Fishing reports
18436 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
UP trout streams run low and clear as Lake Superior fishery matures
A lake whitefish fishery in the Chequamegon Bay region of western Lake Superior has grown noticeably in popularity both through the ice and from a boat, per WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing, which held an informational public meeting on managing the resource this spring. Hard, specific catch reports out of Michigan's Upper Peninsula streams were thin in this week's feeds, so we're leaning on typical late-August patterns for the region: UP trout streams are generally running low and clear under summer base flows this time of year, pushing brook and brown trout activity into early-morning and dusk windows as terrestrial patterns (hoppers, ants, beetles) fill in for thinning aquatic hatches. On Lake Superior itself, lake trout and salmon typically hold in deeper, cooler water by late summer, rewarding anglers willing to troll structure edges rather than surface temps. The Chequamegon Bay whitefish interest is a regional trend worth watching as that fishery continues to mature.
Wabash smallmouth and Lake Michigan walleye settle into late-summer patterns
Water temperatures across the Wabash River and southern Lake Michigan typically run in the upper 70s to low 80s by mid-to-late August, though no fresh buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle to confirm current numbers for the Indiana stretch. No angler reports specific to Wabash River or Lake Michigan waters were filed this week, so this report leans on typical late-summer patterns for the region rather than fresh bite intel. Smallmouth bass and channel catfish on the Wabash are usually holding tight to current breaks and deeper holes as afternoon heat pushes fish off shallow flats, while Lake Michigan walleye tend to suspend over deeper basin structure, a pattern regional Midwest anglers are increasingly working with forward-facing sonar, per Fishing the Midwest. Yellow perch activity typically eases through late summer ahead of the fall turnover. Check current Indiana regs before harvesting, and confirm real-time water temps locally before planning a trip this week.
Toledo Bend bass anglers shift deep and early as August heat holds
No buoy or gauge readings and no on-the-water reports specific to Toledo Bend or the Sabine border came through in today's feeds, so this update draws on typical late-August patterns for the reservoir rather than fresh local intel. At this point in summer, Toledo Bend largemouth bass typically pull off the bank into deeper creek channels, timber, and ledges, feeding hardest during the first and last hour of light before the heat shuts things down. Catfish stay dependable on cut bait worked deep through the hottest part of the day. Crappie generally go quiet until water starts cooling toward fall, so expect a slower bite there. White bass and hybrid stripers often group up suspended over channel breaks, chasing shad schools in low light or under cloud cover. Anglers should check current local conditions before launching, since we don't have a fresh temp or flow reading for this stretch of the Sabine system today.
Central Mass bass settle into late-summer patterns
Central Massachusetts ponds and rivers have settled into a classic late-August pattern: warm surface water pushing largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and panfish into tight dawn-and-dusk feeding windows, with slower, deeper action through the heat of midday. We don't have a direct Central MA catch report in hand this week, so we're leaning on regional seasonal norms rather than a specific angler account. Field & Stream's recent coverage of nationwide warm-water trout stress is a useful backdrop — agencies in several states have been restricting cold-water fishing as rivers run hot, a trend that tracks with what stocked-trout waters in this region typically see by late summer. Bass and panfish, by contrast, stay reliably active in warm water, and topwater or finesse presentations worked early or late in the day remain the safer bet than a midday trout run right now. Check current MA fishing regulations before harvesting.
Gulf Heat Keeps Mobile Bay Trout Shallow, Reds Pushing Deep
NOAA buoy 42012 logged 88°F water off the Alabama Gulf coast this week, with light 3 m/s wind and no notable wave action — comfortable enough for an early start before the afternoon heat sets in. Water this warm is squarely dog-days territory, and Salt Strong's latest technique notes advise slowing presentations and hunting redfish in deeper, moving water rather than chasing bait in the shallows once temps push into the 90s. Closer to the Alabama line, one angler fishing Blackwater Bay reported a strong morning on Pensacola Fishing Forum — speckled trout to 22 inches and a 32-inch bull redfish, both working grass-flat edges despite heavy rain the evening before. That's anecdotal forum chatter rather than a confirmed regional trend, but it tracks with the typical late-summer flats pattern for trout and reds along the northern Gulf.
Central Coast bluefin blowout keeps six-pack boats busy
NOAA buoys off the Central Coast are reading in the high 50s this week — 58 to 60°F across stations 46026, 46028, and 46042 — with light-to-moderate wind and no big swell showing in the data. That kind of calm window is exactly what opened up a genuine bluefin blowout on the six-pack fleet earlier this month, per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater: the Codfather out of Alameda scored quality 150- to 170-pound bluefin trolling Nomad's Mad Mac's near the Half Moon Bay Weather Buoy, and Captain Charlie Barberini followed up aboard the Scallawag the next day. Western Outdoor News — Saltwater also flagged unusually warm water pushing dorado and yellowtail into waters south of here, a trend worth watching if it extends further up the coast. Bottom fishing for rockfish and lingcod remains the reliable fallback for boats not chasing tuna offshore.
Dorado, yellowtail flood into a hot Channel Islands Bight
Buoy readings this morning showed 72°F offshore at NOAA buoy 46025 and 69°F closer to shore at buoy 46221, with a modest 2.6-foot swell — comfortable late-summer conditions for the LA Bight and Channel Islands. Western Outdoor News reports the Bight is running hotter than typical for this point in the season, pulling in warm-water visitors: dorado have pushed into the Northern Channel Islands and yellowtail have been spotted cruising inside local harbors, while schools of micro yellowfin tuna, more typically seen south of Cabo, have shown up near San Diego. Surf anglers, meanwhile, are watching a new regulation: Surf Fishing In So Cal and anglers on the AllCoast Forum both flag an emergency rule (Pigeon Point south) capping shore-fished shark hooks at 1.5 inches and banning wire leaders within 1,000 yards of the beach. Surf conditions have also eased after a rough July, opening a solid window for beach anglers.
Bluefin blowout keeps Half Moon Bay trollers busy
Buoy 46026 off San Francisco read 58°F this morning, with a light 6 m/s wind, while the Bodega-area buoy 46013 showed a steadier 9 m/s breeze and 57°F air temp — solid late-summer conditions for the NorCal coast. The bigger story is offshore: earlier this month the six-pack fleet found a bluefin tuna blowout at Half Moon Bay, with the Codfather out of Alameda trolling Nomad's Mad Mac's near the Half Moon Bay Weather Buoy for quality fish in the 150- to 170-pound range, per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater. Inshore, salmon anglers should note the North Coast has faced in-season closures and restricted openings this season, also per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater, so check current zone status before heading out. We're seeing typical late-August conditions for the Bay Area, with bottom species and stripers holding as a reliable fallback while the tuna bite plays out offshore.
Rangeley smallmouth turn on as trout ease off summer heat
Late August in Rangeley Lakes and Androscoggin headwaters country typically means warm surface water in the shallows and coldwater species sliding deeper, and that's the pattern most likely holding right now. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge telemetry came through for this region today, and none of the state agency, shop, or blog feeds we track filed a dedicated on-the-water report for Rangeley or the Androscoggin headwaters this cycle, so we're leaning on typical seasonal behavior rather than fresh testimony. Smallmouth bass usually stay the most reliably active species through late-summer heat, especially on early-morning and low-light topwater presentations. Brook trout and landlocked salmon generally retreat to deeper, cooler water this time of year and respond better to early or late trolling near thermal refuges. Lake trout (togue) typically hold in deep basins and can still produce on downriggers or leadcore. Check current Maine regulations before harvesting, and expect this pattern to hold barring a cold front.
Walleye take the harvest crown on Michigan's Great Lakes
Walleye is now the most harvested species in Michigan's Great Lakes waters, according to the MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report for August 19 — a notable shift the agency is tracking as a multi-year trend. Chinook and other salmon remain in the mix too; the DNR's August 5 report highlighted the hatchery pipeline behind Lake Michigan's salmon fishery, with fish reared at the Platte River State Fish Hatchery before stocking. On the bass side, Fishing the Midwest reports anglers picking off largemouth (including one nearly 5 pounds) by casting moving baits over emerging weed tops, and notes forward-facing sonar is changing how walleye anglers locate fish off traditional structure and bottom-hugging patterns. Typical for late-August in the Great Lakes region, expect fish relating to weed edges, deeper structure, and staging areas as summer transitions toward fall. Check current MI DNR regulations before harvesting.
Deep-summer ledge bite holds at Hartwell and Russell
Georgia anglers are buzzing after Anthony Scroggins boated a new state-record blue catfish on Lake Lanier on Aug. 19, weighed on certified DNR scales, a sign that Piedmont reservoir catfish are still feeding hard through the late-summer heat (per GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News). No buoy or gauge telemetry and no Hartwell- or Russell-specific angler reports came through this cycle, so this update leans on typical late-August patterns for these Savannah River reservoirs: largemouth and spotted bass sliding onto deeper main-lake ledges, humps and brush as the surface layer stays warm, stripers and hybrids pushed below the thermocline and most catchable early or after dark, and crappie holding tight to deep brush. Georgia Wildlife Resources Division also notes its weekly Fishing Report is mid-transition to a rotating regional format, so lake-by-lake detail should sharpen in coming weeks. Check current Georgia regs before harvesting anything.
Illinois River bass and walleye lean on sonar as late-summer patterns hold
With no fresh buoy or gauge readings in today's feed for the Illinois River or southern Lake Michigan, this report leans on regional technique intel and seasonal norms rather than a specific temperature or flow reading. The clearest signal comes from Fishing the Midwest, which notes anglers increasingly using Forward-Facing Sonar to find walleye and bass suspended off bottom structure rather than locked to points, turns, and weedlines the way anglers fished a decade ago. The same source describes largemouth still keying on emerging weed edges with moving baits, a pattern typical for late August across Midwest waters. Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant continues to fund seed-grant research focused on southern Lake Michigan, a reminder the lake's fishery is an active research area even when specific bite reports are thin. Absent local buoy data, treat water temps as typical late-August levels and confirm conditions locally before heading out.
Dawn bite carries Catawba and Roanoke waters through summer heat
Tactical Bassin's latest late-summer roundup lines up well with what these Catawba and Roanoke system waters typically do in late August: bass keying on smaller baitfish, with the bite compressing into the low-light hours as afternoon heat pushes fish tight to shade and deeper cover. There's no live buoy or gauge reading feeding into today's report for these freshwater systems, so treat any water-temp estimate as unavailable and check a local gauge before you launch. Typical for this stretch of summer, largemouth bass should still respond to moving baits and topwater right at first light before sliding off structure through midday. Catfish tend to turn more active after dark once the surface stays warm through the evening. Crappie usually pull back to deeper brush and channel structure this time of year, and white bass or striper activity on these lakes commonly slows during peak thermal stratification. No freshwater-specific NC reports came through in this week's angler intel, so species notes below lean on seasonal norms rather than fresh on-the-water confirmations.
Grand River mouth eyes the turn toward fall salmon season
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came back for the Lake Michigan shoreline or Grand River mouth this cycle, and this week's Michigan DNR Weekly Fishing Report didn't return usable detail either, so today's outlook leans on season and recent lakewide trend rather than a live bite report. The clearest signal available is the WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report's recap "High Numbers for 2024 Lake Michigan Fish Harvest," which logged a record 210,000-plus coho salmon and over 160,000 Chinook lakewide (the most since 2012), crediting stronger alewife survival for supporting stocked fish. That's a season-over-season backdrop, not a report from the water today. Late August is typically when Chinook and coho begin staging off river mouths like the Grand River ahead of the fall push, while smallmouth bass and walleye stay the more dependable near-shore targets in the meantime. Check current Michigan regulations before harvesting anything, and treat specific hotspot claims cautiously until a fresher report comes in.
Yakima and Spokane waters settle into late-summer patterns
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's statewide creel and stocking reports remain the primary reference for Eastern Washington anglers this week, since no fresh buoy or stream-gauge readings came through for the Yakima or Spokane basins in today's data pull. That's consistent with late August: regional attention typically shifts toward early-morning and late-evening windows as afternoon water warms on lower-elevation trout water, while Spokane-area lakes and upper Columbia impoundments tend to keep producing through the heat. Without a specific local creel report in hand for this cycle, this update leans on general seasonal knowledge rather than a fresh count, so check WDFW's site directly before heading out, since stocking activity and access conditions shift week to week. Technical trout water like the Yakima canyon tends to hold up best for anglers fishing early with lighter tippet in low, clear late-summer flows, while smallmouth bass and kokanee around Spokane-area reservoirs typically stay more consistent day to day.
Eastern Shore anglers eye the late-summer flounder and cobia bite
No fresh buoy or gauge telemetry came through for the Chincoteague area this cycle, and this week's angler-intel sweep didn't surface a captain, shop, or state report specific to Virginia's saltwater Eastern Shore — the Virginia DWR items in this batch cover freshwater bass and bluegill technique, not coastal conditions. Absent direct testimony, what's reliable is the seasonal pattern: late August on the Eastern Shore typically keeps summer flounder working the channel edges and inlets, cobia and Spanish mackerel still working the bay mouth and nearshore structure, and striped bass in their typical summer lull as water stays warm, waiting on the first real cool-down to kick off the fall push. Anglers should treat these as general expectations rather than confirmed bites this week — check a local shop or the state agency's current saltwater report before planning a trip, since we don't have on-the-water confirmation to cite for this specific stretch of coast right now.
Susquehanna and Allegheny anglers shift focus as summer heat holds
Pennsylvania's Susquehanna and Allegheny systems are settling into a classic late-August pattern this week. The clearest signal in this cycle's intel is regulatory rather than on-the-water: Outdoor Hub reports the PA Fish and Boat Commission has approved a statewide minimum trout size increase from 7 to 9 inches, taking effect January 2027, the first change to that limit in 43 years. No direct river-by-river reports came through for the Susquehanna or Allegheny this cycle, but the broader seasonal pattern Wired 2 Fish flagged this month, anglers getting effectively "promoted" from trout to bass as water warms and agencies ask for voluntary afternoon closures on stressed cold-water fisheries, tracks with what typically happens on PA's freestone trout water in late summer. Expect a bass-and-catfish-leaning bite through the week, with low-light windows carrying most of the action as afternoon heat builds.
Olympic Peninsula salmon rivers settle into late-summer form
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's statewide creel and stocking report page remains the most current public channel for Olympic Peninsula river conditions, but this week's angler-intel pull came back thin on Peninsula-specific detail for Chinook and coho fisheries, and no NOAA buoy or USGS gauge telemetry was available either, so we're not publishing flow or temperature numbers this cycle rather than guessing at them. What we can offer is seasonal context: late August typically finds summer and fall Chinook still working through Peninsula systems like the Bogachiel, Sol Duc, Hoh, and Queets, while coho are historically just beginning to stage as flows ease and water cools toward fall. Anglers should lean on WDFW's per-river creel updates for the latest counts and always check current regulations before targeting any run, since seasons, gear rules, and bag limits shift by river and by week on the Peninsula. Expect sharper, source-attributed detail as soon as a fuller data and intel pull comes through.
MS Sound anglers slow down as speckled trout, reds hold through peak heat
The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources certified a new youth state saltwater record this week, with Ben Cain of Lexington landing a 10-pound, 13.44-ounce Bonnethead Shark, per MS DMR — a reminder that sharks are actively cruising Sound structure even as peak-summer heat settles in. Direct buoy and gauge readings for the Sound weren't available this cycle, so we're leaning on general seasonal patterns and technique guidance from Salt Strong, which notes that August's peak water temps push predators to slow their pace and redfish in particular to seek deeper, moving water rather than burn energy chasing fast prey. Expect speckled trout and redfish to still be catchable around grass flats and current breaks, just on a slower presentation and tighter dawn/dusk window. Flounder typically settle into a steady late-summer pattern along the Sound's bottom structure. Guides are already booking multi-day charters out of Biloxi to the Chandeleur Islands for mid-September, a sign anglers are starting to look toward the fall shift.
Spanish Mackerel Light Up Cape Lookout as Sound Bite Holds
Spanish mackerel are putting on a strong nearshore show around Cape Lookout, with the bigger fish stacked up close to the point, per Fisherman's Post (NC) reporting out of Morehead City/Atlantic Beach. Up the coast at Swansboro/Emerald Isle, anglers working casting jigs and Gotcha plugs off the pier are connecting with spanish mackerel and bluefish, plus a scattering of king mackerel, also via Fisherman's Post (NC). In the Pamlico Sound surf zone on the Outer Banks, bottom anglers are loading up on sea mullet, bluefish, and croakers, with inshore action reportedly starting to turn on after a slower stretch. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this cycle, so water temp and tide detail aren't available today, but the pattern across all three reports is consistent: fast-moving nearshore species are the play right now, with bottom rigs still the steady producer for table fish along the beachfronts.
Fluke limits stack up in Delaware Bay's deep channels
Flounder are stacking up along Delaware Bay's deep channels this week, with Higbee's Bait and Tackle reporting several limits pushing toward the 23-inch mark as more than 380 boats competed in the Paradise Pounder Tournament, per The Fisherman — Southern NJ. Big Dave's Tackle in Port Elizabeth calls the bite "very hot," with limits to 7 pounds coming off deepwater reef and wreck sites like the Old Grounds, while nearshore spots such as TI and Wildwood Reefs are giving up keepers to 5 pounds on larger Gulp mullets and grubs. Croakers are thick throughout the back bays, inlet, and beachfront into Delaware Bay itself, with Hands Too Bait and Tackle noting fish nearing eating size. Along the surf, giant croakers have pushed into the Bayshore and fluke are stacking next to the jetties, per The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf. It's a solid summer mix overall, with black drum and spot rounding out the catch.
Fluke Grind Continues at Sandy Hook as Warm-Water Species Move In
Fluke fishing out of Atlantic Highlands remains a grind but productive, with Capt Ron's crew working through several drift areas each trip before finding quality flatfish, following a recent stretch where overnight water temps dropped nine degrees to 67°F. Sea bass action has been inconsistent locally, filling in the box some days and going quiet on others. Warmer water pushing into the Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook corridor is drawing Spanish mackerel and bonito into the surf, per Grumpys Tackle and today's On The Water Northern New Jersey report, which also notes a hit-or-miss midshore bluefin jig bite. NJ Fish & Wildlife's Shark River Access highlight, just south of Sandy Hook, flags striped bass, bluefish, and summer flounder as regular shore catches there. With a first-quarter moon and typical late-August warmth, expect this mixed bag of resident flatfish plus visiting warm-water species to hold through the weekend.
Silvers and halibut hold through late August in the Gulf of Alaska
No buoy or gauge readings came back for the Gulf of Alaska this cycle, and this week's Alaska Sea Grant coverage centered on fellowship and staff spotlights rather than on-the-water reports, so there's no fresh angler intel to attribute for this region. What we can offer is seasonal grounding: mid-to-late August sits inside the heart of the coho (silver) salmon run for Gulf of Alaska waters, a run that typically holds through early September before tapering, and halibut fishing is typically still productive through Labor Day in this region before charter effort and bag limits shift into fall patterns. Treat this as a general seasonal baseline rather than a live bite report until buoy data or a captain/shop feed comes back online for this area. Always check current Alaska Department of Fish and Game regulations and closures before harvesting, since seasons and limits can shift mid-season.
High water pushes Pittsburgh-area rivers toward bass and cats
Flow at USGS gauge 03036500 is running high at 8,820 cfs as of early Wednesday afternoon, well above typical late-August levels for the Allegheny system — a signal that recent rain or dam releases have pushed extra water through the Pittsburgh-area tailwaters. Water temperature wasn't available from the gauge, so plan around the water itself: high, likely stained flow is textbook conditions to key on current breaks, wing dams, and eddy seams rather than open river structure. Wired2Fish's recent piece on summer heat nudging anglers from cold-water species toward bass fits the seasonal mood here too, even with high water in the mix. Smallmouth bass and channel catfish tend to feed aggressively when rivers run up and murky, using scent and vibration over sight; walleye and muskellunge typically slide into slower current seams until flows settle. Check the PA Fish & Boat Commission's Biologist Reports for stream-specific updates before you head out, and note Pennsylvania's trout minimum size limit is rising to 9 inches starting in 2027, per Outdoor Hub.