Fishing reports
18726 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Newport trollers stay on salmon as Oregon Coast conditions hold light
Buoy readings along the Oregon Coast are steady this week, with NOAA buoy 46002 reporting 65°F and buoy 46029 at 63°F near the Columbia River bar approach, and winds light across all three monitored stations (1-4 m/s). Direct shop or charter intel out of the Oregon Coast is thin this cycle, but chatter on IFish.net Fishing Reports points to active salmon trolling out of Newport, including anglers running flashers and gear lost off the back of boats near Highway 20, typical of a working Chinook bite. Western Outdoor News — Saltwater also flagged fresh in-season ocean salmon closures just south on California's north coast, a reminder for Oregon anglers to double check current state regs before harvesting. With cool, stable water and calm winds, bottomfish and nearshore structure fishing should stay a reliable fallback while the salmon program plays out.
Strong Osage River flow reshapes summer pattern at Lake of the Ozarks
The USGS gauge on the Osage River (06934500) read 85°F water and a heavy 61,500 cfs flow Wednesday afternoon, signaling sustained power generation at Bagnell Dam layered on top of typical late-summer heat. That combination pushes Lake of the Ozarks largemouth bass and crappie off the banks and into deeper, cooler water for most of the daylight hours. The stirred current below the dam concentrates baitfish and gives walleye and white bass a reason to stage on current seams. Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch notes summer walleye increasingly show up off traditional bottom structure as anglers lean on forward-facing sonar to track suspended fish, a pattern worth testing in the Osage's swift water. Wired2Fish points to dawn and dusk "jumps" as the most reliable window for aggressive bass and baitfish activity during peak summer heat. Catfish should stay the steadiest bite through the heat, especially after dark. No MO-specific angler reports came in this cycle, so species calls below lean on seasonal defaults rather than confirmed bites.
Perdido Pass Kings Bite as Mobile Bay Trout Turn Stingy
Buoy 42012 off the Alabama coast read 87°F Wednesday, with a light 2-3 foot chop and wind near 12 knots, warm enough that Salt Strong's recent piece on the summer fishing slump rings true for Mobile Bay right now. An angler fishing out of Perdido Pass reported a livewell stocked with pinfish, squid, and cigar minnows, picking through short vermilion snapper before a flat line got smashed by a king mackerel headed for the smoker, per a report on the Pensacola Fishing Forum. A separate Mobile Bay post on the same forum called it a hot bite overall this year, though speckled trout were stingy on the day, with anglers pushed off the water by midmorning chop. With water this warm, we're seeing the pattern favor early starts and moving baits over sitting on one spot.
Bluefin blowout keeps Central Coast run boats busy
Central Coast run boats are riding a bluefin blowout that broke loose once the ocean calmed in early August. Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reports the Codfather out of Alameda drew first blood trolling Nomad's Mad Mac's near the Half Moon Bay Weather Buoy, boating quality bluefin in the 150- to 170-pound class, with Captain Charlie Barberini's Scallawag close behind. Our buoy readings back the calm-water setup: light 3-5 m/s wind and water in the low 60s (63°F at buoy 46042, 64°F at 46028, a cooler 59°F further out at 46026). The same outlet flags an unusually warm-water push this El Niño season, sending dorado and small yellowfin tuna as far north as the Channel Islands, a sign the exotic bite may keep extending up the coast. Rockfish and lingcod grounds should hold their typical August pace, though we have no fresh reports on that bite this week. Surf and pier anglers should confirm current shark-gear rules before wetting a line, per chatter on AllCoast Forum.
Warm water pulls dorado and yellowtail into the Channel Islands
NOAA buoy 46221 is reading 74°F with a manageable 2.6-foot swell, and that unusually warm water is exactly what's pulling exotics into the Bight. Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reports dorado have pushed all the way into the Northern Channel Islands and yellowtail are showing up cruising inside local harbors, though the tuna bite is still building: only micro-sized yellowfin, more typical of waters near Cabo, have turned up off San Diego so far. On the beach, Surf Fishing in So Cal calls this the best surf-fishing opportunity of the year after a rough May-through-July stretch of elevated surf that's finally laying down. Shore anglers targeting sharks or white seabass need to adjust tackle too: an emergency wire-leader ban is now enforced from Pigeon Point south, a change Surf Fishing in So Cal and anglers on AllCoast Forum both confirm is catching people off guard.
Bluefin blowout keeps Half Moon Bay boats busy
Buoy 46026 offshore of San Francisco Bay read 59°F this week with wind holding light at roughly 3 m/s, calm conditions that have been enough to get boats out to the tuna grounds. Per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater, the Codfather out of Alameda found bluefin blowing up off Half Moon Bay on August 5, trolling Nomad's Mad Mac's near the Half Moon Bay Weather Buoy for two fish in the 150-170 pound class, with another six-pack boat scoring the following day. Inshore, striped bass and rockfish remain the reliable bread-and-butter targets for SF Bay & Bodega anglers this time of year, typical for August. Salmon anglers should note per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater that NMFS closed the Klamath Management Zone and limited the Fort Bragg Management Area to a short August window on the North Coast; check current zone status before planning a salmon trip anywhere along the coast.
Fluke Bite Heats Up in Delaware Bay as Stripers Hold in the Creeks
NOAA buoy 44009 at the mouth of Delaware Bay is reading warm summer water in the high 70s with light winds, and the bay's inshore action matches the calm conditions. Fluke fishing is "really hot right now" per Hands Too Bait and Tackle, with bucktail-and-teaser rigs tipped in mackerel strips and minnows scoring keeper-class flounder by the jetties. Croakers are thick at Higbee's Beach and the Ferry Jetty, and Smith's Bait Shop reports 20 to 24-inch striped bass working the Woodland Beach pier and tidal creeks on bloodworms and Fishbites, alongside flounder, black drum, and trout at Bowers Beach Jetty. Delaware Bay structure like bridges and lighthouses is holding weakfish, tog, and sheepshead to 8 pounds, per The Fisherman's Southern NJ report. Offshore, Eric Burnley notes early-week wind and rain gave way to improving access from the bays to the canyons. Delaware Surf Fishing notes the state's 20-24 inch striped bass slot limit remains in effect, so check current regs before keeping fish.
Chesapeake Rockfish Closure Shifts Anglers to Flounder, Croaker, Drum
Water temps sit at 79°F per NOAA buoy 44009, with light winds and calm seas keeping the Bay comfortable this week. Maryland DNR closed striped bass fishing for the month of August to protect young fish, per On The Water, so rockfish are off the table for now. The Fisherman — DE/MD/Chesapeake reports anglers pivoting hard: Smith's Bait Shop has croaker stacking up on bloodworms and Fishbites, flounder taking jigs tipped with Gulp or live minnows, black drum coming on clams, and trout working bucktails dressed with yellow worms or Gulp crawfish. Offshore, Hook 'em and Cook 'em notes private boats limiting on bluefin tuna at the Hambone and head boats mixing sea bass with flounder on structure trips when weather cooperates. With the new moon overhead, expect stronger tidal swings to keep bait, and predators, moving through the creeks and jetties.
August lull tests Chesapeake mouth anglers as neighbors protect stripers
No live buoy or gauge readings came through for the Chesapeake mouth this cycle, so we're leaning on regional intel and seasonal norms rather than a fresh number. The clearest signal in today's feeds comes from just north of VA waters: On The Water reports Maryland has closed striped bass harvest through August to protect this year's young fish, a reminder that the striper fishery under pressure up the bay is the same stock Virginia anglers share, even though Virginia's own regulations differ — check current state rules before keeping any striper. Direct bite reports for the Chesapeake mouth itself were thin across today's shop, charter, and agency feeds, so the species notes below reflect typical August patterns rather than confirmed catches. Late-summer heat normally pushes striper action toward early/late hours while red drum, speckled trout, and Spanish mackerel hold channel edges and bait pods through the peak of the day.
Northwoods walleye lakes settle into a steady August rhythm
Water temperatures on Northwoods lakes are holding in the mid-70s after cool nights and a couple of timely cold fronts, per Rollie & Helen's Musky Shop's early-August report, and the shop describes a consistent bite across species now that conditions have settled into a stable mid-summer pattern. Walleye anglers are still finding fish on traditional jig-and-leech and crawler-harness presentations, though Fishing the Midwest notes forward-facing sonar has shifted many anglers away from the old bottom-only mindset toward working suspended fish over structure and points. Musky activity is riding the summer weather swings, with barometric shifts around passing thunderstorms opening short windows of aggressive activity, per the same shop's coverage. No direct buoy or gauge readings came through for this region today, so treat conditions as stable-typical for August until a fresh reading lands. Smallmouth bass and panfish should stay catchable on that same steady pattern.
Peak-season salmon push keeps Puget Sound anglers busy
Mid-August sits squarely in the peak window for Washington's saltwater salmon fisheries, with Chinook and coho typically pushing through Puget Sound and the outer coast toward natal rivers this time of year. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this region today, so treat conditions as typical late-summer stable: warm surface water, light prevailing winds, and outgoing tides that usually stack baitfish near points and rips. WDFW's statewide creel and catch reporting program, which tracks angler interviews and stocking activity region by region, remains the best real-time gauge of what is actually coming over the rail right now, and anglers should pull the current reports before planning a trip. Halibut and bottomfish action typically holds up through August on the coast, though season structure and bag limits shift, so confirm current regulations before targeting them. With no shop, charter, or agency intel specific to Washington saltwater in today's feed, this update leans on seasonal norms rather than fresh on-the-water reports.
Snapper Bite Stays Red-Hot in the Keys as Red Snapper Season Hangs in Limbo
Yellowtail and mutton snapper have been the story on the reef, with ALL IN Key West describing "huge yellowtails" and mutton snapper "chewing like crazy" during recent full-moon spawns, a pattern that typically carries reef action well into late summer. Bud n' Mary's Islamorada echoed the same theme in its early-summer report, pointing anglers toward tarpon on the bridges, mahi offshore in the Gulf Stream, and yellowtail on the reef as the season's most productive stretch. Offshore, mixed-bag trips have turned up grouper, cobia and kingfish per ALL IN Key West. The bigger story for Keys bottom fishermen right now is regulatory: CCA Florida and Saltwater Sportsman both flag a federal court injunction that blocked the 2026 South Atlantic red snapper pilot season, with states now pushing a fallback Oct. 1-31 window and a public comment period open through Aug. 25. Check current state and federal regulations before targeting or harvesting red snapper this month.
Forward-Facing Sonar Reshapes the Game for SD Walleye This Summer
Missouri River walleye anglers are leaning harder on forward-facing sonar to find fish suspended off traditional bottom structure this summer, a shift Fishing the Midwest describes as upending decades of "fish near bottom, fish the points" conventional wisdom. No buoy or gauge telemetry came back for this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel feeds carry a direct Missouri River or Black Hills report, so treat this as a seasonal-pattern read rather than a live bite report. Under a New Moon, expect low-light windows to matter most: Wired2Fish notes that summer heat pushes gamefish into aggressive dawn-and-dusk feeding pushes as baitfish get corralled near the surface, a pattern that generally holds for smallmouth and walleye alike on reservoir systems. Channel cats should be in their typical peak-summer groove on warm Missouri River flats, while Black Hills trout streams likely fish tougher through the heat of the day. Check local forecast and current flow before heading out.
Low, Clear Water Pushes Colorado Trout Into Dawn and Dusk Windows
CPW voluntary closures are back in effect on the Roaring Fork (noon-to-midnight, Highway 133 bridge to the Colorado River confluence) and on the lower few miles of the Crystal River, per this week's Crystal Fly Shop report, as ongoing drought keeps flows low and afternoons warming fast. Crystal's upper stretches stay cold, clear, and are fishing well right now. Below Ruedi Reservoir on the Frying Pan, water holds in the 40s year-round and afternoon hatches of PMDs, BWOs, and Green Drakes keep fish looking up; Crystal Fly Shop recommends light 6X tippet worked early or late near the dam. Cutthroat Anglers is sounding the same alarm shop-wide: once water pushes past 68°F, it's time to stop fishing and let fish recover. Matt Campanella's low-water tips, via Cutthroat Anglers, note fish are grouped up and still willing for anglers ready to hike farther or downsize their presentation.
August heat pushes Winnipesaukee bass shallow at dawn, salmon deep by day
Smallmouth and largemouth bass fishing has been running strong across New England's freshwater lakes and rivers this week, per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, with bronze-back smallmouth stacked up on the Merrimack River in Methuen and largemouth pushing past 5 pounds on shiners fished tight to shoreline cover. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came back for Winnipesaukee this cycle, and no shop or captain filed a report specifically from the lake, so treat the picture below as seasonal guidance rather than an on-the-water account. Early-to-mid August on Winnipesaukee typically means bass activity concentrated around dawn and dusk before sun pushes fish tight to deep weed edges and dock shade, while lake trout and landlocked salmon slide below the thermocline and need deep trolling or jigging to reach. New moon skies should mean darker overnight conditions, generally favorable for low-light feeding windows on bass.
Hill Country lakes shift into low-light summer patterns
No direct buoy or gauge readings came in this cycle for Lake Travis, Lake LBJ, or Lake Buchanan, and none of this week's angler-intel feeds carry a lake-specific report for the Highland Lakes chain. The closest regional signal is nearby Canyon Lake, where My Canyon Lake Fishing reports water levels running about eight feet higher than this time last year, with boat ramps open and conditions still favorable for fishing and boating. On Travis, LBJ, and Buchanan themselves, expect the typical August pattern for Hill Country reservoirs: largemouth bass working shallow cover early and late before sliding deep as the sun climbs, striped and hybrid bass schooling on shad over open water midday, and channel catfish staying active after dark, with tonight's new moon favoring a low-light bite. Confirm current lake-specific conditions with a local shop before heading out.
Chicago anglers eye deep salmon structure as August rolls on
No live buoy or gauge feed came through for the Chicago nearshore stretch of Lake Michigan this cycle, so this report leans on regional context rather than a fresh temperature reading. Lake Michigan's Illinois waters typically hold a strong Chinook and coho salmon fishery through August, with fish suspended over cooler water well offshore as surface temps peak for the season. The WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report has noted the broader lake's salmon program has been running strong in recent seasons, with Chinook and coho numbers well above historic norms lakewide. Yellow perch remain a dependable nearshore target for Chicago-area anglers this time of year, typically working structure and drop-offs with live bait. Lake trout tend to slide deeper and get tougher to target consistently once summer heat sets in. Check current buoy and marine forecast data directly before heading out, since this cycle's automated feed had nothing new to report for the immediate area.
Lanier and Allatoona settle into the deep-water August pattern
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for Lake Lanier or Allatoona this cycle, and this week's report pull didn't surface a lake-specific "what's biting" account for either reservoir — so this update leans on typical August patterns for Georgia's deep-water reservoirs rather than a fresh bite report. Georgia Wildlife Blog — Fishing flagged that its weekly report is shifting to a one-region-at-a-time format starting next week, which should mean more Lanier/Allatoona-specific detail going forward. In the meantime, expect the standard mid-August script on both lakes: bass pushed off the bank and holding on main-lake points, humps, and creek-channel structure as surface temps stay warm, with the most reliable windows at first light and last light. Striped and hybrid bass on Lanier typically stay deep and schooling this time of year, while spotted and largemouth bass on both lakes bite best early before the sun gets high. Check current state regs before harvesting anything, since limits can shift seasonally.
Togue and salmon settle into summer patterns on Moosehead
Regional New England freshwater reports this week lean toward classic August patterns, per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater: Roger Aziz Jr. describes steady Merrimack River smallmouth action on spinnerbaits, and shore anglers at Southwick's Congamond Lakes are finding largemouth relating to deep drop-edges and baitfish schools rather than shallow cover. No direct reports came in from Moosehead Lake or the upper Penobscot this cycle, so treat the picture here as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed bite. Under a new moon and typical dog-days August warmth, look for landlocked salmon and lake trout (togue) to hold deeper, cooler water through midday, with the better salmon window around dawn and dusk. Smallmouth bass should still be catchable shallow early and late, sliding to structure as the sun climbs. Check current Maine fishing regulations before harvesting; this report leans on general seasonal patterns given the data gap.
Green River tailwater keeps fishing through peak August heat
Flaming Gorge Dam's steady cold-water releases keep the Green River tailwater fishing well through the hottest stretch of August, when many freestone rivers in the region are running low, warm, and getting fished conservatively to protect trout. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this stretch today, and none of this cycle's angler-intel feeds filed a direct report from the Green River or Flaming Gorge, so we're leaning on the tailwater's well-known summer character rather than a specific bite report. Expect selective rainbows keyed on midges and small mayflies in the softer runs, with browns more willing to chase a swung streamer in low light, a presentation Hatch Magazine highlighted this week in its look at working a fly into a big trout's strike zone. Under this new moon, the dawn and dusk low-light windows should be the most productive stretches to fish. Check current Utah DWR regulations before harvesting, and confirm dam release schedules before wading in.
Cumberland reservoirs settle into a classic dawn-and-dusk summer rhythm
No water-temperature or flow readings came in from Tennessee & Cumberland buoys and gauges this cycle, and no shop, captain, or state-agency report specific to the region landed in today's feed. What we can pass along is the broader seasonal pattern: Wired 2 Fish's rundown on summer's most exciting bite windows points anglers toward dawn and dusk, when shad get pushed to the surface and gamefish key on the resulting jumps — a pattern that plays out on Cumberland-system reservoirs as much as anywhere else in August. Tactical Bassin's recent summer coverage backs the same idea, describing bass adapting through dark, windy, and post-frontal conditions with a mix of finesse and reaction baits. With a New Moon overhead tonight, low-light bite windows should matter even more than usual. Treat today's report as general seasonal guidance rather than a confirmed on-the-water TN update until fresh regional intel comes in.
Deep summer pattern grips Texoma stripers and Eufaula bass
Mid-August heat has settled both Lake Texoma and Lake Eufaula into their classic deep-summer rhythm, with striped bass on Texoma typically pushing into open-water schools over deep humps and channel breaks while surface activity concentrates into the first and last hour of daylight. Eufaula's largemouth bass tend to follow the same seasonal script this time of year, holding tight to deeper structure and standing timber through the heat of the day. No fresh buoy or gauge telemetry came back for this region on this update, and none of this week's angler-intel feeds carried Oklahoma-specific reports, so this outlook leans on well-established seasonal patterns for these reservoirs rather than a fresh bite report. Blue catfish typically stay a dependable option through August nights on Texoma, while crappie tend to go quiet, holding deep and biting light in the heat. Expect early-morning and late-evening windows to outproduce the midday hours, and check current Oklahoma regulations before harvesting striped bass or catfish limits.
East Texas bass hold strong through the summer heat
Largemouth bass are holding up better than the thermometer would suggest across East Texas reservoirs this month. Lake Fork Trophy Bass's August report notes lake levels are in good shape and still providing plenty of cover to keep bass active despite a run of 100-plus-degree days, and the same source's July dispatch credited some of the season's biggest client catches to the hottest stretches of summer, with water clarity holding good. Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn anglers should expect a similar late-summer pattern: bass pushed toward deeper, shaded cover through the midday heat but still catchable, especially around dawn, dusk, and after dark. No fresh buoy or gauge readings are available for this region today, so lean on water clarity and shade rather than a specific temperature target when picking a spot. With a New Moon overhead, low-light and nighttime bites are worth prioritizing for bigger fish this week, a pattern that tends to hold across East Texas reservoirs in August.
Eagle Mountain Lake blue cats keep working as Texas heat holds
North Texas Catfish Guide has spent the past several seasons chronicling strong catfish action on Eagle Mountain Lake near Fort Worth, describing 'easy limits' of blue catfish with multiple 30-plus-pounders during peak stretches, and a June report from the same guide noting channel catfish 'biting like crazy' alongside white bass moving through the main lake. No direct water-temperature, flow, or buoy readings came through for Texas lakes and rivers today, so this is a seasonal baseline rather than a live snapshot. Mid-August typically has Texas reservoirs sitting in full summer heat, which pushes catfish and white bass toward deeper channels, humps, and current breaks during daylight, with the better bite compressing toward dawn, dusk, and after dark. Largemouth bass activity typically eases back in the shallows under the same heat and slides toward deeper structure. Check a current regional report or local conditions before planning a trip, since nothing in today's feeds speaks specifically to August water conditions.