Fishing Reports

Schools of bull red drum are working Cape Lookout shoals in force this week. Steve at Chasin' Tails (Morehead/Atlantic Beach) reports action on bull reds around the shoals alongside plenty of good-sized bluefish, while Donald of Custom Marine Fabrication says the red drum bite is covering nearly the entire Neuse River — slot fish throughout, per Fisherman's Post (NC). Up at Hatteras, Ryan of Hatteras Jack reports the surf has come alive with red drum making a strong push onto the beaches. Nearshore, the Atlantic bonito run is delivering — Tex of Tex's Tackle (Wrightsville Beach) calls it excellent from the Liberty Ship out to the 5-mile range. Surf anglers from Swansboro south are also picking up sea mullet, black drum, and early pompano, per Morgan of The Reel Outdoors. Air temps are running near 78°F with light winds around 7 mph, per NOAA buoy 41037.

May 18

Water at NOAA buoy 44014 registered 61°F on May 18 — a temperature that puts Chincoteague-area coastal stripers squarely in their spring feeding window. Virginia DWR's spring striped bass report confirms rockfish schooling along channel edges, sandy flats, and grass bed margins throughout Virginia's coastal waters this season, with fish gravitating toward rocky shorelines and hard structure in nearshore zones. OTW Saltwater's May 12 migration update places the main migratory push well up the coast, with 50-pound-class Chesapeake fish staged off New Jersey and Long Island by that date — meaning the bulk of the migration has cleared Virginia waters, and the bite transitions toward resident and post-spawn fish holding along the barrier-island coast. Flounder should be opening up: The Fisherman's NJ/DE Bay forecast from May 14 noted the fluke bite gaining traction with improving weather, a trend that applies to Chincoteague's back-bay channels as May water temps crest 60°F. The waxing crescent moon favors low-light feeding windows along structured edges.

May 18

Virginia DWR's spring striped bass update highlights rockfish schooling tight to channel edges, sandy flats, and rocky hard structure throughout Virginia's river systems this season — a behavioral template that applies equally to the landlocked striper fishery at Smith Mountain Lake and Buggs Island. USGS gauge 02075045 recorded 488 cfs this afternoon, reflecting moderate, fishable inflows to the Roanoke/Staunton drainage. No water temperature was logged at the gauge, though mid-May conditions historically push surface temps into the low-to-mid 70s°F at both reservoirs. Alongside the striper action, Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is currently in full swing, drawing largemouth bass into shallow cover for aggressive topwater and frog-style presentations. A waxing crescent moon this week concentrates feeding activity toward dawn and dusk windows. Neither site had charter or tackle-shop reports in this cycle's feed; the picture is drawn from statewide agency signals and regional bass intel.

May 18

Blue Chip Sportfishing is calling it "the best Striper Fishing possible" in the Raritan Bay area right now, and Sandy Hook is backing that up. The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf reports one angler at the Hook tip landing a super slam — striped bass, bluefish, fluke, black drum, and blackfish — all on bobber-rigged live killies, while Bug Light has been producing bass to 30 pounds on metal lip swimmers and Jersey Jellies. Black sea bass season opened May 15 (12.5-inch minimum, 10-fish bag limit through June 21, per The Fisherman — New Jersey edition), but the launch has been sluggish: Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands found mostly ling with almost no sea bass in opening days, and captains on the Golden Eagle and Big Mohawk III told The Fisherman — Northern NJ that bass numbers are running well below last season's pace. Cold inshore water — holding in the 46–48°F range at the start of the season — is the main obstacle. A pronounced warming trend heading into Memorial Day weekend has bottom-fish optimists watching conditions closely.

May 18

Water temps at NOAA buoy 44009 hit 60°F on May 18, and the NJ side of Delaware Bay is delivering some of the spring's best fishing. Big Dave's Tackle described conditions as 'firing on all cylinders,' with striped bass to 46 inches working bayfront beaches — bloodworms, bloodworm balls, and fresh clam are the top baits. Higbee's Bait and Tackle confirms the same out of Fortescue, reporting 'all oversize fish from 36 to 46 inches' this week, with bloodworm ball and spawn-net combos drawing strikes. Black drum have joined the mix, with fish to 15 pounds picking up clam baits in the bay per Dockside Café and Marina. Flounder action has been suppressed by persistent winds and cooler inshore bay temps, per Anthony Califano and Dockside Café and Marina reporting for The Fisherman — Southern NJ. New Jersey's black sea bass season opened May 15 with a 12.5-inch minimum and 10-fish bag limit, per The Fisherman (Northeast), giving offshore-ready boats another option heading into Memorial Day weekend.

May 18

The Swift River (USGS gauge 01174500) was flowing at 106 cfs as of May 18 — a moderate spring level suggesting Quabbin Reservoir runoff is tapering toward early-summer stability. No water temperature reading was available from the gauge. No Quabbin- or Wachusett-specific on-the-water reports surfaced in this cycle, but regional freshwater signals from The Fisherman — New England Freshwater provide useful context: an angler fishing Hampton (Pequot) Pond in Westfield, MA on May 13 found brook and rainbow trout actively marking at depth and feeding on surface lures and small swimbaits. That same publication's report from Fishin' Factory 3 in Middletown noted local largemouth bass are now spawning and 'trickier to entice' than during prespawn — a transition that mirrors what Wachusett bass anglers should expect right now. At Quabbin, smallmouth and the reservoir's signature landlocked Atlantic salmon are likely entering their prime May window, with salmon holding in the upper water column before summer stratification sets in. Waxing crescent moon conditions favor first-light and last-light feeding windows at both reservoirs.

May 18

Striped bass activity in Buzzards Bay hit a seasonal high point this week, with water temps at 55–58°F per NOAA buoys 44085 and 44020. Capt. Carl of Westport River Outfitters (The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands) reports stripers from schoolies to high-30-inch class throughout the Bay, with topwater action running from Fairhaven to the Canal's west end — plus a few fish taken on the fly during a worm hatch. Red Top Sporting Goods confirms bass schools working bait "almost all over Buzzards Bay," plus scattered bluefish appearing off Mattapoisett and Wareham. The Canal is producing at both ends, with mackerel showing in the east end. Charley Soares (The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands) also notes a few spotty bluefish schools alongside the stripers in the Bay. Tautog remain strong on green crab, and jumbo scup have pushed inshore — making this a genuine mixed-bag window.

May 18

USGS gauge 12484500 on the Yakima River recorded 2,050 cfs at mid-morning on May 18, placing the river in elevated spring-snowmelt territory for the Eastern WA corridor. Water temperature data was not available from this gauge at publication time. No specific current-week catch reports for Eastern WA appeared in WA WDFW Fishing Reports feeds at time of publication, so the conditions below draw on that gauge reading alongside typical mid-May patterns for the Yakima corridor and Spokane-area fisheries. At 2,050 cfs the Yakima is likely carrying off-color snowmelt; trout will be pushed tight to slower-current refuges — inside bends, undercut banks, and tributary mouths where relief from the main flow exists. Stocked rainbow trout in Spokane-region lakes represent the most consistent bite while river flows run high. The waxing crescent moon phase supports low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk. Check WA WDFW Fishing Reports for current stocking schedules before heading out.

May 18

Both monitored Olympic Peninsula gauges logged moderate spring flows on May 18: USGS gauge 12041200 at 1,040 cfs and gauge 12035000 at 722 cfs, with no water temperature data available from either sensor. None of this reporting cycle's regional feeds — charter captains, tackle shops, or Washington-specific fishing blogs — provided current on-the-water intel for Peninsula salmon rivers, so species assessments below reflect historical mid-May patterns rather than live angler reports. At these flow levels, lower mainstem and tidal-influenced reaches are typically accessible, and late-spring Chinook begin staging in some Peninsula drainages through May and into June. Summer-run steelhead are an outside possibility in early-entry systems. The WA WDFW Fishing Reports program monitors creel data at access sites statewide but no specific Peninsula conditions appeared in this data pull. Verify current openers and retention rules before heading out, as regulations on these rivers shift frequently.

May 18

NOAA buoy 42012 is reading 76°F on the Gulf surface — right in the sweet spot for late-spring offshore action out of Destin and Pensacola. A Pensacola Fishing Forum angler this past weekend reported a full limit of beeliners (vermilion snapper) plus releasing roughly two dozen short triggerfish on a run to offshore structure, with blue water and flyingfish marking pelagic conditions; trolling produced bonito in the same area. Coastal Angler Magazine flags May as the peak window for gag grouper and scamp — the formula is locating schools of cigar minnows and sardines on ledges, wrecks, or rock outcrops and dropping live bait straight down. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) reports big tarpon action rolling across Florida right now, with the Panhandle's passes and beaches a classic stop on the late-May migration. Light winds logged at both buoys (5–6 m/s) are holding offshore windows open. The waxing crescent moon favors dawn and dusk feeding edges this week.

May 18

ALL IN Key West charters are reporting mutton snappers 'chewing like crazy' during the May lunar spawn, with yellowtail described as 'practically jumping in the boat' on recent reef runs. Per Sport Fishing Mag, May through July is prime time for blackfin tuna off South Florida — these hard-fighting fish flood offshore waters from the Keys up to Palm Beach, responding well to live bait, kite-fishing, and trolling. Gulf-side trips out of Key West have also produced grouper, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish (ALL IN Key West). Mahi-mahi and sailfish remain in the mix as strong Gulfstream currents push through the region. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) is flagging tarpon action building statewide, with Keys flats entering their peak migration window. NOAA buoys SMKF1 and SANF1 put air temps near 83°F with moderate winds in the 13–16 knot range; the most recent Keys-area water temp reading (buoy 41114, late April) showed 78°F, with conditions likely warmer since.

May 18

Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is in full swing across Texas lakes — the prime trigger that drives largemouth bass shallow into heavy cover for the year's most productive topwater window. On Lakes Travis, LBJ, and Buchanan, that means frog and walk-the-dog baits worked around hard structure at dawn and dusk. Colorado River flow is sitting at a moderate 173 cfs at Austin per USGS gauge 08158000, indicating stable release levels from Travis and steady lake conditions across the Hill Country chain through this key post-spawn transition. LakeForkGuy notes the post-spawn crappie bite is at its most aggressive of the year, with fish schooled tight on submerged structure after moving off the beds. Lone Star Outdoor News confirms 2026 has shaped up as a record year for Texas anglers broadly — a positive backdrop for the Hill Country fishery. Direct shop or charter intel specific to Travis, LBJ, and Buchanan is limited this reporting cycle; species assessments reflect seasonal patterns and regional sources where direct attribution is unavailable.

May 18

Water at NOAA buoy 46026 is holding at 50°F off the Farallones as of May 18, and the cooling trend is paying dividends for salmon anglers. Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reports that Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing is seeing 'vastly improved salmon conditions' below Pigeon Point after water temps fell from 58°F to 54°F since the April 11 season opener — and our Farallones buoy now reads colder still. Davis noted that 'the bonita took a hike' with the temperature shift, a clear signal the bite has swung away from warm-water species toward Chinook. Winds are running at 9 m/s on buoy 46013 near Bodega with air temps around 52°F, so skippers should assess conditions before committing to offshore runs. Rockfish and Bay halibut remain productive nearshore alternatives for anyone looking to stay inside during breezy afternoons.

May 18

Water temps of 63–64°F across the LA Bight — confirmed by NOAA buoys 46025 and 46221 — are running markedly above historical norms for mid-May, and the bite is reflecting it. Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reports that bluefin, yellowfin, and an albacore (the first San Diego fleet albacore in years, gaffed April 30 aboard the Tribute out of Mission Bay) have pushed into day-trip range southwest of San Diego, with yellowtail and early dorado mixed in on 2- and 3-day runs further south. The offshore warmth appears broad and persistent; WON also notes water temps running as much as 10°F above seasonal averages, with El Niño-adjacent conditions driving the anomaly. On the beach, Surf Fishing in So Cal reports that May "has delivered" after a mixed April, with corbina and leopard shark active along SoCal beachfronts and the season's best surf fishing potentially still ahead. Winds are near calm, and swell is running around 4.3 ft per buoy 46221.

May 18

Water temps in the Minocqua-area lakes were hovering in the 48–50°F range through early May, per Rollie & Helen's Musky Shop, keeping most species scattered and fishing 'up and down' by the shop's own account. Notably, 2026 marks the first time since the early 1980s that Wisconsin's musky opener aligned with the walleye opener — both going statewide on May 2 — giving Northwoods anglers an unusual simultaneous shot at two marquee species right out of the gate. Cold fronts have continued to reset progress, and Rollie & Helen's reports that anglers need to earn their early-season follows from muskies. Emergent cabbage and coontail beds in Vilas and Oneida counties are filling in, which will concentrate baitfish and draw fish into predictable ambush zones. Glide baits worked deliberately over developing weed edges and finesse presentations are what Rollie & Helen's recommends for musky; for walleye, jigs and live-bait rigs on depth transitions remain the foundational approach as fish gradually pull off their scattered post-opener funk.

May 18

USGS gauge 04059500 recorded 394 cfs across a key Upper Peninsula drainage on May 18 — flows are elevated by spring snowmelt but fishable for anglers willing to work the eddies and soft edges. No water temperature was returned from this gauge. On Lake Superior, WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing reports a popular and growing whitefish fishery in the Chequamegon Bay area, a strong signal that the broader lake system is warming and active through May. The MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report did not return usable conditions data this cycle. Hatch Magazine notes that caddis emergences are beginning to fire across Great Lakes region trout streams at this time of year — a cue to rig soft-hackle wets and carry dries in #14–16. Streamers remain a workhorse for brown trout holding in any remaining off-color water. The waxing crescent moon keeps nights dark, pushing feeding windows toward the low-light bookends of the day.

May 18

Tactical Bassin's Great Lakes smallmouth breakdown this week confirms the prespawn is underway — fish schooling tightly on rocky transitions and responding to swimbaits and reaction baits in the clear water that defines much of Lake Huron's northern basin. The MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report feed returned only a browser-support notice this cycle, providing no official conditions update, and USGS gauge 04157000 on the Tittabawassee River came back with no current readings, leaving Saginaw Bay tributary flow and temperature unconfirmed by instrument. Regional Midwest sources still paint a consistent mid-May picture: Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch highlights shallow flats as productive for early-season mixed bags — crappie, bass, and walleye — while AnglingBuzz and Jason Mitchell Outdoors both published shallow-walleye trolling content consistent with post-spawn scatter on Great Lakes structure. Yellow perch should be active in Saginaw Bay's warmer shallows, though no source confirmed specific catch numbers this week. No charter or tackle-shop intel for this region came through in the current feed.

May 18

The Grand River is pushing 3,860 cfs at the Lake Michigan confluence as of May 18 (USGS gauge 04119000), offering fishable spring flows heading into Memorial Day weekend. No water temperature reading is available from the gauge this period. Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is in full swing across Great Lakes fisheries — a reliable trigger that pushes post-spawn bass into shallow cover. Big smallmouth and largemouth are responding to topwater frogs and walking baits over matted weeds and rocky points. The WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report documented record coho salmon harvests in 2024 (210,000+) and the highest Chinook tallies since 2012 (160,000+), reflecting strong alewife baitfish cycles that carry meaningful momentum into this season. Mid-May is traditionally a transition window for late-run steelhead dropping back through the Grand River corridor toward open water. Check local regulations and conditions before heading out.

May 18

USGS gauge 01546500 in the Centre County watershed logged 76.3 cfs at midday May 18 — a moderate-to-low reading consistent with the regional drought Flylords Mag recently described as gripping much of the Mid-Atlantic. Water temperature was unavailable from the gauge; limestone aquifer-fed streams like Spring Creek and Penns Creek typically hold in the low-to-mid 50s through mid-May regardless of air temperature swings. Calendar-wise, this is the heart of the Sulphur (Ephemerella dorothea) hatch on both streams, with evening emergences drawing surface-feeding wild browns and spinner falls that trail into dusk. Gink and Gasoline noted earlier this spring that unseasonably warm weather can push Sulphur and Light Cahill timing ahead by weeks on spring creeks — worth monitoring if the warm trend has persisted. Check PA Fish & Boat Commission's Biologist Reports for any stocking updates specific to these waters before making the trip.

May 18

The USGS gauge at site 03036500 put the Allegheny at 21,400 cfs as of Monday afternoon, May 18 — a substantial spring surge compressing fishable structure through the Pittsburgh corridor. No water temperature reading was returned by the gauge today, so a streamside check is advisable before settling on presentation depth. Smallmouth bass, now in post-spawn transition, have been pushed tightly into eddies, bank irregularities, and any slack zone offering relief from the main push. Tactical Bassin notes the bluegill spawn is currently in full swing, which keys opportunistic bass into shallow, hard-bottom ambush spots; topwater and frog presentations over heavier cover are the recommended play where current speed allows. Walleye and sauger are holding near current seams and tailwater ledges in their typical high-flow strongholds. PA Fish & Boat — Biologist Reports carries current stocking updates and slot-size regulations for specific reaches on this stretch.

May 18

NOAA buoy 45005 put Lake Erie surface water at 59°F on Monday evening under near-flat conditions — waves under a foot and winds barely above a breeze — opening one of the better boat windows of the late-spring calendar. Tactical Bassin highlights prespawn Great Lakes smallmouth as actively schooling right now in clear water, with swim baits and reaction presentations as the standout approach for covering staging fish quickly. Jigs and slip-sinker live bait rigs remain reliable walleye presentations as post-spawn fish transition to feeding structure, a pattern Fishing the Midwest notes has proven consistent across Midwest walleye fisheries. USGS gauge 04213000 logged 179 cfs in the tributary network, suggesting manageable stream flows for any late-season steelhead still holding in Erie-area creeks — though that fishery typically winds down by Memorial Day. PA Sea Grant has been actively engaging Northwestern Pennsylvania anglers on Round Goby management in the Lake Erie watershed, underscoring how this invasive species continues to shape forage dynamics across the system.

May 18

NOAA buoy 46041 logged 5 m/s winds and an air temperature of 53°F offshore on the evening of May 18, with buoy 46087 even lighter at 3 m/s and 51°F — a benign setup heading into the weekend. Water temperature readings were unavailable from both stations this cycle. Direct angler intel for Puget Sound and the Washington Pacific coast is sparse in this update; WA WDFW Fishing Reports tracks statewide creel and stocking activity but no catch-specific data came through this cycle. WA Sea Grant researchers are actively studying larval forage-fish health in the Salish Sea — a useful indicator of the prey base supporting spring Chinook. For mid-May, seasonal patterns point toward spring Chinook in Puget Sound marine areas, Pacific halibut on outer-coast grounds, and lingcod and rockfish on nearshore structure. Verify current regulations and season status through WA WDFW before heading out.

May 18

USGS gauge 14113000 logged 51°F water and 1,210 cfs on the morning of May 18 — a moderate, fishable flow that puts Columbia tributaries squarely in the spring Chinook window. No charter or shop reports specific to these WA drainages arrived in this data cycle, so the live bite picture relies primarily on gauge readings and seasonal timing. WA WDFW Fishing Reports monitors stocking and angler interviews at access sites statewide — their creel data is the best current indicator of hatchery Chinook retention opportunities before you load up. WA Sea Grant's estuarine monitoring in Grays Harbor documented Pacific tomcod in Crab Team traps in 2025, a notable ecological marker for the region's fish assemblage. Water at 51°F is right at the lower threshold where spring Chinook begin to feed more actively; early mornings and low-light transitions are the prime windows. American shad are building in the lower Columbia as temps trend toward their preferred mid-50s range.

May 18

Virginia DWR Wildlife Blog is spotlighting spring striped bass action across Virginia's tidal rivers right now, with fish schooling along channel edges, sandy flats, grass beds, and rocky shorelines — the structure that earned them the "rockfish" nickname. The Potomac at USGS gauge 01646500 registered 2,400 cfs at midday Monday, a moderate, fishable level pointing toward reasonable clarity in upper reaches. On the bass front, Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is in full swing, with big largemouth actively working heavy shallow cover and responding well to topwater frogs. On The Water's May 15 striper migration map confirms the spring push has fully extended through the Northeast, meaning the tidal Potomac window remains wide open before fish push further upriver and north. Waxing crescent moon this week favors low-light morning and evening feeding windows. May is historically a peak window for both striped bass and smallmouth in this corridor before summer heat disperses fish.

May 18