Fishing Reports

With USGS gauge 03575100 logging 784 cfs early Sunday morning, flow through the Tennessee River system at Guntersville and Wheeler is running at a manageable mid-spring level. No temperature reading accompanied this gauge pull, but late-May conditions in this corridor typically push water temps into the mid-70s°F, signaling that the post-spawn transition is underway for largemouth and spotted bass. Tactical Bassin's recent on-water coverage of Tennessee River neighbor Lake Chickamauga confirms fish are in a transitional phase, with some still holding shallow near docks and grass edges while others push toward main-lake points and mid-depth ledges. B.A.S.S. News tournament coverage from Kentucky Lake, another TVA-system impoundment, shows that big bags remain achievable with the right pattern reads. For technique, Wired 2 Fish highlights low-light topwater as a proven trigger, with pro Justin Lucas emphasizing early-morning presentations around grass, reeds, and docks as the top approach heading into late May.

3d ago

Water temperatures came in at 63°F at USGS gauge 03512000 in the early hours of May 24, with flows running 361 cfs. Those readings place Smokies rainbows and browns squarely in their prime feeding window for late May. Trout are metabolically active at this temperature and willing to move for both nymphs and surface presentations. No specific Western NC guide or tackle-shop reports surfaced in this week's feeds, but the broader fly-fishing press points to late May as a hinge moment for Eastern mountain trout streams. Flylords Mag notes that green drakes emerge on the East Coast between early May and late June, putting Smokies anglers right in the thick of potential activity on larger pools. MidCurrent's recent tying coverage highlights patterns designed for hatches that are beginning to fire as spring trout water warms. For Smokies streams, that context translates to afternoon Sulphur and PMD hatches, heavy caddis through dusk, and sporadic green drake emergences. Flows at 361 cfs keep most streams wading-friendly, with fish holding in defined current seams.

3d ago

Schools of bull red drum are working the Cape Lookout shoals this week, with Steve of Chasin' Tails at Morehead/Atlantic Beach reporting schools of bulls around the shoals along with plenty of good-sized bluefish, per Fisherman's Post (NC). Inside the sound, Donald of Custom Marine Fabrication reports that slot-sized reds have pushed in and the bite has spread across much of the Neuse. At Hatteras and Ocracoke, Ryan of Hatteras Jack confirms surf action has come alive with red drum making a strong push onto the beaches. Further down the coast at Swansboro and Emerald Isle, Morgan of The Reel Outdoors notes sea mullet, black drum, and early pompano rounding out the surf action. NOAA buoy 41037 logged light winds of roughly 9 mph and air temperatures near 77°F on May 21, pointing to a comfortable late-May window for both sound and nearshore runs.

3d ago

Water temperatures at NOAA buoy 44014 reached 68°F Sunday morning, placing Chincoteague's nearshore waters in a prime late-spring window for multiple target species. The Virginia DWR Wildlife Blog's current fishing report confirms striped bass are schooling along channel edges, sandy flats, and grass beds throughout Virginia's coastal zone, with fish responding to both shore and boat presentations near hard structure. The regional migration picture adds momentum: The Fisherman (Northeast) flagged a spring push of 20- to 30-pound stripers this week, calling it a run the likes of which haven't been seen in many years across the Mid-Atlantic corridor, while On The Water's Striper Migration Map for May 22 places the main push well into Virginia-adjacent latitudes. Weakfish are beginning to appear in Mid-Atlantic shallows per Saltwater Edge Blog, typical once surface temps clear 65°F. Flounder are worth working over sandy flats as well, and First Quarter moon conditions favor active feeding windows through each tidal change.

3d ago

The Virginia DWR Wildlife Blog's spring striper report highlights striped bass schooling along channel edges, rocky shorelines, and hard structure across Virginia fisheries this season — a behavioral pattern that translates well to both Smith Mountain Lake and Buggs Island. The DWR separately flags a historic spring drought across the Southeast that is drawing lake and reservoir levels down, likely compressing fish into deeper, cooler pockets earlier than typical for late May. USGS gauge 02075045 on the Roanoke feeder system recorded 720 cfs in predawn hours Sunday — a moderate, fishable inflow into Buggs Island's back channels. With the First Quarter moon overhead, low-light windows favor early morning and evening pushes for stripers and largemouth alike. Post-spawn largemouth are transitioning to deep structure; Tactical Bassin's recent coverage of comparable Southern reservoir fisheries highlights swimbaits and chatterbaits as consistent producers along drop-off edges at this stage of the season.

3d ago

Water at 55°F (NOAA buoy 44065) is keeping some species waiting but doing nothing to slow the striped bass bite at Sandy Hook. The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf reports Danny at the Tackle Box in Hazlet describing elevated action at Sandy Hook tip, where one angler landed a five-species super slam (bass, bluefish, fluke, black drum, and blackfish) on a bobber live-killie rig. Bug Light has been yielding bass up to 30 pounds on metal lip swimmers, glide baits, and Jersey Jellies; Keansburg Pier is also holding fish on chunks. OTW Northern New Jersey confirms stripers, bluefish, and black drum are on the beaches as of May 21, and Blue Chip Sportfishing calls it the best striper fishing possible right now. The trade-off: sea bass and fluke are lagging. Multiple Northern NJ party-boat captains aboard the Skylarker, Golden Eagle, and Big Mohawk III report ling dominating the boxes with sea bass mostly throwing back. A warming push heading into Memorial Day could shift that balance.

3d ago

Delaware Bay buoy 44009 recorded 57°F water on May 24, and the spring striper push is delivering oversized fish. Per The Fisherman's Southern NJ coverage, Big Dave's Tackle reports fishing 'firing on all cylinders,' with stripers to 46 inches from the bayfront beaches on bloodworms, bloodworm balls, and clam. Higbee's Bait and Tackle out of Fortescue confirms 'all oversize fish from 36 to 46 inches' this week, with bloodworms still leading the way. Black drum are in the mix as well, with fish to 15 pounds on clam baits confirmed in bay waters per Dockside Café and Marina. Flounder remain a work in progress, held back by wind-driven dirty water and cooler temperatures through most of last week, per Anthony Califano's South Jersey report in The Fisherman. The Fisherman's NJ/DE Bay regional forecast for May 21 flagged Memorial Day weekend as the unofficial summer kickoff, noting the first registered Cape May County doormat fluke of the season at 11.86 pounds.

3d ago

The Swift River at Quabbin's outlet registered 39.3 cfs on May 24 (USGS gauge 01174500), confirming stable, low-moderate reservoir conditions heading into Memorial Day weekend. No water temperature was captured at the gauge, but central Massachusetts surface temps typically climb through the low 60s by late May — the threshold where smallmouth bass sweep into spawning shallows and trout begin retreating deeper in the water column. The Fisherman — New England Freshwater's Rod Teehan reported a May 13 outing at Hampton Pond in Westfield, MA, where cold, rainy conditions yielded brook and rainbow trout on a trolled Bobby Garland Baby Shad, with fish marking over deep water on sonar. Since that report, two additional weeks of warming have likely pushed central MA reservoirs further along the seasonal curve. Bass action is trending upward across New England inland waters per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, with largemouths noted as entering spawn phase — a pattern that parallels what anglers should expect at Wachusett and Quabbin heading into the holiday weekend.

3d ago

Water temps of 54°F at NOAA buoy 44085 put Buzzards Bay squarely in the late-spring transition zone, and the bite is reflecting it. AJ at Red Top Sporting Goods called this past weekend "dealer's choice," with bass schools working bait "almost all over Buzzards Bay" and bluefish surfacing off Mattapoisett and Wareham. Capt. Carl of Westport River Outfitters echoed the spread, landing stripers from schoolies to high 30-inchers and locating jumbo scup flooding into the bay. The Cape Cod Canal continues to produce at both ends, with topwater action stretching from Fairhaven to the west end, per Red Top. Tautog are still delivering solid action on structure. The Fisherman (Northeast) flagged a standout spring push of 20- to 30-pound bass described as among the best in years, while bluefish have confirmed arrivals across southern New England. First Quarter moon is in effect.

3d ago

USGS gauge 14070500 returned no flow or temperature data this update, leaving Deschutes and Upper Klamath conditions unconfirmed by instrument. That gap aside, late May is historically when the salmonfly emergence crests on the Deschutes, one of the Pacific Northwest's marquee dry-fly events, pulling redband trout to the surface along canyon pocket water and riffled runs. MidCurrent's current spring-creek feature is a timely read for anyone rigging up: careful presentation and a quiet approach matter most when fish are actively rising in clear water. The First Quarter moon on May 24 supports strong dawn and dusk feeding windows. No shop, charter, or agency intel for this specific drainage appeared in today's feed; anglers planning a run should confirm current flows and hatch status directly with a local outfitter before making the drive.

3d ago

USGS gauge 14105700 recorded 59°F water and 200,000 cfs on the Columbia River as of May 23, placing conditions squarely in the historical sweet spot for late-spring Chinook migration. Direct angler reports for this stretch are thin in current feeds: IFish.net Fishing Reports shows activity at Meldrum Bar and Chinook Landing on the lower river in recent weeks, though those posts log lost gear rather than catch data, giving us location signal without bite detail. Drawing on the gauge reading and seasonal patterns, spring Chinook are typically in full upstream push during the final days of May, with upper-50s water temperatures sustaining active fish movement. White sturgeon remain a year-round target and hold actively near mid-channel breaks during elevated spring flows. The Columbia's American shad run, a late-May-through-June fixture, is also underway at current temperatures and flows. Verify current retention limits with state regulations before harvesting any species, as Chinook and sturgeon windows can change on short notice.

3d ago

USGS gauge 12484500 on the Yakima drainage registered 1,960 cfs on the evening of May 23, signaling active spring runoff with no water temperature data available from the gauge. Specific on-the-ground reports from tackle shops or guides in the Yakima or Spokane corridors were not captured in this cycle's feeds, so this update leans on gauge data and seasonal norms. In elevated-flow conditions like these, rainbow and brown trout typically abandon the main current and stack in back-eddies, soft inside seams, and slower bank-side structure. Weighted nymph rigs and streamer presentations swung down-and-across are the most reliable approach when water runs fast and potentially off-color. WA WDFW's stocking program keeps Eastern Washington lakes well-supplied with catchable rainbows at this time of year, making stillwaters a productive alternative when river flows are running high.

3d ago

USGS gauges show the Quinault River running at 1,040 cfs and the Hoh River at 654 cfs as of May 23 — moderate-to-elevated spring levels driven by continued snowmelt from the Olympic Range. Water temperature sensors at both sites returned no readings in the current data pull, so thermal conditions are unconfirmed. WA WDFW Fishing Reports monitors angler activity across Olympic Peninsula waters year-round, though specific bite reports for this window are not available in our current intel feeds. Based on seasonal timing alone, spring Chinook remain the primary draw on rivers where seasons are open, with early summer steelhead potentially entering some drainages. First Quarter moon on May 24 sets up favorable low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk over the holiday weekend. Anglers should check WA WDFW Fishing Reports directly for any emergency closures or retention-rule changes before heading out — spring Chinook management on these systems can shift quickly mid-season.

3d ago

Water temperatures are holding at 79°F per NOAA buoy 42012 off the Panhandle coast, and the Gulf red snapper season is officially underway. A Pensacola Fishing Forum report from opening Friday documents anglers heading out before sunrise to beat the bait-boat line, finding brilliant blue water offshore with scattered grass before dropping down on a proven bottom spot and posting a snapper limit. Light winds running 8-10 knots across both buoy stations are keeping seas comfortable for the offshore run from Destin and Pensacola. The blue water push at the snapper grounds is a classic late-May Gulf signal that typically accompanies king mackerel and mahi-mahi. First Quarter moon is setting up solid dawn and dusk feeding windows through Memorial Day weekend. Boat traffic at known snapper ledges will be heavy; consider secondary structure or pushing to the edge for less pressure.

3d ago

Water temps have locked in at 81°F across the region — confirmed by NOAA buoys 42036 and 42013 — and the inshore bite is matching the heat. CB's Saltwater Outfitters (Sarasota) reports that May is producing some of the best snook fishing of the year out of Boca Grande, with Captain Brandon Naeve landing a new boat-record snook of 34 pounds 4 ounces on May 9th as fish move toward pre-spawn staging. CB's Captain Chuck Cress is also reporting solid upper-slot redfish alongside trout in the back bays. Meanwhile, jack crevalle are actively schooling in Sarasota Bay through May, per CB's weekly report, feeding near oyster bars, seawalls, and inlets — early morning topwater with poppers or fast-retrieved jigs is producing the most consistent action. Snook Nook (FL) corroborates the statewide trend, calling late spring historically one of the best inshore windows of the year as fish become more active in warming water and bait grows increasingly abundant.

3d ago

Mutton snappers are in full spawn mode across Key West and the Lower Keys, with the first quarter moon pointing toward a peak bite around the approaching full moon. ALL IN Key West charters report mutton and yellowtail snappers "practically jumping in the boat" on recent trips, calling May through July "absolutely lights out" for snappers, groupers, mahi-mahi, sharks, and more. Grouper season reopened May 1, per Coastal Angler Magazine, with anglers hitting reefs and wrecks for black grouper, red grouper, and gag grouper on heavy tackle. Offshore, Sport Fishing Mag confirms blackfin tuna are flooding South Florida and Keys waters May through July, with live bait, trolling, and kite-fishing all producing. Gulf-side trips out of Key West continue to yield cobia, barracuda, and kingfish in the same outing. NOAA buoys SMKF1 and SANF1 show winds running 14-15 knots with air temps near 83°F — warm summer conditions now firmly in place.

3d ago

Water temps measured at 80°F by NOAA buoy 42043 are holding inshore species in predictable feeding patterns along Lower Laguna Madre's marsh edges and shallow structure. Texas Fish & Game Magazine recently described the pre-dawn inshore scene: a light southeast breeze crossing spartina grass, shrimp snapping along the shoreline, and redfish pushing wakes through flooded marsh shallows. That is the exact window inshore anglers here plan their tides around. Speckled trout and flounder are sharing the same marsh-edge zone, per the same report. Salt Strong's technique coverage highlights black drum positioning tight to bridge pilings throughout the coast, where precise small-bait placement near the bottom draws consistent strikes. The CCA Texas STAR Tournament opened in May, per Lone Star Outdoor News, underscoring how seriously the inshore community treats this stretch. Federal red snapper season opened May 22, per Lone Star Outdoor News, for those with the range to run offshore.

3d ago

Late-May conditions on Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn mark the post-spawn transition for largemouth bass across East Texas. Lake Fork Trophy Bass documented heavy spawning activity in April at the nearby Lake Fork fishery, with fish rushing the shallows and the lake sitting roughly 3 feet low; by late May, most fish have backed off beds and are shifting toward recovery and early summer staging. USGS gauge 08030500 on the Sabine River recorded a moderate 1,860 cfs early Sunday, indicating stable inflow without flood pressure. No water temperature readings were available from the gauge. Wired 2 Fish highlighted early-morning shallow topwater as a productive post-spawn tactic, with bass hugging grass edges and dock shadows during low-light windows. Catfish are building toward peak summer activity as water temperatures climb through late May and June. Crappie have largely wrapped their spawn at these latitudes.

3d ago

My Canyon Lake Fishing reports conditions at nearby Canyon Lake as 'ideal for boating, fishing, and lakeside recreation' through Memorial Day weekend, offering a useful regional read on the broader Hill Country lake corridor. The Colorado River at Austin registered 1,230 cfs (USGS gauge 08158000, recorded May 24), a healthy inflow that suggests stable lake levels on Travis through the holiday stretch. My Canyon Lake Fishing also noted that TPWD has paused its weekly statewide fishing reports while a new format is finalized, leaving anglers without official conditions data for now. Against that backdrop, late-May patterns on Travis, LBJ, and Buchanan typically see largemouth bass completing their post-spawn transition onto main-lake points and deeper ledges, stripers beginning to school along the thermocline, and channel catfish turning aggressive on warming nights. Lone Star Outdoor News reports this is shaping up as a record year for Texas anglers statewide.

3d ago

Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady out of Half Moon Bay reports water temperatures dropping to 54°F below Pigeon Point, a full four-degree cooling from the 58°F recorded when salmon season opened in April. Per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater, that shift is already translating to vastly improved Chinook conditions on those grounds. The Central Coast upwelling story is broader: sustained northwest winds are pulling cold, nutrient-rich water toward the surface, feeding the baitfish base that Chinook depend on. NOAA buoys 46026 and 46013 are showing 3.6-foot seas across the SF Bay and Bodega zones this morning, with buoy 46013 logging an air temperature of about 51°F and light 3 m/s winds. First Quarter moon keeps tidal swings moderate this weekend. SF Bay striped bass and halibut are approaching their typical late-May window, though no direct local reports surfaced this cycle. Nearshore rockfish remain a consistent option as cooler upwelled water continues to refresh the water column.

3d ago

Water temperatures of 62 to 64°F across the LA Bight, logged by NOAA buoys 46025 and 46221 early Sunday, confirm what Surf Fishing in So Cal put plainly in their May 2026 report: 'May has delivered.' After a mixed April, the surf fishing scene along Southern California beaches is clicking into gear. Corbina are emerging as the marquee inshore target, with sand crabs and fresh mussel worked slowly through the wash on light tackle producing consistent results, per the same source. Leopard sharks are also a reliable option in the shallower sandy bays on incoming tides, as detailed in Surf Fishing in So Cal's dedicated species guide. Wave heights of 2.6 ft (buoy 46221) and light 5 m/s winds keep conditions manageable inshore and at the Channel Islands. The First Quarter moon today begins building tidal exchange through the coming week, a favorable signal for all species that track bait movement. Per Surf Fishing in So Cal, 'the best fishing of the season could be right around the corner.'

3d ago

Reno Fly Shop (NV) reported mid-May conditions on the adjacent Truckee River with flows slightly above historic levels but still navigable for wading, and mid-day hatches firing reliably when winds settle. That cross-drainage snapshot is the sharpest on-water intel available for the Eastern Sierra corridor this report cycle; the USGS gauge assigned to this region returned no data. Late May typically puts higher-elevation streams in active snowmelt mode, pressing productive fishing toward tailwaters, lake margins, and lower-gradient stream reaches. Per Reno Fly Shop (NV), Split Case PMDs, soft hackle pheasant tails, and caddis patterns have been delivering in nearby drainages, with fish pushing into faster water by mid-afternoon. First Quarter moon on May 24 supports low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk. Anglers willing to time their access around runoff conditions should find trout actively working mid-column and near the surface during the warmest part of the day.

3d ago

USGS gauge 05129115 is logging 1,000 cfs on a northern Minnesota waterway as of May 24, signaling that spring snowmelt runoff is still elevated across the Boundary Waters and Iron Range corridor. Fishing the Midwest notes that early-season shallow flats and back-water pockets concentrate crappie, walleye, and bass before main-lake temps stabilize, a pattern that fits the current high-water moment. Tactical Bassin documented a northern-lake road trip this spring where bass were stacked and actively feeding in the shallows through a surprise late-season snow squall, landing fish on paddle-tail swimbaits by covering water quickly and targeting visible structure. No water temperature reading is available from the gauge this week; anglers should verify local surface temps before targeting cold-sensitive lake trout. The First Quarter moon reduces overnight ambient light, typically sharpening walleye and pike into defined low-light feeding windows at dusk and dawn.

3d ago

USGS gauge 04015330 logged 112 cubic feet per second on the morning of May 24, marking a moderate late-spring flow on a North Shore tributary and a useful reference point for anglers fishing feeder streams for resident trout and any lingering post-spawn steelhead. Specific on-water reports from Minnesota charter captains or tackle shops were not captured in this cycle's feeds. On the adjacent Wisconsin side, WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing has been tracking a growing lake whitefish fishery in Chequamegon Bay, with sustained angler interest noted both through the ice and from open boats, a signal of basin-wide late-season whitefish activity that may extend to Minnesota nearshore structure. Seasonal timing places this week squarely in the North Shore's late-spring transition: the steelhead run typically concludes by the third week of May, while lake trout and smallmouth bass begin their prime window as Superior's nearshore temperatures inch upward. First Quarter moon this week opens active feeding windows near dawn and dusk for both species.

3d ago