Fishing reports
6969 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Chicago salmon season rides a record harvest wave into July
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for the Chicago nearshore this cycle, and this week's angler-intel sweep didn't turn up captain or shop reports specific to the Illinois shoreline of Lake Michigan. The clearest signal available is the WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report's recap of 2024, which was a standout year lakewide: anglers landed a record 210,000-plus coho salmon and more than 160,000 Chinook, the best Chinook numbers since 2012, with strong alewife survival helping stocked fish thrive. That population strength typically carries forward, and July is peak trolling season on Lake Michigan for Chinook, coho, and steelhead working the thermocline, while yellow perch and smallmouth bass hold over nearshore structure and reefs. Treat the species notes below as seasonal expectations rather than confirmed bites this week, since no Chicago-specific report corroborated current activity.
Indiana's Lake Michigan salmon fishery rides a strong 2024 harvest into July
No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came back for the Indiana shoreline this cycle, and we don't have a direct captain or shop report from that stretch of the lake this week, so what follows leans on season-typical patterns rather than a live bite report. The bigger-picture backdrop is encouraging: the WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report notes 2024 delivered a record coho salmon harvest (over 210,000 fish lakewide) and the strongest Chinook salmon catch since 2012 (more than 160,000), crediting stronger alewife survival for the boost in stocked fish — a lakewide trend that includes Indiana's waters. Early July on this stretch typically has Chinook and coho working nearshore structure and river-mouth current lines in low light, yellow perch schooling over deeper structure through the day, and smallmouth bass holding tight to rock piles and pier structure. Treat species notes below as seasonal expectation until fresher on-the-water reports come in.
Bluefish window opens as Chatham's tuna season builds in Cape Cod Bay
Buoy 44020 near Nantucket Sound logged 73°F overnight into July 6, with 44013 off the Massachusetts Bay approach reading 71°F — solid mid-summer numbers for Cape Cod Bay, typical of early July as inshore waters settle into their warm-season pattern. Winds stayed light at both stations, 5-7 m/s, keeping the bay fishable through the morning. On The Water's kayak bluefish playbook flags July through October as prime time for chasing blues on troll, jig, or topwater presentations, and that window is now open along the Cape. Chatham continues to earn its "Tuna Town" reputation this time of year, per OTW Saltwater's feature on the port's bluefin history. OTW Surfcasting's recent piece on rigging Slug-Gos is timely for surfcasters working stripers off the outer beaches, though the same outlet flagged ongoing concern over weak striper spawning success coastwide — a longer-term worry worth watching even as the summer bite builds.
Calm seas and warming inshore water prime Gulf of Maine's summer run
Buoy 44007 off Casco Bay is reading 64°F this week while the offshore station at 44027 sits a full 11 degrees colder at 53°F, a split that's typical as Gulf of Maine water stratifies heading into July. Wind at both stations is barely a breath, making for glassy conditions well-suited to small boats working inshore structure. We don't have a Maine-specific bite report in this cycle, but the broader Northeast picture from Saltwater Edge (RI) points to striped bass pushing toward cooler, oceanfront water as summer sets in further south — a pattern that typically continues working its way up the coast into Maine's bays and river mouths through July. Expect stripers, mackerel, and early groundfish action to build as the inshore/offshore temperature gradient narrows. Calm air and light chop favor early-morning starts before any afternoon sea breeze fills in.
Mutton and yellowtail snapper keep Key West reefs lit up
Yellowtail and mutton snapper are still hammering bait on Key West reefs, with ALL IN Key West calling the spring-into-summer bite "as good as I've seen in my 16 years here," and still finding "huge yellowtails" and "tons and tons of mutton snappers" feeding aggressively even after May's full-moon spawn thinned the school. The same operation reports live bait producing king mackerel, tuna, and sailfish along the reef edges, and a recent Gulf-side run turned up grouper, snapper, cobia, and kingfish in solid numbers. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, so today's water temp isn't pinned down, but the pattern anglers are describing — aggressive reef fish, steady live-bait action, and pelagics already showing — fits a warm, active Keys summer. On the regulatory side, Florida's push for state-led red snapper management (per CCA Florida) remains a storyline worth watching for offshore anglers, though a federal court injunction has complicated the 2026 season timeline. Reef and flats action stays strong; check current regs before keeping anything borderline.
Buzzards Bay stripers slide offshore as summer heat builds
Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound anglers are settling into the heart of the summer striper shuffle. Just west of the Sound, Saltwater Edge Blog (RI) reports striped bass are already pushing out toward oceanfront, deeper, cooler water as regional temperatures climb — a shift that typically mirrors into Buzzards Bay and the Sound on a short lag. Bluefish are waking up too: On The Water's kayak playbook flags July through October as prime blue window, with trolling, jigging, and topwater plugs all producing. Bottom-dwellers like black sea bass and scup should be settling into their usual summer structure per typical Southern New England seasonal patterns. Early bluefin tuna chatter is stirring around Cape Cod, with On The Water's Chatham feature underscoring the region's deep tuna heritage as the season builds. No direct buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, so treat water temps and tide timing as approximate — check current NOAA/USGS data and local tide charts before heading out.
Big bluefin push near San Francisco has Central Coast anglers on alert
Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reports captain Charlie Barberini and the six-pack Scallyway put anglers on limits of bluefin tuna on back-to-back trips out of Fish Emeryville near San Francisco this week, alongside rockfish and lingcod limits at the Farallon Islands, big striped bass working the surf outside the Golden Gate, and what the outlet called an incredible halibut bite at Bodega Bay. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came back for the Central Coast itself this cycle, so we can't confirm local water temps or swell right now. The same source flagged a state rule worth knowing: California's Fish and Game Commission voted to ban wire leaders and hooks over 1.5 inches for ocean shore fishing from Pigeon Point south, covering most of the Central Coast shoreline. We're watching whether the hot bite building just to the north extends down the coast in the coming days.
Montauk stripers stay hot as South Shore bait piles up
Off Moriches Inlet on Long Island's South Shore, a father and his two sons hooked and landed a hammerhead shark on June 28 while live-lining bunker for striped bass, a clear sign of how much bait and predator activity has stacked up along the beach this week, per On The Water — New York / Long Island. That outlet's July 2 report has the Montauk striper bite keeping inshore boats busy, fluke action steadily improving, and midshore bluefin tuna fishing red hot. Black sea bass are hitting rigs and jigs on the South Shore reefs, and the June 25 report described big stripers still working a bait buffet off the east end. NY DEC's saltwater newsletter confirms summer flounder and striped bass seasons are open, with bluefish carrying no minimum size this year, five fish per angler. We're seeing a classic early-July South Shore lineup taking shape.
Catalina yellowtail bite turns on as SoCal surf action improves
Southern California's summer bite is finding its footing. Off Catalina, Dana Wharf Sportfishing's boat the Clemente kept anglers within casting range of quality calico bass on a recent trip, per Western Outdoor News, just as the island's yellowtail bite began to materialize for Dana Wharf boats the following day. On the beach, Surf Fishing in So Cal's July report describes a slow start with real signs of life: spotfin croaker and corbina are showing now that the surf has calmed from June's rough, wind-driven stretch. Regulatory news is also shaping how anglers gear up this month: an emergency rule from the California Fish and Game Commission bans wire leader and hooks over 1.5 inches within 1,000 yards of shore from Pigeon Point south, effectively covering the entire SoCal coastline, so check current shark-fishing rules before rigging up. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, so lean on-site observation for water clarity and surf height before you go.
Jersey Shore stripers, sea bass and sharks turn on as fluke improves
Water temps pushing into the mid-60s off Atlantic Highlands are locking in a strong early-summer pattern up and down the Jersey Shore. Blue Chip Sportfishing reports striped bass getting crushed on nearly every trip along with sea bass limits, and shark fishing has "busted wide open," with a recent trip releasing three mako sharks. Fluke are finally coming together too: Capt Ron's out of Atlantic Highlands logged its best-quality flounder of the season, with fish pushing 4 to 4.5 pounds on gulp sand eels, while Grumpys Tackle notes the bite rebounding on bucktails and flavored soft baits after a slower stretch, with bass back on clams in the surf. Offshore, Fishermans HQ LBI and OTW's Northern New Jersey report both put bluefin tuna 15 to 40 miles off the beach, arriving behind a heavy squid push. It's a full-spread summer setup, with inshore, surf, and offshore options all producing at once.
Red snapper bite fuels early summer Panhandle Gulf run
Offshore reports out of Pensacola over the Fourth of July holiday describe a fast start to a bottom-fishing trip roughly 30 miles into the Gulf, with a red snapper coming up on the first drop before the bite scattered into mixed bottom species for the rest of the run. No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for the Panhandle this cycle, so this report leans on angler intel and seasonal patterns rather than hard numbers. Early July in the Gulf off Destin and Pensacola typically keeps red snapper, king mackerel, and Spanish mackerel active on nearshore and offshore structure, while speckled trout tend to slow down and push deeper as surface water warms through midsummer. Salt Strong's weekly regional game plans continue tracking the Florida Panhandle & Big Bend zone for anglers wanting more localized weekly detail. Check current Gulf red snapper season dates and bag limits before planning a bottom-fishing trip.
Shallow bass bite holds at dawn as Buggs Island cats turn on
The regional USGS gauge (02075045) is holding a steady 438 cfs this morning, a stable summer read for the Smith Mountain Lake and Buggs Island (John H. Kerr) system as both reservoirs settle into classic July patterns. Largemouth are following the shallow-to-deep transition anglers lean on all summer: early and late bites on moving baits, per Tactical Bassin's latest roundup of top July bass baits, before fish slide toward weed edges and main-lake structure once the sun climbs, a shift Fishing the Midwest's recent advice on working weedlines echoes for this stretch of the season. Striped bass on both lakes are typically settling into their summer pattern now, holding deeper and schooling over creek channels and main-lake points through peak heat. Blue catfish action tends to strengthen through July on Buggs Island as water warms, while crappie slip into a slower, deep-structure summer bite. Check current Virginia regulations before harvesting anything you plan to keep.
Elevated river flows put Eastern Washington anglers into adapt-mode
The regional gauge (USGS 12484500) is reading a hefty 3,490 cfs as of early this morning, a flow level that pushes wading anglers toward softer seams and back-eddies rather than the main current. No water-temperature reading came through with this update, so dial in conditions on arrival rather than trusting a stale number. We don't have a specific creel or catch report in hand for the Yakima or Spokane corridors this cycle, so anglers should lean on WDFW's Fishing and Stocking Reports for site-level detail on recent plants and interview-based catch data before choosing a stretch. High water this time of year typically favors early starts, since heat and glare push fish deeper and tighter to cover as the day goes on. Treat the flow reading as your main planning input this week and adjust presentation and location accordingly rather than assuming a hot bite anywhere specific.
Georgia bass keep feeding hard as summer heat locks in around Lanier and Allatoona
Georgia gauges logged 636 cfs and a cool 49°F this morning, a reading more typical of a cold-water discharge than mid-summer surface conditions, but that hasn't slowed the action. Joshua Barber's Southern Water Fishing Report (GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News, July 4) notes bass have been biting well across Georgia waters this week, with solid reports rolling in from lakes and ponds statewide heading into the holiday weekend. Tactical Bassin's July bass coverage backs that up, pointing to peak summer metabolism pushing largemouth and spotted bass into aggressive feeding windows, particularly around shallow cover early and late in the day before the sun gets high. For Lanier and Allatoona anglers, expect that pattern to hold: work shallow low-light periods, then slide toward deeper, cooler structure as temperatures climb through the afternoon. Lanier's striper fishery remains a going seasonal draw as well. Check Georgia state regs before harvesting anything you plan to keep.
Warm rivers push CT bass into dawn-and-dusk pattern
USGS gauge 01184000 is reading 80°F with flow pushing 7,730 cfs, while the smaller gauge 01193500 sits low and slow at 75 cfs — a classic mid-summer split between big water and small feeder flow. With water this warm, largemouth and smallmouth are locked into their July pattern: aggressive, high-metabolism feeding windows at dawn and dusk, with moving baits and topwater working best before the sun climbs high, per Tactical Bassin's July bait roundup. Fishing the Midwest's reminder to work the weedline and stay versatile applies just as well here as the open-water season runs full tilt statewide. Stocked and wild trout are feeling the heat in these low, warm flows and are best left alone or fished early with light tackle and quick releases. Panfish stay a reliable, low-stress backup when bass go quiet midday.
Hill Country bass slide to structure as July heat settles in
Colorado River flow near Austin held steady at 477 cfs this morning (USGS gauge 08158000), a stable release stage as the Highland Lakes chain — Travis, LBJ and Buchanan — settle into peak summer heat. Texas Parks & Wildlife's weekly statewide reports remain paused (per My Canyon Lake Fishing), so this week's read leans on shop and video intel from around the state rather than a lake-specific report. Tactical Bassin's July rundown stresses fishing current conditions rather than memory as water warms, and its shallow-water power-fishing series shows bass still willing to eat hard early and late despite the heat. Texas Fish & Game Magazine points anglers toward brush piles worked with forward-facing sonar, a pattern that maps well onto the Highland Lakes' submerged timber and rockpiles. No direct catch reports came in for Travis, LBJ or Buchanan specifically this cycle, so treat the species calls below as seasonal expectations — dawn and dusk on structure are the safer bet right now.
Western Basin walleye slide deeper as summer heat settles in
USGS gauge 04193500 logged water at 82°F this morning with flow holding steady near 493 cfs, conditions that fit a typical early-July stretch on Lake Erie's Western Basin. No captain or shop report specific to the Western Basin walleye fishery came through in this week's angler-intel sweep, so this write-up leans on seasonal knowledge rather than fresh on-the-water testimony. At this water temperature, walleye typically pull off the shallow reefs and structure that held them through spring and either scatter into deeper, cooler water or feed hardest in the low-light hours around dawn and dusk. Yellow perch and white bass tend to stay more consistently catchable through the heat, often schooling over deeper structure and open-water humps. Smallmouth bass activity around rock piles and breakwalls typically holds up well into summer. Anglers should expect a classic summer pattern: early starts, deeper presentations, and a slower bite through the hottest midday hours.
Potomac smallmouth shift deeper as summer flows hold steady
The Potomac gauge at USGS site 01646500 is running near 1,980 cfs this morning, a level that keeps the river on the higher, slightly off-color side for early July and pushes smallmouth bass off skinny gravel into deeper seams and current breaks. Water temperature wasn't available at the gauge today, but with no cold snaps working through the system, we're treating temps as solidly in the summer range across the Potomac and Shenandoah. Specific Virginia angler reports were thin in today's feed, so this update leans on general regional knowledge: smallmouth and largemouth typically respond to the shallow-cover, low-light approach Tactical Bassin flags for peak summer, while catfish tend to push into deeper runs as flow rises, which fits the pattern building here. Panfish remain a reliable backup around shoreline structure. Check state regs before harvesting, and expect a slightly stained, moving-water bite rather than the clearer conditions late summer usually brings.
Northwoods walleye lakes shift into summer weedline patterns
Northwoods anglers are moving through the early-to-mid-summer transition, per Rollie & Helen's Musky Shop (WI), with water temps holding in the low 70s across the Minocqua, Oneida, and Vilas County lake systems despite recent wind and weather swings. Muskies are fully post-spawn and scattered, but jerkbaits worked over weed edges are producing fish, a pattern the shop credits guide Jake Smith with dialing in. For the walleye crowd, Bob Jensen at Fishing the Midwest points to the weedline as the technique worth adding to the rotation as open-water season hits full stride, noting versatile anglers who chase multiple species tend to catch more right now. Buoy and gauge telemetry for this system came back empty this cycle, so treat the low-70s reading as regional context rather than a site-specific number. Expect the weed-edge bite to hold as the transition plays out through the week.
Early starts pay off for Rangeley trout as summer heat builds
USGS gauge 01054200 near the Androscoggin headwaters logged a steady 43.9 cfs at 8 a.m. on July 5, with no water temperature reading available this morning. That low, stable flow is typical for a Maine summer stretch, but it's also the exact window Trout Unlimited highlights in its ongoing warm-water coverage: cold-blooded trout depend entirely on the water around them, and low dissolved oxygen in warm shallows can push fish into deeper cover during peak daylight. No dedicated Rangeley or Androscoggin bite report came through our feeds this week, so this update leans on general seasonal patterns rather than a specific catch report. Expect brook trout and landlocked salmon to feed hardest in the cool hours around dawn and dusk, while smallmouth bass, which Tactical Bassin lists topwater and moving baits as top July picks, should stay more active into midday across the lake basins.
Illinois River's high flow turns on catfish and carp bite
USGS gauge 05586100 was reading a swollen 58,900 cfs early this morning, a signal that recent rains have pushed the Illinois River well above typical summer flow. High, off-color water like this tends to concentrate catfish along current breaks and below wing dams, and regional reports back that up: Wired 2 Fish highlighted a 48.1-pound catfish out of Michigan's St. Joseph River below a dam, a reminder that big cats key in on heavy flow around Great Lakes-basin tributaries this time of year. On the bass side, Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen is pushing anglers toward weedlines as the 2026 open-water season hits full stride, and Tactical Bassin's July roundup leans on moving baits for aggressive, heat-driven bass. Carp remain a steady, underrated target on the river's skinnier flats per Hatch Magazine. Expect stained water and stronger current through the weekend.
Catawba and Roanoke bass tuck into cover as summer flows bottom out
The USGS gauge at station 02142900 logged flow at just 0.17 cfs this morning, a reading that points to drought-level low water across the Catawba and Roanoke systems as the region moves deeper into summer. Water temperature wasn't available at this station, but Piedmont and Coastal Plain rivers typically run into the upper 70s to mid-80s by early July, pushing fish toward deeper holes, shade, and current breaks. No NC Piedmont-specific angler reports came through this cycle's intel feed, so we're leaning on general seasonal patterns and national technique guidance: Fishing the Midwest's midsummer advice to work weedlines fits low, warm water where bass stack on vegetation edges, and Tactical Bassin's July bait roundup points to moving baits and soft plastics as sensible starting points. Catfish tend to hold in the deepest available water during stretches like this, while crappie typically slow down until temperatures ease. Check current conditions before heading out.
Susquehanna smallmouth shift to dawn-dusk bite as summer heat sets in
The USGS gauge on the Susquehanna (01540500) logged water at 84°F this morning with flow running 3,580 cfs, a clear signal that full summer patterns have locked in across the Susquehanna and Allegheny systems. No dedicated PA fishing-report chatter surfaced in this week's intel sweep, so we're leaning on typical July behavior for these rivers: smallmouth bass sliding onto tight dawn and dusk feeding windows as the heat pushes fish off sun-baked shallows, walleye dropping into deeper holes and current breaks through midday, and channel catfish turning most active after dark. The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission maintains ongoing biologist reports and stocking notices for the region, worth checking before planning a trip since recent stocking can shift bite windows on managed stretches. Muskellunge anglers should be especially cautious targeting fish in water this warm, since elevated release-mortality risk is a real concern during summer heat spikes.
NJ's Delaware feeders and Pine Barrens creeks settle into July rhythm
The USGS gauge at site 01408000 in the Delaware River watershed measured flow at 45.3 cfs as of Saturday morning, a modest, stable read typical of a Pine Barrens-fed tributary settling into its usual summer base flow. No water-temperature reading came through with this cycle's data, but for early July in this region that generally means water has warmed well into the range where smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and chain pickerel feed most actively, while stocked trout fishing slows as streams lose their spring chill. This week's tackle-shop and charter dispatches were concentrated on the Jersey Shore surf and inshore boats (fluke, sea bass, striped bass) rather than the Delaware River or Pine Barrens freshwater systems, so there's no fresh on-the-water testimony to attribute for this specific region today. Anglers here should lean on typical July patterns: early and late light for bass, deep cedar-stained holes for pickerel, and channel catfish after dark.