Fishing Reports

The Georgia Wildlife Blog — Fishing declared 'another great week of fishing' across the state as of May 15, and conditions on Lanier and Allatoona fit that picture. Largemouth bass are finishing the post-spawn transition — Georgia Wildlife Blog — Fishing documented an 8-pound, 11-ounce largemouth taken in late April on a spinnerbait during post-rain conditions, a pattern that remains relevant as fish stage near secondary structure off the spawning flats. Crappie were stacked on brush piles, fallen timber, and docks in 3–8 feet of water through the Georgia spawn window per Georgia Wildlife Blog — Fishing's April report; by mid-May those fish are scattering to slightly deeper adjacent structure. GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News noted hot weather arriving for the region around May 10, compressing productive feeding windows to dawn and dusk. USGS gauge 02334430 on the Chattahoochee reads 50°F at 660 cfs — cold tailwater discharge below Buford Dam, not representative of main-lake surface temperatures on Lanier proper, which should be running considerably warmer.

May 19

USGS gauge 03512000 on the Little Tennessee River recorded 70°F and 184 cfs at 3:00 p.m. on May 19 — water temperatures that put Smokies trout in genuine heat-stress territory. Trout begin experiencing physiological stress above 68°F, and catch-and-release mortality rises sharply at 70°F; plan sessions around the coolest hours and carry a stream thermometer. On the hatch front, Flylords Mag reports green drakes are emerging on the East Coast between early May and late June, a window that squarely overlaps prime Smokies high-country streams. Gink and Gasoline flagged this spring that unusually warm conditions have been accelerating hatch timing, pushing sulphurs and light cahills onto Appalachian freestone water ahead of schedule — a pattern that aligns with what the gauge is showing right now. Lower-elevation reaches where smallmouth bass hold are better suited to current temperatures. If temps climb further, consider resting trout water until a cooling event resets the system.

May 19

Red drum are making a strong push into Pamlico Sound and along the Outer Banks surf this week. Per Fisherman's Post (NC), Donald of Custom Marine Fabrication reports slot-sized fish spread across just about the whole Neuse River. At the shoals, Steve of Chasin' Tails confirms schools of bull red drum working the Cape Lookout area, with plenty of good-sized bluefish alongside. Hatteras guide Ryan of Hatteras Jack reports the surf has come alive on the Ocracoke and Hatteras beaches, with drum making a strong push and good numbers being caught. Over at Swansboro and Emerald Isle, Morgan of The Reel Outdoors notes surf fishing has picked up with sea mullet, black drum, and early pompano. NOAA buoy 41037 logged light 5 m/s winds and air temperatures near 77°F on May 19, keeping coastal conditions comfortable. The waxing crescent moon is building tidal movement through the weekend, which should help concentrate fish along current seams and shoal edges.

May 19

Water temperature off the Eastern Shore is holding at 61°F per NOAA buoy 44014, landing squarely in the prime spring window for migratory fishing. The Virginia DWR Wildlife Blog's spring striped bass report confirms rockfish are schooling along channel edges, sandy flats, grass beds, and near hard coastal structure across Virginia's tidal zone — exactly the staging behavior Chincoteague-area anglers target this time of year. The OTW Saltwater striper migration report dated May 19 places the run's leading edge all the way into New Hampshire and Maine, meaning Virginia waters are seeing active push-through traffic right now. The Fisherman's NJ/DE regional forecast from May 14 adds that the fluke bite is also warming alongside striper action as weather improves across the mid-Atlantic. With a waxing crescent moon keeping tidal pressure moderate and water temps trending upward, the window for quality inshore fishing through late May looks favorable across multiple species.

May 19

The Virginia DWR Wildlife Blog's spring striper report confirms landlocked rockfish are schooling along channel edges, sandy flats, and grass beds statewide — a pattern that holds equally well for Smith Mountain Lake and Buggs Island. Per that report, fish are also keying on rocky shorelines and hard structure, making main-channel points and dock pilings high-percentage spots right now. The Staunton River, the primary feeder into Buggs Island (John H. Kerr Reservoir), was running at a moderate 474 cfs as of mid-afternoon May 19 (USGS gauge 02075045), indicating stable reservoir conditions heading into the weekend. Water temperature readings were unavailable from our automated sensors. Meanwhile, Tactical Bassin confirms the bluegill spawn is currently in full swing — a trigger that pushes largemouth into heavy shallow cover and turns frog and topwater presentations into go-to choices. Bass are in the post-spawn transition, and the waxing crescent moon sets up strong low-light feeding windows.

May 19

Water at 57°F per NOAA buoy 44065 — a meaningful climb from the 46–48°F readings that had suppressed early-season bottom fishing — sets the stage for improving action across Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook. The headline this week belongs to Sandy Hook itself: per The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf (Tackle Box Fishing Co.), one angler working the Hook's tip on bobber-and-live-killie rigs landed a genuine super slam of bass, bluefish, fluke, black drum, and blackfish in a single outing. Blue Chip Sportfishing (NJ) calls the striper bite "the best striper fishing possible" right now, while OTW Northern New Jersey (May 14) reports the action has shifted from Raritan Bay proper to the beachfront. Party boats out of Atlantic Highlands are posting fair ling counts with tog in the mix, per Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands NJ, but sea bass — whose season opened May 15 with a 12.5-inch minimum — remain well below last year's pace across the fleet. A Memorial Day warming trend is the next key variable to watch.

May 19

Water at NOAA Buoy 44009 checked in at 59°F on May 19, and the Delaware Bay's NJ shoreline is producing one of the better striper runs of the spring. The Fisherman — Southern NJ's Higbee's Bait and Tackle reports 'plenty of fish' from the Fortescue beaches this week — oversize stripers running 36 to 46 inches, with bloodworms, bloodworm balls, and spawn-net combos leading the charge. Big Dave's Tackle, also via The Fisherman — Southern NJ, calls the fishing 'firing on all cylinders,' noting bayfront beaches on both sides of the bay are producing oversize fish on bloodworm and clam presentations. Black drum have arrived as well: Dockside Café and Marina (The Fisherman — Southern NJ) logged fish to 15 pounds on clam baits in the bay. A South Jersey correspondent for The Fisherman — Southern NJ notes that persistent winds and cooler water have actually kept both stripers and drum locked into the bay. Flounder remains the weak spot — winds have dirtied the water — though Tuckerton Bait and Tackle reports early-morning anglers squeezed limits to 20 inches on live minnows and Gulp before the chop built.

May 19

Trout action in western Massachusetts was confirmed as recently as May 13, when The Fisherman — New England Freshwater reported brook and rainbow trout catches at Hampton Pond in Westfield — a productive signal for the broader central MA freshwater corridor that includes Quabbin and Wachusett. The Swift River below Quabbin (USGS gauge 01174500) posted 81.4 cfs on May 19, indicating stable outflow and steady reservoir levels heading into the Memorial Day weekend. Water temperature was unavailable from the gauge. Regionally, The Fisherman — New England Freshwater notes that largemouth bass have moved onto beds and are proving "trickier to entice than in prespawn" — a pattern likely playing out in Wachusett's shallower coves as well. Smallmouth bass and Quabbin's lake trout typically hold at transitional depths before summer stratification pushes them deeper; early-morning low-light windows remain the most productive sessions on both reservoirs at this point in May.

May 19

Red Top Sporting Goods called last weekend 'dealer's choice,' with striper schools working bait almost all over Buzzards Bay — and bluefish already showing off Mattapoisett and Wareham. Capt. Carl at Westport River Outfitters (per The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands) found stripers from schoolies to high 30-inchers in Buzzards Bay, with fish taken on top from Fairhaven to the west end of the Canal during a worm hatch. NOAA buoy 44020 logged water at 58°F in Vineyard Sound while buoy 44085 put Buzzards Bay at 54°F, with 4.3-foot seas limiting offshore runs. The Canal is producing at both ends, tautog remain active on structure, and jumbo scup have moved into the bay. The Fisherman (Northeast) reported a 'supercharged' spring striper run across New England with 40-pound-class fish entering regional waters — the 2026 season is shaping up well above average.

May 19

At 57°F as of this morning, USGS gauge 14105700 puts the Columbia River squarely in prime territory for spring Chinook salmon — a species that migrates most actively between 50°F and 60°F. Alongside that favorable temperature, the gauge logged 239,000 cfs, elevated snowmelt flows that are reshaping where fish hold: Chinook stack in slower bank seams, deep eddies, and current breaks rather than the mid-river lanes that fish more easily at lower volumes. White sturgeon remain a second strong option, anchored in deep-water slots where high current concentrates forage along the bottom. No charter, shop, or agency angler reports specific to the Columbia corridor appeared in today's intel feeds; IFish.net Fishing Reports showed recent angler activity around Chinook Landing and the Wilson River but only lost-gear notices — not bite reports. Current conditions are assessed from gauge data and typical mid-May patterns for this drainage. Confirm bite windows with local shops before launching.

May 19

USGS gauge 12484500 recorded the Yakima River at 1,870 cfs on the morning of May 19 — elevated spring runoff consistent with late-season Cascade snowmelt, but not yet in blown-out territory. No water temperature was logged at the gauge. WA WDFW Fishing Reports notes that the department regularly stocks fish in lakes and streams statewide this time of year, supplementing Eastern WA's wild-trout fisheries. Region-specific bite reports from Yakima Canyon or Spokane-area waters are limited in current feeds, but the seasonal setup is compelling: late May historically marks the best pre-summer trout window on the Yakima before flows drop and water warms, while post-spawn smallmouth bass on Columbia system tributaries typically enter an aggressive recovery-and-feed phase through this period. A waxing crescent moon tonight supports active feeding windows at dawn and dusk across Eastern WA warmwater and coldwater fisheries alike.

May 19

USGS gauge 12041200 recorded 970 cfs and gauge 12035000 logged 703 cfs as of mid-morning May 19 — moderate flows consistent with late-spring conditions as snowmelt runoff winds down across the Olympic Peninsula drainages. No water temperature was available at either site this morning. WA WDFW Fishing Reports tracks angler activity statewide through creel interviews but has not published a region-specific Olympic Peninsula salmon-river update this week, and no guide or tackle-shop intel is available from this cycle's feeds. Against that backdrop, conditions are assessed against seasonal norms: mid-May is historically the heart of the spring Chinook season on these systems, with fish moving actively through the mainstem as flows settle below the 1,500 cfs threshold. A waxing crescent moon on May 19 provides low-light morning hours that typically concentrate salmon movement near structure and along current seams. Summer steelhead are beginning to stage and enter the lower mainstem as well. Verify current retention rules and any emergency closures with WDFW before launching — Olympic Peninsula Chinook seasons carry specific window and retention restrictions.

May 19

Water temps at 76°F (NOAA buoy 42012) have the Destin–Pensacola corridor in prime late-spring shape. Coastal Angler Magazine calls May the peak window for gag grouper and scamp, urging anglers to target ledges, rock outcrops, and wrecks wherever cigar minnows and sardines are stacked — when bait and structure converge, grouper action is immediate. Tarpon are also fully in play: Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider Fishing Report flags big Silver King action across Florida, signaling the Panhandle's pass-and-beach tarpon run is well underway. Inshore, Coastal Angler Magazine labels May an underrated stretch for trophy speckled trout, with a narrow but productive window remaining before summer heat disperses bigger fish off the flats. Light winds of 4–5 m/s (NOAA buoys 42039 and 42012) are keeping offshore access clean, and a waxing crescent moon supports moderate tidal movement — favorable conditions across multiple fisheries this week.

May 19

Water temps holding at 79–80°F across the Gulf, confirmed by NOAA buoys 42036 and 42013, have pushed the Tampa Bay and Sarasota inshore bite into high gear. Capt. Brandon Naeve out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters notched a new boat record on May 9th — a 34-pound-4-ounce Snook at Boca Grande — and notes that May is flat-out prime time for the species as fish move toward pre-spawn staging areas. Capt. Chuck Cress of CB's is reporting consistent Redfish action, with multiple upper-slot fish landed and released alongside Trout on a recent outing. Jack Crevalle have flooded Sarasota Bay, per CB's Saltwater Outfitters, schooling near the surface around oyster bars, seawalls, and inlets — early morning topwater poppers and fast-retrieved jigs are the ticket. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) is flagging big Tarpon action across Florida, right on schedule for the late-May migration window building through the region.

May 19

ALL IN Key West reports mutton snappers 'chewing like crazy' around the recent full moon, with yellowtail snappers described as 'practically jumping in the boat' — a clear signal the annual snapper spawn cycle is firing across the reef. On the Gulf side, the same charter logged grouper, cobia, kingfish, and barracuda, reporting the bite 'was bananas.' Sport Fishing Mag confirms May through July is peak blackfin tuna season off South Florida, with fish flooding offshore waters from the Keys to Palm Beach, reachable on live bait, kite rigs, or trolling. Current winds at NOAA buoys SMKF1 (Sombrero Key) and SANF1 (Sand Key) are running 15–16 mph with air temps near 78–81°F. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) is flagging big tarpon action across Florida, right on cue for the May migration. With the waxing crescent moon building toward next month's full moon, we're seeing conditions that should keep both the flats and offshore highly productive in the weeks ahead.

May 19

Water temperatures at NOAA buoy 46026 registered 51°F on May 19, and that chill is working in salmon anglers' favor. Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reports that Half Moon Bay boats have found vastly improved Chinook conditions below Pigeon Point since water temps dropped from 58°F at the April 11 opener down to 54°F — Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady noted the water 'looks different' in the cooler band and called the shift significant. Our buoy readings, running a few degrees colder still, suggest the upwelling push has continued to press north into the SF Bay approaches and the Bodega corridor. Bonito that appeared briefly during the warmer early-season window have since moved off with the temperature drop, per the same Western Outdoor News report. In the Bay proper, striped bass and California halibut are typical late-May targets, though no specific Bay-side field reports were available this cycle — local tackle shops remain your best source for current Bay conditions.

May 19

Water temps checked in at 64°F at both NOAA buoys 46025 and 46221 on May 19, setting the stage for what Western Outdoor News — Saltwater describes as an 'extensive' spread of tuna southwest of San Diego—bluefin, yellowfin, and even a rare albacore already in the mix. The offshore action is running ahead of schedule: WON reporter Merit McCrea notes warm water is pushing fish unusually close, with two- and three-day trips already finding yellowtail and dorado farther south. Inshore, Surf Fishing in So Cal reports May has 'delivered' after a mixed April, with the surf bite coming together across Southern California beaches. Corbina and leopard sharks are the surf headliners as the season finds its rhythm. Conditions look cooperative—light winds of around 4 mph and 2.6-foot swell keep both offshore runs and the surf zone fishable. A waxing crescent moon keeps nights dark, favoring daytime bite windows.

May 19

USGS gauge 04015330 is logging 214 cfs on a North Shore tributary as of May 19, indicating moderate, fishable flows as late-spring runoff gradually tapers. AnglingBuzz recently released a Lake Superior segment covering shallow-water walleye and sturgeon tactics — well-timed given that Minnesota's walleye season is open and post-opener fish have had time to settle into predictable structure along tributary mouths and rocky nearshore reefs. Tactical Bassin identifies Great Lakes smallmouth as firmly in prespawn mode this time of year, schooled on rocky points and shallow gravel flats in clear water — a description that fits the North Shore's cobble-and-granite shoreline precisely. On the Wisconsin side of the same lake, WI DNR is actively managing a growing lake whitefish fishery in Chequamegon Bay, underscoring healthy ecosystem conditions across the broader Lake Superior basin. The waxing crescent moon keeps ambient light low after sunset, which should extend walleye feeding windows into early evening.

May 19

The Ontonagon River (USGS gauge 04059500) was logging 441 cfs as of May 19 — a moderate late-spring flow indicating snowmelt is largely subsiding and UP trout streams are trending toward prime wading conditions. No water temperature data is available from the gauge this week; UP tributaries typically run in the upper 40s to low 50s°F by mid-May, cold enough to keep brook trout feeding actively through afternoon hatch windows. On Lake Superior, WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing has documented sharply growing angling enthusiasm for lake whitefish in the Chequamegon Bay corridor — with the agency hosting a formal management meeting in March 2026 to address the surge — a trend that tracks across the southern Lake Superior basin and carries implications for Michigan UP shoreline anglers. AnglingBuzz recently covered shallow-water Lake Superior tactics centered on walleye and sturgeon, signaling that nearshore action is building. Brook trout remain the UP's signature late-May quarry, with fish expected in pocket water and tailout seams as afternoon caddis activity intensifies.

May 19

Michigan Sea Grant has just launched a new nine-project research initiative that specifically tracks seasonal movements and populations of smallmouth bass in Saginaw Bay — bringing high-trust scientific attention to a species that late-May Great Lakes anglers know well. With USGS gauge 04157000 returning no readings this cycle and no NOAA buoy data available, conditions must be read through angler intel and the calendar rather than hard numbers. On the Michigan Sportsman Forum, a post from Harbor Beach on Lake Huron's Thumb notes two spring coho salmon in hand, with the angler expecting full-blown coho season within a couple of weeks — treat that as encouraging directional chatter, not confirmed charter testimony. Late May is historically prime time on Saginaw Bay, with walleye moving onto post-spawn feeding flats and smallmouth staging toward their own spawn. One urgent safety note: Outdoor Hub reports that three members of the Whitmer family died when their boat capsized on Saginaw Bay. Check wind and wave forecasts, file a float plan, and wear your PFD.

May 19

The WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report flagged the 2024 season as a landmark year — a record 210,000-plus coho and 160,000 Chinook salmon harvested across the lake, the strongest Chinook showing since 2012. That productive stocking class sets the table for 2026 nearshore action. At the Grand River mouth near Grand Haven, USGS gauge 04119000 recorded the river at 3,760 cfs on May 19, a moderate spring flow sustaining a visible baitfish-holding plume without significant sediment load. Smallmouth bass are exiting the spawn; Tactical Bassin notes the bluegill spawn is underway in Great Lakes shallows, drawing post-spawn bass back to aggressive feeding on nearby rocky and sandy structure. Near-pier coho trolling typically strengthens through late May as the lake surface begins to stratify. No local charter or shop intel was available for this specific window — conditions here are grounded in the regional data at hand and seasonal patterns typical for late May on southern Lake Michigan.

May 19

NOAA buoy 45005 logged Lake Erie water temperature at 59°F on May 19 — right in the range where post-spawn walleye in the Western Basin typically shift from recovery to active feeding. The USGS gauge (04193500) in the Sandusky River drainage recorded 2,040 cfs, a moderate spring flow that can push plume-edge turbidity into nearshore zones, historically a walleye ambush lane. Winds around 15 mph at the buoy add a light chop that tends to scatter baitfish and keep walleye active through midday rather than confining the bite strictly to low-light windows. No Western Basin charter or tackle-shop reports surfaced in this cycle's intel feeds, so bite intensity is inferred from environmental readings and mid-May seasonal norms. Fishing the Midwest notes that jigs and slip-sinker live bait rigs remain dependable walleye producers through the post-spawn transition — presentations worth having ready as fish scatter from staging areas and push toward midlake structure.

May 19

Flylords Mag reports that green drakes — the East Coast's most celebrated mayfly emergence — begin appearing from early May through late June, placing Spring Creek and Penns Creek squarely in the opening window. USGS gauge 01546500 recorded 79.6 cfs on the afternoon of May 19, indicating moderate flows suitable for wading most public sections. Water temperature data was unavailable from the gauge; mid-May limestone spring creeks in central PA historically run in the 52–58°F range — ideal for wild brown trout activity. Flylords Mag separately flags that the Mid-Atlantic is currently under severe drought stress, a condition worth monitoring as it could push late-May flows lower than normal. With a waxing crescent moon setting early this week, evening dry-fly windows carry the benefit of low ambient light — historically productive timing for Penns Creek's famously hatch-focused crowds.

May 19

USGS gauge 03036500 logged 15,100 cfs on the Allegheny as of May 19 — elevated flow that reshapes where fish hold across the Pittsburgh-area tailwaters. No water temperature was available from the gauge this cycle. Direct local angler reports for this corridor were absent from this week's intel feeds; the PA Fish & Boat Biologist Reports page returned only site navigation with no current regional writeup. With flows this high, expect smallmouth and sauger to vacate main-channel current seams and compress into wing-dam pockets, eddy lines, and tributary confluences. Tactical Bassin's post-spawn bass coverage this week notes that transitional bass school predictably once you find them — one fish typically signals more nearby. PA Sea Grant flagged an active Round Goby monitoring effort in northwestern PA waterways; anglers are encouraged to report any sightings. A Waxing Crescent moon sets up low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk. Verify conditions before launching.

May 19