Fishing reports
18472 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Sarasota Bay trout bite stays hot as reds work the morning tide
A 27-inch spotted seatrout came aboard a recent CB's Saltwater Outfitters charter with Capt. Brandon Naeve, who reports the peak summer trout bite is on across Sarasota Bay's inshore grass flats, mangrove shorelines, and passes, with fish feeding aggressively around sunrise and sunset windows. On the redfish side, Capt. Chuck Cress found reds eager on a rising morning tide, working a popping cork with live shrimp for multiple hookups, plus catch-and-release action on small snook using the same rig. Looking offshore, Capt. Rick Grassett's August forecast calls for lingering tarpon early in the month on flies, DOA Baitbusters, or DOA Shrimp in shallow coastal Gulf water before those fish thin out toward inside waters, bridges, and deep grass flats, often keyed to schools of feeding ladyfish. Salt Strong notes that as water temps peak in August, gamefish burn less energy chasing fast-moving prey, so slowing your presentation down is the move right now.
Fall push builds for Gulf of Maine stripers as migration ramps up
The fall striper run is starting to take shape across the Northeast, with Anglers Journal noting that late-summer migrations intensify as daylight wanes and baitfish, birds, and gamefish begin marshaling ahead of the equinox. Saltwater Edge, fishing Rhode Island waters, echoed the shift this week, calling a sluggish July behind them and pointing to fall run fishing as being on the doorstep, with cooler mornings and finally some helpful southerly wind. For technique, On The Water recommends leaning on soft plastics over hard plugs as the primary surf presentation for stripers right now. We don't have direct buoy or tide telemetry for the Gulf of Maine this cycle, so treat water temp and current strength as unconfirmed and check NOAA tide tables before you head out. Bluefish and mackerel should still be workable off structure and piers as late-August holdovers, though no source specifically reported on them this week.
SC anglers push for fall snapper season as summer bite holds
South Carolina is part of a joint push with Florida and Georgia for a month-long red snapper season this October, per Saltwater Sportsman — public comment on the plan closes August 25, so it's a live storyline for Charleston-area bottom fishermen right now. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for the harbor today, so treat sky and swell as forecast-dependent. Regionally, Salt Strong notes that as water temps peak in August fish burn less energy chasing fast prey, pushing redfish toward deeper, moving water during the heat of the day — a pattern worth applying around Charleston's creeks and flats. Further up the Carolina coast, Fisherman's Post reports summer trout biting on slip-cork/live-shrimp rigs and red drum showing in the mix, with spanish mackerel and bluefish working piers on casting jigs — a reasonable read on what's likely developing locally as well.
Gulf Coast anglers slow it down as gag grouper season nears
Redfish across Florida's Gulf Coast are pushing into deeper, moving water as peak-summer heat sets in, per Salt Strong's breakdown of how reds behave once temperatures climb into the 90s — moving water and structure are holding fish, with blue crab and slow-worked artificials doing the work. Salt Strong's broader August advice for the region: slow every presentation down, since fish aren't burning energy chasing fast-moving prey in this heat. Tarpon action has cooled from its spring peak, when Naples-area captains described the migration as "fully underway" with fish intercepted daily alongside an afternoon permit bite; that window has largely passed. Looking ahead, Gulf gag grouper anglers are gearing up for Florida's short September season on the west coast, with Sport Fishing Mag flagging trolling over nearshore structure as the standard approach once it opens. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for this cycle, so check a local forecast and tide table before heading out.
Bluefish and Croakers Keep Outer Banks Surf Anglers Busy
Surf anglers on the Outer Banks are into a solid mixed bag right now: Hugh at TW's Bait and Tackle reports, via Fisherman's Post (NC), that anglers in the surf zone are catching sea mullet, bluefish, and plenty of croakers on bottom rigs, and that inshore action has finally turned on after a slower stretch. That bluefish showing is consistent enough to call the bite genuinely active this week. Farther down the NC coast, the same outlet notes spanish mackerel and bluefish hitting casting jigs and Gotcha plugs off piers near Swansboro/Emerald Isle, plus red drum mixing with flounder, croakers, and assorted sharks in the Carolina Beach surf, a pattern that often works its way up toward the Banks as August rolls on. We don't have fresh buoy or gauge readings this cycle, so treat sky, wind, and water clarity as unknowns until you check a local forecast. The moon sits at First Quarter, giving a moderate tide swing worth timing around dawn and dusk.
Georgia Anglers Eye Fall Snapper Reopening as Summer Heat Holds
Georgia's push for a salvaged red snapper season is the headline for Atlantic coast anglers this week: per Saltwater Sportsman, Florida, South Carolina, and Georgia are asking NOAA Fisheries for a one-month Oct. 1-31 recreational reopening after litigation halted the original 2026 season, with the public-comment window closing Aug. 25 — worth flagging to anyone planning an offshore trip this fall. Inshore, late-August heat is the dominant factor along the coast; per Salt Strong, redfish typically slide into deeper, moving water once temps push into the 90s rather than chasing bait in the shallows, a pattern that should hold through the weekend. The Georgia Wildlife Resources Division is also retooling its weekly report into a region-by-region rotation starting this cycle, so state-level bite specifics are thinner than usual right now. No fresh buoy or gauge readings were available for this update.
Cape Cod Bay stripers hit poppers as fall run edges closer
A 32-inch striped bass came aboard on a popper in Wareham this week, per Coastal Angler Magazine, a solid sign that topwater stripers are still firing along the Massachusetts coast heading into late August. In Cape Cod Bay itself, WHOI Sea Grant's drifter study offers a useful current cue: drifters released July 20 exited the bay within just two days, a reminder of how quickly water and bait get flushed north out of the bay on the prevailing current. Saltwater Edge, working the southern New England coast, reports a lackluster July giving way to crisper mornings and southerly winds, with the fall run now considered close at hand. On The Water also flags a tiger shark taken from a Cape Cod beach and roughtail stingrays testing Northeast surf anglers, both signs bigger predators are pushing into the shallows as summer winds down.
Redfish retreat to deeper moving water as Louisiana heat holds
With no fresh buoy or gauge readings in for the Gulf Coast & Delta today, the clearest read on conditions comes from angler behavior rather than instruments. Salt Strong's summer conditions piece notes that once water temps push into the 90s, redfish move off the shallow flats and into deeper, moving water instead of chasing fast presentations, and anglers working blue crab slow through that current are the ones getting bit. The same outlet's broader dog-days advice for Gulf predators is consistent: slow down, because fish aren't burning energy chasing fast-moving prey in this heat. Speckled trout should follow the same logic through the hottest stretch of the afternoon, with better windows likely at dawn and dusk. Flounder stay a background player until the fall push builds later in the season. LA Sea Grant's recent Iberia Parish oyster-industry sessions are a reminder that estuary and marsh health along the Delta keeps shaping where bait, and the predators chasing it, concentrate this time of year.
Fall Run Buzz Builds as Stripers Turn to Soft Plastics
A 1,260-pound blue marlin landed off Massachusetts this month set a new East Coast benchmark, per On The Water, underscoring how much offshore action is stacking up as summer peaks. Closer to the beach, striped bass remain the headline draw in Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound; On The Water's surf desk notes anglers are leaning on soft plastics over hard plugs to consistently connect with bigger fish working the sand. Just west in Rhode Island waters, Saltwater Edge Blog describes a lackluster July giving way to crisp mornings and building southerly winds, the kind of shift that typically signals fall run fishing is on the doorstep for southern New England, Buzzards Bay included. Bluefish and summer flounder are typically active through late August in these waters, though no specific reports came in this week. Cape Cod beaches also saw a tiger shark landed recently, per OTW Surfcasting, a reminder that bigger predators are moving inshore as bait schools thicken.
Speckled trout, redfish keep biting near Pensacola
An angler on the Pensacola Fishing Forum reported a strong Blackwater Bay outing on 8/20, boating a dozen speckled trout up to 22 inches plus a 32-inch bull redfish, with trout holding on the edges and middle of the grass flats and reds working just outside them — SSR foil and blue-colored lures were the ticket, and steady rain the evening before didn't slow the bite. That's a single report rather than a confirmed pattern, but it lines up with what we'd expect from Panhandle back-bays in late August. Offshore, Sport Fishing Mag's coverage of Gulf gag grouper trolling points to a short September season on Florida's west coast, so grouper activity should stay quiet in Panhandle waters for now — check current state regs before targeting them. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings were available for this update, so treat water temp and tide timing as unknowns until the next check.
Fall striper push nears Long Island Sound as summer bite winds down
Saltwater Edge, the Rhode Island shop covering Southern New England's inshore scene, opened this week's forecast calling July 'lackluster' before predicting 'fall run fishing is on our doorstep' as mornings finally cooled and southerly winds returned, a read that applies broadly to Long Island Sound too since the same striper migration moves through both waters. No CT-specific buoy or bite report came through this cycle, so treat striper activity here as building rather than confirmed hot. On The Water's surf desk is already pushing anglers toward soft plastics over hard plugs for stripers working the beach, and their fluke desk is stressing sharper hooksets to convert more short strikes into keepers as that bite likely tapers into fall. Blue crabbers can work after dark for better results per On The Water's night-crabbing guide. With a First Quarter moon this week, expect moderate tidal swings rather than the bigger pushes of a full or new moon.
Late-summer salmon still running deep off Indiana's Lake Michigan shore
Lake Michigan's broader salmon fishery continues riding real momentum — the WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report notes the 2024 season produced a record coho salmon harvest (over 210,000 fish) and the largest Chinook take since 2012, a trend tied to strong recent alewife survival supporting stocked fish lakewide. No buoy or gauge readings were available for this stretch of the Indiana shoreline today, so we don't have a current surface-temp reading in hand. Typical for late August, Chinook and coho salmon should be holding deep and cool well off the beach, with downriggers and spoons the standard presentation. Yellow perch fishing remains a shore and pier staple this time of year on crawler harnesses or minnows worked near structure, and lake trout stay a slower, steady deep-water producer. Check current state regulations before harvesting, and confirm local surface temps before heading out — this report leans on seasonal patterns rather than fresh on-the-water intel for this specific stretch.
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.