Fishing Reports

Water at NOAA buoy 41004 has climbed to 76°F, placing Charleston Harbor squarely in its late-spring prime. Fisherman's Post — Carolinas saltwater reports red drum making a strong push onto Carolina beaches and nearshore shoals — from Hatteras south through the Cape Lookout area — a seasonal progression that typically arrives in South Carolina waters in its wake. Offshore, a significant new opportunity opens for 2026: South Carolina is included in the expanded red snapper exempted fishing permits for South Atlantic states, a pilot program that both Sport Fishing Mag and Saltwater Sportsman flag as a meaningful shift in recreational access. Meanwhile, Coastal Angler Magazine makes the case that May is one of the most underrated trophy speckled trout windows of the year, with less pressure and larger fish available to patient anglers who haven't moved on from the spring rush. A waxing crescent moon and moderate harbor winds provide workable conditions across inshore and nearshore zones.

May 20

Chris Johnston's dominant four-day, 113-pound-12-ounce victory at the Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes — confirmed by B.A.S.S. News this week — signals the fishery is firing at an exceptional level as May closes out. The tournament's breakout lure was the Coike and other urchin-style baits, which B.A.S.S. News describes as the clear winning edge; anglers hitting the public water this weekend should expect those presentations to remain productive on post-spawn structure. USGS gauge 02160390 recorded flow at 117 cfs as of May 19 evening, indicating stable, manageable water conditions across the system. Lake Murray is poised for its own moment: MLF News reports the 43rd annual Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American arrives May 28–30, drawing the nation's best grassroots tournament anglers to the reservoir. With the bluegill spawn in full swing, per Tactical Bassin, big largemouth are actively hunting shallow heavy cover — topwater frogs and walking baits have been the play for kicker fish in this window.

May 20

Water temps of 54–55°F (NOAA buoys 44085 and 44097) have Narragansett Bay on the cusp of a genuine breakout. Saltwater Edge Blog (RI) reports the bay is "loaded with life" following the May new moon — big striped bass are crushing large baits across the state, tautog have come to life, and weakfish are starting to show in decent numbers. The Fisherman — Rhode Island corroborates the striper picture, with fish tracked up the bay on bunker schools and large bluefish pushing in last week, seen tailing on the surface. The Frances Fleet, reporting through The Fisherman — Rhode Island, ran productive fluke and squid trips — a solid pick of keepers Saturday morning before winds built, and a strong squid outing Friday night. Booked Off Charters, also in The Fisherman — Rhode Island, held off another week on charters but expects tautog and fluke to improve sharply as the thermometer climbs.

May 20

USGS gauge 01540500 clocked the Susquehanna at 67°F and 14,300 cfs as of Tuesday evening — a warm, elevated river running well above its typical late-May baseline. At 67°F, smallmouth bass have almost certainly completed their spawn on gravel bars and are now in the post-spawn feeding recovery phase, spreading across transitional mid-depth structure near current breaks. Channel and flathead catfish become increasingly active above 65°F, putting both species in a solid window right now. Direct angler reports from the Susquehanna and Allegheny are limited in this feed cycle, but Tactical Bassin notes the bluegill spawn is "in full swing" across mid-Atlantic bass waters — a classic topwater trigger that applies to Susquehanna backwaters and eddy pools. Wired 2 Fish recently highlighted finesse and tube-bait presentations for post-spawn smallmouth in clear northern fisheries, worth filing away for upper-river reaches once flows ease. PA Sea Grant flagged active Round Goby expansion in Northwestern PA — a concern for Allegheny tributaries. Check PA Fish & Boat — Biologist Reports for district-level detail.

May 20

At 57°F, our offshore water temperature readings from NOAA buoys 46002 and 46029 sit squarely in the productive window for spring Chinook salmon — even as a 6.6-foot swell at buoy 46002 is keeping smaller craft closer to port. Winds are running 6–8 m/s across all three monitored buoys, light to moderate but enough to sustain a building offshore swell. California's Central Coast is logging improved salmon fishing, with Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reporting that northwest-wind-driven upwelling cooled water temps near Monterey by four to five degrees, drawing Chinook into favorable feeding lanes. That same upwelling pattern typically extends north along the Pacific coast, and Oregon anglers may see similar benefits as the oceanographic signal spreads. Direct Oregon Coast charter and shop reports are sparse in the current feeds, but seasonal timing and water temperatures firmly favor spring Chinook and Pacific halibut as the primary targets this week.

May 20

USGS gauge 14211720 logged 63°F and 17,700 cfs on the evening of May 19 — water temperatures that squarely bracket Columbia basin spring Chinook in their preferred feeding range and signal that smallmouth bass have finished or are near the end of their spawn. Direct on-water reports from the Columbia and Rogue were sparse in this week's feeds, but the gauge data paints an actionable picture. Wired 2 Fish highlights that western-fishery smallmouth respond well to search presentations like swimbaits and chatterbaits as they transition off beds — a tactic that translates directly to the Columbia's mid-river structure. At 63°F, spring Chinook holding in mainstem eddies and seam lines are likely in an active feeding mode; the waxing crescent moon and building light through the week can extend morning and evening bite windows. On the Rogue, early summer steelhead runs typically begin arriving in late May — check current ODFW retention rules before targeting them.

May 20

Ryan of Hatteras Jack — per Fisherman's Post — reports the surf at Hatteras and Ocracoke has come alive with red drum making a strong push onto the beaches, with anglers catching good numbers across the stretch. NOAA buoy 41025 off Cape Hatteras logged an 80°F water temperature and 2.6-foot seas on May 20, pointing to warm, manageable nearshore conditions. Buoy 41013 to the south added a 76°F reading with slightly more chop at 3.3 feet. The bull drum showing extends into adjacent waters: Steve of Chasin' Tails (Fisherman's Post) reports schools of bull red drum working Cape Lookout shoals alongside good-sized bluefish. Offshore, Saltwater Sportsman and Sport Fishing Mag confirm that expanded 2026 red snapper seasons are now federally approved for North Carolina via exempted fishing permits — a significant development for OBX offshore anglers heading into Memorial Day weekend.

May 20

USGS gauge 02142900 recorded just 2.28 cfs in the Catawba drainage on the evening of May 19 — an extremely low flow reading that signals clear, slack conditions across the system. No water temperature data was available from the gauge. The low, clear water calls for finesse presentations and stealthy approaches near structure. Timing-wise, the post-spawn bass transition is fully underway, and Tactical Bassin notes the bluegill spawn is in full swing at comparable mid-latitude fisheries — a pattern that pulls big bass into heavy shallow cover to feed aggressively. Topwater walking baits and frog-style lures near mats, laydowns, and dock pilings have been the productive play at similar lakes this week. Crappie are staging off deeper structure post-spawn, responding to slow vertical presentations. On the Roanoke system, late May historically marks the close of the spring striper run as fish return to deeper, cooler water ahead of summer.

May 20

Water temps of 55–56°F at NOAA buoys 44025 and 44065 aren't slowing the stripers down. The Fisherman — Long Island South Shore reports Chasing Tails Bait & Tackle in Oakdale called last week 'one for the books,' with solid schools of big bass working through South Shore bays and surf — find the birds and the bass are underneath. On the North Shore, Hi-Hook Bait and Tackle in Huntington reports stripers stacked around Eaton's Neck on trolled Mojo's, flutter spoons, and bunker chunks, while Cold Spring Charters is putting clients on fish to 44 inches. At Montauk, The Fisherman — Long Island East End notes steady slot fish and the occasional bruiser falling to diamond jigs and surface plugs. Tight Lines Tackle puts fish to 35 pounds in Shinnecock Inlet on bucktails. Fluke season is underway — Sea Rogue Charters in Freeport drilled nine keepers Saturday — and sea bass opened May 16 with weakfish making an early appearance in Peconic Bay.

May 20

Water at 68°F (USGS gauge 01357500) puts the Hudson Valley squarely in the largemouth and smallmouth spawning window this week, with fish pressing into shallow gravel and woody structure. NY DEC The Fishing Line confirmed hatchery crews were actively rolling out spring trout stockings through late April — brook, brown, and rainbow trout from fresh plants are reachable in many tributaries, though warming main-stem temps will push holdover fish toward cooler inflows and spring holes. The Hudson is running elevated, with 2,480 cfs at the upper gauge (USGS 01357500) and 8,310 cfs at the lower crossing (USGS 01358000) — enough flow to concentrate stripers and trout in current seams and slack pockets behind structure. The Hudson striper season opened April 1 and inland walleye became legal May 1, per NY DEC, making this one of the busiest multi-species windows of the year. Shallow bass beds and active striper current breaks are the two most actionable setups heading into the weekend.

May 20

Largemouth bass are locked onto spawning beds across NJ lakes and ponds as Memorial Day approaches, while the Delaware River's shad run enters its final weeks. The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater collected reports from multiple shops this week showing scattered but quality catch-and-release largemouth action through May, with fish visible on beds as spring temperatures fluctuated. Old School Outdoors in Ewing reports striped bass running well from the Trenton area down through Lambertville in the tidal Delaware — good news for freshwater bass anglers — while confirming the shad bite will begin winding down by early June. Chain pickerel remain active in Pine Barrens cedar-water fisheries per JB Kasper. Crappie have been a consistent bright spot all month, with Dow's Boat Rentals noting fish beginning to school up and shift toward summer haunts as June nears. USGS gauge 01408000 recorded 24.9 cfs on the evening of May 19; Tackle World flags falling stream levels from a dry spring stretch as a concern heading into June.

May 20

Water temps have climbed to 51°F per NOAA buoy 44007, and the milestone anglers have been anticipating is official: fresh stripers have reached New Hampshire, confirmed by OTW Saltwater's May 19 migration report. The spring run is now fully extended through the Northeast, with the NH coast firmly in the mix. The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME is logging stripers into the 40-inch class along the Merrimack River, with the herring run still very much active and fueling the bite — herring imitations near river mouths are a reliable starting point. Mackerel are also closing in, reported close to shore and biting well per The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME. Offshore, the haddock bite has been exceptional: Beauport Fishing Adventures, reporting to The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME, called the last 10 days "some of the best they've seen in years," with limit catches now common. Multiple fisheries are converging in a single productive window.

May 20

USGS gauge 06796000 recorded the Platte River at 3,360 cfs on May 19 — a strong late-spring volume keeping current moving through the main channel. No water temperature was logged at the gauge, but late-May conditions across Nebraska typically push surface readings into the low-to-mid 60s°F, a window that accelerates channel catfish feeding and moves post-spawn walleye back toward structure. Regionally, Wired 2 Fish this week highlighted a crappie rebound at Tuttle Creek Reservoir in northeast Kansas, noting that fish stacked shallow once floodwaters stabilized — a pattern worth watching along oxbow lakes and backwater pockets tied to both the Platte and Missouri. Per Fishing the Midwest, jigs and slip-sinker live-bait rigs remain the trusted walleye setup through the post-spawn transition, with spinning gear earning renewed confidence among Midwest guides this season. With a waxing crescent moon, low-light bites at dusk and dawn deserve priority.

May 20

The Grand River is running at 3,840 cfs as of May 19, per USGS gauge 04119000 — elevated but retreating steadily from the severe flooding MI DNR documented in mid-April when rivers were breaching their banks. That improving trend is welcome news for late-spring anglers across the region. Tactical Bassin's Great Lakes smallmouth coverage notes that prespawn fish in clear-water systems respond best when you cover water quickly, with swimbaits and finesse rigs doing the heavy lifting as fish school and scatter across structure. Tactical Bassin also reports the bluegill spawn as in full swing — a reliable trigger for largemouth action in heavy cover and along weedlines. On the open Great Lakes, MI DNR's May 13 weekly report flags active commercial netting operations near several popular ports; gear is marked with tall orange-flag buoys that can be widely spaced, so boat anglers should stay sharp. No water temperature data is available from our sensor network this week; check local conditions before heading out.

May 20

Water temps of 53°F at NOAA buoy 44013 haven't cooled the action — striped bass have made 'impressive appearances' along the Cape Cod Bay shoreline, per The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands contributor Charley Soares. Schools of bass are working bait across Buzzards Bay, and Red Top Sporting Goods (via The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands) reports good numbers at both ends of the Canal, with stripers confirmed in Plymouth Bay as well. The Fisherman (Northeast) calls it a 'supercharged spring striper run' across New England, with fish averaging upper-teens to 20 pounds and 40-inch-class fish now entering the picture. Bluefish are beginning to appear — Soares spotted spotty schools, and AJ at Red Top noted blues off Mattapoisett and Wareham. Tautog remain active, though green crab supply may be a limiting factor. Black sea bass are around but legal-sized fish are scarce, per Soares. A worm hatch sparked a topwater striper bite in adjacent waters this past week.

May 20

The most current Massachusetts freshwater report in this week's feeds comes from Hampton (Pequot) Pond in Westfield, where Rod Teehan found brook and rainbow trout stacked over deep water on May 13 — connecting on trolled Bobby Garland Baby Shad and inline spinners before surface conditions warmed (The Fisherman — New England Freshwater). Central MA rivers are running clear and accessible, with our USGS gauges showing 21 cfs at gauge 01105500 and 72.3 cfs at gauge 01111500; no water temperature readings are currently available from either site. The bass picture is shifting: Fishin' Factory 3 reports largemouths have entered full spawn mode and become "trickier to entice than prespawn" — a classic nest-guarding posture familiar to any late-May angler (The Fisherman — New England Freshwater). Tactical Bassin (blog) flags that the concurrent bluegill spawn is pushing big bass shallow into heavy cover, making a frog or topwater walked through emergent vegetation at dawn the primary surface play right now. Stocked trout remain a reliable early-morning option on deeper stillwaters through the Memorial Day weekend.

May 20

Water temperatures at NOAA buoy 44009 reached 59°F on May 20, confirming the warming trend that Chesapeake-Delaware corridor anglers have been waiting for. The Fisherman — DE/MD/Chesapeake reports black drum have settled in at the Coral Beds off Slaughter Beach and at Broadkill Beach, responding to clams, sand fleas, and female blue crabs fished near bottom at dusk. A flounder tournament at the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal drew 596 anglers and produced a 5.13-pound winner, per the same publication — though correspondent Eric Burnley cautioned that through mid-May "waters have been too rough and cold for much quality fishing," with improvement arriving only when conditions calmed. The waxing crescent moon delivers manageable tidal swings this week. Striped bass remain the Chesapeake's signature spring target; with post-spawn dispersal underway and water at 59°F, we're entering the window when rockfish scatter from spawning tributaries into prime main-stem feeding zones.

May 20

NOAA buoy 44007 is logging 50°F water in the Gulf of Maine — chilly but no longer a barrier for the spring push. Per The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME, stripers into the 40-inch class have reached the Merrimack River, with fish confirmed as far north as the Saco River in Maine and the spring run called "fully underway." OTW Saltwater's May 19 migration update put it plainly: fresh fish have arrived in New Hampshire and Maine. The groundfish side is equally strong — Beauport Fishing Adventures' Capt. Tom Lukegord (The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME) reports haddock action "caught fire" over the last 10 days with limit catches common, calling it some of the best fishing in years. Belsan's Bait and Tackle (The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME) adds that mackerel are pressing close to shore, a bait concentration that should keep pulling stripers north. With the herring run still active, bait-match presentations are the clear play.

May 20

The USGS gauge on the Kennebec recorded 7,190 cfs on the evening of May 19 — a robust spring flow keeping current brisk and visibility reduced in main-channel runs. No water temperature was captured at this station, though mid-to-late May in the Kennebec and Penobscot drainages typically sees river temps climbing through the upper 40s into the low 50s°F, prime territory for landlocked salmon and brook trout. Direct on-the-water reports for interior Maine freshwater are absent from this cycle's intel feeds, so specific bite conditions cannot be attributed this week. The broader regional picture is encouraging: The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME confirms the spring coastal push has reached at least the Saco River in Maine, with stripers in the 30-inch class reported, signaling that seasonal bait migrations are broadly on schedule across New England. With flows elevated, anglers targeting salmon and trout should focus on slower water — back eddies, inside bends, and pool tailouts — where fish will stack to avoid fighting the current.

May 20

Water temps at 81°F (NOAA buoy 42001) confirm full summer conditions across the Louisiana Gulf Coast, and the bite is following. Coastal Angler Magazine calls May an underrated window for trophy speckled trout — most anglers have already moved on from the spring rush, but big fish remain accessible through early June. Offshore, Coastal Angler points to gag and scamp grouper staging on structure wherever schools of cigar minnows and sardines are stacked; a live sardine on a knocker rig reportedly has a life expectancy of "under ten seconds around any kind of fish." Tarpon are entering passes and staging points as Gulf surface temps push into the low 80s — Field & Stream's tarpon primer is timely as the silver king season ramps up across the Gulf. Winds are holding near 12 knots across both buoys, with 3-foot wave heights recorded at NOAA buoy 42067. LA Sea Grant's active coverage of the commercial shrimp sector points to healthy forage in the nearshore system.

May 20

USGS gauge 07374000 clocked the Mississippi at 73°F and 465,000 cfs on the evening of May 19 — water warm enough to have largemouth well past their spawn and into early-summer patterns. Louisiana Sportsman ran a bass-fishing piece this week spotlighting the Black Label Piglet, a soft-plastic creature bait built for slow retrieves through heavy cover; that lure selection is telling for this part of the season, when post-spawn fish stage on woody edges and current breaks. Hatch Magazine's current issue features an in-depth essay on alligator gar fishing on slow Southern river systems, a timely read as the Atchafalaya drainage warms toward prime gar season. With the river running at 465,000 cfs, the main channel carries a heavy push — best water is wherever current slacks off: flooded cypress edges, oxbow cuts, and interior basin lakes. No direct charter or tackle-shop reports were available for this specific window.

May 20

The Wabash River is running at 4,890 cfs as of May 19 (USGS gauge 03335500), a brisk late-spring elevation that concentrates smallmouth bass in current seams, eddy pools, and the downstream sides of any submerged structure. With the bluegill spawn now in full swing across the broader Midwest, Tactical Bassin reports big largemouth are actively prowling shallow heavy cover — frogs and topwater presentations triggering the most explosive strikes of the season so far. Fishing the Midwest confirms this is a prime window for crappies on shallow flats and slow-trolled walleye rigs as fish recover from the post-spawn lull. On Lake Michigan's Indiana shoreline, IL/IN Sea Grant notes spring is prime buoy-deployment season for the southern lake nearshore array, though no temperature readings were available from that network for this report. Wired 2 Fish flags topwater walking baits as a high-confidence go-to for post-spawn bass right now. Verify current size and bag limits with Indiana fishing regulations before harvesting any species.

May 20

Tactical Bassin's recent on-water footage confirms the bluegill spawn is in full swing across Illinois and the broader Midwest — the annual trigger that pulls largemouth bass into shallow heavy cover and makes them highly catchable on surface presentations. A topwater frog worked over spawning bluegill beds is the featured pattern, with fish actively committing in the shallows. On the Illinois River, USGS gauge 05586100 recorded 25,800 cfs on May 19 — elevated spring flow that pushes river bass, crappie, and catfish out of the main channel and into flooded timber, backwater sloughs, and slack-water pockets. Fishing the Midwest notes that shallow flats casting has produced solid spring mixed bags, with crappies showing alongside bass. Lake Michigan's nearshore buoy network is entering its spring deployment window per IL/IN Sea Grant, signaling improving real-time conditions data ahead for southern basin anglers.

May 20

USGS gauge 13340000 clocked the Snake system at 15,900 cfs and 49°F on the afternoon of May 19 — elevated spring-runoff conditions but not out of range for productive fishing. No Idaho-specific reports surfaced in this cycle's angler intel feeds; what follows draws on gauge readings and established seasonal patterns for the Snake and Salmon river corridors. Spring Chinook salmon are the headline species in May, with fish entering the system from the lower Snake and pushing up the Salmon drainage through the month. At 15,900 cfs, fish hold tight to current seams, inside bends, and bank-side eddies rather than fighting mid-channel flows. Water at 49°F is on the cooler end for trout activity but sits within the workable range for salmon. Check current regulations before retaining any salmon, as retention rules shift with run strength throughout the spring season.

May 20