Fishing reports
18957 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Central MA bass bite holds strong on Ned Rigs and Senkos
Central Massachusetts pond bass are feeding well heading into the weekend. Jerry's Bait and Tackle in Milford reports steady largemouth action at North Pond (Lake Maspenock) in Hopkinton, Lake Whitehall in Holliston, and Lake Winthrop, with shiners, wacky worms, and Ned Rigs drawing the most bites right now. To the north, Roger Aziz, Jr. has been working the Merrimack River in Methuen, tallying smallmouth to 3 pounds on Aziz-rigged Senkos and Yamamoto Cut Tail Worms, and a friend reported big white catfish out of Artichoke and Brockton Reservoirs, per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater. Local flow is running low and stable — our readings show 12.8 cfs and 81.7 cfs at the region's two USGS gauges, typical for a dry stretch of early August. With a Last Quarter moon overhead, expect a steadier, less aggressive bite than around the full or new moon.
Heat, low flows push Eastern WA trout bite to early morning
USGS gauge 12484500 logged a flow of roughly 3,600 cfs as of the evening of Aug. 5, though no water-temperature reading came through in this update. That absence matters this time of year: Outdoor Hub reports that agencies across the West have placed restrictions on more than 1,800 miles of rivers this summer as heat and low streamflow stress trout and other cold-water fish, a pattern that applies broadly to Eastern Washington's Yakima-area waters. WA WDFW Fishing Reports notes the department continues creel surveys and statewide stocking, so checking current WDFW postings before heading out is worth the five minutes. With no fresh species-specific intel from the region this cycle, expect rainbow trout to fish best at first light before the water warms, while smallmouth bass and kokanee should stay more forgiving through midday in Eastern Washington's warmer lakes and river reaches.
Galveston West Bay trout heat up as STAR Tournament rolls on
Anglers working Galveston's West Bay are into some of the better speckled trout of the summer. Per the Galveston Daily News Reel Report, one recent outing produced a 30.5-inch, 8.5-pound trout alongside a 28-incher and three more over 25 inches, with a limit of slot-size reds rounding out the box. That same source notes the bite has been inconsistent bay-to-bay this week — "fish still biting despite tough conditions" — so covering water and sticking it out is paying off more than any single spot. The Cowboys on the Coast tournament out of Brazoria County also reported a strong morning bite on Galveston Bay over the weekend. Down the coast, the CCA-Texas STAR Tournament (Texas Fish & Game Magazine) runs through September 7 and is drawing heavy coastwide pressure on trout and redfish. Anglers without a year-round or lifetime license need to renew before September 1.
Atchafalaya anglers eye Henderson Lake drawdown as August heat holds
St. Martin Parish Government has scheduled a drawdown at Henderson Lake to beat back invasive aquatic vegetation, per Louisiana Sportsman — Fishing, so Atchafalaya Basin regulars should expect lower water and shifting access in that stretch over the coming weeks. On the Mississippi side, our reading at USGS gauge 07374000 has the river running a strong 305,000 cfs with water sitting at 83 degrees this afternoon, typical of peak-summer conditions for the basin. With water that warm, expect the standard August pattern: catfish and bream staying active through the heat while bass slide off the bank into deeper cover and current breaks, a positioning shift Tactical Bassin has been flagging all month as the go-to summer read. Henderson Lake anglers should plan trips around the drawdown timeline, and basin fishermen elsewhere should lean on moving water, shade, and deeper structure for the best bite while the heat holds.
Sea Bass Limits and Night Sharks Fire Up the Jersey Shore
Fluke are showing up thick in the surf and back bays this week, but most Jersey Shore anglers are sorting through a lot of shorts to find keepers. Grumpys Tackle calls the surf fluke bite "steady improvement" on bucktails and scented soft artificial baits, while Jingles Bait and Tackle in Beach Haven reports plenty of fish with shorts dominating, though Rich Sherman still stuck a 19-inch keeper on Gulp. Black sea bass are the more reliable meal ticket right now; Blue Chip Sportfishing says trips are "limiting out on almost every trip." Sharks have turned on too. Blue Chip put three nice makos in the water Friday, and Hands Too Bait and Tackle reports night surf shark fishing has gone "insane" from Cape May on south. Triggerfish and tautog are mixing in around inlet rocks and reefs now that the one-fish tog season has opened. Offshore, mahi are firing hard beyond the Cape May Reef on trolled ballyhoo.
Chincoteague's late-summer bay bite settles into its August rhythm
No live buoy or gauge readings came back for the Chincoteague area this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel feeds carried direct reports from Virginia's Eastern Shore, so this update leans on what's typical for saltwater fishing here in early August. The back-bays and surf around Chincoteague are usually deep into their classic late-summer pattern by now: spot and croaker stacked up for pier and surf anglers, flounder holding on channel edges and inlet drop-offs, and cobia still working the lower bay before their late-month push offshore. Striped bass are typically the slow link this time of year, with much of the Chesapeake under summer heat-stress harvest restrictions, so catch-and-release in the cooler low-light hours is the more realistic play. We'll keep watching for fresh local reports and buoy data to sharpen this picture. Always check current Virginia regulations before harvesting any species, since seasonal closures shift.
Saginaw Bay anglers dial in walleye, bass and pike as summer patterns hold
A recent Michigan Sportsman Forum thread has a Saginaw Bay regular running an upgraded 80lb Minn Kota Terrova through the bay's shallows for bass, pike and walleye ("eyes"), with side trips jigging up the Saginaw River and occasional runs toward the harbors and Platte Bay for salmon. No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS readings came back for the Lake Huron/Saginaw Bay area today — gauge 04157000 returned no current flow or temperature reading — so treat the forum chatter as anecdotal rather than confirmed, though it tracks with a typical early-August pattern on the bay. Regionally, Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch and Bob Jensen note walleye anglers are leaning harder on Forward-Facing Sonar to find fish suspended off structure rather than glued to bottom or classic weedlines and points, a wrinkle worth trying if the usual spots are quiet. With no verified temp or flow data in hand, water clarity and wind will likely do more to dictate today's bite than anything else.
August heat pushes Santee and Murray bass deep as flows hold steady
The USGS gauge above Santee reads 211 cfs this early afternoon, holding a steady late-summer flow through the system, though no water-temperature reading is available at this station today. Direct call-outs on Santee or Lake Murray weren't in today's feeds, but the seasonal pattern lines up with what Tactical Bassin describes for August largemouth this week: fish sliding onto deep structure and into shade as afternoon heat builds, staying catchable in the low-light hours rather than through midday. Santee-Cooper's landlocked striper and blue/channel catfish fisheries typically hold up through summer heat by pushing toward the thermocline and cooler deep holes, while crappie tend to go quiet until temperatures ease later in the fall. Largemouth remain the most reliable target right now, working shaded cover, docks, and offshore structure during the dawn and dusk windows bookending the heat of the day.
Potomac smallmouth settle into steady summer flow pattern
Flow on the Potomac held at 1,890 cfs as of midday per USGS gauge 01646500, a stable, wadeable summer stage for anglers working the Potomac and Shenandoah systems. Water-temperature data wasn't available from the gauge today, but early August typically keeps both rivers warm enough to push smallmouth bass into classic summer behavior: dawn and dusk topwater over ledges and riffles, sliding deeper and slower once the sun climbs. No verified regional angler reports came through today's intel sweep for this stretch, so what follows leans on typical seasonal patterns rather than fresh eyewitness accounts, worth being upfront about rather than inventing a bite. Largemouth in slower pools and tributary mouths tend to go quiet under bright midday light, favoring shade and low-light windows. Channel catfish stay dependable after dark on deeper holes, and panfish continue working shallow cover and grass edges through the heat.
Low, clear flows put UP trout streams into stealth mode
The lone hard number this cycle: 55.8 cfs at the monitored USGS gauge (04059500), a typical late-summer base-flow reading with no paired water-temperature data available — a signal that Upper Peninsula trout streams are running low and clear as August settles in. That combination usually pushes brook and brown trout tight to undercut banks, root wads, and shaded riffles, with the best window at dawn and dusk before the sun flattens the bite. Direct MI-specific what's-biting reports were sparse in this cycle's feeds, so we're leaning on seasonal pattern rather than fresh testimony, worth noting rather than papering over. Field & Stream's rundown on matching aquatic insects (mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies, midges) is a useful refresher for stream anglers working slower, technical water right now. On the Lake Superior side, WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing notes continued interest in the region's lake whitefish fishery, a reminder the big lake is worth a look beyond trout streams alone.
Quabbin and Wachusett smallmouth stay steady into August heat
USGS gauge 01174500 logged flow holding steady at 127 cfs as of midday Tuesday, a stable read that points to clear, wadable conditions across the Quabbin and Wachusett watershed heading into the second week of August. No reports came in specifically from Quabbin or Wachusett this cycle, but The Fisherman's New England Freshwater desk flagged solid action on nearby MA/RI waters this week: largemouth bass eating shiners, wacky worms, and Ned Rigs, smallmouth chewing Senkos and Ned-rigged worms, and stocked trout still biting Ned Rigs off deep humps. Those same presentations typically translate well to the deep, clear structure smallmouth and lake trout favor at Quabbin, and to the largemouth-friendly coves at Wachusett. Late-summer heat has bass sliding toward deeper drop-edges and shaded docks during the day, with dawn and dusk windows staying the most reliable bet. Check current state regulations before targeting trout or lake trout this month.
Highland Lakes bass slide deep as August heat holds firm
The Colorado River gauge at USGS site 08158000 read 239 cfs Wednesday morning, a modest, steady release that points to stable pool conditions across the Highland Lakes chain right now. No shop, captain, or agency filed a specific report on Travis, LBJ, or Buchanan this week, so this update leans on typical late-summer behavior for the system: largemouth bass sliding onto deep structure, creek channels, and ledges as surface water heats up, with topwater windows shrinking to first and last light. White bass and striped bass, both staples of these reservoirs, tend to suspend over deep humps and roadbeds through August, feeding hardest at dawn and dusk. For regional color, My Canyon Lake Fishing reported active schooling striper and white bass action around Party Cove on a different Hill Country lake earlier this season, a pattern that commonly extends to the Highland Lakes chain as summer wears on. Verify current lake levels and generation schedules before you launch.
Kenai salmon handoff builds as coho stage behind the sockeye run
The USGS gauge on the Kenai river system read 14,600 cfs and 50°F at 9 a.m. this morning, a combination that keeps salmon moving through the system rather than stalling in warm shallow water. Our angler-intel feeds didn't return direct "what's biting" reports for the Kenai or interior Alaska drainages this cycle; AK Sea Grant's recent posts covered fellowship programs and Kodiak kelp-week events rather than fishing conditions, so what follows draws on typical early-August patterns for this fishery instead of fresh field testimony. Early August is usually the handoff window, sockeye numbers tapering while coho begin pushing into the system, with rainbows and Arctic grayling in the interior tributaries keying on drifting eggs and flesh behind spawning salmon. At 50°F, water stays comfortable for all of the above, so expect fish holding in deeper runs and seams rather than skinny gravel. We'll flag shop and captain reports as soon as they come through.
Smokies trout shift to dawn and dusk as water warms into August
The USGS gauge on the Little Tennessee system (site 03512000) read 68°F with flow holding at 403 cfs as of early Tuesday afternoon, a temperature that sits right at the edge of comfortable for wild trout in Western NC's freestone streams. That's warm enough that fish get lethargic and stressed during peak sun, a pattern Trout Unlimited has been flagging across drought-stressed coldwater fisheries this summer, and similar heat-driven concern has pushed hoot-owl-style restrictions onto more than 1,800 miles of Western rivers per Outdoor Hub. No Smokies-specific angler reports came through our feeds this cycle, so treat the bite call as conditions-driven rather than confirmed on the water. Field & Stream's rundown of core trout forage (mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies, midges) is still the right framework for matching whatever's coming off the water in low light. Early and late are the plays until temps ease.
Mississippi River pools hold summer walleye pattern as flow stays steady
USGS gauge 05344500 logged flow near 14,600 cfs at midday Tuesday, putting the Upper Mississippi pools between Prescott and La Crosse in a stable, unremarkable summer stage with no sharp rise or drawdown to report. Water temperature wasn't available at this gauge. Direct catch reports specific to this stretch weren't in this cycle's feeds, so we're leaning on general Upper Midwest patterns from Fishing the Midwest: Mike Frisch and Bob Jensen both note that Forward-Facing Sonar has shifted where anglers find suspended walleye, pulling fish off the bottom-hugging spots anglers used to fish almost exclusively, while casting moving baits over emerging weed edges keeps producing largemouth and smallmouth through summer. Expect the same general patterns to carry over onto these pools. Channel cats should still be workable on cut bait in current seams below wing dams. Check Wisconsin and Minnesota regs before harvesting, and always confirm species-specific rules for the pool you're fishing before keeping fish.
Salt River bass shift deep as August heat settles over the chain
Flows on the Salt River below Roosevelt Dam are running a steady 136 cfs at the USGS gauge (09498500) as of this morning, typical for late-summer conditions heading into peak Arizona heat. No AZ-specific angler reports came through our feeds this week, so we're leaning on general seasonal patterns for the chain: largemouth and smallmouth bass typically pull off the banks and stack on deeper structure, points, and channel edges once surface temps climb through summer, echoing the seasonal bass-positioning breakdown Tactical Bassin published this week. Early morning and evening windows should still produce topwater and moving-bait bites before the sun gets high. Catfish tend to stay reliable through the heat on cut bait fished after dark, and crappie typically hold tighter to brush and deeper timber this time of year. Check current state fishing regulations before you head out, since summer patterns can shift quickly with heat and water levels.
Catskill and Adirondack trout streams call for early starts as flows run low
USGS gauges in the Catskills region are reading a moderate-to-low late-summer stage, 489 cfs at one site and just 55.2 cfs at the other, with no water-temperature telemetry available today. A drawn-down stage like this typically means a warmer water column and more selective trout, and Trout Unlimited's midsummer heat advisory (carried via Caddis Fly (OR)) is a good reminder that these are cold-blooded fish whose activity tracks water temp directly. Field & Stream's aquatic-insect primer is the right tool for matching what's actually hatching right now, mayflies, caddis, stoneflies, and midges, rather than blind-casting through the heat of the day. There's a longer-arc story for brook trout too: Trout Unlimited flagged a multi-year South Branch Moose River reconnection project this season, replacing culverts to reopen native brookie water. Plan around dawn and dusk windows until flows and temps ease.
Ohio and Cumberland River bass push offshore as summer heat holds
Flow on the Cumberland system's USGS gauge 03301500 is running near typical August base level at 323 cfs, with no fresh water-temperature reading logged this cycle. Direct fishing reports out of the Ohio and Cumberland River corridor were thin in today's feeds, which leaned heavily toward national bass-tournament coverage and Northeast and Midwest content rather than Kentucky-specific intel. What we can lean on is technique: Tactical Bassin's August coverage notes that once peak summer heat sets in, bass separate into predictable offshore and shallow-cover groups, with jig and swimbait presentations working fish holding on submerged grass and cover edges. That pattern generally tracks for Ohio and Cumberland River largemouth this time of year. Catfish typically stay most active after dark and in deeper holes as surface temps climb through August. Treat today's outlook as seasonal-pattern guidance rather than a fresh bite report, and check current Kentucky regs before harvesting.
Spring Creek and Penns Creek browns favor early light as flows hold steady
The USGS gauge near Spring Creek and Penns Creek was reading 76.3 cfs this morning, a stable late-summer base flow for these spring-fed limestone systems that typically run cooler and more consistent than freestone water even in August heat. No water-temperature reading came through with this update, but limestone flows in this range usually stay fishable through midday when nearby freestone streams shut down. None of this week's regional feeds carried a direct report from Spring Creek or Penns Creek specifically, so this update leans on the gauge reading and typical seasonal behavior rather than fresh eyewitness intel. Trout Unlimited's reminder that trout are cold-blooded and heat-stressed once water temperatures climb is worth keeping in mind on the warmest afternoons. Check the PA Fish & Boat Biologist Reports for current stocking and regulation specifics before heading out. Early and late light remain the smart windows for wild browns on these limestone flows.
Peak summer bluewater window holds as Hawaii awaits fresh reports
No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge feed came through for the islands this cycle, and no charter or tackle-shop dispatch landed either — so this report leans on seasonal pattern rather than a fresh bite. Hawaii Fishing News, the state's official record-keeper for state-line catches, keeps a running moon and tide calendar anglers use to plan trips, and early August sits inside the islands' typical peak summer pelagic stretch, when mahi-mahi, yellowfin tuna (ahi), wahoo (ono), and blue marlin are typically found working current edges and temperature breaks offshore. The Last Quarter moon this week generally means more moderate neap tides than the bigger swings around new and full moon, which usually softens current-driven bait movement compared to peak-tide stretches. With no direct source confirming an active bite this week, treat species status below as seasonal expectation, not a confirmed report, and check current state regulations before harvesting anything you land.
Connecticut bass slow down as heat and high water take hold
Statewide gauge data show a mixed picture this week: a larger river gauge is running warm at 75°F and pushing 17,900 cfs, while a smaller tributary sits low and clear at 104 cfs, a typical early-August split after scattered rain. Bass are the story. Just over the state line in Southwick, Sauder's Boat Livery (The Fisherman — New England Freshwater) reports Congamond-area largemouth have "turned tough again" as water temps bounce up and down, with fish sliding onto deep drop-edges, lily pads, and deep-water docks rather than holding shallow — Ned Rigs, jigs, and Senkos have been the producers, plus a few trout off a deep hump on Ned Rigs. Elsewhere in the region, Red Top Sporting Goods notes largemouth still eating on drop-shotted structure and topwater frogs worked through pads. Trout and smallmouth weren't reported directly this week, so their status below reflects typical late-summer warm-water patterns rather than a fresh report.
Sarasota Bay seatrout bite stays hot as tarpon push inshore
Capt. Brandon Naeve out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters in Sarasota landed and released a 27-inch spotted seatrout this past week, and he says the peak summer trout bite is on across Sarasota Bay's grass flats, mangrove shorelines, and passes. Trout are biting aggressively right now, with the best action concentrated around sunrise and sunset feeding windows as water stays warm through midday. Tarpon are still in the mix too — Capt. Rick Grassett's August forecast calls for fish holding in the coastal Gulf early in the month, working well on flies, DOA Baitbusters, and DOA Shrimp in shallow water. As those beach tarpon thin out later in August, expect them to slide into protected water around bridges and deep grass flats, often keying on schools of feeding ladyfish. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, so treat temps and tide timing as typical for early August in the region.
Croaker Bite Stays Hot Along Delaware Bay Piers and Jetties
Croaker fishing at Woodland Beach pier remains excellent and should hold through August, according to Smith's Bait Shop, while slot stripers are still coming off the Augustine Wall on peeler crab, shrimp, bloodworms, and bucktails tipped with squid strips. Flounder are showing well too — Smith's Bait Shop reports Port Mahon boats picking fish on minnows and jigs dressed with Gulp or squid strips, and Higbee's Bait and Tackle in Fortescue notes the bay is giving up blues, croakers, weakfish, flounder, sheepshead, and the occasional black drum, with pool winners running from 5-pound flounder to 15-pound drum. Bowers Beach Jetty continues to produce flounder, trout, and croaker. Offshore, Hook 'em and Cook 'em says head boats are working sea bass and flounder while private boats are limiting out on bluefin tuna over the Hambone, though Eric Burnley flags rain and thunder in this week's forecast that could complicate offshore trips.
Fluke bite turns white-hot as bluefin push inshore off Long Island
Fluke are stealing the show across Long Island right now. On The Water — New York / Long Island called the bite "firing on all cylinders" from the South Shore bays to the ocean reefs in its July 30 report, and shops are backing that up: Ebb Tide-East End logged a true "bail job" with a 5-pound, 4-ounce pool fish, while Fishfinder II-South Shore described non-stop action mixing porgies, triggerfish, blues and bonito. Offshore, bluefin tuna are "white hot" per Tyalure Professional Tackle & Gear-North Shore, with 40-to-55-inch fish showing 15 to 40 miles out on poppers and squid. Striped bass are more of a night bite for now, holding around bridges, back bays and the East River, where live eels are producing up to 15 fish per angler according to Tyalure. Porgy fishing has rebounded sharply at several North Shore and South Shore docks this week.