Fishing reports
7516 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
NY Bass Season in Full Stride as Summer Patterns Lock In
NY DEC's June 26th Fishing Line confirms largemouth and smallmouth bass season is running strong across New York, with the June 12th issue noting 'the fish bite is picking up with the warmer summer weather.' For Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes anglers, late June means bass have finished spawning and are settling into predictable summer routines: shallow cover and weed edges at first light, then retreating to deeper structure as midday heat builds. Tonight's full moon will push the most aggressive feeding into dawn and dusk windows. No NOAA buoy or USGS flow readings were available for this cycle — verify local water conditions before heading out. Spring-stocked trout from DEC's active hatchery program remain catchable in shaded tributary streams, though warming temps have likely pushed them toward spring holes and deeper runs. Check current NY DEC regulations before harvesting any species.
Bass and stripers compress to deep water as summer peaks on Hill Country lakes
No direct current reports for Lakes Travis, LBJ, or Buchanan landed in this cycle's intel feeds, but Texas Fish & Game Magazine's mid-summer Texas bass breakdown frames the moment precisely: by late June, the productive spring shoreline patterns have faded and Texas reservoir bass are suspending over deep structure, hugging the thermocline through the heat of the day. The My Canyon Lake Fishing blog confirms the broader Hill Country region is running at solid water levels — Canyon Lake is sitting eight feet higher than the same date in 2025, with boat ramps open and conditions described as ideal for fishing and on-water recreation. Tonight's Full Moon can trigger brief shallow feeding windows at dawn and dusk, making those low-light edges worth targeting with topwater before the sun climbs. Striped bass — the signature draw on Travis and Buchanan — are typically thermocline-bound and chasing shad schools at depth by this point in the season. Specific bite reports for these three lakes were not captured this cycle; confirm local conditions before launching.
Quality Fluke Arriving in Raritan Bay as Sea Bass and Sharks Heat Up
Water temps in Raritan Bay are hovering around 65-66°F, with Capt Ron out of Atlantic Highlands reporting 65.7°F on his most recent trip and 'quality fluke finally showing up' after weeks of mostly short fish. A 5-pound 2-ounce pool winner capped the turnaround, and bait rigs have been clearly outperforming jigs this week. Sea bass are the region's standout fishery right now: Blue Chip Sportfishing reports limiting out on nearly every charter and calls the bite 'red hot.' Mako sharks have also arrived offshore, with Blue Chip landing and releasing multiple fish in recent days, signaling the offshore predator season is open in earnest. Striped bass remain present along the beaches, described as 'decent in the surf' by OTW Northern New Jersey as of June 25, with larger fish now concentrating around sand eels, squid, and bunker per On The Water's June 26 migration map. The June 28 full moon sets up strong tidal movement and prime low-light feeding windows through the weekend.
Gulf Coast Tarpon Migration in Full Swing with Permit and Kingfish in the Mix
Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports the tarpon migration is fully underway along Florida's Gulf Coast, with captains intercepting quality fish on morning runs before switching to permit sight-fishing in the afternoons. The offshore mix adds further variety: Naples Offshore notes steady kingfish on plugs and flies, along with cobia and amberjack appearing on the same trips. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) signals the Florida redfish bite is on inshore. Pensacola-area anglers on local forums note turbid, dirty water stretching well offshore on back-to-back June 27-28 trips, a condition worth factoring into bottom-fishing plans at the northern end of the Gulf. With the Full Moon peaking today, tidal exchanges through passes and across Gulf flats are running strong, pushing bait and fish through the system. Target morning windows for tarpon before afternoon sea breezes and convective storms build.
Low flows and summer heat lock DE river bass into dawn-and-dusk windows
Drought conditions have kept the Christina and Nanticoke running well below normal heading into late June, concentrating fish in deeper holes, eddies, and shaded structure. The Fisherman's NJ/DE Freshwater correspondents paint a consistent picture: JB Kasper describes June as a month of 90-plus-degree days paired with 50s-degree lows and unreliable forecasts that made fishing "a great big puzzle," while Old School Outdoors in Ewing confirms rivers remain below normal even after late-month rains. On the bright side, smallmouth bass action has been good and is expected to improve into July, and catfishing has held up well through the stretch. Largemouth are locked into a classic heat pattern, active early and late when shadows cover the water and largely absent mid-day. Crappie have slowed as temperatures climbed. Tonight's Full Moon may push feeding activity into low-light windows. No USGS gauge readings were available for these drainages at press time.
Snake & Salmon Rivers Shift to Summer as Spring Chinook Run Closes Out
Trout Unlimited's May account from Idaho's Clearwater River for spring Chinook captured what many Snake system anglers experienced this spring: ideal-looking water and genuine anticipation, but fish that didn't materialize by day's end. That spring Chinook window is now closed on the Salmon and main Snake heading into late June. No USGS gauge data was available for this report cycle — verify current flows before launching. The summer pivot is underway. Yellow Sally and golden stonefly hatches are typical for this stretch of the season on Snake drainage tributaries, and Caddis Fly (OR) highlights the jigged Yellow Sally nymph as a proven dry-dropper subsurface option for western rivers right now. Summer steelhead are entering the lower Salmon system on the typical late-June schedule. Gink and Gasoline's coverage of the Owyhee River, a Snake drainage trophy brown trout tailwater, notes that technical nymph presentations and precision casting are the keys as summer clarity sets in.
Red snapper stacking in the Gulf as Panhandle anglers run deep
A June 27 offshore run logged by the Pensacola Fishing Forum put red snapper front and center, with one crew reporting a 10-person limit in roughly 15 minutes after finding fish stacked through the entire water column about 70 miles SSW of Pensacola. The group also landed scamp grouper before repositioning to shallower structure. Dirty water conditions and active small sharks were noted throughout the trip. Live cigar minnows were the bait of choice before heading out. No NOAA buoy readings are available this reporting period, so water temperatures remain unconfirmed, but mid-summer Gulf conditions are typical for late June. Sport Fishing Mag notes that red snapper fishing is "a rite of summer" along the Gulf coast, and peak structure action typically holds through July. With a full moon peaking today, stronger tidal movement should concentrate baitfish on hard bottom and ledges offshore. Verify current federal and state red snapper season regulations before making the run.
Oversize Bluefish Lead Outer Banks Surf Action as Spanish Mackerel Flood In
Tom of Hatteras Jack is putting oversize bluefish — fish to 30-plus inches — on casting metals and cut baits in the Hatteras and Ocracoke surf, the biggest blues showing so far this season per Fisherman's Post (NC). Sea mullet have been holding steady in those same surf zones, offering consistent bottom action along the beachfront. Spanish mackerel are pushing into nearshore and beachfront waters in good numbers north of Cape Lookout; Rich of Chasin' Tails and Morgan of The Reel Outdoors (both via Fisherman's Post NC) confirm strong mackerel and bonito for pier and surf anglers from Morehead City to Swansboro, with spoons and metal jigs the go-to presentations. The full moon on June 28 amplifies tidal exchange through the Outer Banks inlets, concentrating baitfish on the flats and along channel edges. Inshore, red drum remain scattered — deeper holes and hard structure are worth targeting. No buoy data was available for this report; verify current water temps locally before heading out.
Georgia bass pushed deep by summer heat; full moon helps dawn and dusk bite
The Savannah River at Clyo stood at 4.3 feet and falling as of June 25, per GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News, after a brief storm-driven rise from 3.2 feet the prior week. Fishing conditions reflect a fully locked-in summer pattern: Joshua Barber's June 20 Southern Waters report noted the bite was 'fairly slow this week due to the hot weather and the rains,' with most fish pushed into deeper water. By the June 27 update, Barber signals a weekend of intense heat on the water and advises anglers to stay hydrated. Georgia Wildlife Blog confirms summer is fully underway and directs anglers to updated trout stocking schedules for the upper Chattahoochee corridor. Tournament results from Lake Sinclair and Lake Russell in mid-June, per GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News, showed a tough summer bass bite with winning bags modest by spring standards. This weekend's full moon compresses the productive window toward first light and the final hour of daylight.
Stripers and Bass Retreat Deep as Virginia Summer Heat Builds
Tactical Bassin's summer bass breakdown rings true this week at Virginia's Smith Mountain Lake and Buggs Island: bass have separated into their predictable warm-weather zones, with deep fish pinned to main-lake structure and shallower fish staging near cover during low-light windows. No buoy or gauge readings were available for either reservoir this cycle, and no specific on-water intel from these two piedmont lakes surfaced in the current feeds. That said, late June is historically when landlocked striped bass at both SML and Buggs Island complete their annual retreat to thermocline depths, typically 15 to 30 feet down, as surface temps climb into the low 80s. Tonight's full moon opens an overnight feeding window worth targeting for catfish and bass near shaded structure. Afternoon thunderstorms are the main hazard on the calendar this weekend; plan your day around a dawn session and consider returning for the full-moon evening bite.
Summer chinook begin staging on Olympic Peninsula rivers
WA WDFW Fishing Reports, the primary creel-survey source for Olympic Peninsula rivers, returned no specific catch data for this reporting cycle, leaving current conditions intel thin. That noted: late June on the Hoh, Sol Duc, Quillayute, and Quinault river systems historically marks the opening of the summer chinook window, with tidewater and lower-river fish typically beginning to stage ahead of the July push. Hatchery summer steelhead, the backbone of the mid-season Olympic Peninsula freshwater fishery, should be present in lower and mid-river reaches, though no source confirmed specific catch rates this week. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings were available to characterize water temperature or flow, both critical factors for gauging how aggressively fish are moving. A full moon this weekend may shift fish movement toward lower-light periods and early mornings. Check current WDFW emergency rule notices, as summer chinook seasons on these systems are subject to in-season adjustment.
Hawaii Offshore Peaks: Marlin and Ahi Prime for Late June
Hawaii Fishing News, the state's official fish-record keeper and monthly moon-and-tide authority, places the June 28 Full Moon at the center of this week's planning window — a tidal phase Hawaii offshore captains watch closely for deepwater game fish movement. No live buoy readings or gauge data populated this cycle, and regional charter and shop intel did not arrive in today's pull. Based on well-established seasonal patterns, late June is among the most productive stretches of the year for blue marlin in Hawaiian waters, with the peak historically running through August. Yellowfin tuna (ahi) and mahi-mahi (dorado) are consistent summer offshore targets typically found along color changes and current edges, while ono (wahoo) make opportunistic appearances on the troll. Anglers should verify current bite conditions directly with local charter operators and tackle shops before departure, as real-time conditions were not available for this report.
Snook Season Peaks Pre-Spawn; Redfish Bite Firing Up on FL Atlantic Coast
Trophy-sized snook are stacking along Florida's Treasure Coast in preparation for their annual spawn, and Snook Nook (Stuart) flags June as one of the best months of the year to target a 40-inch-plus fish. The season closed June 1 and will not reopen until September 1, making this strictly catch and release; handle breeder fish with care. The full moon this weekend is driving strong tidal movement through the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) reports the Florida redfish bite is firmly on, with fish showing well in coastal and inshore areas. Gag grouper are also showing up on inshore structure: Coastal Angler Magazine logged a 19-inch fish caught under a dock at Vilano Beach. Meanwhile, CCA Florida reports that a federal court injunction has blocked the South Atlantic red snapper EFP pilot programs, leaving Atlantic coast anglers without a legal snapper season until the situation resolves; check state regs before targeting snapper.
Tarpon, sharks, and reds all active across Sarasota Bay at full moon
Capt. Rick Grassett of CB's Saltwater Outfitters notes that July tarpon are "usually more aggressive" than fish encountered earlier in the season, making this a prime window for anglers working Sarasota's beach travel lanes at first light. With the full moon peaking on June 28, tarpon schools are moving offshore to spawn, a pattern Capt. Grassett highlights as a defining feature of the June-July stretch. Capt. Brandon Naeve is also reporting strong shark action in Sarasota Bay and the nearshore Gulf, with Bull Sharks, Blacktips, and Lemon Sharks all cooperating for anglers targeting them with live bait. On the bay interior, Capt. Chuck Cress found active redfish at an oyster bar in upper Sarasota Bay this week, with mullet jumping and bait concentrated around the structure. No buoy or gauge data is available this week for a precise water temperature reading, but the fishing calendar is running on schedule for late June.
Summer walleye and smallmouth lock in on Upper Mississippi pools
AnglingBuzz highlights walleye anglers deploying slip bobbers and forward-facing sonar to target suspended fish on Midwest pools — tactics that translate directly to the deep-pool current seams running from Prescott to La Crosse. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge data is available for this cycle, so exact water temperature and river stage are unconfirmed. Jason Mitchell Outdoors points to summer smallmouth as an aggressive mid-river target, with rocky wing dams and current breaks holding fish across Wisconsin pools. Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen advises working weedlines during this open-water season — a cue that applies to the backwater flats and side channels throughout the Upper Mississippi stretch. With the full moon peaking June 28, nocturnal feeding windows for walleye and channel catfish should be extended this weekend. Confirm current river stage at USGS WaterWatch before launching, and check the National Weather Service La Crosse forecast for any upstream rain events.
North Shore Trolling Peaks as Minnesota's Inland Lakes Enter Full Summer Mode
The MN DNR Lake Superior Summer Fishing report dated June 25 shows the North Shore trolling bite in top form: surface temps climbing to 52°F near Duluth (38°F near Two Harbors), with anglers catching good numbers of 19-29 inch Lake Trout and 16-19 inch Coho Salmon by running bright spoons, stickbaits, and flasher-fly combos 20-50 feet down over 70-120 feet of water. Scattered Chinook Salmon to 32 inches added to boxes in the warmer Duluth-area pockets. No real-time reports were available this cycle for Twin Cities metro lakes or the North Woods interior, but Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen notes the weedline bite is the summer anchor pattern for walleyes and mixed species as the 2026 open-water season hits full stride. AnglingBuzz (YT) has been covering summer crappie tactics, while Jason Mitchell Outdoors (YT) is focused on walleye with forward-facing sonar and larger plastics. The Full Moon peaks this weekend, typically extending active bite windows into the low-light edges of dawn and dusk.
Walleye and smallmouth peak on Lake Erie as late-June patterns set in
Wired 2 Fish this week spotlighted round gobies as a cornerstone of Great Lakes productivity, and the implications land directly on Lake Erie's eastern basin and the Niagara River corridor. Gobies now anchor the forage chain that drives walleye, smallmouth bass, and yellow perch across Western NY waters. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings were available for this report, so surface temperatures remain unconfirmed; check local marina boards before heading out. Seasonal expectation for late June: walleye have pushed into the 25-40 foot range over hard-bottom and rocky structure, smallmouth are in prime feeding condition on boulder fields and shoals from Buffalo toward the Pennsylvania line, and yellow perch are scattered across mid-lake transitions and deeper humps. The full moon peaking June 28 historically compresses walleye feeding into tight low-light windows at dawn and dusk, and can briefly pull fish shallower overnight before they retreat to summer depths.
Ozark smallmouth and catfish prime up as summer heat takes hold
No specific Missouri or Ozark River reports appear in today's intel feeds, but Midwest-focused sources point to solid late-June river patterns. Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen writes this week that "rivers can provide some outstanding fishing action throughout the summer," noting larger rivers hold up year-round while smaller streams follow their own summer rhythm. Tactical Bassin's summer bass breakdown reinforces that fish "become very predictable" as temperatures climb, separating into shallow cover and deeper structural edges. A full moon on June 28 opens a prime nighttime window worth targeting — particularly for catfish on main-channel breaks and smallmouth pushing onto shallow riffles after dark. No USGS gauge readings were available for this report; verify current flows locally before launching. Conditions typical for late June in the Ozarks favor early-morning and evening presentations to beat midday heat, with finesse tactics gaining ground as rivers clear and drop toward seasonal norms.
Summer walleye and smallmouth prime across the Boundary Waters and Iron Range
Fishing the Midwest contributor Bob Jensen reports the 2026 open-water season is 'in full swing' across the upper Midwest, with weedline edges emerging as the most productive multi-species summer pattern for walleye, pike, and panfish. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge data were available for this remote region, so conditions here reflect regional Midwest angler intel only. AnglingBuzz this week features Blake Tollefson on summer crappies, targeting suspended fish with forward-facing sonar, while the channel's walleye content highlights slip-bobber rigs with jigs and leaders as the go-to basin setup. The June 28 full moon is the dominant variable this weekend: walleyes in clear northern lakes typically concentrate feeding into pre-dawn and evening windows, making early canoe launches the highest-percentage approach on Iron Range and BWCA water right now.
Lake Mead stripers push deep as Mojave heat peaks in late June
Tactical Bassin's summer bass breakdown notes that once surface heat arrives, bass become "very predictable," driven by baitfish location and thermal comfort — and that same heat-triggered logic governs the striped bass now almost certainly pushed deep into Lake Mead's canyon arms. No buoy readings, USGS gauge data, or region-specific on-the-water reports are available for this cycle, so this update draws on seasonal framework rather than confirmed bite intelligence. Late June in the Mojave Desert means relentless surface heat, and stripers have likely settled into their thermocline pattern, suspending 40 to 60 feet down and keying on threadfin shad schools. Tonight's full moon can open a narrow topwater window at last light and overnight as surface temperatures ease slightly. Largemouth bass similarly retreat to deeper ledges and shaded canyon walls during daylight. The Colorado arm of the lake, where river current adds marginal oxygenation, can concentrate fish during the hottest stretches. Check NDOW regulations before keeping any striped bass, as slot limits typically apply.
Tennessee & Cumberland bass entering summer deep-water patterns
B.A.S.S. News flags the late-June postspawn window as "one of the overlooked time frames for big-bass action," and that assessment rings true across the Tennessee and Cumberland systems heading into the final weekend of June. Bass of all three species — largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted — are moving off spawning flats and staging along channel edges, deeper timber, and rocky points as surface temperatures climb. The full moon on June 28 sets up favorable low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk. Tactical Bassin notes that sunny, flat-calm days call for precision finesse — Neko rigs and soft jerkbaits in clear water consistently outperform heavier moving presentations when fish are pressured and shallow cover bakes in the heat. Catfish are entering their summer prime on both river systems, with nighttime work along main channels producing reliable action. No flow or temperature gauge readings were available for this report; confirm local conditions before launching.
Colorado River conditions prime as runoff fades and green drakes approach
Crystal Fly Shop (CO) is calling it now: the Colorado River from Glenwood Springs to Rifle is on the back end of runoff at 2,640 cfs with great water clarity and active fish. Their advice is to get on the water before summer heat arrives and the fishing tapers. Green drakes, golden stones, and PMDs are expected to come into full force within the next two weeks, making this the setup window serious dry-fly anglers should not miss. Overcast days will produce the best surface action on the Colorado. Cutthroat Anglers (CO) adds important context: 2026's historic low Western snowpacks have compressed and accelerated runoff timelines across the state, concentrating trout in key lies and creating low-water conditions that reward technical presentations and light tippets. On the upper Colorado system, Wired 2 Fish reports that Colorado Parks and Wildlife is running a paid pike removal tournament at Green Mountain Reservoir through September 30. Anglers can earn up to $500 per month targeting invasive northern pike. Specific Arkansas River intel was not available in this cycle.
Deschutes summer steelhead window opens as late-June heat builds
Direct on-the-water reports for the Deschutes and Upper Klamath are sparse in current feeds, but late June marks one of the most anticipated transitions on both systems. Summer steelhead typically begin appearing on the middle and lower Deschutes by late June, and tonight's full moon may coincide with fish movement -- historically a productive window for those swinging wets after dark. Expect low, clear water; wade-friendly conditions demand long leaders, fine tippet, and careful wading to avoid spooking fish. On the Upper Klamath system, redband trout are the primary draw, with caddis and PMD evening hatches typically running well into the first weeks of summer. Hatch Magazine has recently elevated the broader Northwest conversation around bull trout ethics and presence in these systems; check current state regulations before targeting unfamiliar chars. No USGS flow readings were available for this report period, so confirm conditions locally before making the drive.
Green River tailwater primed for summer PMD and caddis sessions
MidCurrent's latest tying coverage calls out midge-style patterns as the standout for "clear, pressured water of stillwaters and tailraces" — and that prescription maps directly onto the Green River's A, B, and C sections below Flaming Gorge Dam. No live gauge readings were available for this report, but typical late-June tailwater conditions on the Green run cold and clear regardless of summer air temps, insulating browns and rainbows from the heat stress hammering Utah's freestone rivers right now. Caddis Fly (OR) recently featured a jigged Yellow Sally nymph as a reliable summer dry-dropper pattern for western tailwaters, with late June squarely in the prime window for that hatch on the Green. Tonight's full moon pushes the best dry-fly action toward dawn and dusk; midday fishing under bright conditions on this clear-water system rewards fine tippet and small flies. PMDs and caddis anchor the evening hatch sequence through the end of June.