Artificial Lure here with your Sunday, May 11th, 2025 fishing report for the New Orleans and Gulf of Mexico waters. The sun’s coming up at 6:07 am and setting at 7:46 pm, giving us a solid window to make the most of what’s shaping up to be another action-packed day.

Today we’re beginning with light winds and warm temps in the mid-70s climbing to the low 80s by the afternoon. Skies are partly cloudy, and there’s a light breeze out of the southeast—just enough to keep things comfortable and the water moving. The tidal swing is moderate, with a high tide around mid-morning, which usually gets those inshore fish feeding aggressively.

The inshore bite around the marshes and bayous has been strong all week, with Redfish leading the charge. Anglers have been pulling in solid reds, many slot-sized and a few brutes over the slot in shallow water. Speckled Trout action is heating up too—good numbers of trout over 20 inches are coming from deeper cuts and channels, while schools of smaller trout are stacked in the passes. Black Drum have also been hitting well, especially on the edges where oyster reefs drop off into deeper holes.

Offshore, the bluewater bite has turned on with Mahi-Mahi and Tuna both making appearances for boats running out past the rigs. The fish are actively chasing bait balls, so if you’re heading that way, bring your heavier gear and be ready for some fast action.

Best bait and lures this week—live shrimp and market bait are always a go-to for Redfish and Drum, but the locals have been scoring big with artificial paddle-tail soft plastics in chartreuse or white, especially during moving tides. Topwater plugs just after sunrise have been deadly on the trout near grass lines and points. For offshore, trolling with skirted ballyhoo or chugging topwater poppers has been pulling in solid Mahi and even a few blackfin Tuna.

For hot spots, you can’t go wrong with the marsh edges around Delacroix and Hopedale for inshore species. Look for moving water and bait activity for best results. If you’re looking offshore, try the South Pass rigs or out toward the Midnight Lump for your shot at big game.

All in all, fish are active, the bite is good, and the conditions are ripe for a stellar day on the water. Grab your gear, pack some patience, and get after it. Tight lines, y’all!

Howdy, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Saturday, May 10th, 2025 fishing report for the New Orleans and Gulf of Mexico area.

The fishing has been absolutely on fire lately, with this beautiful spring weather we're having. Today's sunrise was at about 6:15 AM, and we're looking at sunset around 7:40 PM, giving you plenty of daylight to get your lines wet.

Weather-wise, we're seeing temperatures in the mid-70s this morning, climbing to the mid-80s by afternoon with a light southeastern breeze at 5-10 knots. The water clarity is good to excellent in most areas, and the tides are running about normal with a high tide mid-morning and another this evening.

Folks have been reporting excellent catches all week. The redfish bite has been particularly strong on the flats, with many anglers bringing in slot-sized to over-slot reds. These copper beauties have been hitting gold spoons, spinner baits, and popping corks with shrimp. If you're looking for some bull reds, try using cut mullet or cracked blue crab.

Speckled trout fishing has also been heating up, with good numbers of smaller trout in deeper water and some real gators over 20 inches being caught along the edges of the marsh grass. For these specks, live shrimp under a popping cork is always a winner, but soft plastics in chartreuse or glow have been producing as well.

Black drum are still hanging around in good numbers, and they're suckers for fresh shrimp or crab on a Carolina rig.

For you offshore folks, the tuna bite has been steady, and we're starting to see more mahi-mahi showing up as the water warms. Ballyhoo and flying fish imitations have been the ticket for the dolphin.

As for hot spots, check out Lake Pontchartrain's Trestle Bridge for some nice trout action, or head over to the MRGO rocks for redfish. The marsh areas around Delacroix have been producing consistently as well. If you're looking to go a bit further out, The Midnight Lump and nearby rigs have been giving up some yellowfin.

Remember y'all, keep what you need and release the rest. The fishing has been so good lately that limiting out hasn't been a problem for most folks, but conservation ensures we'll have these fisheries for years to come.

That's it for today's report. Tight lines, stay safe on the water, and as we say down here, laissez les bon temps rouler! This is Artificial Lure signing off until tomorrow's report.

Hey there, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Friday, May 9th, 2025 fishing report for the New Orleans and Gulf of Mexico area.

The fishing has been absolutely on fire this past week! Water temperatures are climbing nicely as we move deeper into spring, and the fish are responding enthusiastically.

Redfish action continues to be steady, though not quite as hot as we'd typically expect for this season. The trout bite, however, has been phenomenal! Many anglers are reporting impressive catches of larger-than-average speckled trout, particularly in the early mornings. Black drum have also been making a strong showing in our inshore waters.

For those looking to head offshore, the pelagic action is heating up. We're seeing good numbers of mahi-mahi moving in, and the tuna bite has been consistent for those willing to make the journey out.

Tide-wise, we're looking at a high tide around mid-morning today with a moderate outgoing tide through the afternoon. This movement should trigger some good feeding activity, especially along the marsh edges as water drains out.

Weather conditions are favorable with light southeast winds around 5-8 knots and partly cloudy skies. Sunrise was at 6:08 AM, and sunset will be at 7:42 PM, giving you plenty of daylight to get those lines wet.

As for bait and lures, live shrimp continues to be the go-to for inshore species. If you're targeting trout, try suspending those shrimp under a popping cork. For the redfish, I'd recommend gold spoons or soft plastics in darker colors like black and gold or purple and chartreuse. Gulp! Shrimp in new penny color has been particularly effective lately.

For those heading offshore, ballyhoo and squid have been producing well for the pelagic species. Don't forget those diving plugs in blue/white and pink/white combinations.

Hot spots this week include the marshes around Lake Borgne and the Biloxi Marsh for redfish and trout. The MRGO rocks have been consistently productive for both species as well. If you're looking for some serious action with the bull reds, check out the waters around the Chandeleur Islands.

For offshore enthusiasts, the rigs starting about 20 miles out have been holding good numbers of fish. The lumps south of Venice are also worth checking out if you're after the bigger pelagics.

Remember folks, be safe out there, keep what you'll eat, and release the rest for another day. This is Artificial Lure signing off until next time. Tight lines, y'all!

Good morning anglers, Artificial Lure here with your fresh fishing report for Wednesday, May 7th, covering the waters in and around New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico.

We greeted the day with a soft sunrise around 6:11 AM, and you can expect sunset to roll in just after 7:40 PM. Today’s weather stays classic spring—mild in the morning with some cloud cover, a light breeze turning up by midday, and highs topping out in the upper 70s. A little chop on the water, but nothing to keep you off the bite.

The tide’s been on the move all morning, with a strong incoming push that’s really turned on inshore activity, especially through late morning into mid-afternoon. These conditions are perfect for finding hungry fish along marsh edges, cuts, and drains. Speckled trout have been thick in the passes and deeper bayous, running larger than usual this week. Redfish are a bit spotty, but when you find them, they’re quality fish.

Reports from the last few days show anglers landing solid stringers of speckled trout and slot reds, with some nice black drum mixed in for good measure. Offshore, the bluewater crowd is celebrating steady action on mahi-mahi and a few football-sized yellowfin tuna just beyond the rigs.

If you’re looking to join the fun, tie on a chartreuse or opening night soft plastic under a popping cork for trout—these have been absolute killers lately, especially during a moving tide. For redfish, gold spoons and live shrimp under a cork have outperformed everything else near the grass and broken marsh. Offshore, trolling ballyhoo and bright skirted jigs are putting fish in the box.

Hot spots today include Shell Beach for easy trout limits, and the south side of Lake Borgne if you want to tangle with reds. Down in Lafitte, work the cuts near Bayou Perot for mixed bags—if you’ve got a little patience, this spot has been red-hot as the tide dumps out.

In summary, spring fishing is firing on all cylinders. Whether you’re after specks, reds, drum, or heading offshore for a shot at mahi and tuna, today’s conditions are about as good as it gets. Grab your license, pack plenty of water, and make sure you’ve got those popping corks and soft plastics ready.

That’s it for today’s report. Tight lines and good luck out there from Artificial Lure—see you on the water!

Howdy, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your May 5th, 2025 fishing report for the New Orleans and Gulf of Mexico area.

Let me tell ya, it's shaping up to be another fine day on the water! The sun rose this morning at around 6:15 AM, and we're looking at a sunset later tonight at about 7:40 PM, giving you plenty of daylight to reel in some beauties.

The tides are running pretty typical today - we've got a falling tide through mid-morning, then a nice incoming push starting around noon. That transition's gonna be your sweet spot, especially in the marsh areas.

Weather-wise, we're seeing temperatures in the low 80s with a light southeasterly breeze around 5-8 knots. Water clarity is good to excellent in most spots after those winds settled down from last week.

Fishing's been on fire lately! The redfish bite has been a bit slower than usual for this time of year, but the trout are making up for it with some monster catches reported over the weekend. Folks been hauling in speckled trout in good numbers, with many on the larger side. Black drum are also showing up consistently.

For you marsh anglers, I'd recommend hitting Lake Pontchartrain's eastern edges or the Biloxi Marsh area. Gold spoons and soft plastics in chartreuse or glow have been doing the trick for reds. For trout, you can't go wrong with popping corks rigged with shrimp about 18 inches below.

If you're heading offshore, the tuna bite has been steady about 40 miles out. Mahis are starting to show up as well, giving folks some variety in their coolers.

Best baits right now? Live shrimp is always money in the bank, but if you're going artificial, gulp shrimp in new penny color or Matrix Shad in shrimp creole have been hot tickets. For topwater action, early morning with a Skitterwalk or She Dog has been producing explosive strikes.

Hot spots to try today: The MRGO rocks have been yielding good numbers of trout, while Lafitte's back bays are holding some beautiful redfish in the 5-8 pound range. For a real treat, try Shell Beach or Hopedale where guides have been putting clients on limits almost daily.

Remember y'all, the fish are there – they just ain't gonna jump in the boat! Get out there and tight lines to all of you!

This is Artificial Lure signing off until tomorrow. As we like to say down here, laissez les bon temps (et les poissons) rouler!

Artificial Lure here with your May 4th, 2025 fishing report for the New Orleans and Gulf of Mexico area.

Folks, we're looking at another beautiful day on the water! The sunrise lit up the sky at 6:12 AM, and we'll have plenty of daylight until sunset at 7:38 PM. The weather's cooperating nicely with temperatures in the low 80s and a light easterly breeze at 5-7 knots. Water clarity is good with visibility around 3-4 feet in most areas.

Tide's coming in until about 1:30 PM, then we'll see it falling through the evening. That incoming tide has been pushing some nice fish into the marshes, so plan accordingly.

The redfish bite is absolutely on fire right now! Anglers have been limiting out in the marsh areas, with some nice bull reds in the 24-30 inch range. These copper beauties are hitting gold spoons and popping corks with shrimp about 18 inches below. If you're using artificial, those new penny-colored gulp shrimp are doing the trick.

Speckled trout are showing up in decent numbers too, especially around structure and oyster beds. They're not quite as active as the reds, but if you find 'em, you can put together a nice mess of fish. Live shrimp under a popping cork is your best bet, but DOA shrimp in natural colors are working well too if you can't get live bait.

Black drum are sticking around and providing some good action, especially for folks fishing with dead shrimp or crab chunks on the bottom.

For those heading offshore, the red snapper season just opened up on May 1st with a generous four-fish daily limit per person. The minimum length is still 16 inches, and the season will remain open seven days a week until we approach our state allocation. Based on last year's extended season, we might be in for a long stretch of snapper fishing.

Hot spots this week: Chef Pass has been producing well for speckled trout. The marsh ponds off Bayou Bienvenue are loaded with redfish. And if you're headed offshore, the rigs about 30 miles out are holding plenty of snapper.

For you early birds, the first light topwater bite has been excellent. Those bone-colored Spook Juniors are getting crushed!

Remember to stay hydrated out there and keep your catch on ice. The fish are biting, so get out there and take advantage of these prime conditions!

This is Artificial Lure signing off. Tight lines, y'all!

Howdy, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your May 3rd, 2025 fishing report for the New Orleans and Gulf of Mexico area.

It's looking to be a mighty fine day on the water! High tide's hitting around 7:00 AM at 2.3 feet and again at 5:23 PM reaching 3.1 feet. Low tide will be between those times, so plan accordingly.

The fishing action has been red hot lately! Reports coming in from Lafitte and surrounding marshes show anglers hauling in impressive catches. Just a couple weeks back, a group of six teamed up with Captains Shawn and Chad and landed multiple bull reds, speckled trout, sheepsheads, and drum. The fishing gods are smiling on us!

For you offshore enthusiasts, there's fantastic news about red snapper season. It kicked off May 1st and will run seven days a week with a generous bag limit of four fish per person (16-inch minimum length). This season is expected to be historic, possibly surpassing last year's 151-day run.

As for what's biting, redfish are absolutely tearing it up in the marshes right now. Speckled trout are showing strong too, with reports of 4-pounders being landed off the beaches. Black drum are also making a good showing for themselves.

For bait, dead croakers have been working wonders for the specks. If you're going artificial, gold spoons and popping corks with shrimp-imitating soft plastics are your best bet for the reds. Those targeting bull reds might want to try cut mullet or cracked blue crabs.

Hot spots this weekend? You can't go wrong in the Delacroix marshes, where guides have been consistently putting clients on fish. The bayous around Lafitte are producing nicely too. If you're heading offshore, the waters near Grand Isle have been yielding good results for those targeting bigger game.

Remember, the early bird gets the worm, or in our case, the fish! With sunrise happening early, getting on the water at first light will give you the advantage.

Y'all stay safe out there, keep those lines tight, and don't forget to share your catches with the rest of us! This is Artificial Lure signing off – laissez les bons temps rouler and the fish keep biting!

Hey there, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Friday, May 2, 2025 Gulf of Mexico New Orleans area fishing report.

We're seeing fantastic early May conditions right now. The waters around New Orleans are coming alive as we're fully into spring fishing season. The Louisiana Red Snapper season opened yesterday, May 1st, and it's running seven days a week with a generous daily bag limit of four fish per person. Remember that 16-inch minimum length limit, folks. This season is expected to run until we approach Louisiana's annual allocation of 894,955 pounds, and based on last year's 151-day season, we might be in for an even longer opportunity this year.

Inshore fishing has been absolutely on fire lately! Redfish continue to provide exciting action throughout the marsh areas. Many anglers have been reporting excellent catches over the past couple weeks. Those speckled trout are becoming more active as the water temperatures have been steadily rising, making this a prime time to target them. Black drum have been showing strongly in the surf as well - these "big uglies" are best sought after with standard bottom fishing techniques. Live or fresh dead bait has been working wonders.

For the surf fishermen, pompano bite has been picking up nicely. Use simple pompano rigs with sand flea or shrimp-flavored Fishbites and fresh dead shrimp. They're schooling up well, but they'll likely move to deeper waters as we get closer to summer.

Offshore, the action has been equally impressive with mahi-mahi, tuna, and blacktip sharks all providing great opportunities for those willing to venture out into the Gulf.

For bait selection, fresh dead shrimp has been working great for inshore species. If you're targeting pompano, those sand fleas are your best bet. For the offshore crowd, larger live baits are producing well for the pelagics.

Hot spots this week include the marshes around Lake Borgne for redfish and the outer beaches for pompano. If you're looking for those specks, try deeper channels as the water continues to warm. For offshore enthusiasts, the oil rigs about 20-30 miles out have been consistently producing quality tuna.

Remember to check your licenses before heading out, and if you're on a charter, make sure your captain provides that Charter Pass.

That's it for today's report. This is Artificial Lure reminding you that a bad day fishing still beats a good day working. Tight lines, y'all!

Howdy, y'all! This is Artificial Lure comin' at ya with your Gulf fishin' report for this fine Wednesday mornin', April 30, 2025.

Let me tell ya, we got ourselves some interestin' tide action today. Right about now, we're approachin' low tide at 7:53 AM, so if you're readin' this, you're right in the sweet spot. High tide's gonna roll in around 7:29 this evenin', givin' us plenty of daylight hours to work with. For my New Orleans anglers, that high tide tonight's sittin' at about 1 foot, not the highest we've seen but enough to move some water around.

Sun came up this mornin' around 6 o'clock and won't be settin' till about 7:37 PM, so we got ourselves a long day of fishin' ahead. Weather's been typical spring conditions - warm days, light breezes, perfect for gettin' out on the water.

Fish activity's been pickin' up lately with the water warmin' up. Been hearin' reports of speckled trout startin' to move into the shallower marshes, and redfish are patrollin' the edges like they own the place. Few of my buddies pulled in some nice flounder this past weekend too, so they're definitely on the move.

For you lure junkies (like yours truly), I'd recommend tossin' some gold spoons around the marsh edges for those reds, especially on that outgoin' tide. For specks, can't go wrong with a chartreuse soft plastic under a popping cork - that's been the ticket lately. If you're more of a live bait person, shrimp under a cork has been killin' it, and live croakers if you can get 'em are like candy for them bigger trout.

As for hot spots, Lake Pontchartrain's been producin' some decent catches near the bridges and along the Causeway. But if you ask me, I'd point my boat toward Lake Borgne or the MRGO rocks if you're lookin' for a mixed bag. Shell Beach has been on fire lately too.

For my kayak folks, the Bayou Bienvenue area's been givin' up some nice reds and the occasional black drum. Don't overlook the canals in Hopedale neither - they been holdin' some surprisingly good fish.

Remember, with that low tide happenin' right about now, those fish are gonna be stackin' up in the deeper holes for a few hours before spreadin' out as the water comes back in. Use that to your advantage, my friends.

Alright, that's all I got for today. Y'all get out there and catch 'em up, and remember - a bad day fishin' still beats a good day at work! This is Artificial Lure signin' off until next time. Laissez les bons poissons rouler!

Fishing Report for Gulf of Mexico, New Orleans – April 23, 2025

Good morning, anglers, this is Artificial Lure bringing you the latest bite from the Gulf waters off New Orleans. With prime spring conditions setting in, we’re seeing the action heat up both inshore and offshore.

Weather today looks mild and comfortable. Early morning started just shy of 70 degrees, with light south winds that’ll help bring in that saltier water we love to see right now. We’ll have sunrise at 6:24 AM and sunset at 7:36 PM, giving you all day to chase down your limit. Expect partly cloudy skies and a soft breeze, perfect for staying comfortable out on the marsh or out past the rigs.

Tides are running moderate today, with a morning incoming tide peaking around 9:32 AM and a healthy outgoing starting late morning, which should keep fish feeding. These moving tides are always a plus for working the points and pockets around the marsh.

Fish activity is popping, especially for redfish and speckled trout. Redfish are thick over in the Biloxi Marsh—reports show slots and bulls upwards of 10 pounds are stacking up along those grass edges and points. Anglers are picking up speckled trout in better numbers every day, especially as the shrimp and baitfish start flooding back in with the warmer water. Boundary lines like the outer marsh near Hopedale and down by Delacroix have been especially productive this past week, with a few flounder and some puppy drum mixed in for bonus bites[1][2][3].

Offshore, tuna action is picking up for those running out deep, but inshore and nearshore are stealing the show for numbers. Around the barrier islands, catches include trout, some jack crevalle, and sharks are starting to show up too[3].

Best lures right now are popping corks with live shrimp or matrix shad soft plastics in opening night and shrimp creole colors. Topwater plugs at first light are putting solid trout in the box, and gold spoons or spinnerbaits are hard to beat for those marsh reds. If you can get your hands on live bait at your local shop, don’t pass it up—the fish are chasing real food as much as artificials right now.

Hot spots to try today include the Biloxi Marsh edges for both trout and reds, and don’t overlook the Lake Borgne area as the water has started to clear up and fish are pushing back in. The mouth of Bayou St. Malo and the south shoreline of Lake Borgne are both producing.

Numbers-wise, anglers are steadily landing limits of trout and redfish, with some reports of double-digit redfish days for boats working the moving water and bait-laden cuts near the marsh[1][2][3].

That’s the scoop for today. Get out there, stay safe, and tight lines from Artificial Lure.