Fishing reports
16851 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Fluke and porgy hold strong as bluefin bite shifts offshore
Fluke fishing remains the story on Long Island this week, with Bob's Bait and Tackle in Amity Harbor calling the bite 'cannot be any better' and Super Hawk out of Pt. Lookout landing a notable 13-pound, 7-ounce keeper (The Fisherman — Long Island West End). The nearshore bluefin jig bite has cooled slightly per On The Water's August 27 Long Island and NYC report, though Double D Charters out of Montauk says it's still running strong offshore, and Babylon Fishing Station logged a 57-inch bluefin by the Towers. Porgy fishing is excellent from North Sea to Cedar Beach, with jumbo porgies stacking up on jigs around Montauk per Double D Charters. Striped bass are showing at night on eels and topwater in the surf and back bays, and shops from Shinnecock to the North Fork are noting rumors of false albacore and a growing Spanish mackerel push as the fall transition nears.
Savannah River Stripers Hold Below Augusta's Lock and Dam
Anglers are still working striped bass below the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam near Augusta, where Wired 2 Fish reported an angler hooked into a far bigger surprise than expected while jigging for stripers on the Savannah River in late July. Upstream on the reservoir side of that same river system, GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News notes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Savannah District is holding Lake Hartwell below full pool while it works through a seepage-related dam-safety review at the Clemson Lower Diversion Dam saddle dike — a non-emergency, ongoing situation, but one keeping water levels a bit lower than a typical late-August pool. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for either the Chattahoochee or Savannah basins this cycle, so treat surface temps as typical late-summer highs until a local reading firms that up. Largemouth bass elsewhere in the state are settling into the usual dog-days pattern, with tighter cover and low-light windows producing the better bites.
Late-summer bass tactics carry Eufaula and Red River into fall turn
Tactical Bassin's late-summer advisory this week cautions anglers against retreating to spots that were productive earlier in the year, urging a shift in approach as the fall transition nears — timely advice for Lake Eufaula and Red River anglers grinding through late-August heat. No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for this region this cycle, so this report leans on seasonal patterns and technique reporting rather than local numbers. Field & Stream's Carolina-rig breakdown notes the rig produces best in 10-plus feet of water along flat points and ledges with clean bottoms — a pattern worth testing on Eufaula's channel ledges. On The Water's shoreline largemouth piece points anglers toward dense cover during low-light hours with frogs, jigs, and stickbaits, a tactic that should translate well to Red River's warm, shallow flats. Striped bass and catfish remain the region's other headline species, typically most catchable during low-light and overnight hours while surface temperatures stay elevated.
Terrestrial patterns keep drawing looks on the Green River tailwater
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Flaming Gorge/Green River system this cycle, so this update leans on technique intel rather than a temperature snapshot. Trout Unlimited's "The True Cast" feature recalls floating the Green River's "B" section below Flaming Gorge Dam and finding fish keyed on cicada patterns during a late-summer stretch — a reminder that terrestrial imitations typically earn their keep on this tailwater as August winds down. No Utah-specific shop, charter, or agency reports came through in this cycle's feed, so treat the species status below as a seasonal read rather than a live bite report. Rainbow and brown trout remain the mainstay here through late summer, with cutthroat and kokanee present across the broader Flaming Gorge system. We'd recommend checking current dam release flows and water temperatures directly before planning a trip, since we don't have a fresh gauge reading to confirm today's conditions.
Speckled Trout Limits Keep Coming In Galveston Bay
Galveston Bait and Tackle's Capt. Billy Howell reports that captains Garry McAninch and Brad Panek have been putting clients on solid limits of speckled trout with scattered redfish mixed in, all on live bait, per this week's Galveston Daily News — Reel Report. Away from the guided trips, anglers Ed Lantz and Armando Huereca launched out of Eagle Point Fishing camp and worked a gas well in the middle of the bay, grinding through choppy water for a decent trout bite. Elsewhere in the lower bay, soft-plastic anglers are still finding trout limits despite persistent southwest winds slowing the pace. With a full moon overhead, we'd expect stronger tidal movement to concentrate bait and gamefish around structure like gas wells and channel edges. Redfish are around but scattered rather than schooled, and conditions favor patient, methodical presentations over run-and-gun trips this week.
Northwoods muskies flip on as fall transition begins
Northwoods musky lakes are shifting into fall mode, per Rollie & Helen's Musky Shop, with water temperatures easing into the low 70s as days shorten and overnight lows dip into the 40s and 50s. That cooling trend is triggering the shop's much-anticipated September Topwater Bite, and local guides are already downsizing rubber baits to better match late-summer forage as muskies key into the early-fall pattern shift. The shop also flags a regionally significant complication this year: water levels are running well below normal amid a severe drought, a factor that tends to concentrate fish and baitfish around remaining deep structure and any current-influenced stretches. For walleye anglers, the broader Midwest trend is toward Forward-Facing Sonar for locating suspended fish off traditional bottom structure, per Fishing the Midwest — a technique shift as relevant on Northwoods lakes as anywhere else on the walleye belt. Expect the musky bite to keep building as nights cool further, with walleye and bass activity holding steady into the holiday weekend.
Warm Gulf Waters Keep Redfish and Trout Shallow Ahead of Fall Push
NOAA buoy 42012 off the Alabama-Florida line logged water temperatures around 88°F this week under light 3 m/s winds — classic late-August Gulf conditions that push the best bite windows to first light and last light. Inshore, that warm, calm water keeps redfish and speckled trout the most dependable targets; Sport Fishing Mag's Gulf inshore guide points anglers toward soft plastics and topwater plugs for reds, while trophy trout typically want a bigger meal like larger plugs or live bait. Offshore, Coastal Angler Magazine's amberjack primer is well-timed as reef structure keeps producing 'reef donkeys,' and Sport Fishing Mag notes gag grouper trolling picking up ahead of the Gulf's short early-fall season — always check Alabama regs before targeting either species. On the Pensacola Fishing Forum, anglers describe getting out before sunrise with topwater gear, matching the dawn-bite pattern typical of this heat.
Bluefin push builds off Central Coast waters
Monterey Bay's NOAA buoy 46042 read 58°F this morning, with the Cape San Martin buoy (46028) running warmer at 61°F and light 6-8 m/s breezes across all three Central Coast buoys — steady, fishable conditions with no swell warnings on record. The headline for California saltwater this week comes from Western Outdoor News — Saltwater, which reports the Northern California bluefin bite out of Half Moon Bay 'exploding to unheard of levels,' with Captain John Marfia's Tanker City Sport Fishing boating fish from 130 to 170 pounds and what the report calls increasingly common five-fish days. That action sits just north of the Central Coast proper, but with our readings trending into the low 60s at the warmer stations, it's worth watching whether that push slides south. Closer to home, expect rockfish and lingcod over structure to carry most of the effort this week, with the full moon adding a strong tide push worth timing around.
Yellowfin and Dorado Stack Up on SoCal Kelp Paddies as Surf Finally Settles
Warm water is pulling yellowfin tuna, dorado, and yellowtail into range along the Orange County coast, with Dana Wharf Sportfishing's Sum Fun landing 43 yellowfin in the 30- to 40-pound class for 26 anglers off San Clemente Island, captain Brian Woolley reported via Western Outdoor News — Saltwater. Sea surface temps hit 80°F near San Clemente and held in the upper 70s from Oceanside to Newport, with boats picking dorado and yellowtail off kelp paddies as far north as Santa Cruz Island. Our nearshore buoy reading came in a touch cooler at 76°F. Sand bass are drawing attention too — the Pfleger Institute for Ecological Research has tagged over 1,000 fish at and below the border this season, per Western Outdoor News. Surf anglers, meanwhile, are finally catching a break: after a brutal, rough-surf stretch through July, Surf Fishing in So Cal calls August "the best opportunity we've had all year."
Half Moon Bay Bluefin Blitz Reaches Unheard-Of Levels
Water temps sit near 58°F off the San Mateo coast (NOAA buoy 46026), with a stiff 15-18 knot breeze pushing across the fishing grounds (NOAA buoys 46026 and 46013). The headline story this week is offshore: per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater, Captain John Marfia of Tanker City Sport Fishing out of Half Moon Bay has been posting six-fish days on bluefin tuna in the 130-170 pound class, a pace the outlet calls unheard of for Northern California, with party and commercial boats blowing well past what was recently considered a banner five-fish day. Inshore, striped bass and rockfish/lingcod remain the typical targets around SF Bay and Bodega for late August, though none of today's feeds carried specific inshore reports. We're watching the offshore bluefin push as the story to track heading into the weekend, with breezy conditions worth checking before running out.
Late-summer bass and smallmouth patterns hold ahead of fall shift
Connecticut's inland season is deep into the late-summer stretch, and Field & Stream's rundown on late-summer smallmouth fly tactics still points to the Farmington and Housatonic rivers as go-to Connecticut water once low, warm flows push trout into scattered cool-water refuges. No buoy or gauge readings came through in this cycle, so verify current flow and clarity locally before you launch. On the largemouth side, Fishing the Midwest notes that as weeds start dying back this time of year, bass and baitfish shift out of browning growth toward the remaining green, oxygen-rich cover — a pattern that applies to CT ponds and lakes just as much as the Midwest waters it describes. Tactical Bassin's late-August advice backs that up: sticking to spots that produced a month ago is a common late-summer mistake as the fall transition nudges fish into new areas. With a full moon overhead, look for the strongest bite windows around dawn and dusk low light.
King salmon begin staging as NY's summer bass bite holds strong
On The Water's rundown of New York's King Salmon Run flags the Salmon River's fall Chinook push as the marquee event on the state's freshwater calendar right now, with early fish already staging as nights start to cool heading into September. Closer to home, largemouth bass remain catchable using On The Water's late-summer playbook — working dense shoreline cover with frogs, compact jigs, and stickbaits during low-light hours, a pattern that should translate well to Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes bays and weed edges. Farther west on Lake Erie and the Niagara corridor, Brookdog Fishing Co. continues reporting a strong walleye bite with limits coming easily despite crowded launches, plus cooperative smallmouth bass — a useful directional signal for NY's inland waters even though it sits outside our immediate region. No buoy or gauge readings came back for Hudson Valley/Finger Lakes this cycle, so treat water temps as seasonal-typical for late August until fresher data lands.
Panhandle Anglers Chase Trigger Offshore, Reds at Dawn as Fall Nears
One Pensacola-area angler, fishing before dawn for the first time in weeks, described picking up "a hint of fall in the air" this week, working a Yo-Zuri 3D Inshore Topknock Pencil on top for early action, per a report on the Pensacola Fishing Forum. Offshore, another local angler recounted running through the pass to troll before deep-dropping and bottom-bumping for triggerfish near structure, also via the Pensacola Fishing Forum — useful color on what boats are doing, though we treat single forum posts as chatter rather than confirmed bite reports. Statewide, Florida Sea Grant continues its Atlantic red snapper tagging project, offering a $250 reward per tagged fish reported, a reminder that snapper remain a focal species for Gulf Coast anglers heading into early fall. With no fresh buoy or gauge readings available for Destin/Pensacola this cycle, plan around typical late-August patterns: early topwater inshore, structure-oriented bottom fishing offshore.
Upper Mississippi pools eye the late-summer walleye shift
No live buoy or gauge readings came back for the Prescott-to-La Crosse pools this cycle, so today's outlook leans on seasonal pattern and regional technique reports rather than a fresh temperature or flow number. Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch and Bob Jensen are already writing this week about the late-summer-into-fall turn across Midwest walleye water, noting how forward-facing sonar has pulled anglers away from the old bottom-and-structure default toward suspended fish in open water — a shift that applies as much to the Mississippi's wing dams and current seams as anywhere else in the region. Weed die-off pushing baitfish, and the gamefish chasing them, toward the healthiest remaining green cover is the classic late-August cue per the same outlet. Smallmouth bass and channel cats should still be feeding aggressively on current breaks through this week's full moon, while sauger typically hold tight to the deepest holes until the water cools further.
Finger Lakes Settle Into Late-Summer Deep Bite Under Full Moon
No buoy or gauge readings came in for Cayuga, Seneca, or Skaneateles this cycle, and no charter or shop report specifically covered the Finger Lakes this week, so this update leans on typical late-August patterns for the region. Lake trout are usually holding deep near the thermocline by late summer, with smallmouth bass and walleye pushing onto rock piles and deeper structure as surface temps stay warm. Walleye anglers around the region are increasingly leaning on forward-facing sonar to find fish away from traditional bottom structure, a shift Fishing the Midwest has been tracking as the technology reshapes classic walleye location theory. Elsewhere in New York, On The Water notes the Salmon River's king run is heating up on Lake Ontario tributaries — a different fishery from the Finger Lakes proper, but a sign the fall transition is underway statewide. This week's full moon should sharpen overnight and low-light feeding windows on the lakes' deeper basins.
Fall Chinook Chatter Builds Near Buoy 10 Ahead of Peak Season
Anglers posting to IFish.net forums this week describe hot Chinook action trolling near Buoy 10, at the Columbia's mouth on the Washington–Oregon line — one angler reported a rod pulled overboard while trolling solo in that stretch, a sign of steady bite pressure, though it's unconfirmed forum chatter rather than an agency-verified report. WDFW's statewide creel program (per WA WDFW Fishing Reports) tracks exactly this kind of activity through angler interviews at access sites, but no fresh site-specific numbers came through this cycle. Washington Sea Grant's upcoming commercial Skills and Drills course flags Dungeness crab as one of the state's largest fisheries heading toward fall, a useful reminder for recreational potters watching the calendar too. With no live buoy or gauge readings available for Puget Sound or the outer coast this week, treat this as a directional read: Chinook interest is building at river-mouth pinch points, and Puget Sound species should be settling into a typical late-August pattern.
Peak Summer Trout Bite Holds Steady in Sarasota Bay
Spotted seatrout are stealing the show in Sarasota Bay this week, with Capt. Brandon Naeve of CB's Saltwater Outfitters reporting the peak summer trout bite in full swing across inshore grass flats, mangrove shorelines, and local passes — anglers have landed trout up to 27 inches, with sunrise and sunset feeding windows producing the most consistent action. Redfish are cooperating too: on a rising morning tide, Capt. Chuck Cress found reds eager for a popping cork rigged with live shrimp, and the same outing produced several small snook released along the way near Siesta Key. Per Capt. Rick Grassett's August forecast, tarpon are thinning out along the open beaches as the month wears on, pushing into protected inside waters around bridges and deep grass flats, often marked by feeding schools of ladyfish. With a full moon overhead, expect stronger tidal swings to sharpen the bite on both flats and passes through the week.
Hot August pushes Hill Country bass deep on Travis, LBJ, Buchanan
No fresh buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for the Highland Lakes chain this cycle, so this update leans on seasonal pattern and technique notes rather than a live number. Tactical Bassin's latest reservoir-bass video, filmed at the peak of August heat, describes largemouth pushing onto shallow points at first light on topwater and a finesse jig before sliding progressively deeper as the sun climbs — a classic late-summer pattern that applies directly to Travis, LBJ and Buchanan right now. On The Water's late-summer largemouth notes echo the same idea from the bank side: dense cover during low-light with frogs, compact jigs and stickbaits. Expect largemouth and white bass holding tight to main-lake points, bluffs and river-channel structure through midday, with stripers suspending over deeper water chasing shad. Catfish should stay the most consistent night bite across all three reservoirs through the heat.
OBX surf stays busy with bluefish, sea mullet, croaker mix
Surf anglers on the Outer Banks are into a solid late-summer mix right now: Hugh at TW's Bait and Tackle, quoted in Fisherman's Post (NC), reports sea mullet, bluefish, and 'plenty of croakers' coming off the beach on standard bottom rigs, with signs the inshore bite has finally started to pick up as well. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this update, so treat water temperature and surf conditions as typical for late-August Outer Banks — warm water, active baitfish, and steady bottom action. Farther down the North Carolina coast, other Fisherman's Post (NC) shop reports echo the same seasonal pattern: red drum, flounder, and sharks mixing in the Carolina Beach surf, and a strong spanish mackerel bite off piers at Swansboro/Emerald Isle and Morehead/Atlantic Beach. With tonight's full moon pushing bigger tidal swings, expect stronger current around each tide change to bunch bait — and the predators chasing it — tighter to troughs and structure.
Late-summer patterns hold on the Wabash and Lake Michigan
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came back for the Wabash River or Lake Michigan this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel feeds cover Indiana specifically — the available reports are national blogs and out-of-state Sea Grant programs with no direct word on Hoosier water. Rather than guess at what's biting locally, we're leaning on what's typical for late August in this region: warm, stable water with fish settling into normal late-summer behavior — bass and panfish tucking into shade and deeper structure through the heat of the day, walleye and perch activity picking up as light drops toward dusk. A full moon tonight tends to spread feeding activity into darker hours, so dawn and dusk remain the highest-percentage windows. Check current conditions and any posted advisories before heading out, since this report can't confirm live temps or flow today.
Late-summer bass patterns take hold on the Potomac and Patapsco
No live buoy or gauge readings came back for the Potomac and Patapsco this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel feeds filed a report specific to Maryland's tidal-freshwater stretches — so this update leans on what's typical for the region in late August plus technique guidance pulled from national bass coverage. On The Water's late-summer largemouth piece points anglers toward dense shallow cover during low-light windows using frogs, compact jigs, and stickbaits, a pattern that translates directly to Potomac and Patapsco grass lines and laydowns. Field & Stream's Carolina-rig breakdown is worth keeping in the rotation for post-spawn bass sitting deeper on flats and ledges once the sun gets high. Snakehead, blue catfish, and panfish are holding to normal seasonal behavior for this water with no reports suggesting otherwise. Full Moon tonight is worth factoring into low-light plans.
UP trout streams settle into a quiet late-summer pattern
With no fresh buoy or gauge readings in hand for the Upper Peninsula this week, this update leans on typical late-August patterns for the region rather than a specific new report. Full moon phase this week tends to push feeding activity toward dawn, dusk, and overnight windows on both UP trout streams and Lake Superior, as fish key on low-light periods when the bright moon keeps them active after dark and less so under high sun. Brook and brown trout in spring-fed headwater streams typically hold in deeper, shaded pools through late summer as water warms during the day, while Lake Superior's near-shore water stays cold enough to keep lake trout and salmon within normal trolling depths. Check the Michigan DNR's weekly fishing report directly for the most current, location-specific bite information before heading out, since no state or shop source with UP-specific detail came through in this cycle.
Spring-fed Ozark trout parks hold steady through late-summer heat
No buoy or gauge telemetry came back for the Current or Niangua systems this cycle, and this week's angler-intel sweep carried no direct reports out of Missouri's trout parks — the blogs and forums pulled this time span the Southeast, Northeast, Rockies, and Upper Midwest, not the Ozarks, so there's no fresh regional testimony to cite. Worth saying plainly rather than papering over. What holds generally true for spring-fed water like Bennett Spring and Montauk-style trout parks in late August: constant-temperature spring flow keeps these fisheries fishable straight through the hottest stretch of Missouri summer, well after nearby free-flowing warmwater streams get sluggish. Weekday pressure tends to ease as summer vacation traffic tapers toward September. Typical producers on these waters are small nymphs, inline spinners, and prepared or natural baits fished slow through the deeper spring-run pools and tailouts. Confirm current Missouri Department of Conservation season structure and limits before you head out.
Taneycomo trout stay aggressive as summer generation eases
Trout on Lake Taneycomo have turned notably aggressive, per Lilleys Landing's most recent report (August 1) — fish are hitting hard with "no pecking around," and the shop's trophy release program has picked back up after a slow spring. Guides are working the Provo rig in the afternoons, while a simple approach is also producing: a weighted line drifted along bottom with a drop-shot loop about 18 inches up, tied with Vanish fluorocarbon tippet, a trick credited to guide Blake Wilson. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through today, so treat generation and flow as unconfirmed until you check the dam schedule directly. Table Rock's largemouth bass fishery remains a typical late-summer draw for anglers working the lake proper. With a full moon overhead, expect trout activity to shift toward early morning and after-dark windows on Taneycomo.