Fishing reports
16066 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
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.
Delaware Bay eyes the fall turn as menhaden debate looms over bait supply
NJ Fish & Wildlife News reports that Atlantic coastal states, including New Jersey, have scheduled public hearings on a draft addendum that could cut the Chesapeake Bay menhaden reduction-fishery cap by up to 50% and spread it more evenly through the season — a bait-supply issue anglers up and down the Jersey Shore, Delaware Bay included, tend to watch closely since menhaden schools draw stripers, bluefish, and weakfish through the back bays. We don't have a direct water-temp or flow reading for the Delaware Bay side today, and none of this week's shop or charter intel comes from bay ports specifically, so treat the picture below as seasonal-pattern guidance rather than an on-the-water report. Statewide, NJ Saltwater Fisherman's size-and-possession-limit guidance remains the reference point anglers should check before keeping anything this month, particularly as species transition toward their fall patterns.
Fall cooldown sets up the bite on NJ's Delaware River and Pine Barrens
No buoy or gauge readings came through for the Delaware River or Pine Barrens system this cycle, and this week's angler-intel feeds skewed almost entirely saltwater — striper, fluke, and albie action from Jersey Shore outfits like Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands and Fishermans HQ LBI — rather than reports from interior freshwater water. With no on-the-water freshwater testimony to attribute, today's picture leans on seasonal expectation: mid-September typically marks the start of the fall cooldown across Delaware River smallmouth water and Pine Barrens cedar streams, as water temperatures ease off summer highs and fish begin feeding more actively through longer stretches of the day. NJ Fish & Wildlife News is currently focused on statewide marine-fisheries management items, including an angler-data tally tool for summer flounder and black sea bass, with nothing freshwater-specific in this week's feed. Treat this report as a seasonal outlook rather than a confirmed live bite until local freshwater intel comes through.
Albies Improving Off Falmouth as Cape Cod Bay Stripers Build Toward Fall Run
False albacore and bonito are pushing through Cape Cod Bay's south shore this week, with Sports Port reporting fish working from Falmouth to the Monomoy rips and Falmouth Bait and Tackle noting sightings all along the Falmouth shore — though the fish are picky, keying on fine bait and requiring small lures to draw a strike. Black Rose Fishing Charters says the Monomoy bite for stripers, bonito, and albies has been improving, and Goose Hummock Shop reports bonito and albies working from the Falmouth shore to Bass River and out to Nauset, with surf anglers picking off brief blitzes as forktails moved through. Striper fishing is more workmanlike right now — Sports Port has school bass showing at harbor mouths and inside the rivers. Regionally, The Fisherman's New England forecast describes the broader striper migration as just beginning to organize into a fall run, with blitz activity building mainly to the north. Black sea bass anglers are benefiting from the extended fall season.
Falmouth-to-Monomoy albie run heats up, but fish stay picky
False albacore and bonito are pushing hard through Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound this week, though the bite is finicky. Falmouth Bait & Tackle reports albie sightings "all along the Falmouth shore," but the fish are keyed on fine bait and need a small lure to draw a strike. Sports Port echoes the pattern — bonito and albies working from Falmouth to the Monomoy rips, with fish "very selective in their feeding." Black Rose Fishing Charters says the Monomoy action for stripers, bonito, and albies has been improving, and Goose Hummock Shop notes bonito and albies working from the Falmouth shore to Bass River and the ocean beaches toward Nauset, with a brief surf blitz as forktails moved through. Striped bass remain a steady secondary player — small bass breaking in the rips off Woods Hole and school bass holding at harbor mouths and river inlets, per Falmouth Bait & Tackle and Sports Port. Black sea bass anglers are benefiting from the extended fall season, per Goose Hummock.
Chesapeake mouth eases into its fall transition window
Direct buoy readings and site-specific angler reports weren't available for the Chesapeake mouth this cycle. The clearest signal in this week's feeds comes from up the coast: Anglers Journal's 'Between Fish: Fall Striper Blitz Reflections' and The Fisherman's Sept. 10 New England forecast both describe the Northeast striped bass migration beginning to organize into blitz activity, the leading edge of the same fall run that typically works its way down to Virginia waters through late September and October. Locally, the Chesapeake mouth is in its typical mid-September transition — striper action is usually still slow to building this early, while red drum, speckled trout, and Spanish mackerel remain the more dependable September options as water temperatures ease down from summer highs. Without a local report to confirm specifics this week, treat the species status below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed local bite, and check a current local source before heading out.
Eastern Shore waits on the southbound striper push
No buoy or gauge readings are available for the Chincoteague area this week, and none of this week's angler intel is Virginia-specific, so this report leans on typical September patterns for the Eastern Shore rather than fresh local catches. Farther north, The Fisherman (Northeast) reports striper action "beginning to show signs of organizing into a full-on fall run," part of a migration that typically pushes south along the coast through autumn before reaching Virginia's barrier islands and inlets. Locally, September is usually carried by red drum, speckled trout, and flounder working the inlets and marsh edges around Chincoteague, with Spanish mackerel still active over nearshore structure. Anglers Journal similarly flags fall striper blitzes building farther up the coast. Treat striper talk here as anticipation rather than confirmation for now — the dependable September bite remains drum, trout, and flounder on bay-side structure.
Cooling water sets up Moosehead's fall salmon and togue turn
Moosehead Lake and the upper Penobscot are moving through the classic mid-September turn, with cooling surface water and shortening days starting to break down summer thermoclines. No buoy or gauge readings came through for this stretch today, and none of the angler-intel feeds this cycle carried a direct shop, guide, or agency report from the Moosehead or upper Penobscot area specifically, so this update leans on typical seasonal behavior rather than a fresh bite report. As water cools, landlocked salmon and lake trout (togue) typically start sliding out of deep summer holding water and become more catchable on trolled streamers and jigged tubes near structure and drop-offs. Smallmouth bass generally follow the broader fall pattern of leaving thinning summer weed growth for whatever green, living weed remains, often stacking tight to points and drop-offs as baitfish relocate with them. Brook trout activity tends to stay modest here through mid-September. Check a local shop or guide before heading out for the freshest on-the-water specifics.
Eagle Mountain catfish reports set the tone as TX bass shift into fall
North Texas Catfish Guide's Eagle Mountain Lake reports describe blue and channel catfish pushing shallow and feeding hard whenever fresh water pours into the system and lake levels rise, a pattern the guide has flagged across multiple seasons there. No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for Texas waters this cycle, so temperature and flow aren't available this update — lean on the intel below and check local conditions before heading out. On the largemouth side, Sam Rayburn Reservoir produced a 10-bass, 49-pound, 14-ounce winning bag at a recent Phoenix Bass Fishing League event per MLF News, proof the reservoir is still holding quality fish. Statewide, Texas is sliding into the classic fall bass transition: per Tactical Bassin, bass begin schooling on baitfish and pushing onto flats and around docks as water cools — worth watching over the next few weeks on Texas reservoirs.
Okeechobee bass lean into the early-fall shallow shift
Bass are pushing onto grass flats and dock pilings as baitfish concentrate in the early-fall transition, per Tactical Bassin's latest breakdown — a shallow-structure pattern that typically extends to Okeechobee's grass-choked basin and the St. Johns' vegetated flats as September wears on. No buoy or gauge readings came back for either fishery this cycle, and this week's intel sweep turned up no captain or shop reports specific to Lake Okeechobee or the St. Johns, so this update leans on that general seasonal pattern rather than a fresh bite report. We're calling largemouth bass Active on that basis. Black crappie (speckled perch), the other headline species on both waters, usually stay slow until temperatures drop further into fall and winter. Bluegill and channel catfish remain steady year-round producers in both systems. Check state regs before harvesting, and confirm local conditions before heading out — direct on-the-water reports for this region were thin this week.
Fall transition takes hold on Kennebec and Penobscot waters
This week's angler-intel wire carried no reports specific to Maine's Kennebec and Penobscot systems, but a strong regional signal from New Hampshire's Winnipesaukee, Winnisquam, Newfound, Northwood, Jenness Pond and Great East Lake — where smallmouth and largemouth bass are still producing well, per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater — points to the same early fall pattern likely settling over Maine's freshwater systems. As water temperatures ease through the 60s, baitfish push shallow and predator species key onto structure and current seams; expect smallmouth bass and pike to work drop-offs and current breaks, with landlocked salmon and brook trout activity building as surface temps cool further. No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came in for the Kennebec/Penobscot corridor this cycle, so treat these as seasonal expectations rather than confirmed local reports. Check current Maine regulations before targeting any species this fall.
Smokies trout ease into the fall terrestrial-to-nymph turnover
No live buoy or gauge feed came back for the Smokies watershed this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel sources filed a direct Western NC trout report — so this update leans on typical mid-September patterns for the region rather than a specific bite call. Freestone streams in the Smokies are usually transitioning out of peak hopper season this time of year, with terrestrials (hoppers, ants, beetles) still worth a drift through overhanging banks on warm afternoons while morning water stays cool enough to keep fish active earlier in the day. Expect selective feeding as low, clear late-summer flows push trout into tighter lies and make stealthy approaches and longer, lighter leaders more important than fly pattern. We'd treat any specific bite report with more confidence once a local shop or state feed comes through; until then, fish the classic pocket water and plan around morning and dusk windows.
Fall Transition Puts Susquehanna Smallmouth and Muskie on the Move
Mid-September has Pennsylvania's Susquehanna and Allegheny systems entering the classic fall transition, though no fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this cycle, so confirm local flow and temperature before you launch. Cooling water this time of year typically pushes smallmouth bass and walleye off summer haunts toward baitfish schools and structure edges — a pattern Tactical Bassin's fall-transition coverage ties to bass following shad onto flats and dock lines, while Fishing the Midwest notes walleye anglers shifting between traditional live-bait rigs and forward-facing sonar as water clears and fish concentrate. Muskellunge fishing on both rivers historically picks up through late September as baitfish activity increases, though no direct catch reports surfaced today. No Pennsylvania river-specific reports came through this cycle's feeds — PA Fish & Boat's Biologist Reports page is the best source to confirm current stocking and regulations before you go. Treat this as a seasonal outlook rather than a live bite report.
Fall Transition Turns On Bass and Stripers at Santee, Murray
No fresh buoy or gauge telemetry came through for Santee Cooper or Lake Murray this cycle, so today's read leans on the seasonal pattern rather than a live reading — and mid-September is exactly when South Carolina's reservoir fisheries start to turn. Fall Bass Fishing content flagged this week by Tactical Bassin notes bass schooling up and feeding hard on baitfish as water starts to cool, with the free rig producing well around grass edges and docks holding fish. Fishing the Midwest's fall coverage echoes the same theme from a different region: as weeds start to die back, gamefish push toward the greenest, most oxygenated remaining cover. Santee's blue and channel catfish and Lake Murray's landlocked stripers are also entering their typical early-fall feeding window. Largemouth are rated Active, stripers and catfish Active on seasonal grounds, crappie Slow until water cools further. Check local forecasts before heading out.
Fall transition arrives at Smith Mountain Lake and Buggs Island
Mid-September marks the start of the fall transition on Smith Mountain Lake and Buggs Island (John H. Kerr Reservoir), and this week's regional bass coverage backs that up: Tactical Bassin's early-fall roundup highlights bass schooling on baitfish and pushing onto docks and grass-flat edges as water begins to cool, a pattern that plays out on Virginia reservoirs much the way it does across the rest of the bass belt. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came back for this region this cycle, so treat water temp as an estimate from seasonal norms rather than a hard number until fresh data comes in. Striped bass, a signature fishery on both lakes, typically start following shad schools shallower as surface temps ease off summer highs — worth targeting early and late in the day. Crappie tend to lag a few weeks behind before schooling up, while blue catfish stay a dependable option on Buggs Island through the transition.
Fall transition arrives for Potomac and Shenandoah smallmouth
Bass anglers across the region are watching the same seasonal shift now reaching the Potomac and Shenandoah: per Tactical Bassin's early-fall coverage, smallmouth and largemouth are sliding off summer holding water onto baitfish-rich flats, dock pilings, and grass edges as surface temperatures begin to slip. Fishing the Midwest's notes on dying summer weed growth pushing baitfish toward the last healthy green cover describe the same dynamic that typically plays out on Virginia's smallmouth rivers this time of year. No live buoy or gauge readings came back for this stretch of the Potomac/Shenandoah system today, so treat flow and temperature as approximate and check a local gauge before you launch. Channel catfish should still be feeding actively in deeper holes, and panfish remain a reliable backup around shallow structure on warm afternoons. Early-to-mid September is historically a strong, underrated window on these rivers as the transition gets underway.
Fall transition sets up walleye and pike bite on ND rivers
No fresh buoy or gauge telemetry came through for the Red or Missouri today, so this report leans on seasonal pattern and regional technique notes rather than a live reading. Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch recently worked a bladed swim jig through shoreline flats near Alexandria, Minnesota, connecting with bass, northern pike, and walleye off the same retrieve as weeds began thinning near deeper edges — a multi-species pattern that typically shows up on North Dakota's Red and Missouri systems around this point in September too. Walleye are entering their classic fall shift, sliding toward current breaks and rock as baitfish push out of dying shallow weeds; the same source notes traditional jigging and livebait rigs still produce alongside newer forward-facing-sonar approaches. Channel catfish typically stay productive on cut bait into cooler water on both rivers. Treat all of this as seasonal expectation, not a confirmed bite report — check a current local source before you head out, since no ND-specific intel came through today.
Delta anglers eye the fall transition as flows stay strong
The USGS gauge covering the Delta logged Sacramento River flow at 16,200 cfs with water temperature at 69°F as of Sunday evening (9/14) — still on the warmer, higher-flow side typical for mid-September before autumn cooling and reduced outflow requirements take hold. Delta-specific bite reports weren't available in today's feed pull; NorCal Fish Reports covers this exact region and is the source to check for current counts once fresh reports post. In the meantime, the broader fall transition is already underway across the West: per Tactical Bassin, largemouth are starting to shift off summer structure and key on baitfish around docks, grass edges, and open water as temperatures ease — a pattern that typically shows up on Delta flats and tule lines on a similar timeline. Striped bass, sturgeon, and catfish remain the Delta's core species this time of year, with striper activity historically building as water drops through the mid-60s over the next several weeks.
Chinook chatter builds near the Columbia's mouth as flows stay up
The Columbia held at 68°F Monday evening with flow running well above typical late-summer levels per the USGS gauge on the system — warm, high water that's kept fall Chinook moving through the lower river into mid-September. Anglers on IFish.net forums flagged decent trolling action for chinook near Buoy 10, including one report of solo trollers finding fish along the bottom edge of the legal line — promising chatter, though it hasn't yet been backed by a shop or charter report, so we're treating it as early signal rather than confirmed pattern. A cluster of lost- and found-gear posts near the mouth of the Lewis and at marker #1 also points to steady boat traffic working the lower-river corridor this week, another indirect sign fish are drawing anglers out. White sturgeon should remain workable on bait in deeper holes while the water stays on the warm side. We're watching for firmer confirmation before calling the chinook bite fully on.
Rainy River walleye and sauger set up for the fall shift
USGS gauge 05133500 logged 59°F and 4,360 cfs on the Rainy River system as of early Monday, numbers that sit right in the window where Lake of the Woods and Rainy River walleye and sauger start shifting off summer patterns. Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch notes that as weeds die back and oxygen drops in the shallows this time of year, baitfish and the gamefish tracking them relocate to the healthiest remaining weed edges and current breaks — a pattern that fits this stretch of river well. The same outlet's rundown on blending old-school and new-school walleye tactics points anglers toward jigging live bait, pulling crawler or leech rigs, and crankbait trolling in the clearer, cooler water, with forward-facing sonar increasingly used to locate suspended fish rather than replacing bottom presentations outright. Northern pike are worth a look too — a bladed swim jig with a plastic trailer, per the same source, covers bass, pike, and walleye water efficiently on flats and current edges.