Fishing Reports

Field & Stream's report of a new Florida state-record blue catfish — 73.6 pounds taken on a live hand-sized bream — signals that the state's freshwater systems are producing exceptional fish this season. On the St. Johns, USGS gauge 02232000 recorded a flow of 189 cfs on May 19, a low-moderate stage consistent with the tail end of the dry season. The bluegill spawn is in full swing across Southern freshwater fisheries, per Tactical Bassin, and that bed activity is drawing big largemouth into predictable shallow ambush zones. Post-spawn bass on both Lake Okeechobee and the St. Johns are transitioning toward early-summer patterns — expect fish holding tight to lily pad edges, hydrilla mats, and dock structure. Topwater frogs and punching rigs are the go-to presentations in heavy cover right now, and the waxing crescent moon will reinforce low-light feeding flurries through dawn and dusk windows this week.

May 19

Snook Nook's May 2026 report out of Stuart calls this 'one of the best months of the year' for inshore fishing on the Treasure Coast, with snook heating up ahead of their spawn in the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers — slot and over-slot fish showing with increasing regularity as bait grows more abundant. Offshore, Sport Fishing Mag reports blackfin tuna flooding South Florida's Atlantic waters from the Keys to Palm Beach, rating May through July as the prime season; fish are responding to live bait, kite rigs, trolling, and anchoring over wrecks. Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider Fishing Report confirms big tarpon action rolling statewide, squarely on schedule for the late-May migration window. Coastal Angler Magazine notes May as an underrated month for trophy speckled trout along Florida's inshore waters. Adding to the region's momentum, CCA Florida and Saltwater Sportsman report federal approval of expanded red snapper Exempted Fishing Permits for the South Atlantic, opening a significantly longer 2026 recreational season for Florida anglers.

May 19

Water temps registering 79°F at NOAA buoy 42036 have Florida's Gulf Coast in peak late-spring form. Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports the tarpon migration is "fully underway," with captains intercepting fish on the move and jumping quality silver kings through morning sessions. The same fleet pairs afternoons on sight-fishing large permit, calling the two-species combination "spectacular." Kingfish on plugs and flies, cobia, and amberjacks are rounding out offshore spreads. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) corroborates the tarpon picture with reports of big tarpon action across the state. Inshore, Coastal Angler Magazine flags May as one of the most underrated windows of the year for trophy speckled trout — a species getting overlooked while pressure shifts offshore. Seas are running 3 feet with winds near 11 mph per NOAA buoys 42036 and 42039, keeping conditions manageable for most offshore departures.

May 19

The May new moon delivered a surge of striped bass action across Long Island Sound, with shops and charter captains throughout Connecticut reporting one of the best bites of the season. Per The Fisherman — Connecticut, Aaron Swanson described a 'major influx of bait' as the tinder that ignited already-excellent striper action, with fish feeding on squid, bunker, mackerel, herring, silversides, and rain bait across every type of structure. Fisherman's World kept it brief: 'bass, bass, bass.' Offshore buoys NOAA 44025 and 44065 both show 56°F sea-surface temperatures, with nearshore water reportedly variable — Captain Morgan's Bait and Tackle noted temps 'bouncing around' as the season transitions. Bobby J's confirmed the inshore bite is currently outpacing deep-water fishing, though outgoing tides remain the key window for reef action. Rock and Roll Charters just launched their charter season this weekend, with Captain TJ Karbowski eager to start bending rods.

May 19

Water temps dipped to 53°F at NOAA buoy 46042 off Monterey — a four-degree drop from the 58°F recorded at the start of salmon season in mid-April. According to Western Outdoor News — Saltwater, Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady working out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing reported "vastly improved salmon conditions below Pigeon Point" and credited exactly this temperature break for the turnaround. The cooler water sent the bonito packing ("the bonita took a hike," Davis said), but it also signals that the bait-and-troll salmon bite should tighten along the mid-coast shelf. NOAA buoy 46028, positioned further south off Cape San Martin, showed a slightly warmer 59°F — suggesting a temperature gradient that may be concentrating fish along the thermal break. Seas are running 6–8.5 feet across the monitoring network, rough enough to keep smaller vessels in harbor, but the underlying fishing picture is trending positive for boats that can get out.

May 19

The USGS gauge at site 09380000 recorded 52°F water and 7,150 cfs on the morning of May 19 — a temperature that puts Colorado River tailwater trout firmly in their optimal feeding range below Glen Canyon Dam. No Arizona-specific catch reports appeared in this week's angler-intel feeds, so conditions here reflect the gauge data and typical mid-May behavior for this system. At that flow and temperature, rainbow trout should be working near-bank seams and the softer edges of current breaks. On the Salt River chain of lakes, bass have moved through the spawn and are entering the post-spawn scatter phase — a transition Tactical Bassin's current coverage describes as a window when fish school up in mid-depth transition zones and respond well to swimbaits and finesse presentations. Waxing Crescent moon nights add a low-light feeding window worth timing on both systems this week.

May 19

Water temperatures of 41–43°F recorded across NOAA buoys 46001, 46066, and 46080 on May 19 place Gulf of Alaska nearshore conditions squarely in the range that typically triggers the region's late-spring fishery transition. AK Sea Grant's recent ComFish coverage out of Kodiak confirms the local fishing community is actively mobilizing for the season, with commercial fleets underway and sport operators ramping up. No charter or tackle-shop reports landed in this data cycle to confirm specific recreational bite activity, so treat species observations below as seasonally grounded rather than trip-verified. With that caveat noted: mid-May is traditionally when Pacific halibut feeding picks up on the outer shelf, early king salmon begin staging near river mouths and nearshore drop-offs, and lingcod hold aggressively on structure well offshore. Wind readings of 2–7 m/s across monitoring stations suggest generally fishable offshore conditions. Always verify current IPHC halibut allocations and Alaska sport-fishing regulations before heading out.

May 19

USGS gauge 15266300 on the Kenai River recorded 43°F water and 2,830 cfs at 8 a.m. on May 19 — a spring-runoff pulse consistent with peak snowmelt in southcentral Alaska. This week's angler-intel feeds carried no direct reports from Kenai guide operations or interior river sources, so specific bite conditions below are based on seasonal patterns and gauge data rather than on-the-ground testimony. That said, mid-May marks the traditional opening window for the Kenai's first king salmon run, and 43°F water sits squarely in the productive range for Alaska's spring fisheries. Rainbow trout typically stack in slack-water seams and back-eddies during high runoff, while arctic grayling on interior drainages feed actively as ice-out advances. AK Sea Grant's recent coverage of ComFish in Kodiak underscores that Alaska's commercial and sport fishing seasons are fully in motion statewide. Check current regulations and emergency orders before heading out — king salmon retention limits and opener dates on the Kenai shift quickly at this stage of the run.

May 19

USGS gauge 05133500 logged the Rainy River at 25,000 cfs and 48°F at 7:30 a.m. this morning — elevated spring runoff and cold water that is par for the course on this border-lake system in mid-May. No charter captains or tackle shops specific to Lake of the Woods filed reports in this week's feeds, but 48°F sits squarely in walleye post-spawn transition range. Jason Mitchell Outdoors (YT) this week covers shallow-water walleye trolling and power-corking with forward-facing sonar — tactics that translate directly to the lake's rock shoals and emerging weed edges as fish scatter off spawning grounds. AnglingBuzz (YT) pairs that signal with big-water walleye strategy from guide Jason Freed working comparable open-water systems. Fishing the Midwest's spring shallow-water piece reinforces slow, simple presentations on post-spawn flats as the consistent play right now across the upper-Midwest walleye belt — a pattern that fits Lake of the Woods' expansive south bays. Northern pike, sauger in the Rainy River corridor, and yellow perch round out the spring slate.

May 19

The USGS gauge for this drainage is reading 42°F and 6,280 cfs — classic mid-May runoff conditions on the Yellowstone and Snake systems. Water this cold and high pushes cutthroat trout off main-channel holds and into slower seams, side channels, and boulder-shielded pockets where nymphs drifted close to structure produce best. Hatch Magazine's piece on caddis emergences — which draws on John Juracek's 'Fishing Yellowstone Hatches' — underscores caddis as one of the defining spring hatch events on these drainages, with afternoon windows worth watching for surface activity as temps tick upward through the day. Flylab's John Juracek notes that midges rank consistently at the top of trout food preferences regardless of what else is emerging, making small midge patterns a reliable all-day fallback. Wading is hazardous at current flows; bank approaches and drift boats are the safer call on larger water.

May 19

USGS gauge 02334430 on the Chattahoochee below Buford Dam logged 48°F at 660 cfs on May 19 — cold tailwater from Lanier's deep releases, while reservoir surface temps run considerably warmer heading into Georgia's heat season. GA Sportsman contributor Joshua Barber warned in his May 10 report that hot weather was arriving and bass would "start to move into deeper water," a transition now fully underway on both lakes. The Georgia Wildlife Blog's mid-April fishing report documented crappie staging in 3–8 feet around brush piles and docks during the spawn; by mid-May that bite has shifted post-spawn toward deeper structure. Per Tactical Bassin, the bluegill spawn is the dominant trigger right now — bass are keying on heavy cover with topwater frogs drawing explosive strikes in shallow mats and laydowns. Work those shallow edges at first light before the heat pushes fish down.

May 19

USGS gauge 03512000 clocked 63°F and 181 cfs on the morning of May 19 — a near-ideal pairing for Western NC trout. At this temperature, rainbows, browns, and native brookies are feeding freely rather than heat-stressed, and the moderate flow keeps wading practical on most Smokies freestone runs. Flylords Mag's recent drought advisory flags the Southeast as a region to watch for falling flows, but today's readings remain healthy for mid-May. Hatch Magazine's caddis emergence coverage is well-timed: late May on Blue Ridge freestones is exactly when Brachycentrus caddis, early sulphurs, and Light Cahills begin their afternoon lifts. Gink and Gasoline notes that warm weather typically accelerates these hatches, with sulphurs and Light Cahills coming on in late April through May. MidCurrent recommends having patterns ready from the surface film to open water as hatches fire. The waxing crescent moon and long May days favor morning nymphing and late-afternoon dry-fly windows — this is one of the best stretches of the year for trout across the Smokies.

May 19

Water temperatures are sitting at 59°F off the Virginia coast per NOAA buoy 44014, putting Chincoteague squarely in late-spring striper territory. Virginia DWR's spring striped bass fishing report highlights rockfish schooling along channel edges, sandy flats, and grass beds throughout the state's coastal zone — conditions that map directly onto the barrier island waters and back-bay channels around Chincoteague Inlet. Per On The Water's May 15 striper migration map, the northbound push has now extended all the way into Maine, meaning the main migration wave has advanced, but resident and post-spawn fish remain accessible along the Eastern Shore. OTW Saltwater noted 50-pound-class stripers stationed along the mid-Atlantic coast as recently as May 12. The waxing crescent moon is producing modest tidal swings right now — plan around the incoming tide transitions at dawn and dusk, working rip lines and bait concentrations where current funnels through the inlets.

May 19

Water temps at NOAA buoy 44065 hit 55°F on May 19 — a meaningful rise from the 46–48°F readings that stalled sea bass bottom fishing earlier this month. The real headline is striped bass: The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf reports an angler at Sandy Hook tip landing a 'super slam' of bass, bluefish, fluke, black drum, and blackfish on a bobber-rigged live killie, while Bug Light has been yielding bass to 30 pounds on metal lip swimmers and Jersey Jellies. Blue Chip Sportfishing calls recent striper trips 'the best striper fishing possible.' The Raritan Bay striper bite has eased per OTW Northern New Jersey (May 14), with fish transitioning to the beaches. On the bottom, Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands NJ and a string of party-boat captains via The Fisherman — Northern NJ report sea bass as scarce — ling are dominating the boxes while water temps finish their climb.

May 19

NOAA buoy 44009 is reading 59°F today, and the Delaware Bay (NJ side) is delivering some of the season's best inshore action. The Fisherman — Southern NJ reports Big Dave's Tackle calling fishing "firing on all cylinders," with oversize striped bass running 36 to 46 inches eating bloodworm, bloodworm ball, and clam rigs from bayfront beaches — a pattern echoed by Higbee's Bait and Tackle at Fortescue, where notably large fish have been the story all week. Black drum have joined the party, with Dockside Café and Marina customers landing fish to 15 pounds on clam baits. On the downside, Anthony Califano (via The Fisherman — Southern NJ) reports that persistent winds and cooler bay temps have kept flounder fishing frustratingly slow, and the newly opened black sea bass season has been sluggish at nearshore structure. The Fisherman (Northeast) confirms sea bass opened May 15; a warming trend heading into Memorial Day weekend should improve conditions on multiple fronts.

May 19

Water temps of 53–56°F — recorded this morning at NOAA buoys 44085 and 44020 — are hosting one of the strongest spring striper runs the bay has seen in recent years. Capt. Carl of Westport River Outfitters reports stripers from schoolies to the high-30-inch class actively working Buzzards Bay, with topwater action pulling fish from Fairhaven to the Canal's west end and jumbo scup sharing the same grounds. Red Top Sporting Goods describes bass schools "working bait almost all over Buzzards Bay," bluefish surfacing off Mattapoisett and Wareham, and mackerel beginning to show in the Canal's east end. Charley Soares, writing for The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands, confirms bluefish are making spotty appearances alongside stripers along the Cape Cod Bay shoreline. Tautog action remains strong on structure, though bait supply may tighten, and legal-sized black sea bass are showing up for patient boat anglers. The Fisherman (Northeast) characterizes the broader New England striper run as "supercharged."

May 19

USGS gauge 14105700 recorded 153,000 cfs and 58°F on the Columbia River at The Dalles early this morning — readings that land squarely in the productive range for Oregon's spring Chinook season. May historically marks the peak of the springer migration on the mainstem, with fish moving through deep-water holding lies on their way to upper-basin spawning grounds. At 58°F, the water temperature is near the sweet spot for active spring Chinook, which typically bite best between roughly 45–65°F. This week's angler-intel feeds carried no specific Columbia River catch reports, so we're drawing on gauge data and seasonal patterns rather than direct on-water testimony — confirm the current bite through state fishing reports before heading out. Sturgeon anglers working the mainstem should note that 153,000 cfs represents elevated but manageable spring runoff; heavier presentations anchored close to channel structure will help keep bait in the strike zone.

May 19

USGS gauge 12041200 recorded 958 cfs and gauge 12035000 logged 715 cfs on the morning of May 19 — moderate, snowmelt-elevated flows consistent with typical late-spring conditions on Olympic Peninsula salmon rivers. Direct angler reports for this system are absent from this week's intel feeds; WA WDFW Fishing Reports confirms statewide creel monitoring operations but did not publish a targeted Olympic Peninsula update in this cycle. Without current on-the-water testimony, the conditions assessment below is grounded in flow data and established late-May seasonal patterns for Washington's coastal salmon drainages. Spring Chinook are the primary target at this time of year, with fish holding in deeper mainstem pools and moving opportunistically on flow changes. Steelhead runs are winding down on most Olympic drainages by mid-May. The waxing crescent moon favors low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk. Verify current WDFW gear and retention rules before heading out — regulations vary by river and update as in-season run forecasts are revised.

May 19

The USGS Colorado River gauge below Lake Travis (site 08158000) recorded 331 cfs early this morning — a stable baseline pointing to manageable inflows across the Highland Lakes chain. Direct angler reports from Lakes Travis, LBJ, and Buchanan are limited in this week's intel feeds, but the seasonal calendar is unambiguous: May's bluegill spawn is the dominant driver right now, pulling predators into the shallows. Tactical Bassin's blog notes the bluegill spawn is "in full swing," with large bass responding aggressively to topwater frogs and heavy-cover presentations — a trigger pattern that applies directly to the rocky limestone shorelines and dock edges of the Colorado River impoundments. LakeForkGuy reports "the most aggressive crappie bite of the year" in the post-spawn window, a trend that historically mirrors what Texas impoundments produce through mid-May. Lone Star Outdoor News — Fishing notes 2026 is shaping up as a record year for Texas anglers overall. Today's Waxing Crescent moon favors low-light morning sessions.

May 19

Cooler coastal water is improving salmon prospects along the NorCal coast this week. Per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater, Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing reports water temps have dropped to 54°F — down four degrees from the 58°F reading at the April 11 season opener — a change he says 'makes a huge difference on the water,' with salmon conditions now 'vastly improved' south of Pigeon Point. The bonita that favored warmer water have cleared out, making way for the target species. Offshore, NOAA buoys 46026 and 46013 are registering significant wave heights of 7.5 and 8.2 feet respectively, with winds reaching 7 m/s at buoy 46013 — a reminder that coastal bar crossings at Bodega and the Golden Gate require careful timing. No buoy water temperature data was available today. Anglers planning an offshore run should consult current bar reports and local charter updates before heading out.

May 19

The WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing program spotlights a 'popular fishery' for lake whitefish in Chequamegon Bay that has grown in recent years, pursued both through the ice and from a boat — a trend that likely extends across the Lake Superior shoreline into Michigan's Upper Peninsula. On the stream side, USGS gauge 04059500 on the Ontonagon River recorded 424 cfs this morning, a moderate spring flow that keeps UP tributary streams in fishable shape without the blow-out levels seen earlier in spring. No water temperature data was available from the gauge. AnglingBuzz recently released content covering Lake Superior tactics, pairing shallow-water walleye and sturgeon as featured pursuits. For the smallmouth angler, Tactical Bassin highlights that Great Lakes clear-water conditions reward downsized, forage-matching presentations over the rocky Superior shoreline. The MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report was unavailable at time of publication; conditions here draw on the sources above and seasonal context for mid-May in the UP.

May 19

Water at NOAA Buoy 45005 registered 58°F on May 19 — right at the trigger zone for smallmouth bass staging ahead of their spawn on Lake Erie. With mild air temps around 62°F and a waxing crescent moon, conditions near Presque Isle are aligning for one of spring's best pre-spawn windows. Tactical Bassin notes that during the pre-spawn phase in clear Great Lakes environments, smallmouth school tightly and respond well to baits that cover water quickly. Walleye and yellow perch remain seasonally active across the open lake. Tributary flows at USGS gauge 04213000 are running a moderate 150 cfs — fishable conditions for any lingering steelhead still in area streams, though late May typically marks the tail end of that run in Pennsylvania. No specific on-water bite reports from PA Fish & Boat Biologist Reports were available this cycle; species outlook reflects seasonal norms at current temperature and moon phase.

May 19

Water temperature at USGS gauge 14113000 registered 52°F at 1,170 cfs on the morning of May 19 — conditions broadly favorable for spring Chinook salmon activity in Columbia-system tributaries. At this temperature, Chinook are typically mobile and responsive, placing the river squarely in the productive mid-spring window. WA WDFW Fishing Reports monitors fishing activity statewide through on-site creel interviews and publishes regular stocking updates; anglers should consult those reports directly for the latest species-by-species counts and access notes on individual drainages. Steelhead action typically tapers as May progresses, though colder, higher-elevation tributaries may still hold late-run fish at these flows. On Puget Sound rivers, 52°F is well within the comfort range for sea-run cutthroat and resident trout. Smallmouth bass along the mid-Columbia main stem are likely transitioning toward pre-spawn staging behavior typical of late May — water this cool still favors slower, bottom-oriented presentations near structure over aggressive reaction baits.

May 19

Water temperature at NOAA buoy 41004 hit 76°F on May 19, putting inshore and nearshore species squarely in prime feeding range for Charleston Harbor. The headline for South Carolina offshore anglers: both Sport Fishing Mag and Saltwater Sportsman report that federally approved exempted fishing permit (EFP) pilot programs have unlocked a greatly expanded red snapper season across the South Atlantic — including SC — for 2026. Closer to the beach, Fisherman's Post — Carolinas saltwater reports red drum making a strong push onto Carolina beaches to the north, with Atlantic bonito producing excellent action out to the five-mile range at Wrightsville Beach — a coastal trend that typically runs south along the broader Carolina shoreline as the season matures. Sheepshead are in-season on structure throughout the region. Light winds and mild air temps round out a favorable window to be on the water this week.

May 19