Fishing Reports

The Connecticut River in Vermont is flowing at just 109 cfs (USGS gauge 01135300) as of May 18 — well below typical mid-May levels, signaling that spring runoff has crested and water clarity is improving. On the lower Connecticut in Middletown, The Fisherman — New England Freshwater's Fishin' Factory 3 report finds shad, stripers, and carp actively working the main channel this week, with the shad push on track to reach Vermont's stretch of the river in the coming days. Largemouth bass are already in spawn mode downriver — "trickier to entice than they were in prespawn," that source notes — a transition Vermont's cooler-water bass will soon follow. Across New England, The Fisherman — New England Freshwater's Fisherman's World in Norwalk reports that bass action "keeps steadily improving" as water warms, with live shiners the top bait and Keitech swimbaits a close second. No Lake Champlain-specific reports arrived this cycle.

May 18

Water temperatures logged at 77°F by NOAA buoy 41004 are drawing species into position all along the South Carolina coast. Fisherman's Post — Carolinas saltwater reports red drum making "a strong push onto the beaches" in the Hatteras and Ocracoke zone — a leading indicator of what typically heads toward Charleston Harbor as the season progresses. The same source's Wrightsville Beach correspondent describes Atlantic bonito fishing as "excellent" from the Liberty Ship out to the 5-mile nearshore range. Down toward Swansboro and Emerald Isle, early pompano, black drum, and sea mullet have surfaced in the surf, per Fisherman's Post. Offshore, anglers have expanded access this year: Saltwater Sportsman and Sport Fishing Mag both confirm that South Carolina is included in newly approved pilot exempted fishing permits providing greatly extended 2026 red snapper seasons in the South Atlantic. With warm water in the upper 70s and light winds, mid-May is arriving with real momentum for Charleston-area anglers.

May 18

USGS gauge 01540500 clocked 64°F water and 16,800 cfs on the Susquehanna at midday May 18, placing the river squarely in the post-spawn bass transition window. Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is fully in swing -- a reliable behavioral trigger that pushes big bass into shallow cover for topwater frogs and walking-bait action. Wired 2 Fish reinforces the post-spawn angle, noting fish school tightly at this stage and can produce extended runs of action once located. At 16,800 cfs the river is elevated but fishable; inside bends, eddies, and slack-water seams are the spots to work, especially where current-pushed fish are stacking. For fly fishers, Hatch Magazine's caddis emergence coverage is timely -- 64°F sits right at the upper edge of trout comfort, making early-morning tailwater and spring-fed trib sections the priority window. PA Fish & Boat -- Biologist Reports did not return local field data in the current feed; anglers should verify district-level conditions directly with the Commission.

May 18

NOAA buoys off the Oregon Coast registered 55–56°F on May 18, with light-to-moderate offshore winds between 3 and 7 m/s — conditions that fall squarely in spring chinook territory. For regional context, Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reported this week that captains working below Pigeon Point, California saw markedly improved salmon action after surface temperatures dropped from 58°F to 54°F, suggesting the cooler Pacific swing running up the coast may be doing similar work off Oregon. Direct local reports from Oregon Coast charter fleets or tackle shops are sparse this cycle; this report leans on buoy readings and seasonal expectations to fill the gap. Rockfish remain a reliable nearshore target through May, and the halibut season is underway. Surf perch anglers working sandy beaches and jetties typically find steady action at this time of year regardless of offshore trends. Verify current openings and bag limits with ODFW before launching.

May 18

USGS gauge 02142900 recorded a slim 2.17 cfs on May 18 — extremely low flow for a Catawba-system tributary — pointing to lean, concentrated water that pushes fish tightly onto deep channel edges and pool heads. Direct on-water reports for the Catawba chain and Roanoke corridor are limited in this reporting cycle's intel, but the regional picture tracks: mid-May places Catawba largemouth squarely in the post-spawn transition, fish dispersing off beds and beginning to school on adjacent structure. B.A.S.S. News coverage of the recent Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper — the Catawba's downstream watershed extension — shows post-spawn largemouth responding to soft-plastic baits and heavy-cover presentations, with Chris Johnston posting 113 pounds over four days on the Santee system. On the Roanoke, the spring striped bass run is entering its tail end; no striper-specific intel for Roanoke's upper impoundments appeared in this week's feeds, so treat activity as seasonally typical rather than confirmed.

May 18

Water temperatures have hit 64°F at the upper Hudson (USGS gauge 01357500), landing squarely in the prime late-spring window for this region. NY DEC The Fishing Line (Freshwater) confirmed that hatchery crews have been actively transporting and stocking brook, brown, and rainbow trout throughout the spring — a strong foundation for tributary fishing across the Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes. The coolwater sportfish season opened statewide May 1 per DEC, adding walleye and northern pike to the mix just as water temperatures reach their active feeding range. On The Water's May 15 striper migration map reports the spring push has fully extended through the Northeast, meaning Hudson River striped bass should be well into their upriver run. Main-stem flows are elevated — 3,620 cfs at the upper gauge (USGS 01357500) and 9,880 cfs downstream (USGS 01358000) — so tributary mouths and sheltered coves will offer the most productive access for anglers this week.

May 18

Water temps of 56–57°F at NOAA buoys 44065 and 44091 are holding the spring striper run in rare form along the Jersey Shore. Blue Chip Sportfishing calls it the best striper fishing possible right now, and Fishermans HQ LBI rates current surf conditions "as good as it gets," with bass working every cut, bowl, and gutter along Long Beach Island. Fresh clam dominates the bite coast-wide per The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf, while glide baits and paddle tails are connecting during low-light hours per The Fisherman — Central NJ. Black drum have joined stripers on several beaches — Grumpys Tackle notes 15-to-30-pound fish eating fresh clams in the Seaside Park area. New Jersey's black sea bass season opened around May 15 (check current state regs for size and bag limits), but party-boat captains at Capt Ron's and the Golden Eagle — per The Fisherman — Northern NJ — report a slow opener as cold water keeps fish off structure.

May 18

Old School Outdoors, reporting to The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater, is logging good striper catches along the Delaware River's tidal corridor from Trenton down through Lambertville, with that action expected to hold into early June. USGS gauge 01408000 is reading a lean 25.8 cfs as of May 18, echoing the dry pattern Tackle World flagged in The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater: stream levels are falling and will need rain to sustain quality fishing in smaller tributaries. Largemouth bass are firmly on the spawning beds across local lakes and ponds — Dow's Boat Rentals and Tackle World both confirm bedding fish persisting through May and into early June. In the Pine Barrens, JB Kasper reports to The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater that pickerel are still active in the cedar-stained backwaters, crappie fishing has been good all month, and trout continue to bite in the D&R Canal. The shad run on the Delaware mainstem remains catchable but is entering its final weeks.

May 18

USGS gauge 10311000 logged 497 cfs on the Truckee River as of this morning — a moderate late-May flow driven by continued Sierra Nevada snowmelt. No water temperature data was available from the gauge, and no local shop, charter, or agency reports specific to Truckee or Lake Tahoe appeared in this week's feeds. Drawing on what the broader fly-fishing press is tracking: MidCurrent's current hatch coverage notes that "hatches are beginning to fire and predatory fish are pushing into shallows," a description that maps well onto Sierra freestone conditions at this stage of spring. Hatch Magazine's feature on caddis emergences offers directly applicable technique guidance for rivers running moderate runoff flows. At 497 cfs the Truckee mainstem is fishable but demands wading caution — target slower edge water, seams, and back eddies where trout stage out of the main current push. Confirm current state regulations before heading out.

May 18

USGS gauge 06796000 on the Platte River near Duncan logged 1,790 cfs at midday May 18 — a moderate spring flow that keeps the river accessible for bank and boat anglers alike. Nebraska Game & Parks' "Springing On" dispatch captures the broader mood: the agency reports chasing as much field-and-water time as possible this spring, reflecting generally favorable conditions across the state. No direct species-specific catch reports came through from Nebraska waters in this cycle; what follows draws on established mid-May seasonal patterns for the Platte and Missouri drainages. White bass spring runs typically peak through the second and third weeks of May in Nebraska tailwaters, with fish stacking in current seams and below dam faces. Channel catfish feeding intensifies as water temperatures climb toward the mid-60s. Walleye on the Missouri are in post-spawn recovery and moving toward summer feeding haunts. Fishing the Midwest confirms that shallow presentations and traditional jig-and-live-bait rigs continue to produce across Midwest river systems during this spring transition window.

May 18

On May 13, angler Rod Teehan reported to The Fisherman — New England Freshwater that he marked large numbers of brook and rainbow trout over deep water at Hampton (Pequot) Pond in Westfield, Massachusetts, landing three brookies and three rainbows in two hours of trolling — including fish that hit a Bobby Garland Baby Shad on the surface. The bite held through cold, rainy skies and a light northeast wind, a promising sign that stocked fish remain in play across Massachusetts ponds heading into late May. On the bass side, The Fisherman — New England Freshwater reports that largemouths across the region have entered spawn mode and are now "trickier to entice than they were in prespawn," with fish sitting defensively on beds rather than feeding actively. Two Central MA USGS gauges checked in at 15.5 cfs (gauge 01105500) and 90.4 cfs (gauge 01111500) this morning — stable late-spring flows with no notable flood stress. Water temperatures were not recorded by either gauge this cycle.

May 18

Water temperatures are sitting at 57°F per NOAA buoy 44009, and the past week along the Delaware-Maryland coastal zone has been dominated by sustained winds and small craft advisories. The Fisherman — DE/MD/Chesapeake correspondent Eric Burnley reported on May 17 that open-water fishing was largely pushed to brief windows between weather systems, with the best sessions coming from beaches and inlet access points. The good news: black drum are in. Smith's Bait Shop confirms fish are holding at the Coral Beds off Slaughter Beach and at Broadkill Beach, hitting sand fleas and clams at dusk. On the striper front, On The Water's May 12 migration report noted that 50-pound-class Chesapeake stripers are now staging off New Jersey and Long Island — the big spring run has crested and is pushing north. Light winds at the buoy today suggest the calmer window anglers have been waiting for is finally arriving.

May 18

NOAA buoys across the Hawaiian Islands logged water temperatures of 75–79°F on May 18, with trade winds registering 7–9 meters per second — conditions consistent with the opening of Hawaii's prime summer pelagic window. Hawaii Fishing News, the state's official fishing-record and tide-calendar resource, underscores the importance of moon and tide timing for serious Hawaiian anglers; the current waxing crescent phase tends to favor productive daytime offshore trolling more than peak nighttime nearshore feeding windows. Angler-intel feeds this week returned limited Hawaii-specific on-the-water reporting, so species assessments below draw on seasonal norms rather than direct captain or tackle-shop testimony. With sea surface temperatures now in the mid-to-upper 70s, blue marlin and yellowfin tuna (ahi) should be building along the deep blue-water contours offshore. Mahi-mahi (dorado) and ulua (giant trevally) remain reliable staple targets for the trolling fleet and nearshore anglers respectively as conditions continue to warm toward peak season.

May 18

The Savannah River is running at 4,720 cfs at USGS gauge 02197000 as of May 18, with levels falling from recent elevated readings — a positive sign for water clarity heading into the weekend. GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News (Joshua Barber, May 10 report) flagged that hot weather is arriving across the region and fish are beginning to push into deeper water; the Savannah at Clyo stood at 3.6 feet and falling as of May 14 per that same report. Largemouth bass have been the standout story across Georgia this spring: Georgia Wildlife Blog documented an 8-pound, 11-ounce largemouth taken on a spinner bait in Morgan County during post-rain conditions, and the 2026 GHSA Bass Fishing State Championship at Lake Sinclair (May 9) drew 111 anglers with a five-fish limit earning the crown. Crappie that were stacked in 3–8 feet around structure during the late-April spawn per Georgia Wildlife Blog are likely shifting to slightly deeper brush as water temperatures climb through mid-May.

May 18

Snook Nook's May 2026 report out of Stuart calls this 'one of the best months for inshore fishing on the Treasure Coast,' with snook activity heating up ahead of the pre-spawn — slot-sized and over-slot fish making regular appearances in the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers. Offshore, Sport Fishing Mag reports blackfin tuna flooding South Florida's Atlantic waters from the Keys to Palm Beach, noting May through July is peak season for these hard-fighting fish on live bait, dead bait, and lures. Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider highlights big tarpon action unfolding across the state, consistent with late-spring migratory timing on the Atlantic side. On the regulatory front, CCA Florida and Sport Fishing Mag both confirm that federally approved exempted fishing permits give Florida anglers a significantly expanded 2026 recreational red snapper season in the South Atlantic. Warm air temperatures near 80°F and variable winds are keeping offshore conditions workable.

May 18

Water temps at 78°F (NOAA buoy 42036) have signaled peak late-spring conditions on Florida's Gulf Coast, and the fishing is delivering. Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports the tarpon migration is fully underway, with captains intercepting silver kings on morning sessions as fish push through the Naples corridor — jumping and landing quality fish consistently. Afternoons pivot to permit, where sight-fishing large fish has been excellent. Kingfish are steady, with good action throwing plugs and flies, while cobia and amberjacks have been rounding out offshore runs. Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider Fishing Report corroborates big tarpon action across the state. Coastal Angler Magazine flags May as prime time for gag and scamp grouper on ledges and wrecks holding cigar minnows and sardines. Offshore seas are running 3.3–3.6 feet, manageable with the right weather window. Naples Offshore Fishing Charters puts it plainly: conditions are "as good as it gets for this time of year."

May 18

Water temps of 55–56°F at NOAA buoys 44025 and 44065 have Long Island Sound right in the wheelhouse for spring striped bass, and the bite is delivering. Per The Fisherman — Connecticut, the May new moon supercharged striper activity across the Sound and its tributaries, drawing fish onto a broad buffet of squid, bunker, mackerel, herring, silversides, and rain bait. Fisherman's World described the week as simply "bass, bass, bass," with fish spread from inshore flats to deep-water structure. Bobby J's noted the inshore bite currently outpaces the deep reefs, though outgoing tide windows at depth are worth targeting. Captain Morgan's Bait and Tackle reported artificials — flies included — keeping easy pace with live bait as big fish hammered the shallows on tidal cues. Rock and Roll Charters kicked off their season this past weekend. Per On The Water, the spring migration has now extended all the way to Maine, confirming a full-coast push in progress.

May 18

Fresh stockings hit the Salmon River TMA and TTA sections as recently as May 13, and at least one angler fishing the river reported landing 'as many trout as he wanted' on stockies, according to Fishin' Factory 3 in Middletown. Connecticut River mainstem temperatures are reading 58°F with flows at 37,600 cfs (USGS gauge 01184000) — warm enough to pull shad and carp into the corridor, which Fishin' Factory 3 customers are now actively targeting. On the bass front, largemouths are deep into the spawn and turning 'trickier to entice than they were in prespawn,' per Fishin' Factory 3, while Fisherman's World in Norwalk reports that both largemouth and smallmouth activity at Saugatuck Reservoir 'keeps steadily improving,' with shiners and Keitech swimbaits the standout producers. The smaller interior gauge at USGS 01193500 shows 99.6 cfs — modest, walkable spring levels on lower-gradient tributaries statewide.

May 18

The USGS gauge at site 09095500 is logging the Colorado River at 3,560 cfs and 56°F as of May 18 — a reading that captures this season in two numbers. Water temperatures are well within the productive trout range, but flows are running high with snowmelt, pushing fish off open lies and into softer edges, tributary mouths, and structure-laden inside bends. Cutthroat Anglers (CO) called this winter's snowpack "historic for all the wrong reasons," yet noted that anglers always find the silver lining; a shorter runoff pulse is the potential upside of a low-snow year. Crystal Fly Shop (CO) described the Colorado near Glenwood-Rifle as "sensational" back in late April at roughly 1,380 cfs — flows have since more than doubled. Pat Dorsey Fly Fishing (CO) has flagged an unusually warm spring, with midge and BWO hatches rolling earlier than normal and a caddis transition now underway.

May 18

Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady, working out of Half Moon Bay, reported 'vastly improved salmon conditions' below Pigeon Point this week, per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater — crediting a four-degree water temperature drop from 58°F to 54°F. NOAA buoys confirm the cool-water trend across the Central Coast: buoy 46042 reads 51°F, buoy 46026 sits at 50°F, while buoy 46028 farther south logs 58°F, confirming a sharp thermal gradient along the coast. Wave heights are running significant at 8.9 feet at buoys 46042 and 46028, so smaller vessels should check bar and harbor conditions carefully before departure. Winds are moderate at 5–9 m/s across the region. Rockfish and nearshore halibut are typical Central Coast targets alongside salmon this time of year, though no direct charter or shop intel on those species came through this cycle — anglers should check local marinas for current deck counts and conditions.

May 18

USGS gauge 15266300 puts the Kenai system at 2,720 cfs and 42°F as of 8:00 a.m. on May 18 — cold, high-volume conditions consistent with active spring snowmelt across south-central Alaska. No specific angler-intel feeds covered the Kenai or interior rivers this cycle, so this report draws on gauge data and established seasonal patterns. At 42°F, fish metabolism supports active feeding, but the cold, off-color water rewards slow, bottom-hugging presentations — weighted streamers, egg imitations, or dead-drifted beads will outperform faster retrieves. Resident rainbow trout and Dolly Varden char remain the most accessible targets while the major salmon runs build. Interior road-system rivers are typically cleaner and shallower at this stage, offering better Arctic grayling action than the turbid main-stem Kenai right now. The Early Run king salmon season on the Kenai typically gets underway in late May; current conditions are consistent with a normal timetable, though elevated flows will delay peak clarity. Check state regulations before heading out.

May 18

GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News (May 10 report) signals the seasonal turn: hot weather is arriving across Georgia's major lakes and bass are beginning to retreat toward deeper structure. The Savannah at Clyo stood at 3.6 feet and falling as of May 14, consistent with USGS gauge 02192000's current 425 cfs — moderate, stabilizing flows through the Hartwell-Russell chain. Georgia Wildlife Blog documented a productive spring crappie run through April, with fish stacking in 3–8 feet around brush piles, docks, and fallen timber as water temperatures warmed. For bass, Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is now underway across the Southeast — a narrow window that draws big largemouth into shallow cover and triggers aggressive strikes on topwater and frog patterns before summer heat fully pushes them deep. No water temperature reading is available from the current gauge data, but seasonal trajectory points clearly toward the early-summer transition.

May 18

USGS gauge 05407000 on the Wisconsin River logged 62°F this morning, placing Driftless spring creeks squarely in the prime brown trout feeding window. MidCurrent's Tying Tuesday this week spotlighted Root River Rod Co's go-to Driftless streamer — a pine squirrel jig built to bounce the rocky bottom without hanging up in tight, technical spring flows — a strong indication that streamers are earning their keep right now. MidCurrent's current fly-tying lineup also emphasizes full water-column coverage as hatches begin to fire, with surface-film CDC patterns and nymph rigs both in play. Hatch Magazine's ongoing coverage of caddis emergences is well-timed: mid-May is when caddis typically peaks on Driftless limestone streams, and evening rises with actively feeding fish are possible now. New Moon conditions favor the low-light transitions at dawn and dusk. Regional gauge flows are elevated at 10,400 cfs; check individual stream clarity before committing to a wade.

May 18

The USGS gauge on the upper Penobscot (site 01030500) logged 3,130 cfs this morning — snowmelt runoff is still pushing hard through northern Maine's interior drainages, with no water temperature reading available from the gauge. Direct on-the-water reports for Moosehead Lake and the upper Penobscot corridor are absent from this week's intel feeds. The closest Maine signal comes from On The Water, whose May 15 striper migration map notes migratory fish have arrived in Maine, confirming the seasonal push is advancing on schedule statewide. Inland, mid-May at Moosehead is traditionally prime time for togue (lake trout) as fish transition off spawning structure, and brook trout action in tributary inlet streams typically peaks in this window. Landlocked salmon are a May staple on the lake as well. High flows make river wading challenging right now; stillwater on Moosehead is the smarter bet while the Penobscot system drains down.

May 18