Fishing reports
16013 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Fall Push Builds Along the NH Coast as Bass Move North
Buoy 44007 put Gulf of Maine water at 59°F this week, still comfortable enough to keep striped bass moving as the fall run organizes "particularly to the north," per The Fisherman (Northeast)'s New England video forecast. Along the South Shore Massachusetts to Maine corridor — the closest reporting stretch to the NH coast — Dave Anderson notes mackerel are flooding back inshore and beefing up local striper catches, while Belsan's Bait and Tackle reports several bass north of the 40-inch mark coming on live bait, plugs, and plastics. Further north, Beauport Fishing Adventures says codfish action is ramping up, with pollock and haddock holding in decent numbers alongside good inshore striper counts. Squid are still mostly offshore for now. Winds are light at the buoy, keeping conditions fishable; watch for that northward mackerel push to keep pulling bigger bass tight to structure over the next week.
Spanish mackerel keep the beach bite hot around Cape Lookout
Spanish mackerel are keeping rods bent along the central North Carolina coast this week. Per Fisherman's Post (NC), anglers fishing the beach out to 40 feet near Ocean Isle/Holden Beach are finding good spanish mackerel action, while surf and pier anglers around Topsail/Sneads Ferry are working casting jigs into a mixed spanish mackerel and bluefish bite. Closer to Cape Lookout, Morehead/Atlantic Beach nearshore anglers report the same spanish mackerel/bluefish combo showing up when active on the surface while trolling. Up toward Pamlico Sound, Hatteras/Ocracoke bottom anglers are pulling good-sized sea mullet off the Rodanthe-area beaches, with some sight-casting chances also turning up. NOAA buoy 41037 logged a light 7 m/s breeze overnight with no water-temp reading available this cycle. Surface feeding looks set to hold through the week as the early fall push continues.
Sea mullet and Spanish macks keep Hatteras surf busy
Water off Diamond Shoals is still running warm at 85°F (NOAA buoy 41025) with a light 7 m/s breeze, and the surf south of Rodanthe is producing well. Eric at Hatteras Jack reports anglers bottom fishing the Rodanthe-area beaches are picking up good-sized sea mullet, with several chances to sight-cast along the way (per Fisherman's Post (NC)). Up and down the broader NC coast, Fisherman's Post — Carolinas saltwater notes Spanish mackerel and bluefish are steady on casting jigs off the surf and piers, with early-morning bites the most consistent window. Nothing has broken loose yet — this is a solid, workmanlike September stretch rather than a blitz. Frying Pan Shoals (buoy 41013) is reading a touch cooler at 82°F with a slightly stronger 8 m/s wind, a small signal that the seasonal cool-down is underway but hasn't reached the surf zone in force.
Spanish Mackerel Bite Keeps Rolling as Charleston Waters Stay Summer-Warm
NOAA buoy 41004 off the Carolina coast logged 84°F water and a moderate 9 m/s breeze this morning, conditions that keep Charleston Harbor firmly in late-summer pattern territory. Up the coast, Fisherman's Post's Carolinas saltwater column reports spanish mackerel biting well from the beach out to 40 feet around Ocean Isle/Holden Beach, with anglers watching bait balls for signs of fish, and at Topsail/Sneads Ferry surf and pier anglers are taking spanish mackerel and bluefish on casting jigs — a pattern that typically tracks similarly here at this water temperature. Sport Fishing Mag's fall-migration outlook notes king mackerel starting to push closer to shore as water cools, with false albacore beginning to show on top, an early look at what should turn on next for Lowcountry anglers. Redfish and trout remain the harbor's steady inshore staples this time of year, with no local reports in yet this cycle. Check state regs before harvesting.
Smallmouth transition builds on Lake Erie as warm stretch holds
Lake Erie is still running warm for mid-September, with NOAA buoy readings of 72°F at station 45132 and 75°F at station 45005 early this morning — more late-August than fall turnover. Winds are light (under 9 mph) and seas calm, keeping the bite pattern-driven rather than weather-forced. Smallmouth are following the classic fall transition Tactical Bassin has been highlighting this week, pushing onto baitfish-holding flats and dock structure as weed edges start to die back. Walleye anglers are leaning on a mix of traditional jigging and forward-facing sonar, per Fishing the Midwest's recent breakdown of how FFS has reshaped presentation without retiring the old live-bait standbys. Yellow perch remain a steady deep-structure option through the warm stretch. Presque Isle steelhead are still a few weeks out — tributary temps need to drop well below the mid-70s before the fall run stages up.
North Shore anglers eye fall salmon push as Lake Superior cools
Lake Superior's air temperature sat near 57°F with a light 13 mph breeze reported at buoy 45004 this morning, typical early-fall conditions for the North Shore as the lake begins its seasonal cooldown. Water temperature and wave-height readings weren't available from the buoy this cycle, so anglers should confirm conditions locally before running offshore. Angler intel specific to the Minnesota North Shore was thin this week — most regional Lake Superior chatter centered on Wisconsin's Chequamegon Bay lake whitefish fishery, per WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing, rather than direct North Shore reports. That means we're leaning on seasonal timing rather than fresh reports: mid-September typically kicks off the coho push along North Shore points and river mouths, with lake trout holding steady on deeper structure and the fall king salmon and steelhead runs still building toward their peak in the weeks ahead.
Mississippi Sound trout and redfish lean on the fall transition
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Sound this cycle, and this week's report pull turned up mostly agency paperwork rather than water reports — MS DMR's public notices this week cover Tuesday's Mississippi Advisory Commission on Marine Resources meeting in D'Iberville and a new oyster spat-on-cultch bid, not conditions on the water. With no direct trout or redfish reports in from a shop, charter, or the agency this cycle, we're leaning on the calendar: mid-September in the Sound typically means speckled trout and redfish sliding onto shallower structure and marsh edges as water starts to cool, with the fall flounder run beginning to build toward passes. Anglers should treat species status below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed bite reports until fresher local intel comes in. Check current state regs before harvesting, particularly with MS DMR's oyster program active this month.
Fluke, sea bass and albies stack up ahead of the Sandy Hook fall push
Capt Ron's out of Atlantic Highlands is calling it 'EXELLENT FLUKE FISHING' this week, with several boats putting anglers on their three-fish limit and pool fish topping 5 pounds on clean water and a steady drift — a strong read on Raritan Bay's fluke grounds as the season winds down. Blue Chip Sportfishing reports sea bass charters 'doing very good,' with most trips filling the box for everyone aboard. Just south on Long Beach Island, Fishermans HQ LBI has anglers into big bonita, albacore, and 27-to-30-inch bluefin on light spinning tackle, and Grumpys Tackle (NJ) notes bonito, albies and fluke all showing together as the fall pattern kicks in — a mix trending north toward Sandy Hook as bait pushes out of the back bays. NJ Fish & Wildlife News flags striped bass, bluefish, summer flounder and tautog as the staple species around the Sandy Hook Bay WMA fishery. No buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, so treat water temp as unconfirmed and check a live forecast before heading out.
Fluke limits and albie blitzes light up the Jersey Shore
Fluke fishing hit its stride at the Jersey Shore this week, with Capt Ron's out of Atlantic Highlands reporting "exellent fluke fishing" on a recent trip — several anglers boxed their three-fish limit, topped by a pool-winning 4½-pounder with a run of 3-to-5-pound fish behind it. Ron called it "the last of the Fluke season," a sign the window is closing as September moves along. Offshore, Fishermans HQ out of LBI is running 30-to-45-mile trips into big bonita, false albacore, and bluefin tuna in the 27-to-30-inch range on light spinning tackle, while Grumpys Tackle is also fielding bonito, albie, and fluke reports at the counter. Blue Chip Sportfishing calls current conditions excellent, with sea bass charters filling coolers and repeated shark releases mid-shore. Bait is thick along the LBI surf and back bays, setting up the fall transition anglers are watching for.
Fall staging watch builds on Delaware Bay as statewide fluke bite holds
Statewide, New Jersey's summer flounder season is finishing strong — Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands NJ logged full three-fish limits this week and a 4.5-pound pool winner, a sign the fluke bite is holding into mid-September ahead of the season's close. Direct on-the-water reports from Delaware Bay itself were thin in this cycle's feeds, so this update leans on statewide signals and typical seasonal patterns for the bay rather than fresh local testimony. Early-to-mid September is usually when striped bass begin staging in the bay ahead of the fall coastal push, and blue crabbing typically starts tapering as water temperatures ease down — neither confirmed directly by this week's sources. NJ Fish & Wildlife News is also tracking proposed changes to Atlantic menhaden harvest management, relevant here since bunker is a key forage and bait source for bay predators. Check current NJ size and possession regs before keeping anything, and watch for the first real cool-down to kick off the fall transition.
Early fall cooldown sets up Delaware River smallmouth and Pine Barrens pickerel
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Delaware River/Pine Barrens system this cycle, so this report leans on seasonal pattern rather than a same-day temp or flow number — worth checking a local gauge before you launch. The one direct signal from the region: on The Fly Fishing Forum, an angler posted about heading to the Delaware River this week for a three-day fly fishing trip, timing it around a stretch of settled early-September weather rather than any specific hatch or bite report, so treat that as a scheduling note, not a conditions call. Mid-September in this system typically means cooling overnight water temps pushing river smallmouth into faster current seams and tailouts to feed before the real fall slowdown, while Pine Barrens pickerel start keying on baitfish pushed tight to cedar-water weed edges. Stocked trout holdovers in feeder streams tend to stay deep and sluggish through warm afternoons, with the best window right at first light. Bring both a smallmouth and a pickerel rig if you're splitting time between river and pond water this week.
Kenai's silver salmon push holds into its closing weeks
Mid-September puts Kenai and interior river systems into the tail end of the silver salmon (coho) run, with rainbow trout and Dolly Varden typically keying in on drifting salmon eggs and flesh behind spawning fish this time of year — the classic late-summer-into-fall pattern for this region. No angler-specific reports on Kenai or interior AK conditions came through this week's fishing-intel feeds (the Alaska Sea Grant items available covered mariculture apprenticeships, a Kodiak fellowship, and coastal community programs rather than on-the-water fishing conditions), so this report leans on general seasonal knowledge rather than fresh testimony. No live buoy or gauge data was available for the region either. Anglers should treat this as a seasonal outlook rather than a real-time bite report and check current flow, water clarity, and local regulations before heading out, since silver salmon timing can shift by a week or more system to system.
Gulf of Alaska coho run tapers as bottom fishing holds steady
Mid-September sits at the tail end of Alaska's coho (silver) salmon run in Gulf of Alaska waters, with halibut and rockfish serving as the more dependable options as that window closes. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge data came through for this region this week, and this week's source sweep turned up no charter, tackle-shop, or state-agency reports speaking directly to Gulf of Alaska fishing conditions — the AK Sea Grant items in this week's feed covered mariculture apprenticeships, sea otter research, and community skiff-safety programs, not on-the-water intel. Absent fresh reports, the safest guide is the typical seasonal pattern: coho generally push through nearshore waters and river mouths into early-to-mid September before tapering off, while halibut and rockfish stay catchable on the bottom later into fall. Check current state regulations before targeting late-season silvers, and verify conditions locally before heading out — this report can't confirm this week's actual bite.
Bonito arrive off Rhode Island as fall bait push builds toward albies
Bonito and a handful of Spanish mackerel have shown up along the Rhode Island oceanfront over the past couple of weeks, per Saltwater Edge's late-August forecast, with the Middletown shop saying albies shouldn't be far behind. Their September New Moon report describes the seasonal trigger now underway: as days shorten and nights cool, peanut bunker, silversides, and bay anchovies are pushing out of the salt ponds and estuaries and mixing with sandeels, herring, and squid along the open coast. That baitfish exodus is the signal Rhode Island surf and boat anglers wait for all summer, and it's arriving on schedule for mid-September. We're not seeing hard temperature or flow data on our instruments today, so lean on shop reports and moving-bait sign at the beaches rather than a single number. Striped bass should be working the same bait pushes, and bluefish typically aren't far off bunker schools once they concentrate along the beachfront.
North Shore Lake Trout Slow As Fall Bass Bite Turns On Inland
Surface temps near Duluth held at 65-70°F this week, cooling to 55-60°F up toward Two Harbors, per the MN DNR's September 10 Lake Superior Summer Fishing report — and the lake trout bite is cooling right along with the water. Anglers at every North Shore station logged fairly slow fishing for 18-33 inch lake trout, a step down from the steady action the DNR reported in late August. Walleye interest close to Duluth had been solid through late August per the same reports, though this week's dispatch didn't grade the walleye bite. Inland, the fall transition looks to be arriving on schedule: Fishing the Midwest notes bass schooling on baitfish as weeds start dying back on Alexandria-area lakes, with a bladed swim jig doing double duty on bass, northern pike, and walleye working shoreline flats. Highway 61 construction near McQuade and on Lighthouse Point Road in Two Harbors continues for anyone running the North Shore corridor this weekend.
Mississippi Sound Settles Into Its Early Fall Turn
Mississippi Sound is entering its early-fall shoulder season, and the clearest signal on the Gulf calendar right now comes from Sport Fishing Mag's fall-migration roundup, which flags king mackerel pushing closer to shore as they follow migrating baitfish schools — a pattern that plays out from the Panhandle through the north-central Gulf, MS Sound included. Direct, region-specific reports out of the Sound itself are thin this cycle; no buoy or gauge readings came back for the area, and the available agency notices from MS DMR this week are administrative (a culvert permit review, an MACMR meeting, an oyster cultch bid) rather than conditions reports. That leaves us leaning on typical September patterns: speckled trout and redfish sliding toward marsh edges and grass flats as water starts to cool, with flounder beginning their seasonal move toward passes. Treat species status below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed bite reports until more local intel comes in.
Taneycomo trout stay dialed in as generation and O2 injection hold
Lake Taneycomo's water temperature climbed to about 53 degrees by early September, a normal mark for the season, according to Lilleys Landing's most recent report — and with dissolved oxygen levels dropping as summer wound down, dam operators have kept injecting liquid oxygen into the tailwater outflow to protect the fishery. The shop describes a fairly consistent generation pattern through August: minimum flow starting around 7 a.m., ramping up to roughly 135 megawatts (2.5 units) by mid-afternoon into evening, which has kept trout fishing solid. A late-July/early-August update from the same shop noted fish hitting aggressively with no pecking around, guides doing well in the afternoons on the Provo rig, and a trophy release program picking back up after a slow spring — one guide reportedly favoring a straight drift with a drop-shot loop about 18 inches off the bottom, tied with fluorocarbon tippet. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, so treat flow timing as a general guide, not gospel — check current generation schedules before you launch.
Fall bait exodus builds toward LIS as albies trail not far behind
No live buoy or gauge readings came back for Long Island Sound this cycle, so this update leans on regional migration signals rather than a fresh temp or flow number. Per Saltwater Edge Blog (RI), peanut bunker, silversides, bay anchovies and sandeels have started their seasonal exodus from salt ponds and estuaries toward the open coast, with bonito and a few Spanish mackerel already showing and albies described as "not far behind." Anglers Journal frames this same stretch — the weeks before the equinox — as when the Northeast's fall striper migration and blitz activity typically start marshaling strength, with birds and baitfish concentrating ahead of the bigger push south. Nothing in today's intel is CT-specific, so treat this as the regional backdrop LIS anglers should expect to feel first at the mouths of rivers and along ocean-facing structure. We'd fish bait-holding structure on moving water rather than chasing open-water blitzes just yet.
Fall striper push builds as Gulf of Maine bait moves inshore
No buoy or gauge readings came back for the Gulf of Maine today, so exact water temps and flow aren't available this cycle — lean on tide charts and local knowledge until fresh data comes in. The angler-intel feeds also carried no direct Maine catch reports this round; Maine Sea Grant's latest posts cover oyster-reef restoration and marine-economy workforce programs rather than fishery activity. Further south, Saltwater Edge Blog (RI) describes the classic September shift already underway there: peanut bunker, silversides, and sand eels pushing out of salt ponds and estuaries as days shorten and nights cool, with early bonito and spanish mackerel showing and albies expected soon behind them. That baitfish exodus typically works its way north into Maine waters over the following weeks as the fall striper migration builds. With a waxing crescent moon keeping tidal swings modest, stripers should still be workable around structure and current breaks, mackerel are a typical mid-September staple in Maine harbors, and bluefish activity tends to be mixed this late in the season. Check state regs before harvesting.
Wisconsin's Sturgeon Season Rolls On As Fall Bass Bite Heats Up
The Wisconsin DNR's hook-and-line sturgeon season, open Sept. 5 through Sept. 30 on select waters, is now at its midpoint, giving anglers with a valid tag and general license a shot at one of the state's marquee gamefish (WI DNR Wisconsin Fishing News). No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Wisconsin River or Lake Superior this cycle, so treat water temps and flow as typical for mid-September until a direct reading is available. Elsewhere, the fall shift is showing up in regional technique talk: Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch reports running a bladed swim jig over shoreline weed flats for a mixed bag of bass, pike, and walleye as baitfish congregate in the remaining green weeds, and Tactical Bassin notes bass schooling up and chasing baitfish hard as the fall transition sets in, with both dock cover and open-water baitfish schools producing fish. No Lake Superior-specific bite reports came through this update — check the WI DNR's Lake Superior Fishing page before planning a Chequamegon Bay trip.
Fall bass transition sets up ahead of Finger Lakes cooldown
New York's black bass season carried strong into late summer, and the state DEC's Fishing Line newsletter has tracked steady walleye and panfish activity statewide through the season, with its June 12th issue noting the bite "picking up with the warmer summer weather." As days shorten into mid-September, Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes anglers should expect the classic fall bass transition: per Tactical Bassin and Fishing the Midwest, smallmouth and largemouth are pushing onto baitfish around structure and green, living weed edges as cooling water triggers a feeding shift. Wired 2 Fish's fall coverage echoes the same move toward open-water baitfish schools. Downstate, DEC's July 31st Fishing Line highlighted panfish — bluegill and pumpkinseed — staying active through summer heat, a pattern that typically holds into early fall. No live buoy or gauge readings are available for this region today, so treat flow and temperature as unconfirmed until you check a local source.
Fall Chinook push builds as Lake Michigan tributaries load up
No buoy or gauge readings are reporting for the Grand River mouth this week, so this update leans on angler chatter and state harvest context rather than hard numbers. Anglers on the Michigan Sportsman Forum are already tracking this fall's Chinook Salmon egg-take operation at the Little Manistee Weir, with pumps expected on the week of September 21 and the first egg-take day penciled in for September 29 — a solid marker that Lake Michigan's king salmon are staging and pushing toward tributaries. The WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report notes recent seasons have produced standout Chinook and coho numbers on the lake, including a record coho harvest, which lines up with another strong fall run taking shape. Expect Chinook and coho to be the headline species right now as fish stage near river mouths, with steelhead typically not far behind as water cools. Treat this as directional chatter — verify current bite conditions locally before heading out.
Fluke stays hot at Sandy Hook as albies push into Raritan Bay
Fluke fishing out of Atlantic Highlands has been some of the best of the season — Capt Ron's reported multiple anglers boxing their three-fish limit in a single trip this week, with a pool fish running over 5 pounds and quality fish up to 9 pounds turning up on good drifts. Grumpys Tackle in New Jersey says the fluke bite is holding even as bonito and albies start showing up along the coast, a sign the fall transition is underway. Offshore and mid-shore, Blue Chip Sportfishing is putting anglers on quality sea bass with enough for the whole boat most trips, plus a steady shark bite with several Mako releases this week. Peanut bunker and other baitfish are filling the bay per NJ Fish & Wildlife, which should keep bass and bluefish active around Sandy Hook structure. No live buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, so check a local source for water temp and wind before heading out.
Albies, bonito and keeper bluefin crash the Jersey Shore surf
Fishermans HQ LBI is running open-boat trips 30-45 miles off Long Beach Island into big bonita, false albacore, and bluefin tuna in the legal 27-to-30-inch range, all eating light spinning jigs and bait — the Sept. 12 report notes the albies are catch-and-release while the bonita and bluefin go in the cooler. Fluke fishing has been strong too: Capt Ron out of Atlantic Highlands logged a day with a perfect drift and clean water where several anglers boxed their three-fish limit and a 5-pound-9-ounce pool fish, though wind and southerly current forced a few day cancellations this week. Grumpys Tackle (NJ) confirms bonito, albies, and fluke are all active right now. Offshore, Blue Chip Sportfishing reports very good black sea bass action alongside a hot shark bite, including released mako sharks. NJ Fish & Wildlife notes striped bass, bluefish, and summer flounder are typical catches around Shark River Inlet this time of year.