Fishing reports
12463 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Early fall turn-on brings bass and walleye into play across NY
Walleye "continue to cooperate" and smallmouth bass action is "picking up" on Lake Ontario's Niagara-area waters, per Brookdog Fishing Co.'s September 6 report — the most current angler intel we have touching New York fisheries this cycle. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge data came back for the Hudson Valley or Finger Lakes specifically, so treat water temps and flow as unconfirmed until you check locally before launching. That pattern lines up with what's typical statewide as September rolls on: smallmouth push toward rocky points and drop-offs chasing baitfish, walleye feed harder during low light, and largemouth start keying on shad schools as surface temps ease. Finger Lakes trout and landlocked salmon programs also tend to draw more attention this time of year as the thermocline starts to break down. With a Waxing Crescent moon this week, dawn and dusk should outproduce the midday bite.
Cooling ponds nudge CT bass into their fall baitfish pattern
Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch and Tactical Bassin both flagged the same early-September cue this week: bass sliding off summer weed edges to key on dying vegetation and baitfish as water cools — exactly the transition Connecticut's inland lakes and ponds are entering now. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for the state's freshwater sites this cycle, so treat flow and temperature as unconfirmed and check a local source before heading out. Just over the border, The Fisherman's New England Freshwater column reported largemouth responding to swimbaits and soft plastics in Massachusetts ponds, a pattern that typically mirrors similar water in northern CT within a week or two. Panfish and smallmouth should stay steady through the cooling stretch. Field & Stream's fall bass coverage backs the same baitfish-first approach for anyone working weed lines or dock pilings this week.
Hawaii's fall pelagic bite holds steady into ono season
No buoy or gauge readings came through for Hawaiian waters this cycle, and this week's shop, charter, and forum feeds didn't return any fresh Hawaii-specific bite reports — so we're leaning on typical September patterns for the islands until better intel comes in. Hawaii Fishing News, the state's official record-keeper for biggest-fish catches, continues to run its moon and tide calendar as the standard reference for timing a trip around the current lunar cycle. Early-to-mid September is typically a transitional window for Hawaii's pelagic fishery, with mahimahi schools generally thinning from their summer peak while ono (wahoo) activity tends to hold up well along current edges and structure. Ulua (giant trevally) fishing from shore stays a reliable year-round option regardless of season, and aku (skipjack) usually remain catchable inshore. Bottom fishing for deeper reef species is a solid fallback when offshore conditions turn marginal. Check state regs before harvesting, and plan trips around local tide tables.
Central Mass smallmouth push deep as bass settle into fall drop-shot bite
Smallmouth and largemouth bass are still producing solid numbers on a deep drop-shot pattern across Central Massachusetts ponds and lakes this week. At Wallum Lake near Milford, anglers T.J. and a fishing partner boated 30 to 40 smallmouths in the 1.5- to 2.5-pound class, four similarly sized largemouths, and an 18-inch rainbow trout, all on drop-shotted baits worked in roughly 30 feet of water, per Jerry's Bait and Tackle as reported by The Fisherman — New England Freshwater. That same report notes the largemouth bite at Congamond Lakes in Southwick has cooled from its red-hot pace two weeks earlier, though a Thursday-evening big-bass tournament there still produced a 3-pound, 5-ounce largemouth and a better-than-10-pound three-fish stringer. With water temperatures easing downward into September, the deep-structure pattern should keep holding fish through the early-fall transition before baitfish and bass alike start sliding shallower.
Fall transition nears for Quabbin and Wachusett smallmouth and trout
No buoy or gauge readings came back for Quabbin or Wachusett this cycle, so today's read leans on statewide signals from elsewhere in Massachusetts freshwater. Per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, Red Top Sporting Goods in Buzzards Bay reported largemouth activity beginning to pick up this week on swimbaits and small Flukes as water starts to cool, calling it the first sign that "interest in sweetwater angling is beginning to heat up." Further west, Sauder's Boat Livery in Southwick noted the bass bite at Congamond Lakes cooled off after being "on fire" two weeks earlier — fish are still around, but anglers are working harder for smaller ones, though a big-bass event still produced a 3-pound, 5-ounce largemouth. At Quabbin and Wachusett specifically, expect a similar seasonal shift: smallmouth and lake trout should start sliding toward structure as surface temps drop, with landlocked salmon activity typically improving as nights cool. Check current MassWildlife regulations before targeting reservoir trout or salmon.
Delaware Bay flounder bite holds strong into mid-September
Delaware Bay's flounder bite is holding up well for mid-September, with Higbee's Bait and Tackle reporting a boat limit of keepers to 22 inches on minnows, spearing and squid strips, while Big Dave's Tackle logged flatties to 23 inches on the same combo. Weakfish are mixed in too — Big Dave's has seen weakies to 19 inches on drifted baits, and Hands Too Bait and Tackle reports weakfish to 4 pounds on soft plastics and bloodworms along the bay beaches and jetties, where heavy bait has also pulled bluefish to 6 pounds on hard plastics. Smith's Bait Shop notes croaker, flounder and trout still working the Port Mahon reef sites and Bowers Beach jetties, and Spanish mackerel are showing on trolled Clark and Drone spoons around Fenwick Shoal per The Fisherman — DE/MD/Chesapeake. Black drum to 20 pounds have also turned up on clam baits. Early-September rain muddied some inshore water, per Eric Burnley, but the bite held.
Croaker and flounder hold steady as Chesapeake awaits fall run
Delaware Bay and Chesapeake-area reports point to a solid early-fall bite despite a rough start to September. Eric Burnley notes that heavy rain early in the month muddied inshore waters, but flounder, croaker, and even tilefish kept biting through the disturbance, per The Fisherman - DE/MD/Chesapeake. At Smith's Bait Shop, anglers working the Woodland Beach pier picked up croaker and small striped bass on bloodworms and Fishbites, while boats out of Port Mahon found croaker, flounder, and trout at Mid-Bay reef sites, flounder on live minnows or squid-tipped bucktails, trout on peeler crab or yellow bucktails. Hook 'em and Cook 'em reports charter boats trolling Clark and Drone spoons for Spanish mackerel around Fenwick Shoal, with triggerfish and croaker also in the mix on bottom rigs. Regionally, Coastal Angler Magazine flags the fall striped bass migration building from New England into the Mid-Atlantic as water cools.
Fall Striper Run Builds North Toward the NH Coast
No live buoy or gauge readings came back for the Gulf of Maine NH coast this cycle, so this update leans on the regional picture feeding into it. Striped bass are "beginning to show signs of organizing into a full-on fall run with isolated blitz action," particularly to the north, per The Fisherman's New England Video Fishing Forecast (Sept. 10). That tracks with reports from The Fisherman's South Shore Massachusetts to Maine coverage: stripers are still stacked up and feeding heavily in southern Maine, with anglers there "waiting and salivating" for that push to migrate into local waters, while bass have already begun exiting Boston Harbor and working south past Hull and Plymouth on pogies. Bottom fishing in the Gulf of Maine is mixed — Beauport Fishing Adventures is doing well on cusk, redfish, and pollock, though cod have lagged expectations since the reopened Gulf of Maine season, and bluefish have been scarce region-wide all year.
Illinois River Bass Bite Ignites as Fall Transition Sets In
Illinois River anglers are chasing volume this week: On The Water reports a competitor at Spring Bay aiming to land 2,500 fish in 24 hours at an Illinois marathon fishing event, a sign multi-species action on the river stays brisk heading into mid-September. No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through this cycle, so we're leaning on regional intel rather than hard numbers for water temp and flow — check a local gauge before you launch. Bass are the standout story from the wider Midwest desk: Tactical Bassin and Fishing the Midwest both flag the early-fall transition as prime time for bladed swim jigs and Free Rig presentations worked around docks and dying grass edges. Walleye anglers, per Fishing the Midwest, are blending traditional live-bait rigs with forward-facing sonar as clearing water and cooling temps shift fish positioning. Catfish should hold a typical steady early-fall pattern on the river. Direct Lake Michigan perch and salmon intel was thin this cycle — nothing specific reported from a citable source.
Rangeley-area brookies show fall colors as evening hatches hold
A brook trout already dressed in full spawning colors turned up on the line last week, per Mainely Fly Fishing (ME) — an early tell that the fall spawning run is stirring across the Rangeley Lakes system. The same report flagged a surprise hatch producing steady dusk rises on Kennebago Lake, part of the greater Rangeley chain, keeping dry-fly anglers on the water into the last light. No fresh buoy or streamflow readings came through this cycle, so treat water-temp expectations as seasonal rather than a live reading: mid-September typically has Rangeley-area lakes and Androscoggin headwaters cooling through the 50s into the low 60s, with dawn and dusk the sharper windows. Landlocked salmon and lake trout (togue) tend to follow brookies toward staging water as temperatures drop, though no source in this cycle reported directly on either species. Check current Maine IFW regulations before targeting brook trout showing spawning colors — some waters carry fall closures.
Wabash smallmouth and Lake Michigan salmon eye the fall turn
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Wabash River or southern Lake Michigan today, so this report leans on regional seasonal signal rather than a same-day bite report. Fishing the Midwest's latest dispatch flags dying weed edges as the trigger point for fall feeding activity across the region right now, with baitfish and gamefish pushing off stale cover toward the healthiest remaining green weeds — a pattern that applies directly to Wabash River backwaters and Lake Michigan nearshore structure alike. Separately, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant is gearing up for its 2026 State of Lake Michigan Meeting this November, a reminder the basin's researchers are tracking the lake closely even outside peak fishing season. No direct captain, shop, or agency catch reports came in for Indiana waters specifically today, so species notes below reflect typical early-September timing rather than confirmed bites — worth checking a local shop before making the drive.
Allegheny Tailwaters Turn the Corner Into Fall Bass and Muskie Season
Field & Stream's new breakdown of fall live-bait tactics for muskellunge landed this week right as that seasonal window opens on tailwater stretches below Pittsburgh's Allegheny River dams, and it's a good excuse to walk through what's actually working. We didn't get fresh buoy or gauge readings for this stretch this cycle, so treat flow and temperature as unknowns until you check a current USGS reading before launching. Smallmouth bass are shifting into their classic early-fall pattern — Tactical Bassin's recent technique rundowns on baitfish-following bass and dock fishing during the fall transition track with what smallmouth typically do on Allegheny ledges and current seams this time of year. Walleye should start showing more consistently in tailwater current breaks as water cools, and muskie anglers targeting the river's known fish should lean into the live-sucker approach Field & Stream just detailed, done carefully and released promptly.
Penns Creek and Spring Creek Ease Into a Fall Trout Rhythm
No buoy or gauge telemetry came back for these two central Pennsylvania limestone waters this week, and none of today's shop, charter, or agency feeds carried a report specific to the Spring Creek or Penns Creek valleys either — so rather than borrow a claim from water we have no data on, this report leans on typical September behavior for spring-fed limestone streams in this region. These systems are known for stable, cool, groundwater-fed base flows that hold up well even as summer heat fades, which keeps wild browns and native brookies feeding on a fairly predictable clock. Mid-September here usually marks the tail end of terrestrial season along grassy, undercut banks, with Blue-Winged Olive activity building on overcast mornings. Expect low, clear water and well-educated trout that punish sloppy presentations — long leaders, fine tippet, and a drag-free drift matter more than fly selection most days. Always confirm current Spring Creek special-regulation boundaries and statewide trout rules with the PA Fish and Boat Commission before you fish or harvest.
Fall salmon staging builds at the Grand River mouth
Direct field reports for Lake Michigan and the Grand River mouth were thin this cycle — no buoy or gauge readings came through, and the regional coverage available (the MI DNR's weekly report page, Michigan Sportsman Forum, Great Lakes Bass Forum) didn't surface specific bite details for this exact stretch of water. What we can say with confidence is seasonal: mid-September is when Chinook salmon typically begin staging off west Michigan river mouths ahead of their push into the Grand River, a pattern local anglers plan around every fall. Smallmouth bass and walleye usually hold steady around nearshore structure as the lake eases toward fall temperatures. A Michigan Sportsman Forum thread this week asked for current intel on river conditions farther north, a sign anglers are already scouting the fall river bite, though no confirmed reports came back in this feed. Check the MI DNR's weekly report directly for the latest verified counts before you go.
Fall transition turns on streamer bites for MT trout
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Yellowstone or Missouri River corridors this cycle, and this week's angler-intel feeds didn't carry a Montana-specific report, so this update leans on typical mid-September patterns for the region rather than a single named source. That's not unusual for this stretch of water — coverage from national fly and blog outlets tends to skew toward Rockies fall-transition themes in general rather than named MT tailwaters. What is well established for this time of year: cooling nights are pushing water temperatures down, hopper-dropper rigs are on their way out as terrestrial activity fades, and streamer fishing for pre-spawn brown trout is starting to build. Mountain whitefish stay a dependable subsurface option through the shoulder season on nymph rigs. Missouri River tailwater stretches typically hold steadier flows and clearer water into fall, supporting technical dry-dropper and small-fly presentations. Anglers should treat today's report as a seasonal baseline and check local fly shop chatter for the latest bite specifics before heading out.
Early-fall shift nudges Catawba and Roanoke bass toward grass lines
Fishing the Midwest's latest fall-pattern notes flag the seasonal cue worth watching this week: baitfish schools pushing shallower and toward grass edges as surface temperatures ease into the early-fall shoulder season. No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for the Catawba chain or the Roanoke River this cycle, so treat this as a seasonal outlook rather than a live reading — check current local gauges before you head out. Tactical Bassin's early-fall dock breakdown echoes the same trigger, with bass tucking tight to dock pilings and adjacent grass lines as baitfish relocate off summer haunts. Catfish remain a dependable year-round producer on both rivers regardless of the transition. Striper activity on the Catawba lakes typically holds to deeper, cooler water through mid-September, while crappie stay the slowest bite of the group until temperatures drop further into true fall. Expect bass to lead the pack as the week's most reliable target.
Fall Salmon Push Builds as St. Clair River Sturgeon Bite Heats Up
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for the Great Lakes & Grand River region this cycle, so this update leans on angler intel and seasonal timing. The clearest signal: anglers working the St. Clair River are connecting with lake sturgeon on plain earthworm rigs, per a Wired 2 Fish report on a Pennsylvania couple who drove in specifically to target them. That's a solid September pattern for Michigan's connecting waters. Elsewhere, Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch notes walleye anglers are blending forward-facing sonar with traditional crawler-harness and jigging presentations as clear-water lakes push fish deeper. Tactical Bassin's early-fall coverage points to bass tightening up on docks and grass edges as baitfish schools concentrate — a pattern that typically holds across Midwest waters into late September. Mid-September is also when Great Lakes Chinook salmon traditionally stage and push into tributaries; expect that bite to build through the month. Check current MDNR regs before harvesting sturgeon, which carry strict seasonal rules.
Fall salmon push builds along Indiana's Lake Michigan shoreline
Mid-September marks the seasonal turn along Indiana's Lake Michigan shoreline, when cooling surface water typically triggers Chinook and coho salmon and steelhead to start staging near harbor mouths and pier structure ahead of their fall spawning push. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came back for this stretch this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel feeds carry a direct shop, captain, or state report from the Indiana lakeshore itself — the closest regional signal is Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant's ongoing Great Lakes education and research programming, which speaks to the health of the basin but not to what's biting today. With no fresh eyewitness reports to lean on, we're working off typical early-fall patterns: salmon and steelhead activity should build through the month as nearshore temps drop, yellow perch action tends to taper as fish slide toward deeper water, and smallmouth bass stay catchable around nearshore rock and pier riprap. Check a local shop or the Indiana DNR site before heading out, since ground-truth reports for this exact stretch were thin this cycle.
Spanish mackerel keep Cape Lookout coast red hot into fall
Spanish mackerel are lighting up the Cape Lookout coast this week — Chasin' Tails in Morehead City (per Fisherman's Post) reports nearshore anglers trolling the beaches into steady mixed catches of spanish mackerel and bluefish, with fish showing on top when bait balls get pushed up. Up at Topsail, East Coast Sports says surf and pier anglers are working casting jigs for the same spanish mackerel/bluefish combo, with the best of it coming early in the day. Down toward the Pamlico Sound gateway at Hatteras, Hatteras Jack reports bottom anglers picking up good-sized sea mullet off the Rodanthe-area beaches, with occasional sight-casting chances turning up too. Carolina Beach is running typical late-summer fare — croakers, small sharks, and pinfish — per Island Tackle and Hardware. With water still holding onto summer warmth, spanish mackerel and bluefish are the clear headliners along this stretch as the calendar turns toward the fall transition.
Sea mullet keep Hatteras surf anglers busy as fall bite builds
Bottom anglers working the Rodanthe-area beaches are boxing good-sized sea mullet this week, per Eric at Hatteras Jack, with surf fishermen also getting looks at sight-casting opportunities along the same stretch. That fall build is showing up coastwide too: Fisherman's Post (NC)'s regional roundup has captains trolling up spanish mackerel and bluefish off Morehead City, while Topsail/Sneads Ferry anglers are working casting jigs into the same two species from the surf and piers. Down at Carolina Beach, the report is still a summer holdover — croakers, small sharks, and pinfish in the wash. No local buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, so treat water temp and swell as unknowns until you check a local source before heading out. NC Sea Grant's storm-readiness reminder is also timely — we're deep in hurricane season, so keep one eye on the tropics alongside the bite.
Charleston Harbor inshore holds strong as flounder run builds
Captain Justin Ravenel's September report for Coastal Angler Magazine describes strong early-fall inshore fishing in the marsh creeks and rivers around Charleston, South Carolina — one of the better stretches this fishery sees all year as water starts easing off summer highs. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for Charleston Harbor with this cycle, so we're leaning on angler intel rather than instrument data today. Redfish and spotted seatrout remain the backbone of this fishery through September, typically holding tight to oyster rakes, dock pilings, and grass edges on the moving tide, while flounder start stacking up around creek mouths and channel edges as they stage for their fall push toward the inlets. Spanish mackerel and bluefish are turning on farther up the Carolina coast per Fisherman's Post, a pattern that often works its way south into SC waters as temps drop. Check current state regs before harvesting.
Erie anglers lean on fall transition as reports stay quiet
No buoy or gauge readings came through for Lake Erie or Presque Isle this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel feeds carried a direct report from the bay or the lake itself — the closest regional source, PA Sea Grant, published staffing and workshop news rather than a conditions update, and PA Fish & Boat's Biologist Reports page returned no dated entry for this stretch. Rather than guess at a bite, we're leaning on what's typical for mid-September on Lake Erie: walleye starting to push out of deep summer haunts as baitfish schools shift, smallmouth bass still working rock and gravel structure before the fall drop-back, and yellow perch beginning to bunch up in scattered schools. The Presque Isle steelhead run is not expected to be underway yet at this date — that typically builds through October as water temperatures fall. Check current PA Fish & Boat regulations before targeting any species, and treat this as a seasonal outlook rather than a same-day report.
Albies push into Montauk as Long Island's fall run stirs to life
False albacore are filling in off Montauk and yellowfin tuna are showing on the midshore grounds, per On The Water's September 10 Long Island report, while big fluke keep chewing from the Western Sound to the South Shore as they exit the backwaters for the season. On the East End, Double D Charters says striped bass are just beginning to trickle in with porgy and sea bass still strong, while White Water Outfitters in Hampton Bays reports stripers showing alongside steady Shinnecock Bay fluke and a strong inlet bluefish bite. Farther west, Fishing East Coast Bait and Tackle in Little Neck credits this week's full moon for a good nighttime striper bite on live eels around Throggs Neck and Manhasset Bay. Bluefish are a mixed bag — red-hot on diamond jigs for the Fishfinder II out of the South Shore, but still "disappointing" per Tyalure Tackle on the North Shore. Cooling nights into the new moon should keep pushing the fall transition forward.
Whitefish buzz builds Superior-wide as North Shore cools into fall
Lake whitefish are the headline story on Lake Superior this year — Wisconsin DNR reports a fishery that has "emerged" strongly enough in the Chequamegon Bay area that biologists ran a public meeting in Ashland and are now surveying anglers through an online questionnaire, a sign of basin-wide interest in a species North Shore anglers can target too. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge data came back for the North Shore this cycle, so water temp and flow are unverified this run — check a local report before planning around numbers. Typical for mid-September on Superior: cooling surface temps push baitfish shallower and trigger the early fall coho and lake trout bite, while steelhead usually don't stage hard at river mouths until later in the month. Wisconsin DNR is also recruiting Lake Superior basin anglers for a Michigan Tech burbot study, another marker of growing interest beyond salmon and trout. With tonight's new moon, expect the sharpest bite windows at dawn and dusk.