re: Hot Water Canal fishing......Anybody familiar with it?

Closest launch is Bienvenue, but it is doable from the Chef or Seabrook as well. I come from the Chef area. It's across the GICW from where the MRGO intersects it. It is best after a couple good cold fronts have pushed the fish into a fall/winter pattern.
I use plastic cocohoes sweetened with mkt bait, usually bounced on the bottom. I've had luck at other depths too.

I've had some good meat hauls from there, but I don't enjoy that spot unless it's during the week. Way too many people go there on cold weekends.