Fishing reports
18670 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
GA coast waits on fall snapper season as inshore bite holds
Georgia's Atlantic coast enters the back half of August with recreational red snapper still shut down after a commercial-fishing lawsuit halted the 2026 season, but per Saltwater Sportsman, Georgia is joining Florida and South Carolina in pushing NOAA Fisheries for a one-month Oct. 1-31 exempted season, with public comment open through Aug. 25. Direct saltwater reports for the coast itself were thin in this week's intel pull. The closest ground-truth came from GA Sportsman's Southern Waters report (Aug. 15), covering the Altamaha, Ocmulgee, and Savannah river systems: a good bass bite despite scorching heat, with those rivers mostly falling or holding steady, a signal worth watching since that freshwater feeds the coastal marsh system. Typical mid-August staples like redfish, seatrout, and flounder should still be holding their usual grass-edge and dock-light patterns through the heat, though we don't have a direct coastal report confirming it this cycle.
Bonito Push Into Cape Cod Bay as Striper Blitzes Continue
Bonito have finally pushed into Cape Cod Bay, with fish showing at Provincetown and Wood End before working into the harbor, per Goose Hummock Shop's report in The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands. Anglers are now finding bones alongside four-pound bluefish anywhere from the Brewster Flats to inside Wellfleet Harbor. The Fisherman (Northeast)'s New England video forecast corroborates the timing, noting bonito numbers surging around Cape Cod from the Canal to Chatham to Wood End this past week. Striped bass remain the bay's bread and butter — Goose Hummock describes a decent bite along the bay shore plus a few big schools of jumbo bass holding around Provincetown, with anglers live-lining mackerel picking off quality fish. That same Fisherman forecast noted striper blitzes running from Narragansett up through Plymouth, suggesting the bay-wide bite has real momentum. With no fresh buoy or gauge readings available for this stretch, check a local forecast before heading out.
Marsh redfish and trout hold steady through Louisiana's dog days
Live buoy and gauge telemetry for the Louisiana Gulf Coast and Delta system isn't reporting this cycle, so today's read leans on seasonal pattern rather than a fresh temp or flow number. Per Sport Fishing Mag's recent rundown of the Gulf's hardest-fighting fish, the region's deep roster of inshore and offshore species keeps LA anglers busy through late summer, with redfish remaining the marsh-edge staple as water stays warm into mid-August. Speckled trout typically hold along grass lines and drains this time of year, feeding heaviest around tide changes in the cooler early-morning and evening hours as Gulf Coast heat peaks. Black drum continue working Delta structure and deeper holes, while flounder stay comparatively quiet until the fall migration kicks in. With no confirmed on-the-water reports specific to Louisiana in this cycle's feed, treat the species status below as a seasonal baseline rather than a live bite report, and check conditions locally before running the marsh.
Northwoods lakes shift into late-summer transition mode
Northwoods lake temperatures are sliding out of the sticky high-summer groove. Rollie & Helen's Musky Shop (WI) reported mid-70s readings after a run of cold fronts earlier in August, and their latest musky outlook flags the current stretch as one of the most dynamic windows of the season: the pivot between summer structure patterns and the first fall movement. The shop is steering anglers toward downsizing rubber baits as forage shifts with the cooling trend. Walleye fishing follows the same seasonal cue. Fishing the Midwest notes that while forward-facing sonar has changed where anglers find suspended fish off traditional bottom structure, tried-and-true jigging with live bait and crawler-tipped rigs still produces. Smallmouth bass, a Northwoods staple, remain a solid bet through this transition too. Expect a moving, mixed-bag bite this week as lakes settle into the late-summer-to-fall handoff, so plan on a range of presentations rather than one game plan.
Late-Summer Walleye Anglers Lean on Electronics Across the Platte and Missouri
Forward-facing and side-imaging sonar keep reshaping how Midwest walleye anglers work summer water, and it's the clearest signal in this week's intel: Wired 2 Fish's technique breakdown notes anglers now tracking individual fish and watching them react to a jig in real time rather than just marking structure, a shift Fishing the Midwest has also been writing about as anglers debate whether traditional live-bait rigs and crankbait trolling still hold up against electronics-driven jigging. No direct catch reports came in for the Platte or Missouri corridor this cycle, so treat species status below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed bite. Mid-August typically keeps channel catfish and white bass active in warm, stained water, while walleye and smallmouth tend to slide toward dawn/dusk patterns and deeper breaks as surface temps hold high. Electronics-savvy anglers willing to hunt fish rather than wait on them are the ones getting bit right now.
Black bass and panfish keep the bite going across NY waters
The NY DEC's Fishing Line newsletter (Aug. 14 issue) points anglers toward its new Tackle Box tool for locating bass and walleye water, a sign that black bass season, which DEC flagged as approaching back in its June 12 issue, is now in full summer swing statewide. Panfish action remains a reliable go-to in the heat, per DEC's July 31 issue, which noted bluegill and pumpkinseed biting readily in warm, shallow water statewide, including around New York City waters. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Hudson Valley or Finger Lakes specifically today, so treat water temps as typical for mid-August until local data updates. Elsewhere in the state, western NY captains (per Brookdog Fishing Co. on Lake Erie) are reporting a red-hot walleye bite, a useful signal for Finger Lakes walleye anglers watching similar late-summer patterns develop closer to home.
Dawn Trout and Redfish Bite Holds as MS Seatrout Rules Shift
Anglers working early-morning water on the northern Gulf Coast are still finding fish before sunrise: a report on the Pensacola Fishing Forum describes an 18-inch speckled trout and a 22-inch red drum taken before 6 a.m. on custom-painted wake baits in Blackwater Bay, a bite pattern typical for Mississippi Sound water this time of year as well. Offshore, another forum post from the Mexico Beach area describes a tougher day for red snapper (one short of a limit) but a full limit of vermilion snapper (mingos) plus a bonus scamp and triggerfish. Closer to home, MS DMR has ordered the commercial spotted seatrout season closed in state waters starting 11:59 p.m. on August 18, 2026, a regulatory shift worth noting, though it applies to the commercial fishery rather than recreational limits. No live buoy or gauge readings were available for the Sound this cycle, so plan trips around typical August tide and temperature patterns.
Delaware Bay croakers and kingfish load up the back bay
Croaker are stacked thick in the Delaware Bay backwaters — Higbee's Bait and Tackle reports Fortescue Beach giving up croakers, spot and white perch, with Fortescue Creek loaded with perch and plenty of crabs in the traps, and boaters working the lower bay mixing in flounder, spot, croakers and kingfish, including a black drum pushing 22 pounds. Big Dave's Tackle backs up the same croaker-kingfish-flounder pattern off Higbee's Beach and notes the bay's bridges and lighthouses are holding small weakfish, tog and sheepshead to 8 pounds. Down at Cape May, Hands Too Bait and Tackle calls the fluke bite "really hot" on bucktails with teasers tipped in mackerel strips and minnows worked off the jetties, with croakers thick at Higbee's Beach and the Ferry Jetty, kingfish loading up near Wildwood Crest, tog and sheepshead working the Cape May Inlet, and even a cobia taken on a live-lined eel in the surf.
Doormat Fluke and Sea Bass Keep Sandy Hook Boats Busy
Fluke and black sea bass are carrying the bite in Sandy Hook Bay and Raritan Bay right now. Capt Ron's out of Atlantic Highlands has posted keeper counts of two and three fish per angler for five straight days, with pool winners running 4 to 5-plus pounds — Wednesday's board topped out at 4lb 6oz and Friday's at 5lb 8oz, per Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands NJ. Sea bass are riding along as a steady bonus fish on the same bottom drifts. To the south, Golden Eagle Fishing and Skylarker (The Fisherman — Northern NJ) report bluefish mixed with bonito on Belmar-area party boats, and OTW Northern New Jersey notes fluking running hot and cold from the back rivers out to the reefs, with bonito and Spanish mackerel showing off the beaches and inlets. Striped bass activity is quiet for now, typical for mid-August before the fall push. Waxing Crescent moon this week, so plan drifts around the better tide swings.
Pine Barrens Pickerel Wake Up as Cedar Waters Get a Rain Boost
Chain pickerel are turning on in the tannic cedar-water streams that thread through the Pine Barrens, with tackle shops along the Delaware River & Pine Barrens corridor crediting recent rain for the improved bite. Hands Too Bait and Tackle, reporting via The Fisherman's NJ/DE Freshwater roundup, says pickerel action in the nearby cedar waters has picked up since the last soaking, while bass fishing in local campground ponds continues to supply the bulk of the catch on simple worm-and-minnow presentations. Allen's Dock echoes the same pattern, noting decent pickerel in the cedar waters and a solid minnow bite on largemouth at Stafford Forge Pond. Catfishing is also improving at Ponderlodge Lake, especially in the evenings, per Hands Too. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for this cycle, so treat flow and temperature as seasonal August norms until the next update. Early and late remain the productive windows across the board.
Fluke and sea bass limits stack up along the Jersey Shore
Fluke and sea bass are carrying the Jersey Shore right now. Blue Chip Sportfishing calls the sea bass bite "red hot," with boats limiting out on almost every trip, while Capt Ron's out of Atlantic Highlands landed fluke and sea bass from 3 to 5 pounds once the tide turned. The Fisherman's Northern NJ reports have bigger fluke pushing closer to shore aboard the Miss Belmar Princess, and keeper fluke to 23 inches are coming from Townsend's Inlet per The Fisherman's NJ/DE Surf report. Offshore, bluefin tuna from 25 to 90 pounds are working the 30-mile range off Barnegat Inlet and the canyon edges near the Tea Cup and Elephant Trunk, according to Fishermans HQ LBI and The Fisherman's NJ/DE Offshore desk. Bonito and Spanish mackerel have moved onto northern beaches per OTW Northern New Jersey, and Blue Chip says the shark bite has "busted wide open," with multiple mako releases this week.
Merrimack smallmouth stay steady as late-summer flows drop
Smallmouth bass remain the most dependable bite on the Merrimack River this week, with Roger Aziz Jr.'s report for The Fisherman — New England Freshwater calling the action "superb," fish running 10 inches to 2 pounds, and spinnerbaits producing best from the Lawrence dam down through Haverhill. The USGS gauge on the river is holding at a low, stable 21.9 cfs, consistent with typical mid-August base flow, and the clearer water that comes with it tends to favor finesse presentations worked slow along seams and current breaks. Elsewhere in this week's New England Freshwater roundup, largemouth bass continued to show for shore anglers fishing shiners around pond structure, including a report from Lake Whitehall in Milford. We didn't see a direct report out of Lake Winnipesaukee this cycle, so anglers there should lean on typical late-summer patterns until fresher intel comes in.
Delta stripers and bass settle into a summer low-light pattern
The Sacramento River gauge at Freeport (USGS 11447650) logged 70°F water and a strong flow near 19,300 cfs as of Sunday evening, conditions consistent with a typical mid-August push through the Delta. Detailed bite reports specific to the Delta channels were thin in this pull — NorCal Fish Reports maintains a dedicated Delta section but didn't surface fresh specifics today, so we're leaning on the hydrology and seasonal norms rather than claiming a hot bite nobody reported. At 70°F, Delta stripers typically hold in deeper, cooler current breaks during the day, pushing shallow to ambush bait in the early morning and evening. Largemouth bass fishing in the Delta's tule-lined sloughs is a classic August pattern, with fish tucked into shade and vegetation as afternoon heat builds. Sturgeon and catfish remain steady bottom options in the deeper channel holes. Check state regs before harvesting.
Colorado River tailwater stays strong through high late-summer flows
The Colorado River near the Lees Ferry stretch is running high this week, with the USGS gauge at site 09380000 logging 8,740 cfs and a water temperature of 69°F as of Saturday evening. That's a solid push of water for mid-August, and it's worth planning around before wading or launching. None of this week's angler-intel feeds carried direct, on-the-water reports for the Colorado or Salt River corridors in Arizona, so we're leaning on the hydrology and typical seasonal patterns rather than fresh bite reports. Historically, elevated tailwater flows this time of year push trout and bass into softer current seams and eddies out of the main push, while catfish stay opportunistic around structure regardless of flow. Anglers should check the current release schedule before heading out, since flow swings on a dam-controlled river can change wading conditions quickly. We'd treat this as a normal, workable late-summer stretch rather than anything unusual.
Fall Chinook run keeps Columbia River anglers trolling near Chinook Landing
USGS gauge 14105700 read the Columbia at 72°F with flow near 112,000 cfs as of Saturday evening, warm water that tends to push fall Chinook activity into the cooler morning and evening hours. Direct shop, charter, or state-agency reporting for the Columbia salmon and sturgeon fishery wasn't in this week's feeds, so this report leans on the gauge reading and general seasonal knowledge rather than fresh confirmed bite reports. Over on IFish.net's fishing reports forum, anglers described active trolling near Chinook Landing this week, including gear lost overboard while running flashers — a sign boats are out working the run even without confirmed catch counts. Typically, August has fall Chinook building in the lower Columbia while summer steelhead slow down in the heat and sturgeon anglers work deeper current seams as flow stays elevated. Check current ODFW regulations before targeting or harvesting salmon or sturgeon, since seasons and limits shift through the run.
Eastern Sierra trout favor early light as summer heat holds
Truckee River flows near Reno were holding around 350 cfs as of late July, per Reno Fly Shop (NV), running close to the river's natural channel and making wading and fish-spotting easier this summer. That shop's read extends onto the California side of the drainage too: hot air temperatures are pushing trout's peak feeding window earlier in the day, with fish noticeably less active by midday. Reno Fly Shop recommends getting out early and working water west of town, including onto the California side, where flows stay a touch cooler. USGS gauge 10265200 has no fresh reading this cycle, so hard numbers for the immediate Eastern Sierra stretch are thin right now. Typical for mid-August in this high country, the freshwater bite favors dawn and dusk over the heat of the day, with terrestrial patterns and morning hatches drawing the most attention from Sierra trout at the moment.
Driftless browns keep eating streamers despite high water
USGS gauge 05407000 is reading a swollen 4,460 cfs this week, well above the gentle spring-creek flows the Driftless Area is known for, so expect stronger current and likely stained water on coulee-country streams. The bite hasn't shut down, though: MidCurrent's Tying Tuesday roundup highlights Root River Rod Co's go-to Driftless pattern, a pine squirrel jig streamer built to bounce a rocky bottom without hanging up in tight, technical water, exactly the presentation these high, pushy flows call for. Trout Unlimited's late-summer notes also carry a standing caution worth heeding this time of year: when water runs warm, it's worth easing off trout and giving other species a turn to protect fish that are already working hard against heat and current. No water temperature reading came through on this gauge, so treat that TU caution as a planning note rather than a confirmed local condition and check it yourself streamside before you commit to a long fight.
Offshore Red Snapper Holds Steady as Inshore Bite Turns Tough
Offshore fishing remains steady for red snapper according to this week's Galveston Daily News — Reel Report, even as the inshore bite turned into a bit of a grind over the weekend, with tidal movement getting most of the blame. Mid-coast action is picking up around Seadrift, where Capt. Jeff Larson has stayed busy, and the Sylvan Beach Fishing Pier has reopened after tropical systems damaged several public piers along the coast. This weekend's Reel Dirty Drum Tournament out of Thompson's Bait Camp has anglers weighing slot redfish and trout for the stringer, a good read on what's keeping the bays busy. Further down the coast, TexasFishingTips has posted fresh video reports out of Baffin Bay/Laguna Madre, Aransas Pass, and Rockport-Copano/Mesquite Bay with local captains. We're seeing a coast still producing, just working a little harder for it inshore.
Summer holding patterns keep Erie walleye and river cats biting
Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch flags a shift worth watching for Lake Erie regulars this week: forward-facing sonar has increasingly put summer walleye suspended off structure rather than glued to bottom the way conventional jigging wisdom long assumed. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for Lake Erie or the Ohio River this cycle, so this report leans on the typical mid-August pattern rather than a live snapshot. Expect walleye holding over main-lake reefs and deeper basin structure as surface water stays warm, smallmouth bass working rock piles and drop-offs, and yellow perch schooling suspended where electronics do the finding rather than bottom bouncing. On the Ohio River, channel catfish are typically most active after dark through the last stretch of summer heat. Tactical Bassin's "junk fishing" approach for tough summer days, rotating baits quickly through a spot instead of committing to one presentation, is a reasonable template for either system right now. Check state regs before harvesting anything you plan to keep this week.
Newport anglers push into peak summer Chinook season
Regulatory attention this week sits right on the Oregon-California line: Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reports NOAA Fisheries closed and modified ocean salmon seasons along California's north coast in late July, including the Klamath Management Zone that runs up to the Oregon border, a useful reminder for anyone running south of the state line to double-check current boundaries before targeting Chinook. Closer to home, IFish.net forum chatter out of Newport points to steady late-summer boat and cleaning-station traffic, consistent with the ocean Chinook effort Oregon ports typically see this time of year. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this update, so we're leaning on seasonal patterns rather than hard numbers: nearshore reefs should keep giving up rockfish and lingcod, ocean-side Dungeness crab gear is worth soaking, and albacore stay a wildcard until warmer water pushes closer to the beach. Check current ODFW regs before keeping anything.
Highland Lakes settle into typical August deep-water patterns
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for Travis, LBJ, or Buchanan this cycle, and none of today's shop, blog, or forum feeds filed a direct report from the Highland Lakes chain, so this update leans on typical August patterns for these Colorado River reservoirs rather than fresh on-the-water intel. Regionally, My Canyon Lake Fishing reports a nearby Hill Country reservoir running well above last year's pool level after recent rain, a trend worth noting since higher water on connected Central Texas lakes generally means more flooded brush and better ambush structure through late summer. On Travis, LBJ, and Buchanan specifically, expect the standard mid-August pattern: largemouth and striped bass holding deep on main-lake points and creek channels during peak afternoon heat, with catfish and white bass more catchable in low light. Check current TPWD regulations before keeping striped bass.
Snook Bite Stays Hot on the Treasure Coast as Snapper Season Stalls
Snook fishing has been excellent up and down the Treasure Coast over the past few weeks, per Snook Nook (FL), with steady numbers of quality fish including many in the 40-inch-plus range coming from anglers working the St. Lucie Inlet and running the beach on live croakers and threadfins; when the inlet bite slows, a dead threadfin fished on bottom has also produced. Remember snook season stays closed through August, reopening September 1, so it's catch-and-release only for now. Offshore, red snapper is stuck in limbo: CCA Florida reports a federal court injunction blocked the 2026 South Atlantic red snapper Exempted Fishing Permit pilot programs just hours before Florida's season was set to open, and Saltwater Sportsman notes Florida, Georgia and South Carolina are now pushing NOAA for a fallback Oct. 1-31 season. Closer to the beach, sailfish showed up too, with a Snook Nook-led crew going 7-for-9 on bites at the One More Bite Sailfish Challenge.
Spanish mackerel light up the Cape Lookout coast
Spanish mackerel are turning on hard along the Cape Lookout stretch, with anglers throwing casting jigs and Gotcha plugs from the pier at Swansboro/Emerald Isle hooking spanish mackerel and bluefish, plus a few king mackerel mixed in, per Fisherman's Post. Nearshore anglers working out of Morehead/Atlantic Beach report a good spanish mackerel bite as well, with the bigger fish showing up right around Cape Lookout itself. Further out, bottom fishing has been productive for that same Morehead/Atlantic Beach crowd. To the north on the Pamlico Sound side, TW's Bait and Tackle in the OBX/Northern Beaches surf zone has anglers on sea mullet, bluefish, and plenty of croakers, and the inshore bite there has finally picked up after a slower stretch, per Fisherman's Post. No buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, so lean on these reports and check a current local forecast before heading out. Overall, a solid mid-August pattern up and down this stretch of coast.
Summer heat pushes Okeechobee bass into tight, huntable schools
No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for Lake Okeechobee or the St. Johns River this cycle, and today's angler-intel feeds didn't carry a direct on-the-water report from either fishery, so this update leans on general late-summer patterns rather than a specific temperature or flow number. One useful technique signal did come through: Tactical Bassin's coverage of Lake Chickamauga this week describes bass grouping tightly in summer heat and rewarding anglers who cover water and rotate baits rather than sit on one spot, a pattern that typically holds true across Florida's warm-water lakes and rivers too. Expect largemouth to bunch around matted vegetation, deeper cover, and shade during peak daylight, with the better bite windows at dawn and dusk. Bluegill should stay catchable around shoreline cover, catfish typically turn on after dark in this heat, and crappie usually slip deeper and get tougher this time of year. Check current FWC regulations before harvesting.