Artificial Lure checking in from Louisiana’s Gulf coast, gettin’ you set for a Saturday out on the water: November 8, 2025. Sunrise today hit at 6:21 am, with sunset coming in at 5:07 pm. Novembers bring the front edge of cool mornings and dropping water temps, which put those Gulf fish on edge—in a good way. Today’s weather starts crisp, upper 50s breaking into low 70s by midday, light northwest winds 8 to 12 knots, pushing ebb tide conditions all morning into early afternoon. Check your tidal charts for Grand Isle or Empire Jetty—the high tide’s rolling in around 7:45 am, dropping till about 3 pm. Those moving tides are prime for feeding reds and specks.

The bite has turned on strong since Halloween. According to Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana Fishing Report Today, speckled trout and redfish are firing up in marshes and passes, especially with good moving water this week. Multiple local guides are reporting near limits of slot reds pulled from grassy shorelines, oyster beds and pond mouths, with specks chasing shrimp and glass minnows over shell and mud flats. Reports out of Calcasieu Lake and Delacroix confirm: reds are stacked tight up in shallow lakes and duck ponds, feeding hard as they push deeper with cooler water. Trout are bunching up under birds and slicks, especially as big bait balls—menhaden and mullet—get swept around with the tide.

If you’re wondering what’s working best, this week is all about **artificial lures** and **live shrimp**. For specks, it’s tough to beat a 3-inch paddletail swimbait rigged on a quarter-ounce jig head, especially in New Penny, Electric Chicken, or Glow Tiger. Under a popping cork, live shrimp is money for both reds and trout. Redfish are smashing gold spoons and spinnerbaits, as well as larger paddletail plastics bounced across grass edges. Don’t overlook topwater plugs early—a Zara Spook or Skitter Walk (silver or bone color) will draw explosive strikes at first light. If you fish bottom, cut mullet or fresh shrimp are calling in bull reds and black drum. According to Bassmaster’s tournament writeup, crossover baits like crawl-style plastics Texas-rigged and weedless swimbaits are also producing, especially in grassy and shallow flats.

Best thing about November—in-between fronts, fish get active. On the Farmers’ Almanac calendar, today is rated “BEST” for evening action, so plan for late day as winds settle and bait stages up in current lines.

Recent catches have been impressive: local anglers on social media and Louisiana Sportsman are showing stringers of specks in the 16–21 inch range and reds up to 27 inches. Mixed bags include sheepshead and black drum by bridge pylons and rocks, and there’s occasional flounder in deeper cuts.

If you want a sure bet, here’s a couple hot spots for today:

- **Empire Jetty:** On the west side—work the outgoing tide across rocks and beach grass. This area is firing on all cylinders for both reds and specks, especially as mullet run through the channel.
- **Lake Campo in Delacroix:** The fall run is on, with reds and trout piling up in the little bayous and main lake flats. Fish grass lines with gold spoons or paddle tails, pop a cork with shrimp near moving current.
- **Calcasieu Lake:** The north end has been stacked with big bull reds and specks under birds. Find a bait slick, throw a swimbait or live shrimp, and hang on.

Extra tip—work slow in the morning cold, then speed up your retrieve as water warms through midday. Keep your tackle beefy; reds will break off lightweight hooks, so go with 20–30 lb braid and stout hardware.

That’s the Saturday scoop from the Gulf: steady action, strong tides and plenty of fish biting from Delacroix to Grand Isle, through Sabine, Calcasieu, and Venice. Be safe, watch those tides, and respect the marsh—there’s more than enough for everyone to enjoy. Thanks for tuning in! Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss...