Fishing Reports

NOAA buoy 41004 recorded 77°F water off the South Carolina coast on May 24, conditions that pull red drum into Charleston Harbor's tidal creeks and oyster-bar flats. Fisherman's Post — Carolinas saltwater reports for May 2026 describe red drum making "a strong push" onto nearby North Carolina beaches — a movement that typically extends into SC's Lowcountry on the same seasonal cycle. Salt Strong reinforces the picture, noting redfish actively working oyster bars along the South Atlantic coast and stressing that presentation adjustments at structure edges are separating anglers from the rest. Black drum are also showing at bridges and pilings: Fisherman's Post logs catches from Swansboro south through the Carolinas, and Salt Strong's structure breakdown confirms the behavior pattern. Nearshore, Fisherman's Post reports Atlantic bonito rated "excellent" from Wrightsville Beach out to the five-mile range, a pattern that typically tracks into SC waters this time of year. No Charleston-specific charter or shop reports were available at press time.

3d ago

The USGS gauge at Danville (01540500) clocked the Susquehanna at 13,000 cfs and 61°F on Sunday morning, placing water temperatures squarely in the range that triggers smallmouth bass spawning activity on Pennsylvania's larger rivers. Rocky shoals and slow eddies are the primary staging areas during this phase, with fish transitioning toward aggressive post-spawn feeding as flows hold. Wired 2 Fish highlights shallow topwater tactics at dawn and dusk — walking baits and poppers worked along current seams — as a productive approach for active bass in comparable river environments, with professional angler Justin Lucas emphasizing covering water quickly during low-light windows. Field & Stream's current guide to kayak fishing during the bass spawn reinforces shallow-water staging as the key target zone when temps enter the 60–65°F window. Specific on-the-water dispatches from Susquehanna or Allegheny tackle sources were absent from this data cycle; conditions here are drawn from gauge data and regional seasonal parallels rather than local shop or biologist reports.

3d ago

NOAA buoys 46002 and 46029 recorded 56°F surface water temperatures off the Oregon Coast on May 24, sitting squarely in the range chinook salmon prefer through late spring. Offshore winds measured a manageable 4–5 m/s across multiple buoy stations, pointing to workable nearshore conditions for most vessels. No Oregon-specific charter, shop, or agency reports appeared in this cycle's feeds, so this update draws primarily on buoy data and seasonal context. That 56°F reading carries weight: Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reported this week from California's Central Coast that a similar late-spring upwelling event, dropping water temps "a critical four or five degrees," coincided with a sharp improvement in chinook activity. Those same upwelling dynamics operate each spring along the Oregon Coast, and the current temperature profile suggests the transition is well underway here too. Pacific halibut, nearshore rockfish, and lingcod round out the open-season picture for late May.

3d ago

USGS gauge 01357500 recorded the Hudson River at 63°F and 2,440 cfs on the morning of May 24, squarely in the prime spawning window for largemouth and smallmouth bass and well within range for the spring striped bass push through the lower river corridor. NY DEC The Fishing Line's May 22nd issue signals how deep into the warmwater calendar we have moved, noting musky season is now 'just around the corner.' For Finger Lakes walleye anglers, the coolwater sportfish statewide season opened May 1 per NY DEC, and dawn and dusk transition windows over rocky structure should be producing. Spring trout stocking remains active; DEC hatchery crews have been moving brook, brown, and rainbow trout across the region throughout the season. The main-stem Hudson at gauge 01358000 is running a muscular 12,800 cfs, rewarding anglers who target current seams and hard structure edges.

3d ago

Stripers up to 40 inches are working the Merrimack River, per The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME this week. Surfland Bait & Tackle reported the herring run is still very much on and that inside-river structure is producing the most consistent action on larger fish; herring imitations top the bait list. A second report in the same issue confirmed the spring push has now reached the Merrimack corridor and is stretching into southern Maine. The USGS gauge (site 01073500) logged 72.9 cfs this morning, showing low, fishable flow that should keep water clear and river structure accessible. No water temperature was recorded this cycle. On Lake Winnipesaukee, dedicated reports are quiet this week, but late-May conditions typically push bass through the tail end of the spawn and into early post-spawn recovery along weed edges and offshore transitions. Today's First Quarter moon often marks a peak inflection in the regional striper run, per On The Water's May 22 migration map.

3d ago

NOAA buoy 44009 logged 57°F water on May 24, right at the threshold where Chesapeake-region fishing starts to shift gears. Per The Fisherman's DE/MD/Chesapeake edition, black drum have arrived at the Coral Beds off Slaughter Beach and at Broadkill Beach, taking sand fleas, clams, and female blue crabs best at dusk. Correspondent Eric Burnley reported that the week of May 17 brought persistent wind and small craft advisories, keeping many anglers off open water, with reliable action concentrated at beaches and Indian River Inlet when brief windows allowed. On the flounder front, the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal Flounder Tournament drew 596 anglers; winner Aaron Teawillinger topped the field with a 5.13-pound fish, confirmation that flounder are present but the bite is still building rather than firing. The water has not quite reached the 60°F mark that typically ignites consistent flounder action. Stripers remain the most reliable quarry up and down the coastal corridor heading into the holiday weekend.

3d ago

The Patapsco River is running at 933 cfs as of the morning of May 24, per USGS gauge 01589000 — elevated for late May and consistent with recent watershed rainfall. No water temperature reading was captured at the gauge. The Fisherman — DE/MD/Chesapeake reported rough, cold conditions through the week of May 17, with water temperatures in the mid-to-upper 50s°F across the Delaware and upper Chesapeake corridor, and a warming trend anticipated heading into the Memorial Day stretch. On the tidal Potomac, late May traditionally marks the close of the spring striper push, as post-spawn fish begin migrating back toward the Bay. Elevated Patapsco flows will concentrate fish in slack-water pockets and eddy lines behind structure rather than open runs. Catfish are entering their prime season as water temperatures climb toward the low 60s°F, and post-spawn largemouth and smallmouth bass are settling into a recovery feed along woody cover, riprap, and current edges.

3d ago

NOAA buoy 42001 logged a Gulf water temperature of 82°F on May 24, marking the heart of Louisiana's late-spring warm-up. Louisiana Sportsman reports that LDWF enforcement agents ran joint patrols with NOAA Fisheries across Gulf waters on May 23 — a signal that both recreational and commercial activity is in full swing along the coast. Inshore, Salt Strong's current articles spotlight redfish congregating around oyster bars and black drum holding tight to bridge pilings and piers, patterns that translate directly to Louisiana's marsh-edge and delta fishery. Winds running 5 to 6 meters per second off NOAA buoys 42001 and 42067, with 3-foot swells, have kept conditions workable for bay and nearshore boats. The First Quarter moon this weekend generates moderate tidal movement, a favorable window for an early-morning inshore bite before the midday heat sets in. Speckled trout should be running marsh grass edges and shell bottom as water temps push into the low 80s.

3d ago

USGS gauge 05586100 clocked the Illinois River at 19,000 cfs at 7 a.m. Sunday — a robust spring flow that redirects fish away from the main channel and into backwater sloughs, tributary mouths, and flooded timber edges. Specific on-the-water catch reports from Illinois are thin in this week's feeds, but Fishing the Midwest notes this season that rivers can deliver outstanding action when anglers target shallow, protected water rather than the main current. On Lake Michigan, IL/IN Sea Grant confirmed spring is active buoy-deployment season, with three nearshore buoys now monitoring surface temperatures that anglers can use to locate productive thermal breaks. Tactical Bassin reports bass active in shallow cover on northern Great Lakes-region fisheries, with paddle-tail swimbaits earning bites. Water temperature readings were unavailable from the gauge Sunday morning, so check local surface temps before committing to a technique — sustained high flows with cold inflows can compress feeding windows significantly on both systems.

3d ago

NOAA buoy 51004 logged 79°F water temperatures off the Hawaiian Islands on May 24, with buoy 51001 confirming 77°F nearby. These warm Pacific readings mark the classic late-spring transition into Hawaii's most productive offshore season. Trade winds are running 8 to 9 m/s (roughly 15 to 17 knots) across all three monitored stations, consistent with typical Hawaiian trade-wind conditions and manageable for experienced offshore crews. Specific on-the-water intel for Hawaii is limited in this data cycle; Hawaii Fishing News, the state's primary angler record-keeper and moon-and-tide authority, was not carrying a current conditions dispatch in today's data pull. Based on water temperatures and seasonal patterns, mahi-mahi and blue marlin are the primary offshore targets right now, with yellowfin tuna (ahi) and wahoo (ono) providing consistent year-round action at these depths. The First Quarter moon this week supports favorable feeding windows around first and last light.

3d ago

USGS gauge 02232000 on the St. Johns River at Astor recorded a lean 24.7 cfs on May 24, reflecting dry-season low-water conditions that typically concentrate fish along deeper structure and canal mouths. No direct on-water reports from Lake Okeechobee or the middle St. Johns surfaced in this week's intel feeds, but seasonal patterns are squarely in the redear sunfish and bluegill spawn window, which typically runs May through June across both systems. Florida Sea Grant recently spotlighted a competitive invasive-fish roundup in South Florida's Everglades canals, a reminder that interconnected waterways carry a mix of native and non-native species worth knowing about. Largemouth bass are in post-spawn recovery mode, beginning to move off shallow beds toward vegetation edges and deeper summer haunts. Wired 2 Fish noted a new Florida blue catfish state record on the Suwannee River this past February, suggesting big cats are holding in Florida blackwater systems heading into summer. Check state regulations before harvesting; season-specific rules apply.

3d ago

The Snook Nook's May 2026 report from Stuart calls this stretch 'one of the best times of the year for Snook fishing' as fish begin staging for their pre-spawn run, with slot-sized and over-slot fish showing consistently along the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers. Bait is becoming more abundant and conditions are warming into prime inshore territory. Offshore, Sport Fishing Mag confirms May as the start of the blackfin tuna flood, with fish pushing north from the Keys along the Atlantic coast to Palm Beach; live bait, dead bait, trolling, and kite fishing are all producing. Charter reports from Fort Lauderdale via Tidal Fish describe active bottom fishing over natural reefs alongside offshore trolling action. NOAA buoy 41009 recorded 4.3-foot swells and approximately 15-knot winds as of late morning May 24, so offshore-bound anglers should assess sea state before departing. On the regulatory front, a federal court injunction blocked the expanded Atlantic red snapper EFP pilot season; verify current rules before targeting snapper.

3d ago

Water at NOAA buoy 46042 has settled to 54°F off Monterey, and the salmon fishing has followed. Per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater, Monterey correspondent Allen "Bushy" Bushnell reports the Central Coast Chinook situation has improved meaningfully after northwest winds triggered upwelling that pulled surface temps down 4 to 5 degrees in roughly a week — cold, nutrient-rich water now concentrating baitfish and drawing salmon into range. At Half Moon Bay, Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady tells Western Outdoor News — Saltwater that conditions below Pigeon Point are "vastly improved" since water temps dropped from 58°F to 54°F — the same shift that pushed bonito out of the picture entirely. Seas are running 3.9 to 4.3 feet per buoys 46042 and 46028 with near-calm winds, workable for most sport boats. First Quarter moon this weekend adds favorable low-light windows in the early morning hours for anglers willing to launch before sunrise.

3d ago

USGS gauge 09380000 clocked the Colorado River at Lees Ferry pushing 6,180 cfs and 57°F at dawn Sunday, squarely in the trout feeding range for this dam-controlled tailwater. Rainbow and brown trout thrive in this temperature band, and moderate flows around 6,000 cfs typically leave ample fishable seams along the near-shore structure. No regional tackle-shop or charter reports from the AZ corridor came through this cycle; conditions below are grounded in gauge data and late-May seasonal patterns. On the Salt River system, bass are deep into the post-spawn transition. Wired 2 Fish's coverage of early-morning topwater technique notes that low-light windows are the top trigger right now as fish retreat from shallow beds; that approach maps directly onto Salt River coves. Channel catfish are warming toward their summer peak on both systems, and smallmouth are regrouping on the Colorado's secondary channels.

3d ago

Water temperatures in the Gulf of Alaska are sitting at 42–45°F as of May 24, per NOAA buoys 46001, 46066, and 46080, with surface winds running 5–8 m/s and no wave height data available for this cycle. These readings align with typical late-May conditions for this corridor and mark the traditional opening window for the Gulf's two marquee fisheries: king salmon and Pacific halibut. AK Sea Grant's coverage of last month's ComFish event in Kodiak highlighted strong local commercial fishing engagement, signaling that Alaska's fishing community is fully into the season. No directed charter or tackle-shop reports reached this cycle's feed for Gulf of Alaska sport fishing specifically, so species-status calls below are grounded in seasonal norms rather than fresh on-water reports. Anglers should consult local charters and state sport-fish updates for real-time conditions before heading out this weekend.

3d ago

USGS gauge 15266300 put the Kenai drainage at 2,940 cfs and 43°F at 4 a.m. on May 24, confirming the system is in full late-May runoff mode. Water that cold and that high pushes early Chinook kings into deeper holding slots along inside bends, away from the fast mid-channel chute. The early king run is on schedule for this drainage by late May; fish are staging rather than sprinting, and bank anglers who can reach the softer water edges will find the most consistent action. Interior rivers are running a similar picture: elevated and tea-colored off snowpack, with grayling stacked in tributary back-eddies where the current softens. Wired 2 Fish recently reported on University of Alaska Fairbanks research confirming that northern pike in Alaska's interior freshwaters increase their feeding rate as seasonal temperatures rise, meaning interior pike anglers should expect progressively more aggressive fish as the runoff pulse clears. Today's First Quarter moon sets up solid dawn feeding windows through the weekend.

3d ago

Water temperature at 78°F (NOAA buoy 42012) off the Alabama coast confirms early-summer conditions are locked in, and the red snapper bite is responding. A Pensacola Fishing Forum 'Opening Day Snapper' report details a crew making it to the bait boat before the line formed, reaching blue water offshore, and filling out a limit by bottom fishing a reliable deep spot rather than fighting scattered grass on the trolling grounds. Not every crew made it out: another forum post flagged pre-dawn thunder and lightning that forced a cancellation, underscoring how fast late-May storm cells build in the northern Gulf. Wind readings of roughly 18 knots at NOAA buoy 42012 and 12 knots at buoy 42040 point to variable conditions, making the early-morning departure window critical for offshore runs. Inshore, Salt Strong articles highlight redfish stacking along oyster bar structure, a pattern that fits Mobile Bay precisely as reds vacate deeper winter channels and push onto summer feeding stations.

3d ago

LakeForkGuy is calling it the most aggressive crappie bite of the year on nearby East Texas impoundments, and that post-spawn pattern typically tracks across the Sabine border lakes through late May. USGS gauge 08025500 logged 91.7 cfs early Sunday morning, indicating low, stable inflows and likely clear-water conditions in the upper arms and creek channels of Toledo Bend. Largemouth bass are transitioning off beds at this point in the season, staging on main-lake timber lines and secondary points during the heat of the day, with topwater and shad-pattern presentations drawing strikes in low-light windows. Hatch Magazine recently published a piece on the Sabine River's alligator gar legacy, a reminder that the upper Sabine corridor supports one of the Gulf South's most underrated warm-season freshwater targets. No surface temperature data was available from the gauge this cycle. Moon is in the First Quarter, putting the two hours around sunrise at the top of the bite window across species.

3d ago

Georgia Outdoor News reported May 23 that panfish and bass are biting well across the state, with Jimmy Zinker landing a 6-pound largemouth on a Muskie Jitterbug during a night fishing trip. Just upstream in the Savannah chain, Lake Tugalo yielded a new shellcracker lake record May 20: Phil Black's 2-pound, 3.26-ounce fish taken on a worm, pointing to a strong panfish bite that likely extends through Hartwell and Russell. The Savannah River is flowing steady at 1,770 cfs below Hartwell Dam (USGS gauge 02192000), indicating stable lake levels with no major runoff disruption. The Georgia Wildlife Blog notes Georgia's bass season has continued rolling into another productive week. With the First Quarter moon bringing partially dark nights, topwater windows remain solid at dawn and dusk. Per GA Sportsman, rain chances build through next week, a potential feeding trigger for bass staging along secondary points and channel edges.

3d ago

USGS gauge 11455420 recorded a strong reverse flow of 5,270 cfs, running negative toward the Bay, in the early hours of May 24, a tidal condition that typically concentrates baitfish along channel edges and puts predators on the feed across the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. NorCal Fish Reports maintains an active Delta reporting section heading into the Memorial Day stretch, though detailed catch tallies were not available in this cycle's update. On the technique side, Wired 2 Fish spotlights shallow topwater presentations during low-light windows around grass, reeds, and dock structure as a productive approach, a pattern that maps directly onto Delta slough fishing at this stage of the season. Striped bass are likely settling into their post-spawn distribution across main channels and larger sloughs, while largemouth bass are transitioning off beds and beginning to re-engage on the feed. First Quarter moon tides are building tidal push, making current-seam timing the key variable for the days ahead.

3d ago

USGS gauge 09234500 logged 51°F and 1,170 cfs on the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam early this morning, placing tailwater browns and rainbows squarely in their most productive temperature range. No direct tackle-shop or captain reports from the UT corridor appeared in this week's angler feeds, but the hydrograph tells a favorable story. MidCurrent's current tying coverage spotlights midge-style patterns "that excel in the clear, pressured water of stillwaters and tailraces," a timely note for technical presentations on the A, B, and C sections. Flows at 1,170 cfs are moderate and wading remains feasible in many stretches, though anglers should scout access points before committing. Pale Morning Dun hatches and caddis activity are typical for late May on this stretch, and a First Quarter moon adds low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk. Nymphing under an indicator and dry-dropper rigs are worth having ready for any conditions you encounter.

3d ago

Salt River gauge 09498500 recorded 86.5 cfs early Sunday morning, a low and stable reading pointing to calm lake conditions across Roosevelt Lake and the Salt River chain heading into Memorial Day weekend. No specific on-the-water reports for this district appeared in this report cycle, so conditions below draw on late-May seasonal patterns for Arizona's desert reservoirs. That said, Wired 2 Fish this week features professional angler Justin Lucas breaking down the early-morning topwater bite in exactly these conditions: shallow cover at first light, calm water, and fish willing to surface-feed before the heat sets in. Arizona desert lakes typically push water temps into the upper 70s by late May, meaning largemouth and smallmouth bass are generally transitioning out of spawn and staging on mid-depth structure. Expect the best bass action before 8 a.m. and again after 6 p.m. Channel catfish tend to become more active in warming shallows after dark.

3d ago

On the Water's May 22 striper migration update notes the spring run "hits peaks and valleys" around moon cycles, a pattern that applies to landlocked striped bass at Lake Mead as much as to coastal fisheries. No current gauge data is available from USGS 09421500 this cycle, and no region-specific shop or charter reports surfaced in today's feeds. With that caveat on the table: late May is historically prime striper territory on the reservoir, as shad schools become dense and predictable near rocky structure and stripers begin corralling bait actively at dawn. Wired 2 Fish's recent shallow topwater breakdown reinforces that low-light, calm-surface windows are when reaction bites peak, a technique that translates directly to Lake Mead's morning boil fishing. First Quarter moon (May 24) aligns the dawn window with moderate lunar influence over the next several days.

3d ago

Water temperature logged at 67°F by USGS gauge 06934500 on the regional drainage confirms the Lake of the Ozarks system has entered late-spring warmth, prime timing for post-spawn bass activity across the reservoir. Wired 2 Fish reports that shallow cover around docks, reeds, and grass edges is producing aggressive reaction bites during low-light windows, with early-morning and late-evening sessions delivering the most consistent topwater action. Tactical Bassin (blog) reinforces the post-spawn pattern, noting that bass respond to a varied approach: swimbaits and chatterbaits in stained water, finesse presentations in cleaner zones. Regional flows are running elevated through the watershed, suggesting sediment load in the upper Osage River arm, and fish will likely concentrate where cleaner water meets the stain line. The first-quarter moon adds evening feeding support through the Memorial Day weekend.

3d ago