Fishing reports
6969 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Delaware Bay stripers hold structure as offshore tuna bite heats up
Offshore action from Maryland through New England is red hot right now, per On The Water's July 8 Northeast Offshore Report, with tuna crews finding steady work in the canyons, a signal worth watching for boats running out of Delaware Bay's inlets toward the same current lines. Inshore, direct Delaware Bay intel is thin this cycle: no fresh buoy or gauge readings came through today, and none of this week's shop or blog dispatches filed a dedicated DE bite report. Delaware Surf Fishing does flag that the state's recreational striped bass season runs under a slot-size framework, with DNREC having previously set a 20-24 inch summer slot, so check the current slot and any closures before keeping fish. Cape Henlopen's fishing pier also has an expanding closed section anglers should plan around. Fluke anglers elsewhere are leaning on Berkley Gulp colors matched to water clarity, a technique worth trying on the Bay's structure this week.
Striper push and offshore tuna bite build along NH coast
Per OTW Surfcasting this week, surfcasters from New York to Maine are finding schools of stripers staging along shallow beaches with little obvious structure or bait to hold them, a pattern that favors rigged Slug-Gos worked slow rather than waiting for visible signs of fish. Offshore, OTW Saltwater's July 8 Northeast Offshore Report has tuna fishing "on fire from Maryland to New England," with strong water movement through the canyons keeping the bite rolling for boats able to make the run. Saltwater Edge's seasonal notes describe striped bass pushing out toward deeper, cooler oceanfront water as summer takes hold region-wide, a shift that tracks for the Gulf of Maine as well. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the NH coast this cycle, so treat water temps as seasonal-typical for early July until a fresh reading lands. Bluefish and mackerel remain the dependable summer standbys along this stretch in the meantime.
Michigan anglers shift to summer weedline and jig patterns
MI DNR's Weekly Fishing Report for July 8 breaks conditions out by region — Southeast, Southwest, Northeast, and Northwest Lower Peninsula, the Upper Peninsula, and the Great Lakes themselves — a sign the open-water season is now running full tilt statewide. Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen notes the 2026 open-water season is in full swing and is steering anglers toward weedlines this week, prime holding water for walleye and bass as vegetation fills in. Tactical Bassin's July roundup leans on jigs and shallow power-fishing baits for largemouth as water warms, while Field & Stream's crappie primer flags that summer crappie push deeper and into structure, calling for slower presentations than the spring shallow bite. No fresh buoy or streamflow readings came through this cycle, so pair this report with the DNR's own Daily Streamflow Conditions page before heading out. Expect a classic July pattern: sharp dawn and dusk windows, weed-edge concentration, and fish sliding deeper as afternoon sun pushes surface temps up.
Lake Michigan's record salmon run keeps Chicago anglers optimistic
Lake Michigan's 2024 season set the tone many Chicago-area anglers are still riding into this summer — the WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report noted a record 210,000-plus coho salmon harvested lakewide, plus over 160,000 Chinook, the best Chinook numbers since 2012, with stronger recent alewife classes boosting survival of stocked fish. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Chicago nearshore this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel feeds carried a current Chicago-specific bite report, so treat this as seasonal baseline rather than a live snapshot. Typical for early July, expect Chinook and coho holding on the thermocline in cooler water offshore, smallmouth bass working rocky breakwalls and harbor structure, and yellow perch scattering over deeper bottom as surface temps climb. Check the WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report and local shops for the freshest read before heading out.
Susquehanna and Allegheny smallmouth settle into their summer rhythm
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Susquehanna and Allegheny watersheds this cycle, and this week's agency and blog feeds leaned toward fellowship announcements and national-interest stories rather than PA-specific biting reports. Pennsylvania Sea Grant's most recent local item was a June 25 harmful algal bloom webinar run with the PA Department of Environmental Protection, a reminder that HAB season is active on slower pools and impoundments statewide. With no direct on-the-water word from the PA Fish and Boat Commission's Biologist Reports this pull, this outlook leans on typical early-July patterns for these rivers: smallmouth bass working current breaks and rocky seams, walleye sliding deeper and feeding mainly at low light, channel catfish turning on after dark, and muskellunge going quiet through midday heat. Field & Stream's general crappie primer and Tactical Bassin's July bass-bait roundup offer solid technique starting points even though neither is river-specific. Check the Commission's latest biologist reports before heading out for the real-time word.
Mixed bag off Pensacola as snapper season keeps rolling
Nearshore action picked up around Pensacola this week, with one angler on the Pensacola Fishing Forum landing a personal-best Spanish mackerel on July 6, a good sign for the summer run along the beaches and pass mouths. Offshore was tougher: another forum post described a run roughly 35 miles out to "the edge" (near what locals call Rusty's Ridge) that marked heavy bait on the sonar but produced mostly small vermillion snapper ("mingos") after a full day of effort. No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings synced for this cycle, so treat water temps and sea state as unconfirmed until the next check. Typical for early July in the Panhandle, Gulf red snapper remains the headline target over natural bottom and wrecks, alongside amberjack on structure. Check current state and federal regulations before harvesting, since snapper seasons and bag limits shift year to year.
Cobia hold at the Bay mouth as Mid-Atlantic warm push builds
Early July is peak cobia season at the mouth of the Chesapeake, with red drum and Spanish mackerel typically working the same warm water around the Bay Bridge-Tunnel pilings and nearshore structure this time of year. No buoy or gauge readings and no VA-specific angler reports came through this cycle, so today's picture leans on typical seasonal patterns rather than fresh local intel. To the north, The Fisherman (Northeast) reports striped bass, fluke and an early tuna push building hard through the NJ/DE Bay and Long Island corridors this week, a sign the same Mid-Atlantic warm-water pulse is likely working its way toward Virginia. Expect the Bay's resident striper fishery to stay slow through the summer heat, as is typical for July, while flounder and croaker sit in deeper channel edges and along structure. Check Virginia regulations before harvesting cobia or red drum, both of which carry tight slot and creel limits this time of year.
Striped bass feast on squid as Narragansett Bay bite holds strong
Striped bass are feeding heavily on squid throughout Narragansett Bay this week, with the most consistent bite coming during early morning and evening low-light hours, per this week's Saltwater Edge Blog (RI) forecast and a matching shop report filed through The Fisherman — Rhode Island. Squid themselves remain abundant for both shore and boat anglers, day and night. Fluke fishing has been more of a grind — Booked Off Charters and Frances Fleet both describe keeper counts as lagging around Block Island despite heavy bait on the grounds, though The Fisherman — Rhode Island notes fluke reports are starting to pick up around the islands. Black sea bass are showing more consistently as keepers mix in with fluke catches, and scup numbers remain strong along area beaches. Recent high winds forced multiple charter trips to cancel outright, per Frances Fleet and Booked Off Charters, so plan around the calmer weather windows rather than assuming every day is fishable.
Cobia and flounder carry the Eastern Shore through the summer lull
Direct fishing reports for Chincoteague were thin this cycle — no buoy or gauge readings came through, and none of this week's shop, captain, or blog feeds covered the Eastern Shore specifically — so we're leaning on typical mid-July patterns for the region rather than fresh on-the-water intel. Cobia should still be working the barrier-island shoals and lower-bay structure, with anglers typically sight-casting or soaking cut bait as fish cruise skinny water on the tide changes. Summer flounder are usually holding along channel edges and inlet drop-offs, best worked with bucktail-and-squid combos on a moving tide. Red drum and croaker round out the summer mix around the marshes and inlets. Virginia DWR's GoOutdoorsVA app, per the Virginia DWR Wildlife Blog, is a handy way to check current regs, tides, and feeding times before heading out, especially with the state's proposed regulation updates still in a public comment period.
Red drum steady across Pamlico Sound as summer tarpon push builds
Red drum are the story up and down the Pamlico Sound corridor this week. Per Fisherman's Post (NC), Custom Marine Fabrication in the Pamlico/Neuse River area is putting anglers on red drum of all sizes working river-shoreline flats and structure, with some bigger drum mixed in, while East Coast Sports out of Topsail/Sneads Ferry notes the early-morning topwater bite has been the standout, tapering to bottom baits later in the day. The Reel Outdoors in Swansboro/Emerald Isle also reports a steady sound-side drum bite alongside surf action on bluefish, spots, sea mullet, and pompano. Down the coast, Island Tackle and Hardware (Carolina Beach) and Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle (Southport/Oak Island) are seeing mixed surf catches of whiting, croakers, pompano, and bluefish, with dirty water and seaweed complicating the surf bite. Sport Fishing Mag adds that the summer tarpon run feeding into Pamlico Sound and the Cape Fear River is building, with reports improving from Southport to Kitty Hawk.
Gulf of Alaska settles into peak summer salmon and halibut season
Direct "what's biting" intel for Gulf of Alaska saltwater anglers is thin this cycle — no NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through, and the general angler-intel feed carried mostly research and education news rather than trip reports. The one directly regional signal, per Alaska Sea Grant, is a continued advance of invasive European green crab along Southeast Alaska shorelines, worth a heads-up for anyone working the beach or intertidal zone alongside a fishing trip. Absent hard readings, we're falling back on the seasonal baseline: early July sits squarely in the heart of Gulf of Alaska king and silver salmon season, with halibut also firmly in-season across the region. Lingcod remains a reliable bottom-fishing fallback in the meantime. Check state regs before harvesting, and treat today's numbers as a placeholder until fresh buoy and shop reports come in.
Tarpon push holds strong as permit sight-fishing lights up Naples
Tarpon are still very much in play along the Naples stretch of the Gulf Coast, with the migration described as "fully underway" and fish being intercepted and jumped through the morning hours, per Naples Offshore Fishing Charters. Once the tarpon bite cools by midday, boats have been sliding into afternoon permit work, sight-fishing large fish consistently, the same charter reports. Mixed into the pattern are kingfish on plugs and flies plus cobia and amberjack showing up as bonus fish offshore. Inshore, summer heat has pushed snook and trout into the passes and along the beaches, a pattern Coastal Angler Magazine flags as typical July action for Florida linesiders. Water conditions data wasn't available for this cycle, so treat any temperature or tide numbers you see elsewhere as a supplement, not a substitute, for on-the-water scouting. Overall, this reads as a solid, on-schedule summer setup for the Gulf Coast, with variety being the theme more than any single dominant bite.
Summer pelagics keep Hawaii's blue water busy
Mid-summer typically keeps Hawaii's offshore action centered on mahimahi, yellowfin tuna, and ono working the current edges and color changes just outside the reefs, with ulua holding the nearshore rocks and channels at dawn and dusk. No buoy or gauge readings came back for this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel feeds carried a Hawaii-specific catch report, so this outlook leans on typical July patterns for the islands rather than a fresh, sourced bite report. Trolling skirted lures and ballyhoo along weed lines and temperature breaks remains the standard summer approach for mahimahi and tuna, while ulua anglers keep working points and channel mouths on the change of light. A waning crescent moon this week means smaller tidal swings and generally gentler current lines, conditions many island anglers use to fish skinny flats and reef edges without fighting a hard push. Check current NOAA marine forecasts and state guidance before heading out, since no live readings were available to confirm today's actual water conditions.
Snook Stack Up in Stuart Inlet as Summer Trout Turn On
Snook are stacking up again around Stuart's St. Lucie Inlet now that a dredging project that had slowed early-summer action has paused, according to Snook Nook's July report — anglers running side-scan are marking large schools near the detached jetty and Hole in the Wall, with live croakers and pilchards drawing the most bites. Remember snook season stays closed for harvest through August (reopens September 1), so it's catch-and-release only on the Treasure Coast right now. Meanwhile Coastal Angler Magazine calls July prime time for speckled trout, with fish stacking in the passes and along the beaches alongside the summer snook push. Offshore, anglers are finding mahi action too, including a reported 39-inch bull off Daytona and a 15-pound dolphin out of Sebastian Inlet. Red snapper season status remains unsettled — a federal court just blocked the South Atlantic EFP pilot program hours before Florida's season was set to open, per CCA Florida, so check current regs before targeting reds.
Bull reds hold steady in Louisiana's Delta marsh this summer
Bull redfish remain the headline act along Louisiana's Gulf Coast and Delta, with Sport Fishing Mag highlighting Capt. Mike Frenette of the Redfish Lodge of Louisiana in Venice, who still finds oversized reds stacking up on popping-cork rigs in the marsh drains and passes this summer — a bite the piece frames as a year-round fixture of the fishery rather than a short-lived push. No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through this cycle, so treat water temp and flow as unconfirmed and check a live source before running offshore or crossing open passes. Speckled trout and flounder are typical July holdovers in the Delta's brackish cuts and bayous, though none of today's angler intel called out a specific bite on either species, so we're leaning on seasonal expectation rather than fresh reports. With a waning crescent moon overhead, low-light dawn and dusk windows should be the highest-percentage push for reds working shallow structure.
Summer patterns hold at Lanier and Allatoona as July tactics take over
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for Lake Lanier or Allatoona this cycle, and neither Georgia-specific outlet in this week's sweep filed a direct bite report from either reservoir. The Georgia Wildlife Blog's fishing dispatches continue to frame this as a strong stretch for anglers statewide, including reminders about the Georgia Bass Slam challenge for anyone chasing multiple black bass species this summer. In the absence of lake-specific intel, conditions point to textbook mid-summer patterns: national bass outlets like Tactical Bassin have been pushing July-specific tactics this week, favoring shallow power-fishing during low-light windows and jigs or Neko-rigged worms once the sun gets high, both of which translate directly to Piedmont reservoirs like Lanier and Allatoona. Crappie behavior typically follows the pattern Field & Stream outlines for summer, with fish sliding off the bank and stacking on deeper structure and brush as surface temperatures climb. Treat today's species read as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed local bite until a Lanier- or Allatoona-specific report surfaces.
CT Bass Fire Up at Dawn and Dusk While Trout Action Cools
Bass fishing has locked into a strong summer pattern across Connecticut's inland waters, with anglers at Saugatuck Reservoir putting together "very good" mornings and evenings on largemouths, smallmouths, and walleyes, per Fisherman's World in Norwalk. Trout, meanwhile, have gone quiet: Fishin' Factory 3 in Middletown reports even Salmon River trout action has slowed to a crawl as water settles into typical summertime mode. The bright spot for river anglers is that with the Connecticut River shad run wrapped up, channel catfish and bowfin are filling in the action for bait fishermen working bottom rigs. Statewide, night crawlers and shiners remain the go-to natural baits, while bass anglers lean on topwater frogs, Whopper Ploppers, and Senkos worked early and late to beat the heat, per The Fisherman - New England Freshwater. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for this cycle, so plan trips around dawn and dusk low-light windows rather than a specific temperature line.
NorCal ports stack bluefin tuna with beach stripers and Bodega halibut
Captain Charlie Barberini put anglers aboard the six-pack Scallyway out of Fish Emeryville onto two of the most epic days of bluefin tuna his boat has seen, according to Western Outdoor News — Saltwater, and it's happening alongside a stacked lineup of other action out of San Francisco-area ports. The same report has rockfish and lingcod limits coming from trips to the Farallon Islands, big striped bass working the surf line outside the Golden Gate, and what's being called an incredible halibut bite at Bodega Bay. We're seeing a genuine multi-species window open up just as the ocean salmon opener approaches, giving anglers a reason to fish nearshore structure, the Gate beach, and the Bodega flats in the same week rather than picking just one target. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this cycle, so plan around the reported bite windows rather than a specific temperature line.
Walleyes settle into weedline pattern as Rainy River holds summer warmth
The Rainy River / Lake of the Woods gauge read 72°F this morning with flow holding near 4,250 cfs, a stable mid-summer signature that pushes fish onto weed edges and current breaks rather than open basin water. Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen notes the 2026 open-water season is in full swing and that anglers willing to work weedlines and mix up presentations are out-fishing those relying on memory spots. Walleye remain the headline draw on Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River this time of year, and warm, steady water typically has them sliding onto deeper weed edges and current seams through the middle of the day. Smallmouth bass and panfish should be sharing the same cover: Tactical Bassin's July bait roundup and Field & Stream's bluegill guide both point anglers toward weed-line edges as the default July target zone. No muskie-specific reports came through this cycle, so treat that bite as seasonal-typical until fresher intel lands.
Green River tailwater trout hold steady through summer's core stretch
At the Green River gauge (USGS 09234500), releases are holding near 1,720 cfs with water temperature reading 57°F as of early Wednesday morning — cold, stable numbers typical of the Flaming Gorge tailwater this time of year. That kind of consistent, chilly flow is exactly what keeps this blue-ribbon stretch fishing well through the heart of summer, even as many freestone rivers around the region run warmer and lower. None of this week's angler-intel feeds carried Utah-specific reports, so this outlook leans on what these readings typically mean for the fishery: rainbow and brown trout stay active in stable tailwater temperatures, while the higher-elevation Uinta Lakes settle into a full open-water summer pattern for kokanee and panfish. Best action should come early and late in the day, before afternoon heat pushes fish tighter to structure and deeper runs. Check current Utah DWR regulations before harvesting anything out of either fishery.
Summer heat pushes Lake of the Ozarks bass deep, bluegill to weedlines
The Osage River gauge near Lake of the Ozarks is reading a warm 84°F with flow running above 90,000 cfs, a strong current signal for mid-July on this system and a reminder that Bagnell Dam generation is very much in play this week. That kind of heat and flow lines up with classic full-summer patterns. Tactical Bassin's July bait roundup points anglers toward jigs and current-break presentations for locating bass holding tight to shade this time of year, while Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen argues versatility, working weed edges and mixing techniques, separates a good day from a slow one right now. Field & Stream's seasonal crappie guide notes fish push deeper or into structure once temps climb past the mid-60s, useful context as Ozarks crappie slide off the bank. Bluegill, per Field & Stream's bluegill guide, keep holding tight to weed lines over mud bottoms. Expect a classic July grind: early/late topwater windows, deep structure by midday.
East Texas Bass Push Deep as Summer Heat Settles In
Flow at USGS gauge 08030500 sat near 2,170 cfs early Wednesday morning, a stable mid-summer stage for the East Texas watershed, though no water-temperature reading came through this cycle. No direct report from Toledo Bend or Sam Rayburn landed in this week's intel, but nearby Lake Fork Trophy Bass's July update offers a solid regional read: lake levels running just under two feet low, clarity holding good, and "big bass action" continuing strong into the hottest stretch of the year, with some of the season's biggest client fish typically coming this month. That pattern tracks with what East Texas bass anglers should expect elsewhere in the region right now. Per Tactical Bassin's July baits roundup, hot metabolisms have bass feeding aggressively on baitfish-mimicking presentations, while Texas Fish & Game Magazine points anglers toward brush piles worked with forward-facing sonar as cover concentrates fish through the heat of the day.
Skinny Water Sharpens the Bite on South Platte and Arkansas Tailwaters
USGS gauge 06701900 has South Platte-area flows sitting at just 252 cfs this week, and that skinny water lines up with what Colorado shops have been saying all season: 2026's snowpack left tailwaters running low and clear. Pat Dorsey Fly Fishing calls the current drought among the worst on record for the state, while Cutthroat Anglers' Low Water Pro Tips post argues that's not all bad news, since thinned-out flows concentrate fish into predictable seams and reward anglers willing to hike farther and downsize tippet. Midges remain the bread-and-butter here; AvidMax's fly-tying series has been turning out foam-back and tungsten midge patterns built for exactly this kind of low, clear, technical water. Mornings are also prime time for the trico spinner falls Gink and Gasoline made famous writing about the South Platte, and Trout Unlimited notes terrestrials are worth a look now that summer hoppers and ants are working their way into the current.
Yellowstone flows hold steady as summer terrestrials take over
The Yellowstone River near USGS gauge 06043500 is running about 926 cfs as of early this morning, a solid mid-summer flow that keeps wading and drift access workable across the Yellowstone & Missouri corridor. No fresh water-temp reading came through on this gauge, so check a thermometer or a local shop gauge before committing to an afternoon session, especially as July heat builds. On the technique side, Trout Unlimited's seasonal TROUT Tip flags pink terrestrials as a go-to this time of year, a pattern that applies well to Montana's freeboard trout water once grasshoppers and beetles start dropping off the banks. Downstream on the Missouri River system, MT FWP Fishing News is reminding walleye anglers on Canyon Ferry Reservoir to keep more of the smaller fish they catch, part of an ongoing effort to thin the ranks and let bigger fish grow. Bull trout remain catch-and-release water statewide, with FWP-backed otolith research this season adding new detail on which tributaries matter most for the species.