Fishing Reports

NOAA buoy 51004 recorded 79°F sea surface temperatures off the southeastern Hawaiian Islands on May 19, sitting squarely in the warm pelagic corridor that draws ahi (yellowfin tuna), ono (wahoo), and mahi-mahi to productive offshore grounds. Northwest readings at buoy 51001 showed slightly cooler 76°F water with moderate 6 m/s trade winds—conditions that can concentrate baitfish along temperature breaks between the two zones. Hawaii Fishing News tracks the current waxing crescent moon phase on its monthly tide calendars; local captains widely favor this darker-dawn window for early-morning trolling bites. Significant wave heights of 8.9 ft at buoy 51002 and 8.5 ft at buoy 51004 signal active south-side swells requiring careful harbor-crossing timing this weekend. With summer's blue marlin season approaching, late May traditionally marks when offshore action begins its seasonal climb. Angler-intel feeds were light on Hawaii-specific bite reports this cycle, so species outlooks lean on buoy readings and established seasonal patterns rather than fresh captain testimony.

May 20

A 12-pound tripletail caught by Joe Thompson and his dad — reported by GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News — headlines the Georgia Atlantic Coast this week, confirming that the late-May nearshore and offshore push is fully underway. With hot weather arriving, GA Sportsman notes fish are beginning to move into deeper water, making offshore runs and deeper nearshore structure the priority. The big regulatory news: Sport Fishing Mag and Saltwater Sportsman both report that South Atlantic states — including Georgia — received federal approval for greatly expanded red snapper seasons in 2026 via exempted fishing permits, giving anglers extended access this summer. Coastal Angler Magazine flags May as a quietly underrated month for trophy speckled trout, while also noting that gag and scamp grouper are stacking on structure loaded with cigar minnows and sardines. NOAA buoy 41008 recorded light winds around 8 knots and warm air temps near 77°F on May 19, suggesting manageable offshore windows.

May 20

The bluegill spawn is in full swing across Georgia, and largemouth bass are taking full advantage — Tactical Bassin reports fish actively hunting frog and topwater presentations in shallow, heavy cover. Joshua Barber's May 10 Southern Waters report in GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News flags that hot weather is now arriving and bass will begin migrating toward deeper water, making the current window a closing-out period for shallow topwater action. The Savannah River at Clyo was sitting at 3.6 feet and falling as of May 14 per Barber's gauges, and USGS gauge 02197000 now shows the river running at 3,830 cfs — a moderate, fishable level. Georgia Wildlife Blog — Fishing noted another strong week of fishing across the state as of May 15. Earlier in April, the blog documented a post-rain largemouth bite that produced an 8-pound, 11-ounce fish from Morgan County — a reminder of how productively Georgia bass respond to barometric-change windows heading into summer.

May 20

Tactical Bassin (blog) reports the bluegill spawn is in full swing, and largemouth bass across Florida's freshwater systems are capitalizing — frogs and topwater presentations over heavy cover have been producing aggressive strikes with fish stacked shallow. On the St. Johns, USGS gauge 02232000 logged 119 cfs as of Tuesday evening, a moderate and stable flow that keeps backwater access open along much of the corridor. Water temperature data is unavailable from current gauge readings; mid-May surface temps in both Okeechobee and the St. Johns system typically run upper 70s to low 80s°F. Catfish anglers have extra motivation: Field & Stream recently highlighted a new Florida state-record blue catfish, 73.6 pounds, caught on live bream — a reminder that Okeechobee's deeper basin holds trophy-class fish. The waxing crescent moon sets up solid pre-dawn and dusk feeding windows, prime timing to work frog gear over pad edges before the mid-morning sun pushes fish to deeper structure.

May 20

Per Snook Nook out of Stuart, May is historically one of the best inshore months on the Treasure Coast — and the 2026 pre-spawn push is delivering. Slot-sized and over-slot snook are appearing with increasing frequency along the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers as fish stage ahead of the June spawn. Offshore, Sport Fishing Mag reports that blackfin tuna have flooded South Florida Atlantic waters from the Keys up to Palm Beach — their annual May arrival kicking off a multi-month run for these hard-fighting fish. Fort Lauderdale charters reporting through Tidal Fish found active sailfish action and productive natural-reef bottom fishing under 2–3 foot seas. Adding to the excitement, federally approved state Exempted Fishing Permits — tracked by CCA Florida and covered by Sport Fishing Mag — will give Florida's Atlantic-coast anglers a significantly expanded red snapper season in 2026. Winds are running 9–13 mph with 3-foot offshore swells per NOAA buoys 41009 and 41008.

May 19

Water temps at 80°F (NOAA buoy 42036) signal peak late-spring conditions on Florida's Gulf Coast. Naples Offshore Fishing Charters confirms the tarpon migration is fully underway, with boats intercepting silver kings as they push through the Naples area — mornings devoted to sight-casting and jumping quality fish before afternoons pivot to permit, which have been responding to sight-fishing presentations consistently. The same captain also reports cobia, kingfish, and amberjacks rounding out a highly varied offshore spread. Inshore, Coastal Angler Magazine highlights May as an underrated window for trophy speckled trout, while the same source flags gag and scamp grouper stacked on ledges, wrecks, and rocky structure wherever cigar minnows and sardines are concentrated. Light winds of 7–9 mph and 2–3 foot seas across both Gulf buoys (42036 and 42039) make for comfortable running, and the waxing crescent moon sets up productive tidal transitions on the flats.

May 19

Water temps at NOAA buoy 44009 have climbed to 59°F as of May 19, and the Delaware Bay is delivering outstanding striped bass action. Big Dave's Tackle (via The Fisherman — Southern NJ) reports both sides of the bay producing oversize fish to 46 inches from bayfront beaches — bloodworms, bloodworm balls, and clam baits are the top producers. Higbee's Bait and Tackle out of Fortescue backs that up, noting "all oversize fish from 36 to 46 inches" on the same bloodworm bite this week. The Fisherman — DE/MD/Chesapeake correspondent Eric Burnley described rough, small-craft-advisory conditions through May 17, but when windows eased, stripers showed at the beaches and Indian River Inlet. Black drum are holding at the Coral Beds off Slaughter Beach and at Broadkill Beach, per Smith's Bait Shop, best at dusk on clams and sand fleas. Flounder are present — the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal Flounder Tournament drew 596 anglers per The Fisherman — DE/MD/Chesapeake — but the bite has lagged in cold, wind-churned conditions.

May 19

'Long Island Sound is loaded with big bass on bunker' — that was OTW Saltwater's lead line in its May 19 Striper Migration Report, and every Connecticut shop this week confirms it. The May new moon acted as a catalyst: Aaron Swanson, writing in The Fisherman — Connecticut, reported that the moon 'seemed to supercharge striped bass activity in Long Island Sound and its tributaries,' with a full buffet of bait — squid, bunker, mackerel, herring, silversides, and rain bait — now spread across the Sound. Fisherman's World summed up their week simply as 'bass, bass, bass,' with fish responding to every technique across all structure types. Captain Morgan's Bait and Tackle added that artificials and even flies are 'easily keeping pace' with live bait as 'the big gals' tear up the shallows, with tide dictating the bite more than time of day. Water temperature at NOAA buoy 44065 is holding at 56°F — prime range for aggressive striper feeding.

May 19

Fishin' Factory 3 in Middletown — per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater — reports the Salmon River TMA and TTA received fresh stockings on May 13, and at least one local angler pulled as many trout as he could handle from those stocked stretches. But the broader freshwater picture has shifted: largemouth bass across Connecticut's inland ponds are now deep into the spawn and proving "trickier" to entice than they were during prespawn, according to the same source. Customer interest has notably pivoted toward shad, stripers, and carp working the Connecticut River main stem. At Saugatuck Reservoir, Fisherman's World in Norwalk notes largemouth and smallmouth bass action steadily improving as the water warms — shiners lead the lineup, with Keitech swim baits and Lunker City paddletails also drawing bites. USGS gauge 01184000 puts Connecticut River water at 62°F and a robust 20,400 cfs, flows that concentrate shad in slack-water pockets and eddy lines along the main stem.

May 19

At 3,060 cfs and 57°F on the Colorado River (USGS gauge 09095500, May 19), flows have risen well above the 1,380 cfs Crystal Fly Shop reported on the river near Glenwood Springs in late April — peak spring runoff is building. Per Cutthroat Anglers' May 2026 update, 2026's historically low Colorado snowpack means the blown-out window will be shorter than usual, and fish are already grouped in softer holding water and actively feeding. Pat Dorsey notes reliable midge hatches have been the early-season backbone, with BWO and caddis patterns gaining ground as temperatures climb. AvidMax highlights midge emerger patterns — particularly tailwater-specific ties — as especially effective right now. Adaptable anglers targeting slack pockets, inside bends, and eddy lines are finding willing trout even as main-stem flows run brisk. At 57°F, water temperatures sit squarely in the prime trout feeding zone for the week ahead.

May 19

Water temps at NOAA buoy 46042 read 54°F off the Central Coast — a cooldown that is translating directly to improved salmon action. Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reports from Monterey that Central Coast Chinook conditions have upgraded meaningfully as northwest winds drive upwelling, pulling nutrient-rich water to the surface and activating the bait schools salmon follow. Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing confirms the shift: temps fell from 58°F to 54°F near Pigeon Point since the April 11 season opener, and salmon responded while warm-water species like bonita headed out. Buoy 46026 shows an even cooler 51°F in active upwelling zones, and buoy 46028 reads 60°F in calmer nearshore pockets — a thermal mosaic anglers can work edge-to-edge. The waxing crescent moon and sustained northwest breeze are keeping the upwelling engine running heading into this week.

May 19

USGS gauge 11447650 on the Sacramento River clocked 67°F and 15,600 cfs on the afternoon of May 19 — water temperature that sits squarely in the striper sweet spot and signals the Delta's post-spawn largemouth window is open. NorCal Fish Reports covers the Sacramento-Delta beat in its regional roundup but returned only navigation content in this pull, with no specific bite reports available. Working from the gauge data and seasonal patterns: striped bass have likely wrapped their upstream spawning push and are now scattering to current seams, rip-rap banks, and bridge pilings across the tidal system. Early-morning topwater and swimbaits are the standard play for this phase. Largemouth are transitioning off beds and pushing toward tule edges and dock pilings. Channel catfish become progressively more active as water climbs through the mid-60s — nighttime sessions with cut bait near deep channel edges are worth targeting. The waxing crescent moon keeps overnight skies dark, a mild edge for evening striper and catfish anglers.

May 19

NOAA buoys across the Gulf of Alaska are registering water temperatures of 42–43°F as of May 19, with light winds of 2–6 m/s across the monitoring network — conditions that sit in the window when Pacific halibut and king salmon fishing traditionally builds to its spring peak. No charter, shop, or tackle-blog dispatches specific to Gulf of Alaska conditions arrived in this reporting cycle, so this update draws on seasonal baselines and the community signal from AK Sea Grant, which noted Kodiak fishermen were active at ComFish harbor skills events last month — a clear sign that commercial and sport fishing communities are deep into spring preparations. Halibut season is prime across the Gulf of Alaska in May and June, with fish moving onto traditional offshore grounds. King salmon returns are building toward their spring apex in nearshore and river-mouth areas, and this week's waxing crescent moon favors low-light bite windows at dawn and dusk.

May 19

USGS gauge 15266300 placed the river at 44°F and 2,850 cfs on the afternoon of May 19 — archetypal late-spring snowmelt conditions for an Alaska freshwater drainage approaching its summer prime. Angler-specific intel from tackle shops or charter captains is absent from this week's feeds; AK Sea Grant's recent publications center on fellowship programs and community resilience work rather than on-the-water fishing reports. With that caveat noted, 44°F water is within the range where early king salmon (Chinook) typically begin appearing in lower-river holding lies, and resident rainbow trout and Dolly Varden are seasonally active along current seams throughout this temperature band. Arctic grayling in interior tributaries typically respond to nymphs and dry flies once overnight lows stabilize. Flows at 2,850 cfs indicate solid volume — wade anglers should stick to slower inside bends and use caution on exposed gravel bars. Check current emergency orders and bag limits before any king salmon trip.

May 19

USGS gauge 08025500 is recording just 7.93 cfs on the Sabine system as of May 19 — a lean reading that points to low, clear inflow conditions into Toledo Bend Reservoir. No water temperature telemetry is available today, though mid-May surface temps on Toledo Bend typically run in the mid-to-upper 70s°F. The post-spawn bass transition appears to be in full swing: Tactical Bassin's current post-spawn coverage highlights topwater frogs and heavy-cover shallow presentations timed to the bluegill spawn cycle — a pattern that maps directly onto Toledo Bend's standing timber and grass edges. LakeForkGuy's recent post-spawn crappie content describes what he calls "the most aggressive crappie bite of the year," a pattern that tracks across comparable deep-South reservoir systems at this point in the season. Catfish action should hold steady as late-May temperatures continue climbing. Check current Louisiana and Texas regulations before heading out, as Toledo Bend straddles both states.

May 19

Joshua Barber's May 10 Southern Waters Fishing Report in GA Sportsman signals the seasonal shift clearly: 'Hot weather is now approaching and fish will probably start to move into deeper water.' Barber also noted that recent rains had 'helped our rivers and lakes' after fire-suppression challenges earlier in the spring. The Clyo gauge on the Savannah stood at 3.6 feet and falling as of May 14, and USGS gauge 02192000 recorded 425 cfs on May 19 — moderate, steady outflow consistent with stable dam operations on the Hartwell–Russell chain. Georgia Wildlife Blog flagged May 15 as the start of 'another great week of fishing' across the state. Largemouth that were hammering spinnerbaits in post-rain conditions during late April — including an 8-lb 11-oz fish caught in Morgan County per Georgia Wildlife Blog — are now in the early summer transition off spawning flats. Crappie, which Georgia Wildlife Blog documented in prime shallow-spawn mode through mid-April at 3–8 feet around brush and dock structure, are likely pulling back from the beds to deeper holds.

May 19

Flow at USGS gauge 11455420 on the Sacramento River registered 112,000 cfs on the morning of May 19 — a robust snowmelt-driven surge well above typical late-spring baselines. No water temperature was available at the gauge. Angler-intel feeds this cycle returned no Delta-specific reports; NorCal Fish Reports covers the Delta regularly but its current-conditions data was not included in this update's pull. With high, off-color water pushing through the main channels, striped bass — the Delta's signature sport fish — typically concentrate near hard structure: riprap levees, bridge pilings, and the mouths of back-channel sloughs where current breaks create holding lies. Mid-May is historically post-spawn territory for Delta stripers as fish exit the Sacramento and San Joaquin tributaries and work back into tidal reaches. Largemouth bass are in a post-spawn transition this week, scattering from shallow spawning flats toward mid-depth structure as water temperatures climb into early summer ranges.

May 19

Water temperatures recorded at 66°F by USGS gauge 04232050 as of May 19 place the Finger Lakes squarely in post-spawn territory. Smallmouth bass on Cayuga, Seneca, and Skaneateles have largely finished bedding at these temperatures and are pushing toward main-lake structure and rocky points in early-summer feeding mode. Tactical Bassin notes that with the bluegill spawn in full swing at comparable water temps, big bass are moving shallow to key on the forage—topwater frogs and walking baits over heavy cover are producing in regional fisheries right now. Walleye, which completed their spawn several weeks prior, are in active post-spawn recovery; low-light presentations along main-lake structure should be productive. Lake trout and brown trout will be retreating to deeper, cooler thermal layers as surface temperatures continue to climb—trollers should step down in depth accordingly. No Finger Lakes–specific charter or shop reports were available this cycle; observations here are grounded in gauge data and seasonal patterns typical of mid-May in central New York.

May 19

The Magalloway River gauge (USGS 01054200) registered 228 cfs on May 19 — moderate spring flow signaling the tail end of snowmelt runoff across the Rangeley Lakes and Androscoggin headwaters. Mainely Fly Fishing (ME) documented an unusually early 2026 spring, with ice-out arriving at regional ponds by April 4 — suggesting Rangeley's larger lakes cleared well ahead of their typical late-April schedule. That head start means landlocked Atlantic salmon have had extra weeks on their post-ice-out feeding rhythm, and mid-May is traditionally the prime smelt-run window across this watershed. Brook trout in tributary mouths and shallower lake margins should also be near peak. No water temperature reading was available at the gauge, but this watershed typically sees surface temps in the low-to-mid 50s°F by the third week of May — squarely in the cold-water sweet spot for salmonids. The waxing crescent moon favors low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk.

May 19

USGS gauge 01030500 recorded 2,670 cfs on the upper Penobscot drainage on May 19, a level consistent with active late-spring runoff still moving through the watershed. No direct on-the-water intel from Moosehead Lake or upper Penobscot guides and tackle shops reached this cycle's feeds, but the date alone places this region in one of Maine's marquee freshwater windows: the post-ice-out spring period when landlocked salmon cruise near the surface following smelt runs and lake trout spread into shallower zones before summer stratification pushes them deep. The Fisherman's New England Freshwater reports confirm late-May trout and bass fishing across Massachusetts and Connecticut are in active transition — a seasonal signal that typically precedes Maine inland patterns by one to two weeks. Anglers headed to Moosehead should expect some color in tributary streams given current flows. Verify season dates and bag limits with Maine state fisheries regulations before targeting any specific water body, as spring rules vary by water.

May 19

USGS gauge 06192500 logged 6,200 cfs and 45°F on May 19 — classic peak-runoff conditions for the Snake River and Yellowstone drainage in the Tetons corridor. At these volumes, fish abandon the main current and stack in slower bank seams, eddies, and the slack water behind mid-river structure. Heavy nymphing rigs — stonefly and attractor nymphs fished tight to structure — are the workable approach when visibility is limited by snowmelt color. The salmonfly hatch is one of the most anticipated events on this system, and at 6,200 cfs we're squarely in the pre-hatch window; Caddis Fly (OR) recently published an articulated jigged salmonfly nymph tutorial that's directly on point for these conditions. Flylords Mag notes drought pressure gripping parts of the Rockies broadly, though current gauge readings here reflect a robust snowmelt pulse still moving through the system. Expect elevated, turbid conditions to persist into early June.

May 19

The WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report documented a standout 2024 harvest — over 210,000 coho and 160,000 Chinook salmon taken lake-wide, driven by strong alewife forage classes — and that momentum carries into the 2026 season. For the Indiana shoreline specifically, no live buoy readings or charter reports are available in this cycle; Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant operates three nearshore Lake Michigan monitoring buoys and notes spring deployment is active as of mid-May. With a waxing crescent moon and water temps climbing toward late-spring norms, coho salmon are typically found staged within a few miles of shore along this stretch. Smallmouth bass are also expected to be transitioning into post-spawn patterns in the rocky nearshore habitat near the Indiana Dunes corridor. Tactical Bassin highlights that Great Lakes smallmouth in clear water respond well to finesse presentations — drop-shots and tube baits — once they move off beds. Check local conditions before launching; direct Indiana shoreline intel is limited this week.

May 19

The WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report documented a record-shattering 2024 coho harvest — over 210,000 fish, the highest on record — alongside 160,000 Chinook, the best King return since 2012. Strong alewife forage classes drove that survival, and those year-classes now feed into the 2026 fishery. No live NOAA buoy readings were available for this report, so precise water temperatures cannot be confirmed; check local forecasts before heading out. Late May typically places Chicago nearshore surface temps in the low-to-mid 50s°F, which puts coho and early-season Chinook well within reach. Across the Great Lakes system, a Michigan Sportsman Forum angler reported spring cohos already in hand and projected full coho season arriving within weeks — consistent with the WI DNR's optimistic population outlook. Smallmouth bass are also worth targeting around Chicago's breakwalls; Tactical Bassin identifies finesse techniques in clear Great Lakes water as reliable post-spawn producers this time of year.

May 19

The USGS gauge at site 07060710 recorded 65°F water and a lean 66.7 cfs on the White River as of the afternoon of May 19 — a combination that puts the fishery squarely in finesse territory. Water sitting at the upper edge of trout comfort suggests fish may be stacking near dam outlets and deeper runs where cooler discharge lingers from Bull Shoals and Norfork. Low flows mean gin-clear conditions and pressured trout that will scrutinize every presentation; dropping to lighter tippet and smaller flies becomes non-negotiable. No current local charter or shop reports were available in today's intel feeds to confirm specific bite windows, but tailrace systems running comparable flows historically reward methodical midge and nymph work — MidCurrent's current Tying Tuesday highlights midge patterns built specifically for "the clear, pressured water of stillwaters and tailraces," and Flylab (Substack) notes this week that trout "readily eat" midges in all life stages regardless of season. Wading access should be favorable across most public stretches at this discharge.

May 19