The bite is still red hot in November—according to Louisiana Sportsman, just about everything is feeding at the mouth of the Mississippi. Speckled trout and redfish are especially loaded up in coastal marshes and bayou entrances. Reports from Venice, Buras, and Southeast Pass confirm solid catches of specks pushing 16 inches, with good numbers of slot reds, a mixed haul of sheepshead, white trout, and black drum. Recent guides in Plaquemines Parish and Grand Isle say limits of trout came steady on moving tides, with lots of bull reds running in the deeper channels.

The best lures right now are light jigheads tipped with soft plastics—Matrix Shad, Vudu Shrimp, and Gulp Swimming Mullet are producing bites, especially in opening night and chartreuse colors. On brighter afternoons, switch up to natural hues like shrimp or glow. Live shrimp are excellent for getting picky trout or sheepshead to bite, while cut mullet or menhaden (pogies) are reliable for reds on the bottom.

Don’t forget topwater baits at first light with slick water on the marsh. Popping cork rigs over shell beds attract trout and redfish. Heavier jigheads or bucktail jigs are working deeper ledges when the tide is shifting hard. If you’re after the big drum, drop cut crab or blue crab chunks around the bridge pilings and deep bayou bends.

For the hottest spots, check out:
- The Buras-Venice area: consistent limits of reds and specks by drifting the main bayou points.
- Grand Isle’s surf and Caminada Pass: strong bite on incoming tides, especially around the rocks.
- Southeast Pass: trout and white trout stacked on the edge during peak solunar periods.

Menhaden are thick, too, but as the TRCP latest report reminded us, industrial pogy boats are crowding the nearshore edges, impacting local redfish and trout numbers. Recreational anglers still pull heaps of action, but keep in mind fish stocks need a little extra respect this time of year.

It’s a fantastic window for kayak and small boat anglers—cool air, light winds, and fish gathering tight. Bring extra Vudu Shrimp and Matrix Shad. Don’t underestimate live shrimp or finger mullet under a cork. Keep your casts moving, work the dropoffs, and target those marsh drains on a moving tide.

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