Fishing reports
16681 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Treasure Coast snook fishing peaks as season reopens Sept. 1
Snook fishing has been excellent along Florida's Treasure Coast heading into the reopener, with Snook Nook in Stuart reporting steady numbers of quality fish, including many in the 40-inch-plus range, concentrated around the St. Lucie Inlet on live croakers and threadfins. Statewide snook season closed June 1 and reopens September 1, timing that lines up with what Snook Nook calls some of the best snook fishing of the year as breeder-sized fish stage near the inlet and jetties. Offshore, red snapper access remains unsettled: CCA Florida reports a federal court granted a preliminary injunction blocking the 2026 South Atlantic red snapper Exempted Fishing Permit pilot programs just hours before Florida's Atlantic season was set to open, and Anglers Journal notes the state is now pursuing a fall alternative. Sailfish action has also been strong, with a Snook Nook-led crew taking first in the small-boat division of the 2026 One More Bite Sailfish Challenge, going 7-for-9 on bites.
High Water Keeps Atchafalaya Catfish Biting While Bass Hold Back
USGS gauge 07374000 read 86°F water and roughly 418,000 cfs of flow just after midnight Sunday, a warm, elevated late-summer stage shaping how the Mississippi and Atchafalaya systems are fishing right now. High water like this pushes current into the main channel, which typically means better catfish results in seams and eddies off the bank, while largemouth bass and sac-a-lait retreat into flooded timber, sloughs, and connected lakes out of the heaviest flow. Louisiana Sportsman reports that new recreational regulations for black bass and crappie take effect September 20 in the Saline-Larto Complex, a sign the state is watching those fisheries closely heading into fall. With water still in the mid-80s, we're seeing a typical slow late-August bite that should ease as temperatures drop into September — plan around early mornings and current breaks for now.
Late-summer heat keeps Okeechobee and St. Johns bass running deep
Flow on the St. Johns system held at 774 cfs as of early Tuesday (USGS gauge 02232000), a steady late-August read with no temperature reading available from the gauge or nearby buoys this cycle. With no fresh shop or charter reports out of Lake Okeechobee or the St. Johns specifically this week, we're leaning on seasonal pattern and general technique intel: late-summer largemouth typically slide off the shallow grass edges into deeper cover or push up briefly at first light, a shift Tactical Bassin's late-summer guidance flags as the number-one mistake anglers miss when they keep fishing yesterday's shallow spots. Field & Stream's rundown on Carolina-rig tactics is a solid match for this water-column change, working it slowly along clean-bottom points and ledges past the ten-foot mark. Panfish and catfish should stay a dependable bite through the heat. Check state regs before harvesting.
Smith Mountain Lake Bass Turn to Drop Shots as Bluegill Bite Holds
A stable 552 cfs reading off USGS gauge 02075045 early this morning keeps inflow in typical late-August shape for Smith Mountain Lake and Buggs Island, with no sharp swings expected to shake up patterns this week. On the technique front, the Virginia DWR Wildlife Blog is pushing the drop shot rig as the go-to setup for suspending bait just off bottom — a proven approach for largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass this time of year, and worth tying on for anglers working timber and rock transitions on both reservoirs. The DWR Wildlife Blog also flags a strong bluegill and redear sunfish bite for late summer, pointing to ultralight spinning gear (or a fly rod) as the simplest way to load the cooler on flats and stump fields. Striped bass activity isn't directly reported this cycle, so expect the usual late-summer pattern of fish holding deep near the thermocline until surface temps ease.
Chesapeake Mouth Anglers Eye the Turn Toward Fall
Water temperatures at the Chesapeake Bay mouth typically run in the upper 70s to low 80s by late August, and this stretch of the calendar is usually a transition point rather than a peak bite window. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this region this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel feeds carried a direct, dated report from the VA Chesapeake mouth itself, so this update leans on typical seasonal patterns rather than a specific bite report. Cobia season in Virginia waters is normally winding down through early September, while Spanish mackerel typically stay active around the bay mouth into the month on trolled spoons. Striped bass commonly sit in a late-summer lull here, with the better fall run still weeks away. Red drum, including smaller "puppy drum," tend to hold steady around structure and grass edges through this stretch. Treat the above as general seasonal expectation rather than a confirmed report until fresher regional intel comes in.
Bass and bluefin push into the Gulf of Maine as cod reopens
A 529-pound swordfish set what could be Maine's first state record for the species this week, underscoring the offshore action currently underway off Vacationland, per On The Water. Closer to shore, South Shore Massachusetts to Maine reports from The Fisherman describe stripers lining Cape Cod Bay near the Fishing Ledge and Provincetown areas, with ocean beaches just starting to give up bass to surfcasters, though the bite there is still mostly on bait. Offshore, canyon trips out of the Goose Hummock Shop area are producing near-record yellowfin tuna catches plus deep-dropped swordfish, with additional giants reported around the Sword and Crab Ledge grounds. On the regulatory front, Gulf of Maine cod reopens September 1st with a 1-fish limit at 23 inches minimum, per The Fisherman, while Southern New England waters remain closed through year-end. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings were available for this cycle.
Grand Strand trout stay hot as Charleston-area anglers eye fall shift
Trout are still eating well in the tidal creeks near North Myrtle Beach and Little River, where a slip-cork rig fished with live shrimp has been the top producer this month, per Dave's Outpost via Fisherman's Post — Carolinas saltwater; red drum are reported mixed in on the same water. No live buoy or gauge readings came back for Charleston Harbor today, so treat conditions as typical for late-August South Carolina: warm, stable water, a waning gibbous moon, and early hints of the turn toward fall. Spotted seatrout are the most consistent bite on this stretch of coast right now. Farther up the Carolinas, Spanish mackerel and bluefish are showing on casting jigs and Gotcha plugs from piers and the surf per the same source — worth watching as that pattern typically slides south. Flounder tend to push into deeper water once summer heat peaks, making them a tougher inshore target through early September. Check a local shop for Charleston Harbor-specific creek reports before committing to a trip.
Bull redfish keep biting around Saint Simons as summer holds
Bull redfish are keeping anglers busy around Saint Simons this week, per Joshua Barber's Southern Waters Fishing Report for Georgia Outdoor News, with fish still biting well despite the lingering summer heat. Redfish action stays the headline story for the Georgia Atlantic Coast into the final days of August, and Barber's report calls for cooler, overcast conditions to move in over the weekend, which should keep fish comfortable and feeding. Inland river levels tracked in the same report — the Altamaha falling, the Savannah rising — hint at the freshwater influence that shapes estuary conditions where many coastal reds and trout are holding this time of year. Offshore, red snapper season remains closed pending a possible October reopening for Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida anglers, per Saltwater Sportsman's coverage of the Atlantic fall snapper push. Inshore species like spotted seatrout should stay active as water starts to cool into September.
Cape Cod Bay Stripers Hold Steady While Albies and Tuna Fire Up Offshore
Stripers are holding all along the Cape Cod Bay shore this week, particularly around the Fishing Ledge area and off Provincetown, with ocean beaches just beginning to give up bass to surf casters on what's mostly a bait bite, per The Fisherman's South Shore Massachusetts to Maine report. On the Cape Cod & Islands side, Black Rose Fishing Charters is putting clients on solid striper action along with black sea bass and big scup, while Sports Port in Hyannis reports bluefish working the rips between Nobska and Hyannis plus bonito and albies moving through off Osterville and Bass River — still on the move with no settled pattern. Falmouth Bait & Tackle is seeing similar false albacore activity around Quicks Hole and the rips at Robinsons Hole. Offshore, Captain Phil out of the Goose Hummock Shop is putting anglers on near-record yellowfin tuna during canyon runs, with a deep-dropped swordfish also boated this week.
Louisiana redfish and trophy trout turn on along the coast
Redfish are crushing a wide range of artificial and live baits across Louisiana's inshore waters right now, according to Sport Fishing Mag's guide to the coast, with anglers working soft plastics like Strike King's Redfish Magic and Thunder Cricket, Matrix Shad, and Down South Lures soft plastics alongside live mullet, pogies, and croakers. The same report notes trophy-class speckled trout are keying on bigger meals, so anglers chasing gator trout are sizing up to large plugs and live baitfish rather than small-profile lures. Flounder remain a solid inshore option too — Salt Strong's recent breakdown of shipping-channel and waterway fishing shows the species still biting on artificials without needing live bait or an offshore run, a handy pattern as summer winds down. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Delta this cycle, so treat water temp and current as unconfirmed until the next update. Louisiana Sportsman also flagged new freshwater regs taking effect Sept. 20 in the Saline-Larto Complex, worth knowing if you split time between marsh and river systems.
Albies and Bonito Push Into the Elizabeth Islands Gaps
Falmouth Bait & Tackle, reporting via The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands this week, says the season's first bonito ("bones") and false albacore are showing at Quicks Hole and the rips at Robinsons Hole, while 4- to 6-pound bluefish are working the Vineyard's north shore up to Nobska Point. The same report notes bigger blues coming out of Horseshoe Shoal and a local angler boating a 1,250-pound blue marlin offshore in Atlantis Canyon — a sign of unusually strong bait around right now. Closer to the beaches, Black Rose Fishing Charters is putting clients on stripers along with black sea bass and big scup, and Sports Port in Hyannis says blues are working the rips between Nobska and Hyannis on epoxy jigs and tins, with short fluke and a few legal sea bass mixed in on bottom drifts.
Big fluke show up in Long Island Sound as bluefish tournament nears
Fluke fishing turned red hot on the Connecticut side of the Sound this week — Black Hawk describes a Thursday trip where the first drift alone produced three fish over 7 pounds, followed by a 9-pounder and an 11-pounder later in the day. J&B Tackle corroborates the bite with keeper fluke and black sea bass from Black Point, Niantic Bay, and Two Tree Channel, plus word of bigger fish out of the Montauk area. Bluefish remain steady but modest at The Race and Plum Gut per AW Marina, with hopes for bigger blues ahead of the coming bluefish tournament. Striped bass are holding to a dawn-and-dusk pattern, with J&B Tackle noting live-lined eels at night still producing the biggest fish. Porgies and black sea bass continue filling coolers on bottom trips, per Tartan II. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, so double-check local conditions before you launch.
Indiana's Lake Michigan shoreline eyes the pre-fall salmon turn
Lake Michigan's fishery is coming off real momentum: the WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report's season recap on 2024 flagged record coho salmon numbers (over 210,000 harvested) and the best Chinook salmon returns since 2012, tied to stronger alewife survival feeding recent stocked classes — a basin-wide trend that extends down into Indiana's south-shore waters. No live buoy or gauge readings came through for this stretch of shoreline this cycle, so this report leans on seasonal patterns rather than a fresh temperature reading. Late August on southern Lake Michigan typically still has Chinook and steelhead roaming open water on spoons and flasher-fly rigs ahead of staging tighter to river mouths as fall arrives, while yellow perch sit over deeper structure and smallmouth bass work nearshore rock and rip-rap. Expect scattered, technical fishing rather than a hot report this week — there was no direct Indiana-shoreline reporting in this cycle's angler intel, so treat species notes below as seasonal expectation, not confirmed bites.
Low water holds steady as Toledo Bend and Sabine anglers eye fall shift
The lone hard number in this cycle comes from USGS gauge 08025500, which logged flow at just 4.69 cfs in the early hours of Aug. 31 — a notably low, stable read with no water-temp data reported alongside it. No buoy or shop reports came in for the Toledo Bend/Sabine border specifically this week, so treat species behavior below as seasonal expectation rather than fresh testimony. Louisiana Sportsman — Fishing flagged that new black bass and crappie regulations take effect Sept. 20 in the Saline-Larto Complex — a different system than Toledo Bend or the Sabine, but a sign the state is actively adjusting freshwater rules heading into fall, worth a regs check before your next trip. Typical for late August in this region, expect largemouth bass and crappie holding on deeper structure through the heat, with catfish and white bass staying active as reliable options while everyone waits on the first real cool-down.
High Flow on the Illinois River Sets Up a Catfish and Walleye Bite
The Illinois River is running high at 36,500 cfs at the Valley City gauge (USGS gauge 05586100) as of early Sunday morning, well above the calmer flows anglers typically expect this deep into August. Water temperature wasn't available at this gauge, but elevated, likely off-color flow like this usually pushes catfish and walleye out of the main channel and into current seams, wing-dam eddies, and backwater mouths. We don't have Illinois-specific angler reports in today's feeds, so we're leaning on regional technique context instead: Tactical Bassin's late-summer notes favor shallow points early before sliding to deeper structure as the sun climbs, a pattern that translates well to regional largemouth fishing right now. Fishing the Midwest's recent coverage of forward-facing sonar also reinforces that walleye aren't always glued to bottom this time of year — plenty are suspended over structure. Lake Michigan smallmouth and perch should still be workable on typical late-August patterns, though nothing site-specific came through this cycle.
Terrestrial Patterns Take Over as PA Limestone Flows Stay Low
The USGS gauge above these limestone waters (station 01546500) logged 76.6 cfs in the early hours of August 31, a low, stable late-summer stage typical of spring-fed systems that keep running cooler than nearby freestone streams even in the August heat. Water temperature wasn't available from the gauge this cycle, so anglers should check thermometer readings before extending any fight on a wild brown. No shop or charter reports specific to Spring Creek or Penns Creek surfaced in this cycle's intel, but the broader late-summer trout pattern is clear: per Caddis Fly (OR), sunken terrestrials like jigged ant patterns are producing as fish key in on ants and beetles through the tail end of summer, and general searching patterns like worm flies (per Gink and Gasoline) continue to draw strikes on stocked and wild fish alike. Early mornings and overcast stretches remain the highest-percentage windows.
Susquehanna smallmouth stay active as summer flows hold firm
The USGS gauge at site 01540500 logged 74°F and 3,860 cfs early Thursday morning (Aug. 31) — warm, full-flow conditions typical of late-season Susquehanna and Allegheny water. No PA-specific catch reports came through this cycle from shops or captains on our tracked feeds, so read the species notes below as season-and-temp-driven rather than confirmed local intel; anglers should cross-check PA Fish & Boat's Biologist Reports for stream-specific stocking and access notes before heading out. Regionally, Field & Stream's late-summer smallmouth notes and Tactical Bassin's late-summer bass tips both point to the same pattern this time of year — low-light topwater and finesse presentations working shallow before the sun climbs, then a push toward deeper cover and current breaks by midday as water warms. With flow holding up at 3,860 cfs, there's enough push for a good drift without blowing out wading stretches. We're watching for the first real cooldown to shift the bite window later in the day.
Fall King Run Stirs as Walleye Bite Holds on the Grand River
Michigan DNR's Weekly Fishing Report (Aug. 19) flags a real shift on the water this season: walleye is now the most-harvested species in Michigan's Great Lakes waters, a trend worth knowing if you're working the Grand River or its connecting waters. On the river itself, USGS gauge 04119000 logged flow near 1,660 cfs as of late Thursday night — a steady, wadeable read for late August with no obvious rain pulse in the record. Water temperature wasn't reported at the gauge this cycle, so plan around air temps and time of day rather than a hard number. Late August is also the window when Michigan's Great Lakes tributaries typically start seeing the first push of the fall king salmon run, with steelhead trickling in well behind them — early scouting more than a full-on bite yet. For now, walleye remain the more consistent target while the salmon run builds.
Rangeley Trout Show Fall Colors as Headwater Flows Run Thin
A trout landed last week was already flashing spawning colors, per Mainely Fly Fishing (ME), who also logged a solid evening hatch with steady rises on Kennebago Lake in early August. That combination points to an early fall turn setting up across the Rangeley Lakes and Androscoggin headwaters. Flow at USGS gauge 01054200 sits low at 23.2 cfs, typical of a dry late-August stretch that concentrates fish in deeper pools and slows daytime feeding. No water-temperature reading came through this cycle, but thin, warm flows this time of year usually push the best bite to dawn and dusk. Brook trout and landlocked salmon are the region's headline species, with smallmouth bass rounding out the freshwater mix. Expect the evening rise to keep producing as light fades and surface temperatures ease, with more fish showing spawning colors as August closes out.
Late-summer pattern holds on Hartwell as fall transition looms
A Savannah River angler working a 3-ounce jig near bottom below New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam close to Augusta hooked an unexpected sturgeon while fishing for striped bass in late July, per Wired 2 Fish — proof stripers are still holding tight to structure on the Savannah chain heading into September. On Hartwell itself, GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News reports the Corps of Engineers is keeping lake-level restrictions in place amid an ongoing dike-safety review at the Clemson Lower Diversion Dam saddle dike, a precaution in place since 2015 with no danger to the public — worth knowing for boat ramp access this week. No direct Hartwell/Russell bite report came through in this week's intel, but at nearby Lake Oconee GA Sportsman describes a textbook late-summer bass pattern: brief topwater at first light fading to deeper structure as the sun climbs, likely holding across Piedmont reservoirs including Hartwell and Russell right now.
Late-summer king salmon staging draws anglers to Michigan tribs
Late-August conditions on Lake Michigan and the Grand River mouth line up with the annual push of Chinook (king) salmon staging near river mouths ahead of the fall run, a pattern anglers on the Michigan Sportsman Forum are already tracking in threads like "East Side Chrome 2026/2027" and "Kang Bangin 2026," where one angler reported going 0-2 on spinners working an early king tributary this past weekend. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through in this pull, so exact water temps aren't available — treat any specific number with caution until a direct reading confirms it. The MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report is the authoritative statewide source for Great Lakes conditions and should be checked directly for the latest per-region breakdown. Forum chatter alone (unconfirmed by a shop, charter, or agency source here) suggests interest is building but early runs are inconsistent, which tracks with typical late-August timing.
Chincoteague sits on the edge of the fall striper run
No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings synced for Chincoteague this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel feeds carried a direct, on-the-water report from Virginia's Eastern Shore — so this update leans on the season rather than a dockside catch report. Farther up the coast, Saltwater Edge (RI) and The Fisherman (Northeast) are both flagging the start of the fall run, with bonito, early albies, and bluefin tuna activity building through late August. That same seasonal clock applies to Chincoteague's inshore water: striped bass typically begin staging as bait pushes out of the marshes and water temperatures ease off summer highs, red drum and spanish mackerel remain catchable through early fall, and summer flounder fishing is winding down ahead of any closures. Treat species notes below as typical-for-the-date rather than confirmed local bites, and check Virginia DWR regulations before you keep anything.
Olympic Peninsula rivers ease into the fall salmon handoff
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for Olympic Peninsula salmon rivers today, and none of today's shop, charter, or state-agency feeds carried a direct report from these systems, so this update leans on typical late-August timing rather than a specific bite. This stretch of the calendar usually sits in the handoff between summer Chinook, which tend to taper by now, and the building fall Coho push, with sea-run cutthroat trout starting to show in lower-river reaches as water begins cooling toward autumn. Washington's ongoing creel and stocking program (per WA WDFW Fishing Reports) remains the direct resource for what's actually being caught on specific rivers right now. We're erring toward caution here rather than asserting a hot bite nobody actually reported today — species status below reflects seasonal expectation, not a confirmed report, and should be checked against WDFW's current creel data before you plan a trip.
Delaware Bay flounder limits keep coming as tog bite builds
Flounder action in Delaware Bay has been hot lately, with customers of Higbee's Bait and Tackle bringing home limits of fish to 23 inches, concentrated around the EP Tower and areas near the lighthouse. Big Dave's Tackle confirms the pattern bay-wide, with flounder, croakers and spot showing from the beaches out to the shipping channel, while anglers working structure are finding tog and sheepshead on green crabs and sand fleas. Hands Too Bait and Tackle reports sheepshead pushing over 10 pounds on the same baits, plus a decent triggerfish bite around the oceanfront jetties. Pier 47 Marina notes customers are willing to make a longer run for keepers as the season winds down, with the Old Grounds and Reef Site 11 giving up limits to 9 pounds. No local buoy or gauge readings came through today, but the mix of species and bait choices reads like a typical late-August Delaware Bay pattern with the flounder window starting to narrow.