Fishing reports
16911 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Maine's North Woods lakes settle into late-summer low-light bite
Smallmouth bass are still eating in New England's freshwater rivers and ponds, per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, with anglers connecting on topwater at dawn and dusk and swim baits picking up largemouth as weeds start to thin. No Moosehead- or upper-Penobscot-specific reports came through this cycle, and no buoy or gauge readings were available either, so we're pairing that regional signal with late-August seasonal norms for Maine's North Woods: landlocked salmon and lake trout (togue) sliding toward deeper, cooler water as surface temps sit near their summer peak, and brook trout action typically staying slow until nights cool further. This week's full moon should extend the low-light feeding window at both ends of the day, making early-morning and last-light trips the better bet than midday outings this weekend.
Bonito Signal Fall Run's Arrival in Narragansett Bay
Green bonito are showing up in solid numbers along Rhode Island's south county beaches and around the Harbor of Refuge this week, according to Snug Harbor Marina and The Saltwater Edge. Those fish are keying on larger forage, sand eels and herring, which the shop says makes them easier to fool than earlier in the summer. False albacore haven't shown locally yet, but Snug Harbor says they could arrive any day, and The Fisherman's New England forecast notes a strong bonito push in Rhode Island waters this week with a few albies already popping around Cape waters, one over 16 pounds. Striped bass remain the slow spot in the mix, held back by warm water and shark pressure per The Saltwater Edge, with the fall migration expected to change that soon. Bottom fishing stayed the more dependable bet: Frances Fleet and Quonnie Bait and Tackle both report strong fluke and black sea bass action, with fluke pushing toward 10 pounds.
Full moon tides put Hawaii's offshore bite in play
Hawaii Fishing News, the state's official keeper of record catches and its long-running moon-and-tide calendar, flags this week's full moon as a key reference point for anglers planning trips around current and light. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for the islands this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel feeds carried a fresh Hawaii-specific bite report, so this update leans on typical late-August seasonal patterns rather than a confirmed report. At this point in summer, offshore trolling for yellowfin tuna (ahi) is usually still productive, mahimahi tends to slow as the peak spring-summer run tapers off, wahoo (ono) typically starts building toward its fall push, and giant trevally (ulua) remain a reliable nearshore and reef target, especially after dark around a full moon. Treat the species notes below as seasonal expectation rather than a confirmed catch report until fresh on-the-water intel comes in.
Kennebec and Penobscot smallmouth settle into late-summer rhythm
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Kennebec and Penobscot corridor this cycle, and this week's Maine-specific angler intel leaned toward Sea Grant program news rather than on-the-water reports. Regionally, The Fisherman's New England Freshwater desk notes smallmouth bass action holding strong on nearby Merrimack River stretches and largemouth still eating shiners and topwater lures on Massachusetts ponds — a pattern that typically tracks close to what Maine's warmwater rivers are doing this time of year. On the Kennebec and Penobscot, late August under a full moon usually means smallmouth bass feeding hardest in the low-light dawn and dusk windows, sliding to deeper current breaks and ledges once the sun climbs. Landlocked salmon and brook trout typically pull toward cooler tributary mouths and spring seeps as the season's warmest water lingers. Check current Maine fishing regulations before harvesting anything you plan to keep.
Terrestrial patterns keep Smokies tailwater trout dialed in
No live buoy or gauge readings came through for the Hiwassee or Caney Fork this cycle, so this update leans on the broader trout-fishing picture heading into the last week of August. Hatch Magazine's terrestrial countdown piece this week flags late-August as prime hopper-and-ant season across freshwater trout systems as grasshopper and beetle activity peaks along grassy banks — a pattern that applies just as well to Southern Appalachian tailwaters as it does out West. On generation-dependent rivers like the Hiwassee and Caney Fork, the bite still hinges on TVA/USACE release schedules more than anything else; low-flow windows around dam shutoffs typically produce the best dry-fly and terrestrial fishing, while high generation pushes fish to seams and forces a streamer-and-nymph approach. With a full moon overhead, expect an earlier-than-usual dawn bite and a chance at active low-light feeding. Check current generation schedules before planning your trip.
Walleye bite turns toward weed edges as Iron Range nears fall transition
No buoy or gauge telemetry is running for the Boundary Waters and Iron Range this week, so this report leans on regional intel rather than hard numbers, under a Full Moon that should sharpen low-light bite windows. Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen and Mike Frisch note the classic late-summer shift is underway across Upper Midwest lakes: as shallow weeds start dying back, oxygen drops and baitfish push toward the healthiest remaining green weeds and nearby structure, pulling walleye and bass along with them — worth checking on Iron Range lakes now. The same source notes Forward-Facing Sonar has changed how anglers find suspended walleye off traditional bottom structure. Statewide, Minnesota bass fishing is having a strong year: Outdoor Hub reported a new 22.5-inch largemouth bass catch out of southern Minnesota's Lura Lake this spring, though that water sits well south of this region. Expect walleye and smallmouth to lead the action here, pike opportunistic along weed edges, and lake trout holding deep and slow.
Green River tailwater trout hold steady into late August
No live buoy or USGS gauge readings came in for the Green River tailwater or Uinta high lakes this cycle, and today's angler-intel feed contained no reports specific to Utah waters — the available blogs and forums covered other regions entirely. That means this update leans on general seasonal knowledge rather than fresh on-the-water testimony. Late August on the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam typically keeps rainbow and brown trout active on small midge and scud patterns in the tailwater's cold, stable flows, with terrestrial patterns like hoppers and ants worth a look along the banks. In the high Uinta lakes, cutthroat trout fishing is usually still solid at elevation before nights start cooling toward fall, while kokanee salmon typically stay slow until their pre-spawn push begins in September. Check current Utah DWR regulations before harvesting, and watch for updated regional reports as they come in.
Merrimack Smallmouth Keep Firing as NH's Late-Summer Bite Shifts
Smallmouth bass action remains excellent through the Lowell-to-Lawrence and Hooksett, New Hampshire stretches of the Merrimack River, per this week's New England Freshwater report from The Fisherman, with anglers connecting on both numbers and better-quality fish. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for the Merrimack or Winnipesaukee system this cycle, so today's report leans on angler intel over hard numbers. Largemouth bass are following the typical late-summer script — On The Water's shore-fishing rundown this week points anglers toward dense cover and low-light windows, working topwater frogs, compact jigs, and stickbaits as the bite narrows toward dawn and dusk. Lake trout on Winnipesaukee are typically sliding deeper as surface water holds onto summer heat, a pattern that should continue into early September. With tonight's full moon overhead, expect a modest uptick in nighttime and dawn feeding activity across the region's bass water.
Delta anglers lean on late-summer patterns as fresh intel stays quiet
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for the Sacramento-Delta system this cycle, and this week's angler-intel feed carried no region-specific catch reports for Northern California's freshwater fisheries — NorCal Fish Reports' site index lists an active Delta section, but no dispatch came through this pull. That leaves this week's outlook grounded in typical late-August patterns for the Delta's tidal sloughs and river channels: striped bass activity tends to build as summer heat starts to ease, largemouth bass hold tight to submerged grass beds and tule lines through the heat of the day, white sturgeon remain a steady deep-water target on cut bait, and catfish stay active through warm evenings. With a full moon overhead, expect stronger-than-normal tidal exchange — worth timing trips around the moving water. Verify current conditions and California harvest regulations locally before heading out this week.
Buoy 10 Chatter Signals Chinook Are Showing on the Columbia
An IFish.net Fishing Reports post placed a rod overboard near the Buoy 10 line across from Skipanon this week, with the poster describing 'HOT chinook action trolling solo' in the same report — a promising sign for the Columbia's late-August push, though it's a single, unconfirmed account rather than a verified bite report from a shop or charter. Two more IFish.net posts turned up gear lost near the mouth of the Lewis River and further upriver at Chinook Landing, both traditional fall-run staging areas, hinting that boat traffic and effort are picking up. No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings were available for the Columbia this week, and no shop, charter, or agency source corroborated a hot bite, so treat the chatter as a lead worth checking rather than a guarantee. White sturgeon fishing is typically quieter and catch-and-release only through this stretch of summer, with the fall Chinook run still building.
Truckee trout dial in early as Sierra shop calls for cooling water
Truckee River water temperatures are set to drop over the next few days and fishing should improve, per Reno Fly Shop, whose mid-August on-the-water report found trout eating crayfish patterns and mayfly imitations early in the day on both the CA and NV sides of the river. Surface bug life remains sparse, so subsurface presentations are outproducing dries for now. Late-summer carp fishing on the fly has been very good, the shop notes, with anglers working urban stretches and area ponds. For anglers looking beyond the river, the shop's season primer on Heenan Lake — the Alpine County Lahontan cutthroat fishery off Highway 89 near Markleeville — points to strong prospects following this year's post-spawn stocking, in a fishery the shop compares to Pyramid Lake. With the full moon overhead this week, expect an early, low-light bite window before daytime heat sets in.
Driftless streamer bite holds as terrestrial season winds down
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Driftless Area this cycle, so this update leans on angler intel rather than instrument data. The standout note: Root River Rod Co's go-to Driftless streamer, a pine-squirrel jig built to bounce the rocky bottom of tight, technical spring creeks without hanging up, is featured in MidCurrent's latest Tying Tuesday roundup, a solid signal that subsurface presentations are still earning bites in the region's classic skinny, boulder-strewn water. Elsewhere in Wisconsin, Hatch Magazine's essay on an under-the-radar Langlade County stream describes a rumored healthy trout population, general color on the state's trout fishing rather than a Driftless-specific report. With no local flow or temperature readings available this week, treat any water-condition assumptions as general seasonal knowledge: late August typically means stable, spring-fed flows and lingering terrestrial activity across Driftless streams. Check a local gauge before you go.
Late-Summer Weed Shift Building on Lake of the Woods
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz's late-August executive order shielding the Rainy River Headwaters Watershed from new mining leases made regional headlines this week (per Wired 2 Fish), a reminder of how closely this fishery's health tracks water quality upstream of Lake of the Woods. On the water itself, no direct Lake of the Woods or Rainy River bite reports came through our sources this cycle, and buoy/gauge telemetry wasn't available either, so treat conditions below as seasonal-pattern reads rather than confirmed reports. Seasonally, late August is when Midwest walleye water starts its fall transition: per Fishing the Midwest, weeds begin dying off and baitfish — along with the walleye and sauger following them — push toward the healthiest remaining green weed edges, a pattern that typically holds for Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River system too. We'd start on weed edges and current breaks until firmer local reports surface.
Ozark Anglers Eye Fall Transition as Late-Summer Bass Patterns Hold
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for Missouri's Ozark rivers and reservoirs this cycle, so today's outlook leans on seasonal patterns and technique reports from national outlets. Late-summer heat still has largemouth bass tucked into dense shoreline cover, and On The Water notes low-light windows around frogs, compact jigs, and stickbaits are producing for shore anglers working the bank right now. Tactical Bassin's late-summer coverage points to a similar pattern for reservoir smallmouth and largemouth alike — shallow points working early and late, with slower presentations once the sun climbs. Ozark tailwater trout fisheries, cousins to the White River system profiled this week by Wired 2 Fish, tend to fish best after dark once daytime temperatures spike, a pattern worth testing on local tailwaters too. Catfish typically feed more aggressively at night through late-August heat. The Full Moon overhead may extend that low-light bite window after dark.
CO tailwaters slow as record drought grips South Platte, Arkansas
Colorado's South Platte and Arkansas tailwaters are grinding through what Pat Dorsey Fly Fishing calls one of the worst droughts on record heading into late August. Cutthroat Anglers is flagging a record-low water year with rivers running low, clear, and warming fast, and their standing advice is to carry a thermometer and stop fishing once water hits 68°F or higher — a real risk on tailwater flats during a stretch like this. Anglers Covey, working out of the Arkansas River drainage in Colorado Springs, describes the classic dog-days slowdown: rivers running slower and fish getting noticeably lazier through the midday hours. Via Cutthroat Anglers, guide Matt Campanella's low-water tips note that despite the tough conditions, trout that remain are grouped up and still catchable for anglers willing to hike farther and downsize tippet. Best bet right now is early mornings and evenings, with careful handling on stressed, warm water.
North Shore lake trout hold deep as fall salmon staging nears
No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for the Lake Superior North Shore today, and this week's angler-intel feed didn't turn up any shop, charter, or state-agency reports specific to this stretch of water — so we're leaning on general seasonal knowledge rather than fresh, source-backed testimony. Late August on the North Shore typically means lake trout still holding in deeper, cooler water off the rocky points, with coho and king salmon beginning to stage closer to shore and near tributary mouths as they prepare for the fall spawning push. Brook trout activity in North Shore feeder streams is usually still muted until nights cool further and stream temperatures drop. With a full moon overhead, low-light bites around dawn and dusk are typically the better bet. We'd treat any specific catch claims for this stretch skeptically until a shop or charter report comes in — check local outfitters before planning a trip.
Trophy snook stack up at St. Lucie Inlet as red snapper season stays shut
Snook fishing remains excellent along Florida's Treasure Coast, with Snook Nook (FL) reporting steady numbers of quality fish, many in the 40-inch-plus range, concentrated around the St. Lucie Inlet on live croakers and threadfins; when the inlet bite slows, a dead threadfin fished on bottom has produced solid bycatch. The bigger story this week is red snapper: per CCA Florida, a federal court injunction has blocked the 2026 South Atlantic red snapper Exempted Fishing Permit pilot programs just as Florida's Atlantic season was set to open, and Saltwater Sportsman reports states are now pushing NOAA for a salvage October 1-31 season. Elsewhere, Coastal Angler Magazine notes the August full moon typically triggers intense Cubera snapper action in the Keys on live lobster, while reef structure keeps holding greater amberjack for anglers willing to work the depths.
Louisiana bass slow down as catfish shift to a night bite in late-August heat
No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came back for the Mississippi & Atchafalaya basin this cycle, so today's outlook leans on regional intel and typical late-August patterns rather than fresh numbers. Direct Louisiana freshwater bite reports were thin in this pass, but the seasonal signal is consistent: Tactical Bassin's late-summer coverage flags bass sliding into a heat-driven funk, with shallow cover and low-light windows still producing when everything else shuts down. Wired 2 Fish's recent feature on a Virginia guide logging a 108-pound blue catfish after dark during a heat wave underscores a pattern that holds just as true in Louisiana's warm backwaters — cats feed hardest once the sun's off the water. Louisiana Sportsman's coverage of Tickfaw State Park is a reminder the broader basin stays busy with paddlers and campers even when the bite is tough. Expect a typical late-summer stretch: tough midday bass fishing, a better catfish night bite, and panfish holding tight to shade.
Full moon bass patterns hold as Okeechobee, St. Johns head toward fall
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for Lake Okeechobee or the St. Johns River this cycle, so this report leans on late-summer seasonal patterns rather than new numbers off the water. On The Water's late-summer largemouth piece this week points shore anglers toward dense cover during low-light hours, a pattern that maps well onto Okeechobee's matted vegetation and the St. Johns' grass lines while the water stays warm into early fall. Field & Stream's roundup on urchin-style soft plastics for bass reinforces the same idea: slow, cover-oriented presentations are outworking anything fished through open water right now. Under this week's full moon, bluegill and shellcracker typically stay active around Florida's warm-water lakes even this late in the season, while black crappie ('specks') tend to stay tough until the water starts cooling toward fall. No FL-specific angler reports landed in our sources this cycle, so treat species status below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed bites.
Drop Shots and Deep Cats Rule Late-Summer Virginia Reservoirs
A 108-pound blue catfish was caught-and-released on nearby Lake Gaston during last week's heat wave, per Wired 2 Fish, with guide Zakk Royce working the reservoir at night to beat the daytime temperatures — a pattern that tracks for Smith Mountain Lake and Buggs Island right now too, where blue cats are pushing into deeper, cooler water during the day and feeding hard after dark. On the bass side, the Virginia DWR Wildlife Blog is pushing drop shot rigs this month, a finesse technique built for suspending a bait naturally over deep structure that's producing for largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass statewide. DWR's latest report also highlights bluegill and redear sunfish action on Virginia's public lakes, with ultralight spinning gear or a fly rod the go-to for both species right now. Stripers haven't drawn direct reports yet this cycle, but expect them holding deep near thermal breaks through the heat.
Full moon tides set up Chesapeake mouth's early-fall transition
The Fisherman's New England video forecast this week flagged an early fall signal — big striped bass pushing in from Maine to Boston and a strong mackerel push mixing bass and bonito farther south — and that same seasonal clock is starting to turn for the Chesapeake mouth, even though today's buoy and gauge feeds came back empty for this stretch. Without a fresh water-temp reading in hand, we're leaning on typical late-August patterns for this fishery: Spanish mackerel and cobia should still be working the bay mouth and nearshore structure, red drum schooling tighter around the inlets, and resident striped bass holding deep on structure until cooler water pulls them shallow. Anglers Journal's read on the broader Atlantic migration cycle backs the same timeline — the real fall blitz push is still weeks out, but the pieces are starting to move. Tonight's full moon stacks tidal current on top of that, so plan around the peak swings rather than the slack.
Full moon lights up cubera and mutton snapper on the reef
Coastal Angler Magazine's August report flags this week's full moon as prime time for giant Cubera snapper on the reef — nicknamed "El Diablo," these fish are being taken on live lobster and stand-up gear, though they can shred tackle in seconds. Mutton and yellowtail snapper remain the Keys' bread-and-butter: ALL IN Key West describes full-moon periods triggering mutton snapper "chewing like crazy" alongside a strong yellowtail bite, while Bud n' Mary's in Islamorada has been working reef edges and bridge tarpon through the summer stretch. Florida Sea Grant notes permit spawning aggregations in the Keys can gather over a thousand fish at once, making flats sight-fishing worth a look around this moon. On the regulatory side, Saltwater Sportsman reports Florida, Georgia and South Carolina are pushing for a fall Atlantic red snapper season (Oct. 1-31) after a court injunction halted the earlier pilot program — check current federal rules before targeting snapper offshore.
Late-summer transition sets up Chicago's Lake Michigan bite
No buoy or gauge telemetry came through for the Chicago lakefront this cycle, and this week's shop, captain, and blog intel was dominated by other regions — Virginia catfish, Arkansas trout, and Sea Grant program news rather than southern Lake Michigan reports. Absent fresh local sourcing, what follows leans on typical late-August patterns for this fishery rather than specific catch reports, so treat it as a seasonal outlook, not this week's confirmed bite. Under the current Full Moon, expect stronger overnight and low-light feeding windows as gamefish key on bait movement. Late August on Chicago's lakefront is usually a transition stretch: nearshore structure and harbor mouths hold value as baitfish begin grouping up, and anglers typically start watching for the first signs of salmon staging ahead of the fall run. Check back as fresh buoy readings and regional reports populate for a sharper, source-grounded update on this stretch of water.
Big Gulf of Maine stripers arrive as cod season reopens Sept 1
Striped bass are running big along the Gulf of Maine corridor this week, with Beauport Fishing Adventures out of Gloucester reporting "tons of marine life" this week, including heavy squid and pogy schools holding good numbers of large stripers — fish so big none are small enough to keep under the current slot. The Fisherman's New England forecast corroborates the push, noting striper action "caught fire" north of the Cape with big fish mixed in from Maine to Boston amid a strong mackerel influx. Bluefish remain scarce, reported "completely absent" above Salem per Beauport. The bigger story for Maine bottom-fishermen: Gulf of Maine cod reopens September 1 after being closed all of 2026, with a 1-fish limit at a 23-inch minimum, while the Southern New England stock area stays shut through year-end. Whales working inshore near southern Jeffreys Ledge this week are a good sign of how thick the bait has stacked close to shore.