As of November 3, 2024, the fishing scene in the Gulf of Mexico around New Orleans is looking promising, despite the evolving weather conditions.

### Weather and Tides
High pressure remains over the northern Gulf, bringing generally easterly winds offshore and light to variable winds in protected waters. Expect east winds of 10 to 15 knots tonight, increasing to 15 to 20 knots by Tuesday night. Seas in the coastal waters are anticipated to be around 2 to 4 feet, occasionally reaching up to 6 feet.

Sunrise today is at around 6:30 AM, and sunset will be at approximately 5:15 PM.

### Fish Activity
The recent cooler weather has made fishing more enjoyable, and the big tides have allowed access to previously unreachable areas. Redfish, speckled trout, and bull reds are actively feeding due to the abundance of bait in the bays. Moving water and bait concentration are key factors in locating these fish.

### Catches
Yesterday saw a good number of speckled trout caught, particularly in the 20-inch range. Redfish, including bull reds, were also plentiful. Anglers reported successful catches using live or dead shrimp as bait, especially when fishing against the grass in broken marsh areas and drifting oyster reefs in 3 to 5 feet of water.

### Best Lures and Bait
For targeting redfish, using Boat Monkey corks against the grass in marsh areas with shells against the banks has been effective. Live or dead shrimp are the preferred bait. For speckled trout, drifting oyster reefs with bait pushed over by the big tide swings has yielded good results.

### Hot Spots
- The Louisiana marshes, particularly around the broken marsh areas with shells against the banks, are hot spots for redfish.
- Drifting oyster reefs in 3 to 5 feet of water in the Mississippi Sound is ideal for catching speckled trout.

Overall, the combination of cooler weather, abundant bait, and favorable tidal conditions makes this a great time to be out on the water in the Gulf of Mexico around New Orleans.