Know What's Biting
Before You Go

NOAA buoy 42001 recorded 82°F Gulf water in the early hours of May 27, signaling the full arrival of summer inshore conditions along Louisiana's coast. Salt Strong's recent angler coverage highlights redfish stacking on oyster bars — the species concentrating where shell hash meets tidal current — and black drum holding tight to bridge pilings and piers. Both patterns are characteristic of this late-May temperature window, and structure is the dominant playbook for delta and back-bay anglers right now. Louisiana Sportsman reported that LDWF conducted two joint enforcement patrols with NOAA Fisheries in the Gulf this past week, so ensure licenses, slot compliance, and bag limits are squared away before launching. Offshore, buoy 42001 shows 4.3-foot wave heights and winds around 15 knots — manageable for larger vessels but rough for small center consoles. Inshore conditions appear considerably calmer, with buoy 42067 logging only light winds near 4 knots.

3d ago

USGS gauge 03335500 recorded the Wabash River at 5,270 cfs on the evening of May 26 — a moderately elevated late-spring flow following recent rainfall, with no water temperature available from this gauge. At these levels the main channel is pushing hard; Fishing the Midwest's river coverage points to slower-water pockets, eddy lines, and inside bends as the productive zones, with walleye and sauger responding to jig and slip-sinker crawler presentations along current seams. On the bass front, Tactical Bassin's post-spawn breakdown is directly applicable: most Indiana largemouth and smallmouth have wrapped spawning and are in recovery, males guarding fry near shallow cover while larger females hold along the first depth break. Over on Lake Michigan's Indiana shoreline, IL/IN Sea Grant reports spring nearshore buoy deployment is underway, reopening the agency's three-station monitoring network for the season. Channel catfish are entering a seasonal uptick on the Wabash — typical late-May timing as river temperatures climb toward the mid-60s.

3d ago

NOAA buoy 51004 is reading 79°F off the southeast face of the island chain — right in the range that gets offshore boats moving in late May. Buoy 51001 to the northwest confirms similar warmth at 77°F, and trade winds are holding steady at 8–10 m/s across all three sensors. The Waxing Gibbous moon puts anglers two to three days from full, a window many Hawaii captains plan offshore runs around, when larger pelagics tend to be active near the surface. Hawaii Fishing News, the state's official record-keeper, tracks moon and tide rhythms as central context for planning runs. No charter or shop field reports were available this cycle, so species assessments below reflect seasonal norms for late May in Hawaiian waters rather than direct on-water testimony. Blue marlin are building through this month, mahi-mahi are active in the upper water column, and yellowfin tuna (ahi) are a consistent presence across the warm blue-water band.

3d ago

A new Lake Tugalo shellcracker record headlines the week: Clarkesville native Phil Black landed a 2-lb., 3.26-oz. redear sunfish on a worm and spinning rod on May 20, certified by DNR scales, per GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News. Bass action has matched that momentum. Joshua Barber's May 23 Southern Waters report in GA Sportsman describes panfish and bass biting well across Georgia river systems, with Jimmy Zinker boating a 6-lb largemouth on a night trip using a Muskie Jitterbug. The Savannah River at Clyo (USGS gauge 02197000) is running at 8,270 cfs and holding steady, offering fishable conditions on the main stem. The Georgia Wildlife Blog notes another strong week of fishing underway statewide, with the Georgia Bass Slam and Trout Slam challenges drawing anglers to explore multiple species and waters. Rain is forecast nearly every day next week, which could open additional aggressive feeding windows.

3d ago

The Virginia DWR Wildlife Blog is spotlighting spring striped bass action across Virginia's coastal systems, noting fish schooling along channel edges, sandy flats, grass beds, and hugging hard structure in coastal areas — exactly the habitat defining Chincoteague's barrier island inlets and back bays. Backing that up regionally, The Fisherman (Northeast) is reporting a spring push of 20- to 30-pound stripers, "the likes of which we haven't seen in many years," with the migration corridor running squarely through mid-Atlantic waters right now. NOAA buoy 44014 logged an air temperature near 70°F on the evening of May 26, though water temperature and sea-state data were unavailable from this station. With a waxing gibbous moon driving strong tidal movement, current edges and rip lines are the priority target areas at dawn and dusk. Summer flounder are expected in coastal inlets as the season builds, and bluefish are tracking southward toward Virginia waters.

3d ago

With water temps at 65°F on the Connecticut River (USGS gauge 01184000) and the Middletown-to-Cromwell stretch packed with shad and stripers, late May is delivering one of the year's strongest inland fishing windows. Fishin' Factory 3 in Middletown called the Connecticut River "the most popular fishing destination at this time," with the Rocky Hill boat launch area also running hot. White perch are showing up as a consistent bycatch for striper anglers drifting sandworms. On the trout front, Fisherman's World in Norwalk reports the Wilton section of the Norwalk River is fishing well on recently stocked fish, with Roostertails, Kastmasters, and Mepps Spinners all getting strikes. Smaller tributaries are running at moderate levels, giving wading anglers good access to their best runs. The waxing gibbous moon should keep feeding windows elevated through the upcoming weekend.

3d ago