Fishing Reports

NOAA buoy 46087 recorded 8.9-foot wave heights on May 19, keeping Pacific-side anglers close to sheltered water or pushing boats into Puget Sound for the time being. Air temps sit in the low 50s°F at both coastal stations; no buoy-reported water temperatures were available this cycle. WA WDFW Fishing Reports monitors statewide conditions, though no specific bite data surfaced in this week's feed. Ecosystem context from WA Sea Grant is encouraging: Pacific tomcod — a key forage species — turned up in Grays Harbor monitoring traps as recently as fall 2025, pointing to a healthy food web heading into the spring season. For Puget Sound anglers, late May is typically prime time for the spring Chinook run, while Pacific coast boats eyeing halibut and lingcod are watching the swell window closely. Light winds at buoy 46041 (4 m/s) suggest conditions may moderate mid-week, opening a brief but worthwhile offshore opportunity.

May 19

Water temps of 59°F at NOAA buoy 44009 anchor a productive stretch for striped bass at the Chesapeake mouth this week. The Virginia DWR Wildlife Blog devoted its latest fishing report to spring striped bass action across Virginia's tidal rivers, noting that rockfish — the local name for stripers — are schooling along channel edges, sandy flats, grass beds, and rocky shorelines throughout the tidal system. The seasonal timing is on point: per OTW Saltwater's May 19 migration update, the spring striper push has extended all the way to Maine, placing the heart of the migration squarely in Mid-Atlantic and Chesapeake waters right now. Winds running around 18 mph per buoy 44009 will raise some chop in exposed areas but shouldn't shut down inshore structure fishing near the bay mouth. Summer flounder and black sea bass round out the menu for anglers looking to target multiple species on a single trip.

May 19

The Virginia DWR Wildlife Blog's spring striped bass report finds rockfish actively schooling along channel edges, sandy flats, and grass beds in Virginia's tidal rivers — a pattern that extends into the lower tidal Potomac. The USGS gauge at Little Falls (01646500) logged 2,160 cfs on May 19, indicating moderate, fishable main-stem flows. No water temperature was available from the gauge. With late May and the waxing crescent moon providing low-light feeding windows, smallmouth bass on the upper Potomac and Shenandoah are wrapping up the spawn and transitioning into post-spawn recovery, staging in rocky current seams and eddies. Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is now in full swing — a reliable trigger for both largemouth and smallmouth stacking near shallow wood and grass. Catfish remain seasonally active in deeper main-stem pools. Check current Virginia DWR size and creel limits before keeping striped bass from tidal reaches.

May 19

The just-concluded Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes delivers a clear verdict on conditions: Chris Johnston won with 113 pounds, 12 ounces over four days — a performance that confirms Santee's largemouth fishery is locked in its most productive post-spawn window of the year, per B.A.S.S. News. Johnston separated himself from the field by leaning on urchin-style presentations, including the Coike bait, when the bite tightened under heavy competition pressure. Across the broader Southeast, the bluegill spawn is in full swing — Tactical Bassin's post-spawn coverage notes bass pushing hard onto shallow cover and responding to frog and topwater presentations near active bream beds. At Lake Murray, USGS gauge 02160390 on the Saluda River shows a moderate 120 cfs inflow, pointing to stable, low-turbidity conditions in the upper lake arms. The waxing crescent moon keeps pre-dawn light minimal, extending the early-morning topwater window on both systems.

May 19

Water temperatures hitting 55°F per NOAA buoy 44097 are finally pushing Narragansett Bay fishing into high gear. The Saltwater Edge Blog (RI) captured the shift around the May new moon: "The bay is loaded with life and the fishing has been fantastic." Striped bass are the headliner — big fish are hammering large baits across the state, with the most consistent action found near bunker schools in the upper bay, per the Saltwater Edge shop report in The Fisherman — Rhode Island. Bluefish made a notable entrance last week: large fish moved in and were spotted tailing on the surface, though they've been picky. Fluke season is opening up — The Fisherman — Rhode Island's Frances Fleet report logged a steady pick of keepers Saturday morning before afternoon winds shut things down, and The Fisherman (Northeast) confirmed Rhode Island is seeing its first real fluke action of 2026. Tautog remain a reliable secondary target, and weakfish are making early appearances. The bay is waking up fast.

May 19

USGS gauge 01540500 logged 68°F and 14,800 cfs on the Susquehanna on May 19 — water temps squarely in the post-spawn transition window for smallmouth bass. Males that spent the past week guarding nests are beginning to push off beds and resume feeding, and the timing aligns with what Tactical Bassin is reporting regionally: the bluegill spawn is currently in full swing, a proven trigger that draws bass into shallow cover and makes topwater and frog presentations highly productive. Flow at 14,800 cfs is near seasonal norms for this stretch, keeping most ramps accessible and concentrating fish in classic eddy pockets and seam water behind mid-river boulders. On the Allegheny side, PA Sea Grant's December 2025 engagement sessions in Northwestern PA flagged the expanding Round Goby presence as a factor reshaping prey dynamics for walleye and bass in that watershed. Specific charter or tackle-shop reports were not available in this data cycle; this report leans on gauge readings, regional blogs, and seasonal context.

May 19

NOAA buoy 46029 at the Columbia River bar is reading 55°F surface water this afternoon — squarely in range for Oregon's spring salmon and bottom-fish grounds — while buoy 46002 offshore confirms 56°F. Both stations show moderate northwest winds of 5–6 m/s, though the nearshore zone is markedly calmer: buoy 46050 is logging just 2 m/s, signaling workable windows for coastal charter runs. Direct angler intel for Oregon's coast is limited this reporting cycle. The closest comparable Pacific signal comes from Western Outdoor News — Saltwater, where a Half Moon Bay captain describes a 54°F water column that 'makes a huge difference on the water' for spring salmon — conditions nearly identical to what our buoys are showing here. With a waxing crescent moon overhead and temperatures well-placed for late-May salmon, spring Chinook near offshore structure and river-mouth upwellings should be the primary focus. Bottom anglers should look to halibut and rockfish as seasons allow — verify current regulations with Oregon ODFW before harvesting.

May 19

Red drum have made a strong push onto the Outer Banks surf — Ryan of Hatteras Jack reports good numbers moving along the Hatteras and Ocracoke beachfronts as of mid-May, with the bite firmly active across the stretch (Fisherman's Post — Carolinas saltwater). Water temperatures are running notably warm: NOAA buoy 41025 logged 80°F on May 19, with buoy 41013 confirming 76°F farther down the coast. Bull red drum are also showing around Cape Lookout shoals, where Steve of Chasin' Tails reports good-sized bluefish alongside the drum, per Fisherman's Post (NC). Slot-sized reds are pushing through the Pamlico/Neuse corridor as well — Donald of Custom Marine Fabrication notes the bite stretching across the whole Neuse. Surf anglers around Swansboro and Emerald Isle are picking up sea mullet, black drum, and early pompano per Fisherman's Post (NC). Offshore, expanded 2026 red snapper EFP seasons give NC anglers a longer summer window, per Sport Fishing Mag.

May 19

Troy Watson of Mount Airy, N.C. put together a winning 20-pound, 6-ounce limit on High Rock Lake this month by working an early-morning shad spawn bite, per MLF News — a regional signal that the same transitional feeding patterns are likely playing out across the broader Catawba and Roanoke systems. USGS gauge 02142900 logged a very lean 6.21 cfs on May 19, pointing to low, clear tributary flows in the Catawba drainage that typically push bass toward shaded structure and reward finesse presentations. No temperature reading was available from this gauge. Tactical Bassin's blog reports the bluegill spawn is in full swing, and bass in NC Piedmont impoundments are keying on shallow beds with topwater and frog presentations producing strikes from big fish. On the Roanoke system, late May traditionally closes out the spring striper push, with fish beginning to drop back from staging areas into the deeper, cooler water of Kerr Reservoir and Lake Gaston. Check current state regulations before targeting striped bass.

May 19

Water temps of 56–57°F logged at NOAA buoys 44065 and 44091 mark a textbook mid-May Jersey Shore window, and the striped bass fishery is as hot as it gets. Blue Chip Sportfishing calls it "the best Striper Fishing possible" right now, and Fishermans HQ LBI confirms the LBI surf is alive from north to south end — fresh clam leading the charge, with lures and frozen bunker also connecting. Along the Seaside Park stretch, Grumpys Tackle (NJ) reports some holes holding six to ten fish per tide on clam, while The Fisherman — Southern NJ places stripers spread from Cape May to Atlantic City eating clams, bunker, soft plastics, glide baits, and live eels. Black drum have joined the surf mix statewide, with 15- to 30-pound fish gobbling fresh clam per The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf. Black sea bass season opened May 15 but northern party boats are reporting a slow start — cold inshore water at wreck sites is the culprit, with captains across the board hoping a warming trend ahead of Memorial Day flips the switch.

May 19

Old School Outdoors in Ewing reports solid striped bass action on the tidal Delaware from the Trenton area north to Lambertville, with fish biting through the tidal water to the south as well — and that bite should hold into early June. American shad remain catchable on the river, but The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater notes June traditionally closes the shad run, so the window is narrowing fast. On the Pine Barrens side, JB Kasper calls pickerel in the cedar waters "still good" heading into the back half of May. Largemouth bass are staged on spawning beds across ponds and lakes, with crappie having been consistent all month per Dow's Boat Rentals. The USGS gauge 01408000 recorded 24.9 cfs at midday May 19 — low and falling — reflecting the dry stretch Tackle World flags as a concern heading into June.

May 19

Nebraska Game & Parks is reporting a road closure and active detour on the route to Kramper Lake and Danish Alps SRA, expected to remain in place for several more weeks — factor that into your pre-trip planning. On the water, mid-May marks a classic late-spring transition across the Platte and Missouri drainages: crappie are deep into their spawn, channel catfish are ramping toward their seasonal peak, and bass are pushing through post-spawn recovery into summer feeding patterns. Wired 2 Fish reports an outstanding crappie season underway at Tuttle Creek Reservoir in northeast Kansas — the closest comparable regional fishery — with fish stacking on structure in 6–10 feet when water levels cooperate. Fishing the Midwest notes that shallow-flat approaches and live-bait rigs are producing consistently across upper Midwest freshwater systems this spring. The USGS gauge at site 06796000 shows the Platte running at 3,160 cfs — a moderate spring pulse that pushes fish toward channel edges and protected backwaters over open current.

May 19

Striped bass are the talk of Cape Cod Bay. With water temps running 55–58°F across nearby NOAA buoys 44013 and 44020, conditions are firmly in the striper zone, and the fish are responding. The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands reports that stripers — along with a few spotty bluefish schools — made "impressive appearances" along the Cape Cod Bay shoreline this week, while the Canal has been delivering for regulars at both ends. Red Top Sporting Goods (via The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands) noted bass schools working bait across much of Buzzards Bay, with mackerel beginning to show in the Canal's east end. The Fisherman (Northeast) characterizes the region-wide picture as a "supercharged spring striper run," with fish averaging upper-teens to 20 pounds and some 40-class fish trickling in. Tautog remain active on structure, and scup have been stacking up for party-boat anglers across the Bay.

May 19

Water temps registering 52°F near Portland (NOAA buoy 44007) and a colder 45°F in the offshore Gulf (NOAA buoy 44027) define a classic Maine May. OTW Saltwater's May 15 striper migration map confirmed that migratory stripers have reached Maine, and The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME corroborates: "striper action has now stretched all the way to southern Maine," with 30-inch-class fish confirmed at least to the Saco River and 40-inch-class fish pushing through the Merrimack corridor. Surfland Bait & Tackle, per that source, reports the season "in full swing" — with the herring run still very much on, herring imitations are the prime bet. Belsan's Bait and Tackle adds that mackerel are "close to shore and biting well," which should concentrate stripers around nearshore structure. Beauport Fishing Adventures, also per The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME, is reporting limit haddock catches on recent trips and calling it some of the best groundfishing in years.

May 19

The USGS gauge on the Kennebec (site 01046500) recorded 7,190 cfs on May 19 — elevated spring snowmelt flows still pushing through the system, with no water temperature captured in this pass. High flows tend to scatter fish from main-channel structure and concentrate them in eddy pockets, below tributary mouths, and in slack-water margins behind boulders and ledge outcrops. Direct on-the-ground reports for the Kennebec and Penobscot drainages are sparse in current feeds, but The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME confirms the region-wide spring run is now in full force, with stripers advancing as far north as the Saco River — a timing signal that cold-water species including landlocked Atlantic salmon, brook trout, and brown trout are at or near their prime late-spring feeding window before summer heat sets in. Smallmouth bass are likely still in pre-spawn staging given the cool, high-water conditions typical for this stage of the season.

May 19

Red snapper season is delivering early results on the Louisiana Gulf: Louisiana Sportsman reports 8,307 pounds landed in the first three days of the 2026 opener — a healthy start for offshore anglers targeting Gulf structure. NOAA buoy 42001 puts water temperature at 81°F with 4.6-foot seas, while buoy 42067 shows 3.6-foot wave heights closer to the coast; winds are running 11–13 mph across both stations, making offshore runs feasible in calm morning windows. Inshore, Coastal Angler Magazine singles out May as 'the most underrated window of the year' for trophy speckled trout, with larger fish still accessible in back-bay and grass-edge habitat before summer heat displaces them. The same source identifies May as prime time for gag and scamp grouper, noting that any hard structure holding cigar minnows and sardines is worth the run. Delta redfish remain a consistent inshore option throughout. Tonight's waxing crescent moon produces modest tidal pull — favor the first two hours of outgoing tide on marsh flats.

May 19

Water temperature sits at 72°F with flow running 470,000 cfs per USGS gauge 07374000 — a robust spring pulse that's reorganizing fish throughout the Mississippi-Atchafalaya corridor. At these volumes, main-channel bank fishing loses its edge; the bite has shifted to current seams at tributary mouths, eddy pockets, and the flooded timber and cypress stands of the Atchafalaya Basin. Blue and channel catfish are the prime targets, actively working current breaks where baitfish pool. Largemouth bass are in post-spawn transition at 72°F — look for them pushing into flooded vegetation edges and shallow cover; Tactical Bassin notes that the bluegill spawn is in full swing nationally at similar temperatures, a reliable trigger for big bass on topwater frogs and heavy-cover presentations. Louisiana Sportsman reports an active 2026 red snapper opener with 8,307 lbs landed in the first three days, signaling strong statewide angling momentum heading into the Memorial Day weekend. No specific Atchafalaya charter or shop intel is available in this cycle's feed.

May 19

USGS gauge 06892350 logged 71°F water on the morning of May 19 — a temperature that puts Kansas crappie, bass, and channel catfish squarely in play. Wired 2 Fish reports that Tuttle Creek Reservoir in northeast Kansas is delivering a standout crappie spawn this May: the 12,000-acre lake is well known for trophy-sized slabs, but spring flooding typically shuts down ramp access during peak spawn. This year's more cooperative conditions have kept boat ramps open and bank fishing accessible, and crappie fishermen are being rewarded for their patience. Largemouth bass are in the post-spawn transition across the region — Tactical Bassin notes that the bluegill spawn is now pulling big fish into shallow, heavy cover, with topwater frogs drawing strikes. River flows at 3,450 cfs are running at a workable stage for wading or bank fishing the main Kansas channels. Confirm local ramp conditions before launching.

May 19

Wabash River gauge 03335500 recorded 4,270 cfs on May 19 — a solid, fishable spring flow keeping current-seam walleye and channel catfish within reach. No water temperature was logged at the gauge, but late May across the Midwest typically pushes river temps toward the low 60s°F. The big story right now is the bluegill spawn: Tactical Bassin reports it is "in full swing," driving both largemouth and smallmouth bass into heavy cover and onto topwater patterns. Matt at Tactical Bassin opens sessions with a frog over heavy cover before transitioning to topwater walking baits — a playbook that translates directly to the Wabash's oxbow shallows and reed banks. Fishing the Midwest highlights this as prime time for shallow-water casting sessions, noting fish across multiple species tend to be accessible and cooperative. On Lake Michigan's Indiana shoreline, the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant notes spring is nearshore buoy-deployment season, though no real-time buoy data reached our feed this week; verify lakefront conditions locally before heading out.

May 19

The USGS gauge at site 05586100 is recording 26,100 cfs on the Illinois River as of May 19 — elevated flows pushing most fishing action out of the main channel and into backwater sloughs, tributary mouths, and slack eddies. On Lake Michigan's nearshore, Tactical Bassin (blog) spotlights the Great Lakes smallmouth fishery as a standout opportunity right now, recommending swimbaits and finesse presentations in clearer lake water as fish move through the post-spawn transition period. The same source reports the bluegill spawn is "in full swing," a reliable trigger that pulls largemouth into shallow heavy cover and puts them on topwater — frog and hollow-body presentations are producing. Fishing the Midwest notes that spinning gear paired with jigs and slip-sinker live-bait rigs remains the go-to combination for walleyes as spring shifts toward early summer across Midwest river systems. A waxing crescent moon keeps low-light feeding windows productive at dawn and dusk across both systems.

May 19

USGS gauge 13340000 recorded 16,400 cfs and 47°F on the Snake River early this morning — elevated, cold flows that mark peak snowmelt season in the Idaho high country. Fish are stacked in slower seams, eddies, and protected bank structure where they don't have to battle the main current. Spring Chinook are working their way up the Salmon River corridor in the signature May migration for this drainage; cold, high water tends to scatter holding fish, so focusing on deep, slack-water pockets pays off. On the trout side, Caddis Fly (OR) highlights the salmonfly nymph as a defining late-spring pattern across Pacific Northwest river systems — Idaho's Snake and Salmon drainages are classic salmonfly water, and with the right warming trend, the big stonefly hatch could ignite before the month is out. Smallmouth bass in the lower Snake will remain sluggish until water climbs into the mid-50s. Check state regulations before targeting spring Chinook, as river-specific gear rules apply.

May 19

NOAA buoy 51004 logged 79°F water off the Hawaiian Islands on May 19—temperatures that sit squarely in the comfort zone for open-ocean pelagics—while buoy 51001 returned 76°F to the northwest. Hawaii Fishing News, the state's official catch record-keeper, underscores that moon and tide windows are the primary planning tool for serious island anglers; the current waxing crescent moon places us in an early-building lunar phase. No specific captain or charter reports are available in today's feeds, so conditions here are drawn from buoy data and established seasonal patterns. Water in the 76–79°F range is right on schedule for late May, when blue marlin, yellowfin tuna (ahi), mahi-mahi (dorado), and wahoo (ono) are all seasonally present in blue water. Trolling spreads—both surface and subsurface—are the standard offshore approach. Trade winds at 7–10 m/s across reporting buoys suggest that lee-side departure windows from south and west shores will offer the calmest conditions for reaching offshore grounds this week.

May 19

A 12-pound tripletail caught by Joe Thompson and his father—featured in GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News' May 10 Southern Waters Fishing Report—signals Georgia's nearshore season is fully underway. Contributor Joshua Barber notes that warming temperatures are pushing fish into deeper water, a transition that will accelerate through late May. NOAA buoy 41008 recorded light winds near 3 m/s and air temperatures around 76°F mid-week, pointing to calm coastal conditions, though no surface water temperature was available from that station. The regulatory landscape brightened this spring: per Sport Fishing Mag and Saltwater Sportsman, federally approved exempted fishing permits will deliver significantly expanded 2026 Atlantic red snapper access for Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Florida. Meanwhile, Coastal Angler Magazine flags May as an underrated window for trophy speckled trout before summer heat fully arrives, and the same source points to nearshore structure loaded with cigar minnows and sardines as reliable territory for gag grouper and scamp.

May 19

Georgia Wildlife Blog's May 15 report calls this 'another great week of fishing' across Georgia, and conditions across the Chattahoochee and Savannah drainages back that up. The Savannah River (USGS gauge 02197000) is running at 4,660 cfs — a manageable, falling level after rains that, per GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News, helped knock down wildfires and recharge rivers and lakes across the state. Bass are the headliner: a 10-year-old angler landed an 8 lb 11 oz largemouth from Morgan County on a spinnerbait during post-rain conditions in late April, per Georgia Wildlife Blog — a clear signal of how strong the big-fish bite has been this spring. With the bluegill spawn now in full swing, topwater frogs and shallow heavy-cover presentations are the move, a pattern reinforced by Tactical Bassin (blog). Crappie remain on structure in 3–8 feet around brush piles and fallen timber per Georgia Wildlife Blog's April 17 report, though hot weather arriving this week will push fish deeper quickly.

May 19