Artificial Lure here—coming to you with the Thursday, November 6, 2025 fishing report for the Gulf of Mexico waters around Louisiana, straight from the heart of local experience.

Sun broke the horizon this morning at 6:13 AM and you can expect it to dip back down just before 5:00 PM. You're looking at about 11 hours of daylight—plenty for a solid session on the water. The air’s cool and stable with marine conditions gradually improving after the minor coastal flooding from earlier in the week, according to the latest marine weather update. Winds are moderate, making for comfortable casting and clean drift, especially in the marshes and open bays.

As for tides, we're in a mid-cycle phase—nothing extreme. In Cocodrie, the first low tide will hit just after 8:50 AM and the evening brings a high around 1.34 ft, per NOAA tide predictions. Grand Isle and Calcasieu Pass see low tidal coefficients today, so current speed will be less than usual, ideal for targeting finicky reds and trout. If you’re planning to fish the mouths and passes, expect steady—if not frenzied—tidal movement, which keeps bait active but doesn’t scatter fish all over the map.

Now the bite: November’s here, and the fall feed is firing up. The speckled trout are thick in the marshes and along the edges of the barrier islands—kayak anglers have been pulling limits just about everywhere from Lafitte down to Buras-Venice. Redfish are cruising the shallows, and no surprise, big bull reds are showing up with the cooling temps—one lucky crew boated a 40-inch bruiser last week out of Lafitte on a Redfish Magic spinnerbait, fought for twenty minutes, then released to battle again. Further west in the Calcasieu basin, largemouth bass are still active, with 4- to 5-pounders popping buzzbaits and spinnerbaits near structure in the afternoons.

Hot spots? Venice remains a classic, where the marsh meets river and bay—trout, reds, and flounder all stacked around the cuts and grass beds. Grand Isle is hitting strong too, especially around Caminada Pass and the oyster reefs off the north side. Lake Pontchartrain’s trestles have seen big trout and scattered reds, especially when the water’s moving and bait schools sweep through.

Lure selection—keep it simple, keep it moving. In these cooling, clear waters, toss **Redfish Magic spinnerbaits** for reds and bull reds. For specks, opt for **soft plastic paddle tails**—Matrix Shads in shrimp or chartreuse, and don’t shy away from a popping cork to keep ‘em in the strike zone. In shallow marsh cuts, a **topwater walking bait** at sunrise might deliver explosive strikes, especially on calm mornings. Bass are responding to **buzzbaits**, **bladed jigs**, and even squarebill crankbaits around points and flooded laydowns. If the trout or reds are a bit slow, slip a live shrimp or finger mullet under a cork—nothing beats natural bait when the chill is on.

Menhaden (pogies) are still schooling heavy offshore and, according to state biologists, the buffer for commercial boats remains a hot topic, but recreational anglers are seeing less bycatch and cleaner water inshore thanks to those regulations—good news for sport fishing.

Limit catches reported this week: multiple trout and redfish limits, especially east of the river, with some groups reporting 15-20 keeper trout in a single morning, and reds consistently in the slot and over. Bass are holding, but numbers a bit down from October; focus on grass lines with moving baits to stay in the game.

Quick pro tip: scent can make a difference on these cool, clear mornings. Geecrack Big Bass Energy spray stays on soft plastics and can trigger those hesitant fish to commit.

Don’t forget, November offers some of the best mixed bag action on the Gulf Coast. Get out early, watch your tides, keep a light touch, and you’ll find yourself stringing up a mighty good haul.

Thanks for tuning in, and...