Fishing reports
18726 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Deschutes steelhead season stirs as Klamath trout ease into typical August pattern
No fresh field reports came in from our monitored fishing-intel sources for the Deschutes or Upper Klamath this cycle, and buoy/gauge readings weren't available for this freshwater stretch either, so this update leans on typical seasonal patterns rather than live intel. Mid-August is traditionally when the Deschutes River's summer steelhead run starts building, with fish pushing up from the Columbia into the lower and middle river and holding in faster riffle water. Redband trout fishing on the Deschutes typically stays workable through the month as flows settle into their late-summer stage. On Upper Klamath Lake, rainbow trout fishing (the lake carries a reputation for trophy-class fish) usually slows through the warmest August weeks as surface temperatures climb, pushing fish deeper or toward cooler spring-fed inflows. Verify current state regulations and check with a local fly shop for real, on-the-water conditions before you head out, since we can't confirm today's bite from direct reports this cycle.
Seatrout bite stays hot as Sarasota tarpon push toward fall
Spotted seatrout are the story on Sarasota Bay right now, with Capt. Brandon Naeve of CB's Saltwater Outfitters reporting an aggressive peak-summer bite on inshore grass flats, mangrove shorelines, and local passes, including a 27-inch fish released last week. Trout are showing best around sunrise and sunset feeding windows, typical for August heat. Tarpon are thinning out along the beaches per Capt. Rick Grassett's August forecast (also CB's Saltwater Outfitters), pushing into inside waters, bridges, and deep grass flats, with juveniles mixing into schools of surface-feeding ladyfish; DOA Shrimp and Baitbusters worked in shallow water are producing. Snook remain inside Florida's summer closed season on the Gulf coast through August, so treat any incidental catch as release-only and confirm current regs before keeping anything. Elsewhere on the Gulf, FWC has set the 2026 greater amberjack season for September 1 through October 13, per Coastal Angler Magazine, worth planning around if you fish nearshore structure once trout and tarpon slow down.
Striped bass, mackerel keep Gulf of Maine bite steady into new moon
Saltwater Edge Blog (RI) opened its August New Moon forecast this week with a sluggish July finally giving way to cooler mornings and the first stirrings of the fall run — a shift Gulf of Maine anglers should watch closely, since Maine waters typically follow the same seasonal cue not long after southern New England. No live buoy or gauge data came through for the Gulf of Maine this cycle, and Maine Sea Grant's recent dispatches covered program news rather than on-water conditions, so this report leans on regional patterns and typical mid-August behavior. Anglers Journal's recent look at the Northeast's fall striper blitz points the same direction, with bigger migrations building as daylight shortens. Expect striped bass to remain the primary target along the coast, with mackerel and bluefish still working bait schools. OTW Surfcasting's recent pieces on live-eel rigs and sand-flea baits are worth keeping in the box as stripers key on natural forage through late summer.
Summer trout and redfish keep South Carolina anglers busy under new moon tides
Live shrimp fished under a slip cork is producing quality spotted seatrout up the coast at North Myrtle Beach and Little River this week, with red drum mixed in around the same docks and grass edges, per Fisherman's Post (John, of Dave's Outpost). No live buoy or gauge readings came through for Charleston Harbor on this update, so we're treating water temperature as typical for mid-August Lowcountry saltwater: warm and stable, with the New Moon pushing a stronger tidal exchange through the harbor's creeks and marsh edges over the next few days. On the regulatory side, NOAA Fisheries opened a public comment period on August 10 on applications from Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina seeking more state control over South Atlantic red snapper management, per Coastal Angler Magazine. Expect redfish and trout to stay the steadiest Lowcountry targets while water stays warm, with flounder and Spanish mackerel rounding out typical August action.
Redfish dig deep into the mangroves as Gulf Coast summer holds
Redfish are burying up deep inside the mangroves in the summer heat, and Salt Strong's current cut-bait breakdown says patient anglers working slow, close presentations back in the skinny water are still turning stubborn reds into a feeding frenzy despite water temperatures pushing into the low 90s. Down in Naples, Naples Offshore Fishing Charters' recent reports described steady sight-fishing on Permit paired with a strong Tarpon push working through the area, and Mangrove Snapper action typically holds up well through the Gulf Coast summer as fish stack up tight on structure and reef edges. Greater Amberjack stays off the table in Gulf state waters until the season reopens September 1 through October 13, per Coastal Angler Magazine, so anglers chasing AJs should plan trips around that window rather than this one. No live buoy or gauge readings came through for this update, so treat water temp and tide timing as a local-forecast check before you load the boat.
Fall Run Signals Build in Narragansett Bay After a Slow July
Saltwater Edge, the Wakefield-based shop tracking Rhode Island conditions all season, calls July "pretty lackluster" in its new August New Moon forecast, but notes crisp mornings and incoming southerly winds as the first real hints that fall run fishing is on the doorstep. Striped bass remain the headline species in the Bay: the shop's own step-by-step Slug-Go rigging guide notes that rigged soft-plastics "flat-out catch" big stripers this time of year, and a shop conversation with Yo-Zuri's Chris Bishop covered lure designs built specifically for Northeast striper fishing from Cape Cod Canal on down. Shark activity is up too — On The Water documented a hammerhead landed by Rhode Island surfcasters this summer, part of what the outlet is calling a shark-filled season along the Northeast surf. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through today, so lean on local knowledge and check current conditions before heading out.
OBX surf bite turns on with bluefish, croakers, sea mullet
Surf anglers on the Outer Banks are dialed into a solid bottom bite right now: Hugh, of TW's Bait and Tackle, reports via Fisherman's Post (NC) that anglers working the surf zone are catching sea mullet, bluefish, and plenty of croakers, with the inshore action finally picking up after a slower stretch. It's a classic August Outer Banks mix, cut bait and bottom rigs doing the work in the surf zone. Farther south on the NC coast, Fisherman's Post (NC) reports out of Morehead/Atlantic Beach and Swansboro/Emerald Isle describe a strong Spanish mackerel push nearshore and off the piers, with a few king mackerel mixed in, a pattern that typically works its way up the coast as summer rolls on. We're watching for that mackerel bite to reach Outer Banks water in the coming weeks. With a new moon driving bigger tidal swings, expect stronger current through the surf zone on this week's tides.
St. Lucie Inlet Snook Bite Roars Back as Red Snapper Season Stalls
Snook fishing along Florida's Treasure Coast has been excellent over the past few weeks, per Snook Nook's August report, with anglers around the St. Lucie Inlet and along the beach putting up steady numbers of quality fish, many in the 40-inch-plus range. Live croakers and threadfins are producing the best bites, and a dead threadfin fished on bottom is a solid fallback when the inlet bite slows, though expect some bycatch. Remember Florida's east-coast snook season is closed for harvest through August, so it's catch-and-release only until it reopens September 1. Offshore, Snook Nook's own charter team took first place in the small-boat division of the One More Bite Sailfish Challenge, going 7-for-9 on sailfish bites, a good sign for the bluewater bite. Meanwhile Atlantic red snapper season for Florida anglers is in legal limbo: CCA Florida reports a federal court blocked the 2026 South Atlantic red snapper pilot programs just hours before the season was set to open, and NOAA opened a new public comment period August 10 per Coastal Angler Magazine.
New moon tides set the pace for Georgia's late-summer inshore bite
On the Georgia coast, the biggest story this week isn't a bite report, it's a rules change. NOAA Fisheries opened a public comment period on August 10 on requests from Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina for more state control over Atlantic red snapper management, per Coastal Angler Magazine, a move that could reshape the offshore season anglers plan around. Today's buoy and gauge feeds came back empty, so we're leaning on seasonal knowledge rather than fresh readings: expect redfish working skinny marsh creeks and grass flats, spotted seatrout holding near structure and moving water, and Spanish mackerel chasing bait schools nearshore, typical patterns for mid-August on the Georgia Atlantic coast. The Georgia Wildlife Blog — Fishing report noted it's shifting to a rotating regional format starting next week, so expect sharper Georgia-specific detail soon. The new moon this week means stronger tidal swings worth planning a trip around.
Stripers hold steady in Cape Cod surf as sharks crowd the beach
A tiger shark pulled from a Cape Cod beach this week, days after one was spotted eating a turtle nearby, is the headline out of the region right now, per On The Water. It's part of a broader pattern this summer: OTW Surfcasting notes Northeast surf anglers are contending with more roughtail stingrays testing tackle along the beach. Striped bass fishing itself has been steady rather than spectacular. Saltwater Edge Blog (RI) called July a "pretty lackluster" stretch but says crisp mornings and the first southerly winds of the season are turning up, with the fall run "on the doorstep." OTW Surfcasting's current how-to coverage on sand fleas and live-eel circle hooks signals stripers are still the target bite. With Cape Cod Bay at the new moon, expect stronger tidal swings and shifting current windows. Bluefish and fluke remain typical incidental targets for the season.
Calcasieu Lake redfish bite stays scorching through mid-August
Slot reds to bull reds are running strong at Calcasieu Lake, according to Capt. Erik Rue's report via Louisiana Sportsman this week, with fish showing from the open lake north to the saltwater barrier. That's the clearest read we have on Gulf Coast & Delta conditions right now, since no live NOAA buoy or USGS gauge feed is reporting for this stretch today, so water temp and current data aren't available for this update. Louisiana's redfish typically hold strong through August as water stays warm and bait pushes toward the marsh edges, and Rue's report lines up with that seasonal pattern. Speckled trout and black drum are generally active around similar structure this time of year, though no source specifically flagged them this week. With a new moon overhead, expect stronger-than-average tidal swings, which usually sharpens the bite around current breaks and drains. Check local forecasts and tide tables before running out, especially given today's data gap.
Fall Signs Build for Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound Stripers
Saltwater Edge Blog (RI) opened its August New Moon forecast by calling July "pretty lackluster" but noted crisp mornings and returning southerly winds mean "fall run fishing is on our doorstep" — a read that carries straight into Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound as the Northeast transitions out of the summer doldrums. Surfcasters working the region are still leaning on proven producers, with OTW Surfcasting highlighting live eels on inline circle hooks and sand fleas as go-to striper bait for the summer surf. It has also been a notably shark-heavy stretch nearby — a tiger shark came off a Cape Cod beach days after one was seen eating a turtle, and Rhode Island surfcasters landed a hammerhead, both per On The Water and OTW Surfcasting — a sign that bait and predators alike are pushing inshore. No live buoy or gauge readings came through for this report, so confirm current water temp and swell locally before you head out.
Panhandle anglers eye amberjack reopener as August heat holds
Coastal Angler Magazine reports Florida has locked in the 2026 Gulf greater amberjack season for September 1 through October 13, giving Destin and Pensacola boats a date to circle while the current closure stays in effect. We don't have a fresh local buoy or gauge reading for this update, so treat conditions as general seasonal guidance rather than a confirmed snapshot. Typical for mid-August in the Panhandle, king mackerel should still be workable along nearshore reefs and beaches as bait schools push in, while spotted seatrout tend to slide off the bite and hold in deeper grass flats and shaded structure once water warms this much. Redfish stay catchable around marsh edges and passes on moving tide. With a new moon this week, expect stronger tidal swings, which can sharpen bite windows around the turns for anglers working passes and nearshore structure.
Long Island Sound stripers build toward the fall push
Sea temps aren't in from local buoys this week, but the regional signal points to Long Island Sound settling into a classic mid-August lull before the fall run builds. Saltwater Edge Blog in Rhode Island reports "a pretty lackluster July" gave way to crisp mornings and southerly winds by early August, calling fall run fishing "on our doorstep" — a pattern that tracks straight down the coast into the Sound. Anglers Journal frames the broader Northeast fishery similarly, describing migrations that begin to "marshal their strength" as the equinox approaches. In the surf, On The Water and OTW Surfcasting are flagging more warm-water bycatch than usual — a hammerhead landed in Rhode Island and roughtail stingrays "testing" Northeast surf anglers — while live eels on circle hooks and sand fleas remain the go-to striper baits for anyone working the beach. New moon tides mean stronger current this week for working structure and rips.
Spanish Mackerel Push Fires Up Near Cape Lookout
Spanish mackerel are stacked up around Cape Lookout this week, with the biggest fish showing near the point, per Fisherman's Post's Morehead/Atlantic Beach report. Nearshore casters are cashing in on a good bite, and a handful of king mackerel have mixed in on bottom rigs working further out. Up the coast at Swansboro/Emerald Isle, anglers throwing casting jigs and Gotcha plugs off the pier are connecting with spanish mackerel and bluefish, per the same source. On the Pamlico Sound side, the Outer Banks surf zone is producing a steady mix of sea mullet, bluefish, and plenty of croakers on bottom rigs, with inshore action finally picking up after a slower stretch. Farther south at Carolina Beach, surf anglers are working a summertime mix of red drum, flounder, croakers, and assorted sharks. With a new moon pushing stronger tidal movement this week, expect that mackerel bite to stay lively around the point and along the beachfronts.
Hawaii's summer pelagic bite carries into the new moon
Hawaii Fishing News, the state's official record-keeper for saltwater catches, is the one Hawaii-specific source in today's feed, and it points anglers toward moon and tide timing as a core trip-planning tool rather than day-by-day bite chatter. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came back for Hawaiian waters this cycle, and no shop, charter, or state-agency source filed a specific island bite report either, so this update leans on the well-established seasonal pattern rather than fresh testimony. Early-to-mid August typically keeps Hawaii's offshore pelagic complex, mahimahi, yellowfin tuna (ahi), and wahoo (ono), active as warm surface water and steady trade winds concentrate bait along current edges and color changes. Deep-water bottomfish grounds for opakapaka and other snappers also tend to stay productive through late summer. Today's new moon typically firms up tidal exchange across the island chain. Treat this as a seasonal outlook rather than a live report, and confirm same-day conditions locally before running offshore.
Mosquito and Pymatuning walleye slide deep as summer bass hold pattern
Forward-facing sonar keeps reshaping how anglers locate suspended walleye off bottom, per Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch and Bob Jensen this week — a technique shift that applies directly to Ohio's deeper inland reservoirs like Mosquito and Pymatuning as August heat pushes fish off traditional points and weedlines. No live buoy or gauge readings came through for this region today, so treat water temp and flow as typical late-summer levels until fresh data lands. Largemouth are still eating, but Tactical Bassin notes summer bass require adapting bait choices to daily conditions — windy, post-frontal days call for finesse presentations rather than reaction baits. Smallmouth should be holding similar mid-depth structure. Crappie tend to go quiet and suspend deep during peak summer heat on Ohio reservoirs, a typical seasonal pattern rather than a reported slowdown. Best bets right now: locate suspended baitfish with electronics and adjust bait selection to the day's conditions rather than force a single pattern.
Upper Mississippi walleye adapt to summer sonar-era patterns
Walleye anglers working the Clinton-Dubuque pools this week should lean on lessons from Fishing the Midwest's recent coverage of how forward-facing sonar has changed the game: walleye are no longer strictly bottom-huggers tied to points, turns, and weedlines, and are increasingly found suspended off structure during summer stretches like this one. No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for this reach today, so treat flow and temperature as unknowns until you check a local gauge before launching. Typical for mid-August on this stretch of river, expect smallmouth bass holding tight to current breaks and wing dams, channel catfish feeding actively after dark on cut bait, and largemouth bass sliding into backwater weed edges to dodge the heat. New moon tonight favors low-light bites at dawn and dusk. Confirm current regs before harvesting anything.
Ohio River bass stay dialed in as summer pattern holds
Bass fishing on the Ohio River remains a bright spot heading into mid-August: boater Marty Sisk of Evansville, Indiana, and Blake Knies of Jasper, Indiana, tied for the win at a Phoenix Bass Fishing League event out of Rocky Point near Cannelton this past weekend, each bringing five bass weighing 8 pounds, 9 ounces to the scale, per MLF News. A limit like that on a current-driven stretch of river tells Ohio and Cumberland River anglers that structure-oriented bass are still feeding through the heat. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this update, so treat flow and water temperature as typical for early-to-mid August until you check a local report before heading out. Elsewhere, Fishing the Midwest notes that forward-facing sonar continues to reshape how anglers locate summer bass around cover, worth trying if you're marking fish but not converting bites. With a new moon this week, look for a stronger low-light bite at dawn and after dark.
Mississippi Bass and Catfish Settle Into a Dawn-and-Dusk Summer Rhythm
Wired 2 Fish's rundown on the year's most exciting summer bite windows lines up with what late-summer conditions on the Mississippi and Pearl rivers typically demand: fish feed hardest in the low light around sunrise and sunset, when baitfish get pushed up and predators go on short, aggressive feeding runs. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this region today, so treat water temperature and flow as unconfirmed until you check a local source before launching. Largemouth bass should still be catchable on topwater and moving baits during those dawn and dusk windows, then slide to deeper cover with a slower, more finesse-oriented approach once the sun climbs, a shift Tactical Bassin describes working through on tough post-frontal summer days. Channel catfish typically turn most active after dark in warm Mississippi water this time of year, and bream stay a reliable shallow-water option. This week's new moon can sharpen that low-light feeding activity for early risers.
Okeechobee and St. Johns bass settle into dawn-and-dusk summer patterns
Wired 2 Fish's midsummer breakdown of "the most exciting bite of the summer" frames what Lake Okeechobee and St. Johns River anglers should plan around this week: dawn and dusk topwater blowups as bass push baitfish to the surface before the heat sets in. No live buoy or gauge readings are available for this freshwater system today, so this report leans on seasonal patterns and technique reporting rather than a fresh temp or flow number. Tactical Bassin's latest summer-bass rundown backs the shift toward finesse presentations once the sun climbs and fish slide off primary structure into post-frontal funk, a pattern that typically holds for Okeechobee's grass edges and the St. Johns' bends in August. Bluegill and shellcracker activity should stay steady around this week's new moon, and catfish typically feed hardest after dark in the heat. Check Florida regs before harvesting, and plan trips around the coolest hours for the best window.
Early Risers Rule as Heat Restrictions Widen on Montana Trout Water
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks confirms hoot-owl restrictions are now active on 23 waterbodies covering 1,223 stream miles statewide, per MT FWP Fishing News, closing fishing from 2 p.m. to midnight to protect trout from heat stress, with the agency noting the 2026 season is tracking close to 2024's pattern. In the Yellowstone corridor, FWP and the Custer Gallatin National Forest began additional phases of the upper Shields River cutthroat conservation project on August 10, continuing work to protect native Yellowstone cutthroat trout from competition and hybridization. Statewide, FWP also expanded hoot-owl closures on the lower Beaverhead River starting August 5 as water temperatures climbed, underscoring how widespread the heat pressure is this month. For Yellowstone and Missouri River anglers, that points to one clear pattern: fish are most catchable in the cool early-morning hours before the afternoon cutoff, with midday and evening water simply too warm to press trout hard right now.
Smallmouth and walleye settle into summer patterns on the Allegheny
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for the Allegheny and Pittsburgh tailwaters this cycle, so today's outlook leans on seasonal pattern and general technique intel rather than a live temp or flow number. August in western Pennsylvania typically means warm, lower-flow rivers, which tends to push smallmouth bass and channel catfish into classic dog-days behavior: current breaks, shade lines, and low-light feeding windows. Fishing the Midwest's walleye coverage this week notes anglers increasingly finding fish suspended off bottom and locating them with forward-facing sonar rather than the traditional bottom-hugging approach, a shift worth trying on Allegheny walleye holes. Tactical Bassin's latest summer-bass rundown stresses adapting bait selection through the day as conditions swing from calm to windy to post-frontal, a pattern that fits Pittsburgh's tailwater bass fishery this time of year. Musky anglers should expect the slower bite typical of peak summer heat. Check PA Fish & Boat's Biologist Reports for river-specific updates before heading out.
North Shore Lake Trout Bite Holds Strong Into August
Anglers working Lake Superior's North Shore are putting together a steady bite for 18-30 inch Lake Trout, 16-21 inch Coho Salmon, and a handful of 20-24 inch Chinooks, per the MN DNR's August 6 Lake Superior Summer Fishing Report. Surface temps ran 60-65°F near Duluth, cooler toward Two Harbors at 45-50°F, so trollers are working spoons, stickbaits, and flasher-fly rigs near the thermocline in 100-150 feet of water. Inland, Twin Cities and North Woods walleye anglers continue adapting to clear-water conditions as forward-facing sonar reshapes where anglers look for fish, per Fishing the Midwest. Earlier this summer, Outdoor Hub reported a Minnesota angler broke the state bluegill record on Big Stone Lake, a sign panfish are running big this season. With a new moon overhead, low-light bites should sharpen for anglers willing to be on the water at dawn or dusk this week.