Fishing reports
18942 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Cobia and red drum keep the Chesapeake mouth humming into August
Direct on-the-water reports for the Chesapeake Bay mouth weren't available in today's feeds, so this update leans on typical early-August patterns for the region alongside broader Atlantic Coast context. Water temperatures at the Bay mouth typically sit in the upper 70s to low 80s by now, keeping cobia, red drum, and Spanish mackerel active around bridge-tunnel structure, ocean-facing shoals, and channel edges. Striped bass fishing usually slows here through peak summer heat, and anglers are generally encouraged to target them only in the cooler early-morning hours to reduce release stress on a stock already under pressure. Coastwide, On The Water reported this week that Massachusetts commercial fishermen have already hauled in their entire 683,773-pound striped bass quota for the year, a sign of how much harvest pressure the striper fishery is absorbing up and down the coast this season. The last-quarter moon should keep tidal swings a touch more moderate through the mouth this week.
Georgia coastal anglers make the most of late-summer marsh bite
The Georgia Wildlife Resources Division closed out July urging families to wet a line before the school year starts, per the Georgia Wildlife Blog, Fishing report dated July 31. No live buoy or gauge readings came through for the Atlantic coast this cycle, so this update leans on typical late-summer patterns for the marsh and nearshore complex. Redfish and spotted seatrout are generally active in marsh creeks and along grass edges through early August, working the tide more than the clock as afternoon heat pushes fish toward shade and deeper cuts. Offshore, South Atlantic red snapper season is in the news: Florida's push for a state-managed 39-day recreational season, reported by Anglers Journal, is a good reminder for Georgia boats fishing the same stock to double check current rules before keeping fish. Expect a quieter data week regionally, with the bite still there for anglers willing to work early mornings and moving water.
Cape Cod Bay Bass Bite Holds Strong as Rain Muddies the Shallows
Boats working Cape Cod Bay are still connecting with good-sized striped bass this week, per Goose Hummock Shop, even though heavy rain left the water dirty along the Cape and cut into ocean-beach action. Black Rose Fishing Charters reports strong results working favorite rips for stripers running slot-size to well over the limit, alongside some bottom fishing and offshore tuna when conditions allow. Fluke fishing is holding up well too: Sports Port calls the bite 'very good' with enough keepers to satisfy anglers, while Falmouth Bait and Tackle notes a productive fluke pick from the rips off Nobska up through Hyannis, though sizes are running mostly on the shorter side. Early bonito are starting to show, with Sports Port hearing reports of four-pound fish around Barnstable Harbor and off Mashpee. Blues have been scarce, with only a few four-pound fish reported near Cotuit and no schools sighted since. Massachusetts' commercial striper season is also nearing its quota close, per On The Water.
Michigan bass slide deep as walleye scatter off structure
Michigan's Great Lakes and Grand River anglers are settling into peak-summer patterns as the MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report (August 5, 2026) rolls out its regional breakdowns for the state's southeast, southwest, northeast, and northwest Lower Peninsula, plus the Upper Peninsula and Great Lakes zones. On the technique side, Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch notes walleye anglers are increasingly finding fish suspended off bottom and away from traditional structure now that forward-facing sonar has changed how the species gets located, a shift that applies directly to Grand River and connecting-waters walleye. Bass anglers should expect fish sliding to deeper, cooler water as summer heat peaks, per Tactical Bassin's August coverage. Chatter on the Michigan Sportsman Forum points to salmon trollers working near-shore Great Lakes waters, though that staging bite typically builds through late August. No live buoy or streamflow readings were available for this region at press time, so plan around typical early-August warmwater conditions.
Speckled trout push into Black Bay structure for August
Louisiana Sportsman's Rusty Tardo is steering Delta anglers toward Black Bay, Bay Eloi and Breton Sound this week, where speckled trout are moving onto the area's islands and structure -- Stone Island, Lonesome and Iron Banks among the spots holding fish as the calendar turns to August, per Louisiana Sportsman -- Fishing. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this stretch of the Gulf Coast & Delta today, so treat water temperature and current as typical for early August: warm, with the bite generally tightening around dawn, dusk, and tide changes. With the moon in its Last Quarter phase, expect moderate tidal movement rather than the extremes of a full or new moon. Redfish and black drum are typically working the same marsh edges and shell structure that hold trout this time of year, though we don't have a direct report on either species from this cycle -- stick close to structure and adjust depth until you find fish holding tight to cover.
Fluke bite turns on around Nobska as bonito arrive early
Fluke are stealing the show around Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound this week, with Falmouth Bait and Tackle reporting a good bite along the Sound shore from the rips off Nobska up through the jetties and harbors to Hyannis, and Sports Port in Cape Cod confirming a very good fluke bite with enough keepers to satisfy anglers, per The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands. The first bonito of the season are showing too, with four-pound-class fish reported around Barnstable Harbor and off Mashpee. Striped bass remain a mixed bag: Goose Hummock Shop says Cape Cod Bay boats are still finding good-sized bass and the ocean beaches are giving up some fish, even as Massachusetts closed its commercial striper season this week after hauling in the full 683,773-pound quota, per On The Water. Bluefish are scattered and small, mostly in the 4-pound class off Nobska and Cotuit, with no big schools sighted yet. Rain has muddied some inshore water.
Puget Sound anglers lean on WDFW creel data as August salmon window opens
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife runs its statewide creel and catch interview program through the summer, tracking what anglers are actually bringing in at access sites around Puget Sound and the Pacific coast (per WA WDFW Fishing Reports). No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for Washington this cycle, and this week's charter and shop intel skewed toward California and Baja waters rather than Puget Sound or the outer coast, so the species notes below reflect seasonal defaults rather than confirmed hot bites. Early August is historically a strong window for Puget Sound Chinook and coho as summer runs stage toward river mouths, bottomfish like lingcod and rockfish typically hold on structure where nearshore seasons are open, and Dungeness crab remains a reliable draw in many marine areas. Confirm current regulations, bag limits, and area-specific closures with WDFW before heading out, since marine-area rules can shift on short notice.
Panhandle bite holds to typical August pattern amid quiet report cycle
No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for the Destin-Pensacola area this cycle, and no charter or tackle-shop reports specific to the Panhandle surfaced in this week's feeds either. What we can offer is context: down the Florida coast, O-Sea-D Fishing out of Pompano Beach logged kingfish working live bait and trolled baits behind planers, plus scattered wahoo, patterns typical of the broader Gulf-and-Atlantic summer pelagic push that also runs through Destin and Pensacola waters in August. Inshore, redfish and spotted seatrout remain the reliable summer staples around Panhandle grass flats and passes, typically most active early and late in the day as water warms through midday. Offshore, red snapper stays a headline species for Panhandle boats this time of year, though anglers should check current state and federal season dates before planning a trip, since windows shift year to year. With a Last Quarter moon this week, expect moderate tidal movement rather than the strongest pushes of the month.
Yellowtail and mutton snapper keep the Keys reef bite cooking
Yellowtail snapper are "practically jumping in the boat" and mutton snapper are chewing hard on Key West reefs, according to recent trip reports from ALL IN Key West, which called the May-through-July stretch some of the best fishing the captain has seen in 16 years. Bud n' Mary's in Islamorada backs that up, calling early summer prime time for the full range of Keys gamefish, from tarpon working the bridge shadow lines to mahi mahi showing along Gulf Stream weed lines. ALL IN Key West also logged mixed grouper, cobia, and kingfish action on Gulf-side trips, plus a hot king mackerel and sailfish bite on live bait along the reef edge. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this update, so plan around typical August Keys conditions and check the local forecast before running offshore. Regulatory backdrop is shifting too, with CCA Florida tracking ongoing South Atlantic red snapper season litigation anglers should watch before targeting that species.
Bottom bite carries Long Island Sound as bass stay patchy
J&B Tackle in Connecticut reports striped bass fishing has been "very good" throughout the region this week, with early-morning and dusk sessions over structure producing on glide baits like the Nessie and Chop Block, plus deeper-water hookups on Gravity GT and Joe Baggs Block Island Eels. Bottom fishing is the more reliable story for most crews: Tartan II and Black Hawk both note solid scup and black sea bass action, sea bass coming mostly from deeper water and scup off the usual hard bottom, while AW Marina says the mouth of the Thames River is holding porgies, school-sized stripers, and the season's first snapper bluefish of the year. Fluke has been the tougher pick per Black Hawk, with midweek weather trimming one trip down to just a handful of keepers. Farther out on the Sound, live-lining spot remains a go-to tactic for trophy stripers this time of year. With the moon past full and heading toward last quarter, expect the bass bite to stay a bit inconsistent day to day while bottom species hold steady.
Spanish mackerel push builds around Cape Lookout
Nearshore anglers out of Morehead City and Atlantic Beach are into a strong spanish mackerel bite this week, with the bigger fish stacking up around Cape Lookout, according to Chasin' Tails via Fisherman's Post. A few miles up the coast at Swansboro/Emerald Isle, The Reel Outdoors reports pier anglers casting jigs and Gotcha plugs into the same spanish mackerel and bluefish mix, with a handful of king mackerel showing up too. On the Pamlico Sound side, TW's Bait and Tackle (Fisherman's Post) has surf anglers hooking sea mullet, bluefish, and plenty of croakers on bottom rigs, with inshore action reportedly picking back up after a slow stretch. No live buoy or gauge readings came through for this update, so plan around a typical early-August pattern for the Sound and Cape Lookout: warm nearshore water, a fading last-quarter moon, and bait pulling predators like spanish and king mackerel in close.
Gulf of Alaska anglers eye the coho turn as summer season shifts
No buoy or gauge readings came in for the Gulf of Alaska today, and this week's angler-intel feeds carried no Alaska-specific saltwater bite reports. That gap is worth naming rather than glossing over. Typically by early August, Gulf of Alaska anglers watch the season pivot from king salmon toward silver (coho) salmon, with pink salmon also moving through nearshore water, while halibut and lingcod remain a steady bottom bite over deeper structure and rockfish continue to hold tight to rock piles through summer. Without fresh corroborating reports this cycle, treat these as seasonal expectations rather than confirmed hot bites, and check current state fishing regulations and local charter availability before planning a trip. We'll sharpen this into source-backed specifics as soon as Alaska-focused reports come through the feed.
Hartwell and Russell bass slide deep as August heat locks in
Georgia Wildlife Resources Division's July 31 fishing report is urging families to get one more trip in before school starts, and that timing lines up well with Hartwell and Russell right now. No buoy or gauge telemetry was available for the Savannah chain this cycle, and none of this week's angler-intel feeds filed a specific bite report from either lake, so we're leaning on the pattern that typically holds Georgia reservoirs in early August: bass sliding off the bank onto deeper structure as surface water stays warm into the evening. Per Tactical Bassin's August bass-positioning breakdown, fish separate into offshore groups relating to cover and depth once the postspawn heat sets in, which tracks for Hartwell and Russell's ledges and standing timber. Spotted bass, the signature species on Hartwell's blueback-herring forage base, should still be catchable on deep points and humps; stripers and hybrids are more likely holding near the thermocline through midday. Check current state regs before harvesting.
Illinois anglers push offshore as August heat locks in summer patterns
With no fresh buoy or gauge readings logged for the Illinois River or Lake Michigan this cycle, this report leans on general August patterns and current Midwest angler intel. Fishing the Midwest notes that Forward-Facing Sonar continues to change how anglers locate walleye, with more fish suspending off traditional bottom structure than anglers expect this time of year. On the bass side, Tactical Bassin's August coverage points anglers away from the bank entirely, toward submerged vegetation and offshore cover where bass stack up once summer heat sets in. Channel catfish typically hold their own through hot, stable water, feeding most actively in low light. No direct Illinois River or Lake Michigan specific reports came through this cycle, so treat species status below as seasonally typical rather than confirmed hot bites until a local shop or charter report lands.
Catawba and Roanoke bass slide deep as NC summer heat holds
No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for the Catawba or Roanoke systems this cycle, and today's feed carried no state-agency, shop, or charter report specific to either North Carolina river. Without hyperlocal testimony, the read here leans on typical early-August freshwater behavior: per Tactical Bassin (blog)'s recent August coverage, largemouth bass move off the bank and stack on deeper offshore cover and structure once summer heat locks in, a pattern that generally holds across Piedmont reservoirs like the Catawba chain. Catfish tend to stay catchable through NC summer heat, often feeding best in the evening and overnight hours. The Roanoke's well-known striped bass run wrapped back in spring, so stripers should be treated as a slow bite until temperatures drop again in fall. Crappie and other panfish typically go deep and sluggish this time of year, rewarding patience over reaction bites. Confirm current NC regulations before targeting or keeping any species.
Chicago's Lake Michigan salmon bite settles into summer pattern
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Chicago stretch of Lake Michigan this cycle, and no shop or charter dispatches landed either — so this update leans on the broader picture. The WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report flagged that 2024 was a standout year lakewide, with anglers landing over 160,000 Chinook salmon (the most since 2012) and a record 210,000-plus coho, crediting stronger alewife survival for the strong stocked-fish returns. That trend has carried the fishery's momentum into this season. Early August on the southern end of the lake typically means salmon and lake trout holding deep over the thermocline, smallmouth working nearshore rock and structure, and perch scattered over deeper bottom. IL/IN Sea Grant's active seed-grant push for southern Lake Michigan research, including smallmouth-focused studies, signals continued attention on that fishery's health. Treat species status below as seasonal expectation rather than a confirmed bite report this week — verify locally before running far offshore.
Okeechobee and St. Johns bass slide deep as August heat sets in
No buoy or gauge readings came in for Lake Okeechobee or the St. Johns River this cycle, and no shop or captain filed a direct report from either fishery, so this update leans on what's holding true for largemouth bass across hot-weather fisheries right now. Per Tactical Bassin's latest breakdown, bass are pulling off the bank in the heat and setting up on submerged vegetation and offshore cover, with jigs and swimbaits doing the work once the early topwater window closes. That pattern tracks with the typical late-summer shift on Okeechobee and the St. Johns, where fish slide onto deeper grass lines and channel edges as surface temps climb and dawn/dusk topwater windows shrink. Bream and crappie typically tuck tighter to shade and cover in this heat. Treat the species read below as seasonal expectation, not an on-the-water confirmation, until a shop or captain report comes in specifically for these waters.
Salmon anglers eye Grand River staging ahead of fall Chinook push
The WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report's recap of the 2024 season sets the tone heading into late summer: over 210,000 coho salmon harvested basin-wide (a record) and more than 160,000 Chinook, the best Chinook numbers since 2012. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Grand River mouth this cycle, so treat water temp and flow as unconfirmed until the next check. Michigan Sportsman Forum members describe early salmon activity building, planner boards out and pontoon crews picking off the occasional Chinook on shakedown runs, though that's angler chatter without an agency or shop report backing it up yet. Walleye and smallmouth bass remain the more dependable near-term bite through early August; Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch notes bass keying on moving baits over emerging weed tops, while forward-facing sonar has shifted where anglers find suspended walleye rather than sticking to bottom-only structure. Expect the real Chinook push to build as surface temps ease toward September.
Croaker Blitz and Black Drum Keep Delaware Bay Busy
Croakers are thick along the Delaware Bay right now — Higbee's Bait and Tackle reports a mixed bag of blues, croakers, weakfish, flounder, sheepshead and the occasional black drum, with pool winners running from 5-pound flounder to a 15-pound drum. Big Dave's Tackle backs that up, noting steady croaker action alongside kingfish, spot and smaller weakfish, plus back-bay sheepshead fishing that's been exceptionally strong. Flounder is more a numbers game than a trophy hunt: Big Dave's says the nearshore and offshore reefs are giving up plenty of keepers, but the back bays are so loaded with short fluke that keepers barely get a look. Weakfish are toothing up bloodworms at the seawall per The Fisherman's Cape May surf report, where flounder are also showing right out front and inside the inlet on bucktails, and the one-fish blackfish (tog) season just opened on a good early bite. Typical early-August variety-over-size pattern for the bay.
Georgia bass go deep and grass-bound as August heat holds
Late-summer heat has Lanier and Allatoona bass locked into classic August behavior: per Tactical Bassin, fish have split into two groups since the spawn, holding either in submerged vegetation or suspended over deeper offshore cover, and the advice this week is to get away from the bank and fish that structure instead of the shoreline. Jigs and swimbaits are producing when the moving-bait bite fades, per the same source's August-baits roundup. Closer to home, a Georgia Outdoor News reader letter this month reignited debate over Allatoona's changing fishery, with a longtime local recalling native yellow catfish in tributaries like the Yellow River before flathead catfish became established there. The Georgia Wildlife Resources Division's July updates continue pointing anglers toward the state's Public Fishing Areas as alternatives while reservoir fish push deep to escape the heat. Expect spotted bass and striper action on both lakes to stay tied to cooler, deeper water through the current stretch, with early and late light windows still the most productive.
Susquehanna and Allegheny smallmouth settle into deep summer patterns
No live NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for the Susquehanna and Allegheny systems this cycle, and this week's angler-intel feeds carried no PA-specific 'what's biting' reports — so this update leans on the well-worn seasonal script for early August freshwater fishing here. Smallmouth bass, the signature species on both rivers, typically slide off shallow banks once daytime heat builds, holding tighter to deeper current breaks, ledges, and submerged cover through the afternoon; Tactical Bassin's national hot-weather coverage this week backs that pattern, describing bass separating into predictable summer groups keyed on cover and depth once temperatures peak. Walleye anglers on the Allegheny are increasingly leaning on forward-facing sonar to relocate fish relative to bottom structure, per Fishing the Midwest. With the moon in Last Quarter, expect a modest overnight bite window. Check the PA Fish and Boat Commission's Biologist Reports for the latest river-specific survey data before planning a trip.
Erie anglers shift deep as summer walleye pattern sets in
No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for the Presque Isle stretch of Lake Erie this week, and our angler-intel sweep turned up no PA-specific catch reports either — so this update leans on typical early-August patterns rather than a fresh bite report. Walleye and yellow perch, the lake's signature species, generally slide off the shallow shoreline structure into deeper, cooler water once surface temps hold in the mid-to-upper 70s, pushing boat anglers toward trolling and deep-jigging presentations. Smallmouth bass tend to stay the most consistent summer player, holding tight to rock and gravel structure — a pattern Tactical Bassin's general summer-bass breakdown describes as typical once fish separate into post-spawn feeding groups. Steelhead activity stays minimal until cooler fall water triggers tributary staging. Check the PA Fish & Boat Commission's Biologist Reports page for current stocking and season notes before heading out.
August heat pushes SML and Buggs Island bass toward deep cover
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for Smith Mountain Lake or Buggs Island this cycle, so today's outlook leans on seasonal pattern and general technique intel rather than site-specific reports. Early August on Piedmont Virginia reservoirs typically means warm surface water and bass pushed off the bank onto points, ledges, and submerged grass, with the best bite windows at dawn and dusk rather than midday. Tactical Bassin's August roundup ("Top 5 Baits For August Bass Fishing" and "Where Do Bass Go When Its HOT?!") frames the seasonal logic clearly: once summer heat settles in, bass group up predictably around structure and deeper cover, with jigs and swimbaits picking up the slack once the topwater window closes. Striped bass at Smith Mountain Lake typically track suspended baitfish over deep water this time of year, and Buggs Island's blue catfish stay a dependable target through the heat. Check current Virginia fishing regulations before harvesting anything today.
Columbia and Puget Sound rivers ease into a late-summer holding pattern
Agencies across the West have been posting hot-weather closures on more than 1,800 miles of river this summer, per Outdoor Hub, as warm water and low flows stress cold-water fish species. Washington's Columbia and Puget Sound river systems typically see the same seasonal pressure heading into early August, with hoot-owl style limits, fishing allowed only during cooler morning hours, common on tributaries running warm. This week's angler-intel feeds carried no fresh Washington river reports and we have no current buoy or gauge telemetry for the region, so today's conditions read as a typical late-summer holding pattern. Resident trout stay catchable in deeper, shaded runs during the cool early hours, while Chinook activity is typically tapering from its summer push and steelhead and coho numbers usually build later in August into September. Check WDFW's fishing and stocking reports and any active hoot-owl closures before heading out this weekend.