Fishing reports
16851 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Ohio & Cumberland anglers eye the late-summer-to-fall bass switch
The Cumberland River gauge at USGS site 03301500 is reading a modest 71.6 cfs as of early morning August 30, a low, stable flow stage typical of late-summer drawdown with no water-temperature reading available from the sensor right now. No angler reports came in directly from Kentucky's Ohio or Cumberland systems this cycle, so this update leans on regional technique trends rather than confirmed local bites. Tactical Bassin (blog) is flagging the classic late-summer-to-fall bass transition and warning anglers against sticking with mid-summer patterns too long, while Field & Stream's rundown of Carolina-rig fishing is well-timed for river ledges and points as water cools. Fishing the Midwest notes that as weeds begin dying back, baitfish and gamefish relocate to the healthiest remaining green cover — a pattern worth checking on Cumberland and Ohio River backwaters. Low, stable flow should keep catfish holding in deeper holes for now.
Roosevelt Lake bass slide deep as late-summer heat holds
The USGS gauge on the Salt River near Roosevelt Lake read a steady 118 cfs on Aug. 29, a modest late-summer flow that points to stable, typical low-water conditions heading into the Labor Day stretch. With no water-temp reading available, we're leaning on seasonal norms: Arizona's desert reservoirs run hot through late August, and bass activity generally slides toward deep structure during daylight hours. Tactical Bassin's recent hot-August-heat coverage backs that pattern, recommending anglers work deep points and ledges hard midday and shift shallow during the low-light dawn and dusk windows. Field & Stream's write-up on Carolina rig fishing is worth borrowing here too — the rig shines in 10-plus feet of water dragged slowly along flat points and clean-bottom ledges, a solid match for Roosevelt's rocky structure. Catfish should stay a reliable after-dark option as surface temps hold high. No direct Roosevelt Lake or Salt River chain reports came through this week, so treat species calls as seasonal defaults.
White River trout bite tightens as summer flows run thin
A USGS gauge on the White River system logged flow at just 3.86 cfs with water temperature at 77°F late Friday night — readings consistent with a minimum-flow window and little or no turbine generation at Bull Shoals or Norfork dam. That's worth flagging on a fishery built around cold, oxygen-rich tailwater releases: 77°F sits well above where rainbows, browns, and cutthroats prefer to feed, and typically pushes trout toward deeper holes, spring seams, and any pocket of cooler discharge they can find. We don't have a direct shop, guide, or agency report on this stretch this week, so treat the bite outlook below as seasonally informed rather than confirmed on the water today. Late-August tailwater trout generally keep feeding through stretches like this, but shift hard into low-light windows — first light, last light, overcast — when low generation leaves the river slow and clear enough to make fish cautious. Check Corps of Engineers generation schedules before you go; flow and temperature can both change fast once turbines spin up.
Low, clear flows put Catskills trout on a finicky late-summer bite
USGS gauge 01415000 on the Beaverkill is reading a scant 7.36 cfs this week, while the East Branch Delaware gauge (01413500) sits much higher at 112 cfs — a split that sums up late-August Catskills freestone water: the small tributaries are thin, clear, and technical, while the bigger stems still carry enough push to fish through midday. Neither gauge returned a water-temperature reading, so check a stream thermometer yourself before committing a trout to a long fight in skinny water. Trout Unlimited's ongoing beaver-dam-analog restoration work across headwater streams is a good reminder that low-water stretches like this are exactly when those rebuilt side channels and cold-water refuges earn their keep. Brown and brook trout remain the region's bread-and-butter this time of year, holding tight to shade, seams, and spring-fed pockets rather than open runs. Early mornings and dusk are the play as afternoon water warms toward the uncomfortable range for trout.
Truckee River's late-summer trickle rewards early starts and finesse
The Truckee River near Tahoe City is running thin this week, with the USGS gauge at site 10311000 logging just 8.36 cubic feet per second as of Friday evening — low enough to pinch fish into deeper pools, undercut banks, and shaded runs typical of late August on this dam-controlled stretch. No water temperature reading came through with this cycle's gauge data, so plan around air temp and time of day rather than a hard number. We did not receive any fresh angler or shop reports specific to the Truckee/Tahoe basin this cycle, so the species notes below reflect typical late-summer patterns for this fishery rather than confirmed bites — treat them as a starting point, not gospel. Expect trout activity to lean toward dawn and dusk as water stays skinny and pressure builds heading into the holiday weekend stretch, with kokanee anglers starting to watch for early staging behavior as days shorten.
Full moon lights up Cubera snapper bite in the Keys
This week's full moon has lit up Cubera snapper fishing around the Keys reefs, with Coastal Angler Magazine calling it a signature August event — anglers nickname the powerful reef fish 'El Diablo' for how it can destroy tackle on live lobster and stand-up gear. ALL IN Key West reports yellowtail and mutton snapper have stayed thick through the summer, with big numbers of actively feeding fish on the reef. Bud n' Mary's in Islamorada notes mahi still working offshore and yellowtail holding steady on the reef as late-summer patterns carry forward. Permit are staging in the Keys' well-known flats spawning aggregations this time of year, per Florida Sea Grant research, which can gather over a thousand fish at once. Greater amberjack remain a dependable offshore target per Coastal Angler Magazine. No live buoy or gauge data came through today's feed, so check local marine forecasts before running out.
Delaware Bay flounder limits pile up as bay stripers turn on
Flounder limits to 23 inches are coming over the rail on Delaware Bay structure this week, with Higbee's Bait and Tackle (The Fisherman — Southern NJ) reporting the EP Tower and lighthouse-area grounds consistently giving up keepers. Big Dave's Tackle adds that flounder, croaker and spot are spread from the beaches out to the shipping channel, with tog and sheepshead working structure on green crabs and sand fleas. On the bay's Delaware side, Smith's Bait Shop (The Fisherman — DE/MD/Chesapeake) has striped bass in the 20-to-24-inch range coming from tidal creeks and rivers on sandworms and shrimp, plus solid croaker at the Woodland Beach pier and the Bowers Beach jetty. We're seeing a classic late-August bay pattern: bottom species thick, structure holding tog, and captains expecting it to build into September. Full moon tides this week mean stronger swings around structure and inlets.
North Shore Trout Hold Deep While Basin Eyes Fall Run
Wisconsin DNR's Lake Superior fisheries team highlighted a newly popular Chequamegon Bay lake whitefish fishery this year, per WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing — proof of how much attention Superior's fisheries are drawing across the basin heading into fall. On Minnesota's North Shore itself, no fresh on-the-water reports came through our feeds this week, so anglers should read the following as seasonal general knowledge rather than confirmed local intel. Late August on Superior typically means lake trout still holding on deeper structure and cold water, with the first cohos and kings beginning to stage near river mouths as nights cool and shorter days trigger the pre-spawn push. The Full Moon overhead can concentrate baitfish and predator activity around dawn and dusk feeding windows. We'd treat trout as the safer bet right now, with salmon activity building but not yet confirmed on this stretch of shoreline.
Snook Stay Hot on the Treasure Coast as Full Moon Fires Up Cubera
Snook fishing remains excellent along Florida's Treasure Coast, with Snook Nook (FL) reporting steady catches of quality fish in the 40-inch-plus range around the St. Lucie Inlet — anglers running the beach on live croakers and threadfins are getting the best of it, and a dead threadfin on bottom still draws bites when the inlet slows down. Tonight's full moon lines up with what Coastal Angler Magazine calls some of the most intense fishing of the year for Cubera snapper in Florida's reef country, with the "El Diablo" bite firing on live lobster and stand-up tackle. Red snapper anglers face continued uncertainty: CCA Florida reports a federal court injunction blocked the 2026 South Atlantic red snapper Exempted Fishing Permit pilot programs just hours before the season was set to open, and Saltwater Sportsman notes states are now pushing NOAA for a fallback October window. Greater amberjack remain a solid reef fallback per Coastal Angler Magazine.
Full moon tilts LA river action toward nighttime catfish
No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for the Mississippi and Atchafalaya basins this cycle, so this update leans on angler intel and seasonal know-how. Louisiana Sportsman's August 24 dispatch on Tickfaw State Park is a reminder that Louisiana's river corridors are still drawing paddlers and shoreline anglers through the tail end of summer, even as midday heat pushes bites toward early and late light. Largemouth bass are following the late-summer pattern outlets like Tactical Bassin have been describing all month — working shallow points and matted cover at first light before sliding deeper once the sun climbs. Blue and channel catfish look like the more dependable target under this week's full moon; Wired 2 Fish's account of a heat-wave night trip for a 108-pound blue catfish is a good reminder that big cats feed hardest after dark right now. Panfish remain a steady backup around brushy shoreline cover. Always check current Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries regulations before harvesting.
Late-summer bass on Okeechobee and St. Johns lean toward shade and cover
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for the Okeechobee/St. Johns system today, and this week's angler-intel feed didn't carry a direct on-the-water report from either fishery, so we're leaning on established late-August patterns for Florida largemouth water. On The Water's latest breakdown on beating the bank for late-summer largemouth points anglers toward dense shoreline cover during low-light hours, working frogs, compact jigs, and stickbaits rather than fishing the open water column. Field & Stream's rundown on Carolina-rigging bass reinforces the standard deep-structure approach once the sun climbs, dragging the rig slowly along flats and ledges with a clean bottom. Panfish and catfish should still be feeding actively in the summer heat, typically holding tight to cover or working best after dark. With a full moon overhead, expect the best largemouth activity to cluster around dawn, dusk, and the overnight window rather than midday.
Smith Mountain bass turn to drop shots as summer catfish bite heats up
Virginia's DWR Wildlife Blog highlights the drop shot rig this week as a go-to presentation for largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass — a technique well suited to Smith Mountain Lake's rocky main-lake points and Buggs Island's deeper structure as fish settle into their late-summer positioning. The same DWR feed also points anglers toward bluegill and redear sunfish for an easy, action-packed outing on ultralight spinning gear, a pattern that typically holds through late August on Virginia's public lakes. On the catfish side, Wired 2 Fish reports a veteran guide on nearby Lake Gaston landed and released a 108-pound blue catfish during a night trip in the recent heat wave, targeting fish after sunset as reservoir water releases moved bait — a pattern worth watching on Buggs Island's blue cat fishery too, though it hasn't been directly reported there this week. No fresh buoy or gauge readings were available for this cycle, so plan around typical late-summer thermal stratification.
Full moon tides mark the late-summer turn at the Chesapeake mouth
Saltwater Edge's forecast out of Rhode Island this week reports the fall run "kicking off," with bait pushing out of the salt ponds and early bonito, and even a few Spanish mackerel, showing along the Northeast coast — a signal that typically works south toward the Chesapeake mouth over the following weeks. Direct saltwater reports from Virginia are thin in today's intel feeds, so we're leaning on that regional trend plus the calendar: a full moon on August 28 stacks up bigger tidal swings right as the region shifts from late-summer into early-fall patterns. Expect a mixed bag through the bay mouth for now — Spanish mackerel and red drum should stay active on the flats and channel edges, cobia activity typically tapering as that season closes out, and striped bass building slowly ahead of the fall push. Check current water temp and tide stage locally before heading out, since no buoy or gauge readings came through for this report.
Chinook and coho begin staging off Chicago's harbor mouths
Lake Michigan's salmon fishery carries into Chicago's late-summer season on real momentum: the WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report notes anglers lakewide landed more than 210,000 coho salmon and over 160,000 Chinook salmon in 2024, the best Chinook year since 2012, with strong alewife survival credited for boosting stocked fish. That lakewide strength is the clearest signal available for Chicago's nearshore waters heading into early September, as Chinook and coho begin staging off harbor mouths and thermal breaks. Today's feeds didn't surface a Chicago-specific, on-the-water bite report, so treat species notes below as seasonal expectation rather than a fresh account. Typical late-August patterns on this stretch of the lake lean on suspended salmon over cooler water, smallmouth working rock and rubble structure — a fishery the WI DNR has been actively managing lakewide — and perch settling onto deeper break lines. Check current state regs before harvesting.
Gulf of Maine stripers stay hot as bluefin push in ahead of cod reopener
Squid and pogies are stacking up along the Massachusetts-to-Maine stretch of the Gulf of Maine, and stripers are following. Capt. Tom Lukegord of Beauport Fishing Adventures in Gloucester reports striper action is all big fish right now, with nothing small enough to keep, while Belsan's Bait and Tackle says the Boston Harbor bass bite has come roaring back on a fresh push of live pogies, with Egypt Beach through the Sand Hills and Long Ledge holding as the local hot zone — all per The Fisherman's South Shore Massachusetts to Maine report. Bluefish remain scarce north of Salem in that same report, but bluefin tuna have moved back in tight to shore. Offshore, canyon trips out of Goose Hummock Shop are producing strong yellowfin numbers and a deep-dropped swordfish. Anglers should also note Gulf of Maine cod reopens September 1 with a 1-fish limit at 23 inches minimum, per veteran columnist Dave Anderson, while the Southern New England stock stays closed through year-end.
Redfish and Trout Keep Biting as Charleston Awaits Fall Turn
Haddrell's Point and Tackle's latest offshore report, via Coastal Angler Magazine, calls September "the best inshore fishing" of the year as anglers finally get relief from summer heat. Up the coast at North Myrtle/Little River, Fisherman's Post relays a report from Dave's Outpost that summertime trout are biting well on a slip-cork setup with live shrimp — the top producing rig this month — while red drum remain around. We're not seeing hard buoy or gauge readings for Charleston Harbor right now, so treat conditions as seasonal-typical late-August saltwater until fresh data comes in. On the regulatory side, Saltwater Sportsman notes South Carolina, Georgia and Florida are pushing for a salvaged red snapper season this fall, targeting Oct. 1-31 in the South Atlantic — worth watching if bottom fishing is on your list. Redfish and trout remain the more reliable inshore targets around Charleston Harbor for now.
Permit sight-fishing holds Gulf Coast attention into late August
The most recent captain reports out of Naples describe steady sight-fishing for Permit through the spring push, with mornings spent on Tarpon before switching over to Permit in the afternoons, per Naples Offshore Fishing Charters. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Gulf Coast today, so exact water temps aren't available — but late August typically keeps Gulf water warm from summer, with the bite shifting toward mangrove snapper and other structure-oriented species as the tarpon migration winds down. Naples Offshore's winter reports note that King Mackerel fishing really turns on once cold fronts start pushing through, which is still weeks off. Permit remain a strong bet — Florida Sea Grant notes large spawning aggregations build in the Keys during warmer months, a pattern that tracks with the sight-fishing action described further up the Gulf side. Tonight's full moon should sharpen feeding windows around the tide changes.
Red Snapper Season Bid Targets October for Georgia's Coast
Georgia's red snapper fishery is the big story for Atlantic-side anglers this week: after a commercial-fishing lawsuit halted the original 2026 federal season, Georgia joined Florida and South Carolina in pushing NOAA Fisheries for a one-month recreational window, Oct. 1-31, with the public-comment period closing Aug. 25, per Saltwater Sportsman. Separately, the University of Florida's Atlantic Red Snapper Tagging Project, spotlighted by Florida Sea Grant, is still paying a $250 reward for every reported tagged fish caught and returned anywhere in the South Atlantic — worth checking any snapper before it goes back over the side. We don't have fresh GA-specific inshore bite reports this cycle; the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division's own fishing blog notes it's mid-transition to a rotating regional format, so expect the typical late-August pattern for now: trout and reds working marsh edges and creek mouths as summer conditions hold through the full moon. Check current state and federal regs before harvesting anything while the season question is unresolved.
Cape Cod Bay stripers hold along Fishing Ledge ahead of fall push
Stripers are stacked along the Cape Cod Bay shoreline, especially around the Fishing Ledge and toward Provincetown, per The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands — though the ocean beaches are only just starting to give up bass to surf anglers and it remains mostly a bait bite. Offshore, Goose Hummock Shop reports canyon trips producing near-record catches of yellowfin tuna along with a deep-dropped swordfish, with a few more giants reported around the Sword and Crab Ledge grounds. Inshore, Capt. Rich Antonio of Black Rose Fishing Charters has clients dialed into stripers, black sea bass, and big scup. Anglers should also note a tiger shark was landed from a Cape Cod beach this week, per On The Water, days after another was seen eating a turtle nearby — a reminder that apex predators are active along these beaches heading into Labor Day weekend.
Redfish and trophy trout still ruling the Louisiana marsh
Redfish and speckled trout are carrying the marsh action along the Louisiana coast this week. Sport Fishing Mag's inshore Louisiana guide notes trophy trout keep favoring a big meal — larger plugs or live baitfish like mullet, pogies, and croakers — while redfish will crush a wide range of artificial lures and live or cut bait. Captain-recommended picks from that same report include soft-plastics like the Matrix Shad and Rage Swimmer, shrimp imitations such as the Strike King Tidal Shrimp and Berkley Rattle Shrimp, and popping corks like the Boat Monkey Cork worked over shallow marsh grass edges. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, so treat water temperature and flow as unconfirmed until you check locally. With a full moon pushing bigger tidal swings, moving water around points, drains, and grass edges should keep concentrating feeding fish, typical timing for the Gulf Coast in late August.
Albies show at Robinsons Hole as fall run gears up in the Sound
False albacore are showing up around Quicks Hole and the Robinsons Hole rip, per Falmouth Bait and Tackle, alongside 4- to 6-pound bluefish working the Vineyard's north shore up to Nobska Point and bigger blues coming off Horseshoe Shoal. At Sports Port in Hyannis, blues are working the rips between Nobska and Hyannis while bonito and albies show off Osterville and Bass River, though those fish keep moving; short fluke and a few keeper sea bass are filling in between Bishops and Succonnessett. Black Rose Fishing Charters' Capt. Rich Antonio is putting clients on solid striped bass along with black sea bass and big scup, and staying rigged for tuna. The Fisherman's regional video forecast notes an albie over 16 pounds already turning up in Cape waters — an encouraging early read on the fall run as this week's full moon stirs bait through the Elizabeth Islands rips.
Big fluke show up as bluefish tournament hits Long Island Sound
Porgies and fluke are carrying the Connecticut side of Long Island Sound this week, with bluefish holding as a reliable but undersized fallback. Per The Fisherman's Connecticut report, Black Hawk had an outstanding Thursday fluke drift — three fish over 7 pounds on the first pass, then a 9-pounder, then an 11-pounder — while J&B Tackle notes keeper fluke and sea bass from Black Point, Niantic Bay, and Two Tree Channel, with bigger fluke reportedly coming from the Montauk side. AW Marina reports bluefish holding steady at The Race and Plum Gut, though sizes are running small ahead of this weekend's bluefish tournament on the Sound. Striped bass fishing, per J&B Tackle, is best at dawn and dusk, with live eels at night still the top producer for bigger fish. Tartan II calls bottom fishing the week's bread and butter, with scup and sea bass both improving.
Indiana's Lake Michigan shore waits on the fall salmon turn
Specific bite reports for the Indiana shoreline of Lake Michigan aren't in today's feeds — no buoy or gauge readings came back for this stretch, and the available state-agency and blog sources cover other regions, general program news, or basin-wide items rather than current Indiana conditions. The one relevant data point: the WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report noted 2024 was a standout year across the basin, with anglers landing a record 210,000-plus coho salmon and the most Chinook salmon (over 160,000) since 2012, credited to strong alewife survival feeding stocked fish. That's lake-wide harvest context, not an Indiana-specific bite report, but it points to a healthy salmon fishery basin-wide heading toward the fall run. On a full moon with water still carrying late-summer warmth, smallmouth bass and yellow perch are the more likely consistent inshore targets along the Indiana shore right now, with salmon staging activity typically building as nearshore temperatures drop in the coming weeks. Check with local shops for the freshest read before heading out.
Late-summer bass patterns take hold at Toledo Bend
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for Toledo Bend or the Sabine border today, and this week's angler-intel sweep turned up nothing specific to the reservoir — so this report leans on general late-summer freshwater patterns rather than fresh on-the-water reports. With a full moon overhead and typical late-August heat, largemouth bass on Toledo Bend and Sabine-area waters are following the pattern On The Water describes for late-summer largemouth: fish are holding tight to dense shoreline cover and feeding hardest during low-light hours, while Tactical Bassin's late-summer notes point anglers toward shallow points early before sliding deeper as the sun climbs. Crappie and catfish typically slow their daytime bite and shift toward low-light or after-dark feeding windows once surface temps climb into late-summer ranges. Treat today's report as a seasonal-pattern guide rather than a live bite report until fresh local intel comes in.