Fishing reports
19013 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Summer heat pushes Yakima and Spokane anglers to the early bite
Warm water and low streamflows have pushed state and federal managers to tighten fishing rules on more than 1,800 miles of Western rivers this summer, per Outdoor Hub, and that heat-driven caution extends to the cold-water fisheries anglers rely on around Yakima and Spokane. No fresh buoy or streamgauge readings came through for this region today, so we're leaning on the WA WDFW Fishing Reports page as the best source for current creel and stocking updates before you head out. Historically, early August in this part of the state means rainbow trout sliding into tight low-light feeding windows on freestone rivers like the Yakima, while smallmouth bass on Columbia-system water and Spokane-area lakes stay catchable around deep structure and current breaks once the sun gets high. Kokanee in stocked reservoirs typically hold in cooler thermoclines this time of year. With hoot-owl-style closures already active elsewhere in the West, checking current WDFW emergency regs before fishing trout water is worth the extra minute.
August heat pushes Mississippi & Atchafalaya bass deep
No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for the Mississippi and Atchafalaya basins this cycle, so today's read leans on seasonal patterning and regional bass intel rather than a hard temperature number. Wired 2 Fish's August rundown frames the state of play well: water temps have peaked for the year across most of the country, fish are done spawning, and bass are pushing as deep as they'll get all season. Tactical Bassin backs that up, noting bass split into two distinct groups once summer heat sets in and become predictable once you understand the handful of variables driving that split — translation: stop working the bank and start working offshore structure and deep cover. Catfish typically stay a reliable bite through Louisiana's hottest stretch regardless of the bass slowdown, while panfish and crappie tend to tuck into shade and deeper brush until temperatures ease. Check a local gauge before you launch — flow data wasn't available for this report.
Deep summer patterns take over on Santee and Lake Murray
No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for Santee or Lake Murray this cycle, so there's no hard water-temp number to report today. What we do have is Wired2Fish's August 2026 lure roundup, which calls this the toughest stretch of the year for bass as fish push into deep, post-spawn holding water once surface temps peak, and Tactical Bassin's recent summer-pattern breakdowns echo the same shift, pointing anglers toward offshore cover and swimbaits once the early bite fades. That lines up with what's typical for Santee-Cooper and Lake Murray in early August: largemouth sliding off the bank to deeper structure, while stripers and catfish tend to hold tighter to cooler water and feed hardest in low light. No SC-specific catch reports reached our sources this week, so treat the species status below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed bites, and check current state regulations before harvesting anything out of warm, deep water.
Smallmouth hold pattern as Potomac reports run quiet
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for the Potomac or Shenandoah this cycle, and this week's angler-intel sweep turned up no direct shop or captain reports from the region either. In their place, the broader seasonal signal still applies: per Wired 2 Fish's August lure roundup, bass across the country are fully post-spawn and pushing into their deepest summer holding water as surface temps peak, a pattern that typically plays out on Potomac and Shenandoah smallmouth water too. Tactical Bassin's recent August videos describe hot-weather bass as predictable once you find the right cover, holding tight to submerged structure through the heat of the day and feeding hardest in low light. On the trout side, Virginia DWR's Wildlife Blog is currently focused on a draft Stocked Trout Management Plan open for public comment, useful background for Shenandoah headwater anglers but not a bite report. Expect early-morning and evening windows to outproduce midday through this stretch.
Lake Superior whitefish buzz builds as UP streams settle into summer rhythm
Direct intel for Upper Peninsula trout streams and the Lake Superior shoreline was thin this cycle, but basin-wide notes from WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing point to a genuinely growing fishery worth watching: lake whitefish angling in the Chequamegon Bay corner of the lake has expanded enough that the agency held a March informational meeting and kept an angler questionnaire open through April, with recordings still available for anyone tracking the fishery. The same feed also flags an ongoing Michigan Tech University burbot study on Lake Superior, seeking angler input on awareness and preferences for that species. No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for this update, and no UP-specific stream reports (brook trout, brown trout, steelhead holdovers) surfaced from shop, charter, or blog sources this cycle. Anglers should lean on local knowledge and current state regs until more granular reports come in.
Deep structure becomes key as MA reservoir bass action toughens
Direct reports from Quabbin and Wachusett aren't flowing through our sources this week, but the broader Massachusetts freshwater picture gives a useful read on what these deep, cold reservoirs are likely doing right now. At Congamond Lakes in Southwick, bass fishing "has turned tough again" as water temperatures swing, per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, with anglers finding fish holding on deep drop-edges, lily pads, and deep-water docks rather than shallow cover, a pattern typical of early-August reservoir bass across the region. The same feed reports smallmouth to 3 pounds coming on Senkos and Yamamoto Cut Tail Worms worked around structure on nearby New England reservoirs and rivers, plus catfish turning up in area reservoir systems. Quabbin and Wachusett's lake trout, landlocked salmon, and smallmouth fisheries typically follow the same seasonal script this time of year, with fish pushed deep and bite windows shrinking toward dawn and dusk.
Hill Country bass push deep as peak summer heat settles in
Largemouth on Texas reservoirs are fully post-spawn and pushed deep for the year, per Tactical Bassin's latest breakdown of summer bass positioning — a pattern that fits the Highland Lakes system (Travis, LBJ, Buchanan) even though no shop, charter, or agency report came in from those three lakes specifically this cycle. Wired 2 Fish's August lure roundup backs the same read nationally, noting post-spawn bass are sitting "as deep as they'll get all year" once summer water temps peak. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge data was available for this lake system either, so this update leans on seasonal pattern rather than a fresh on-the-water trend line. Expect largemouth holding tight to submerged vegetation, humps, and channel structure rather than the bank, best worked early and late in the day. White bass and striped bass typically stay active through August here as schools follow shad into open water, though that's general seasonal knowledge, not a confirmed local bite today. Check lake levels before heading out.
Kenai tributaries turn over as silvers start trickling in
No buoy or gauge readings came back for the Kenai and interior river system this cycle, and this week's angler-intel feeds carried no direct captain, shop, or agency reports on what's actually biting in Alaska's interior right now — the Alaska Sea Grant items in today's pull covered fellowships, kelp, and oyster projects, not conditions. Absent hard data, we're going on the calendar: early August on the Kenai typically sits in the handoff window between the tail of the sockeye run and the first push of coho, with rainbow trout and Dolly Varden keying on drifting salmon eggs behind spawning fish. Interior clearwater tributaries are usually fishable and comfortable this time of year, though exact flow and temperature should be checked against a current state or USGS reading before you commit to a drift. Treat today's picture as a seasonal baseline, not a live report, until better source data comes through.
Dog-days heat pushes Smokies trout to shade and early light
No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came back for the Smokies trout streams this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel feeds filed a report from Western North Carolina specifically, so this update leans on what's well established about freshwater trout behavior in early August. Outdoor Hub reports that heat has already forced fishing restrictions across more than 1,800 miles of Western rivers this summer, and Trout Unlimited's coverage of drought stress on Colorado and Rio Grande coldwater fisheries points to the same pattern hitting trout streams nationally as water warms and flows drop. The Smokies typically follow suit by early August: mainstem water gets thin and clear, and trout activity concentrates into the first and last hour of daylight. Expect fish to hold tighter to shaded pockets, undercut banks, and higher-elevation feeder streams where temperatures stay cooler. Low, clear conditions call for a stealthy approach and lighter tippet regardless of which species you're targeting.
FFS Reshapes Walleye Patterns on Upper Mississippi Pools
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for the Prescott-to-La Crosse stretch this cycle, so this report leans on regional technique intel rather than a specific temp or flow reading. The bigger story for Upper Mississippi walleye anglers right now is one Fishing the Midwest raised directly this week in "Blending Old & New": do traditional approaches like jigging live bait and pulling crawler rigs still produce now that Forward-Facing Sonar has changed how anglers locate fish? Their answer, echoed in a companion piece ("Up & Away!"), is that walleyes are showing up suspended off bottom and away from classic structure like points and wing dams far more than the old rulebook assumed. For pool-system smallmouth and largemouth, the same outlet notes early-August fish are still catchable on moving baits worked over emerging weed edges, per angler reports referenced in "Little Things That Can Yield Big Fish!" We're treating both as general technique guidance rather than site-specific results until direct reports on these pools come in.
Salt River chain bass slide deep as summer heat peaks
With no fresh buoy or gauge readings available for the Roosevelt Lake and Salt River system this week, the read on conditions leans on seasonal patterns rather than direct measurement. Early August has water temperatures at their peak across the Southwest, and largemouth and smallmouth bass are fully post-spawn, pushed toward the deepest structure they'll hold all season, per Wired 2 Fish's August lure roundup. Tactical Bassin's recent hot-weather breakdowns back that up, noting bass separate into predictable summer groups tied to depth, cover, and current once water temps spike, with jigs and swimbaits still drawing bites even in tough conditions. Outdoor Hub also flags that heat has triggered fishing restrictions across more than 1,800 miles of Western rivers this summer, a reminder to check current advisories on cold-water stretches before heading out. Expect a slow, structure-oriented bite through midday with better windows at dawn and dusk.
NY trout bite shifts to dawn as summer heat tightens the window
Direct "what's biting" intel for the Adirondacks and Catskills is thin this week, so we're leaning on regional context. Trout Unlimited's ongoing South Branch Moose River Reconnection Project remains the standout NY headline this cycle — TU and the state's conservation partners are working through a multi-year plan to replace 63 culverts and reopen 44 miles of native brook trout water, a longer-term boost rather than an immediate bite signal. With water temps typically climbing through early August, trout across the region are behaving the way they do most summers: pushed toward dawn and dusk feeding windows and shaded, spring-fed stretches as afternoon heat sets in, echoing the cold-water-stress pattern flagged in coverage republished from Trout Unlimited. Expect brook trout to hold tightest to cooler feeder streams, while browns and rainbows in mainstem sections turn more selective through midday. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for this region this cycle.
Ohio and Cumberland rivers settle into deep summer holding patterns
Wired 2 Fish's August lure roundup this week confirms what most Ohio Valley anglers already expect: bass nationwide are full-blown post-spawn and pushing as deep as they'll get all year, with water temps sitting at their annual peak. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for the Ohio or Cumberland systems this cycle, so today's outlook leans on seasonal pattern rather than live numbers. Tactical Bassin's latest summer breakdowns back up that deep shift, pointing anglers toward submerged vegetation, offshore cover, and current breaks once fish abandon the bank. For Kentucky's Ohio and Cumberland River anglers, that typically means smallmouth and largemouth sliding onto ledges and wing dams, blue and channel catfish working deep holes after dark, and Cumberland tailwater stripers holding tight to current seams below the dams. Sauger stay the tougher bite until water starts cooling toward fall.
Sea Bass Limits Out As Sharks Turn On Along the Jersey Shore
Blue Chip Sportfishing is calling sea bass action red hot right now, with the boat limiting out on almost every trip, and shark fishing has busted wide open too — Friday's charter boated three Mako sharks that were released. Fluke remain the summer workhorse up and down the coast: Capt Ron's out of Atlantic Highlands is seeing pool-winning fish in the 4-to-6-pound range, while Jingles Bait and Tackle in Beach Haven reports steady action with a 19-inch keeper on Gulp and a 4.9-pound bay trophy, though most fish are still running short. Triggerfish are holding tight to the rocks and jetties per Fisherman's Headquarters in Central NJ and Boulevard Bait and Tackle down south, with tautog now mixing in on the inlet structure. Offshore, mahi are thick around the pots off Cape May per Hands Too Bait and Tackle, and bluefin continue showing along the Barnegat and Sea Isle ridges. Crabbing remains excellent in the back bays.
Limestone spring flows keep Penns and Spring Creek trout active in the heat
No fresh gauge or buoy readings came through for Spring Creek or Penns Creek this cycle, and neither stream turned up by name in this week's angler-intel feeds, so this report leans on what limestone spring-creek fishing typically looks like in early August rather than a fresh bite report. These are spring-fed systems, meaning groundwater keeps summer temperatures far more stable than the freestone rivers currently under heat stress: Outdoor Hub reports over 1,800 miles of western rivers now under fishing restrictions from low flows and warm water, and a Trout Unlimited piece (republished by Caddis Fly (OR)) is a good reminder that trout are cold-blooded and get stressed once water temps climb well into the 60s. Spring Creek and Penns Creek's constant-temperature flows are exactly why limestone water stays fishable through the dog days when freestone streams shut down. Expect technical, low-and-clear conditions with fish keyed on terrestrials and picky about drag-free drifts.
Hawaii's blue water settles into typical August pelagic pattern
No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for Hawaiian waters this cycle, and the angler-intel feed leaned toward Sea Grant fellowship and policy news rather than dockside bite reports. Hawaii Fishing News, the state's record-keeper and moon-tide calendar service, didn't carry fresh bite intel in this pull either, so we're working from typical August patterns for the islands rather than confirmed reports. Blue-water trolling for mahimahi, yellowfin tuna (ahi), and wahoo (ono) is usually productive this time of year along current edges and temperature breaks, while bottomfish species like opakapaka and onaga typically see lighter targeted effort in summer, partly due to seasonal regulatory windows anglers should verify with the state before heading out. With the moon in its Last Quarter phase, moderate tidal swings favor working moving water early and late in the day for shoreline and reef species. We'll have a fuller, source-grounded update as more direct reporting comes through.
Pond bass dig into deep cover as CT settles into peak summer heat
With no fresh CT-specific buoy or gauge readings this cycle, the clearest signal comes from neighboring New England pond and river reports, which point to a textbook August pattern anglers statewide should expect to see repeated locally. Largemouth are pushing into deep weed edges and lily pad fields, with Booyah Pad Crasher frogs working shallow cover early and late per Red Top Sporting Goods, while wacky worms, shiners, and Ned Rigs are producing steady largemouth action per Jerry's Bait and Tackle. Smallmouth are holding on Ned-rigged Senkos and Yamamoto Cut Tail Worms around reservoir structure per Roger Aziz, Jr. Holdover trout have gone tougher as water warms, with Sauder's Boat Livery noting fish sliding onto deep humps and Ned Rigs still drawing bites in low light. Expect the same pattern across CT's lakes and ponds this week.
Sarasota seatrout bite runs hot as tarpon linger along the coast
Sarasota Bay's speckled trout bite remains locked in — CB's Saltwater Outfitters reports Capt. Brandon Naeve's clients landing fish up to 27 inches this past week, including a released spotted seatrout boated with a father-son group. The shop notes trout are aggressively biting the inshore grass flats, mangrove shorelines, and local passes, with the peak summer bite in full swing; best success comes working the sunrise and sunset feeding windows before the day heats up. Along the coastal Gulf, Capt. Rick Grassett's August forecast (via CB's Saltwater Outfitters) has tarpon still present early in the month, taking flies, DOA Baitbusters, and DOA Shrimp worked in shallow water. As those tarpon thin out along the beaches later in August, Grassett expects them to push into inside waters, holding around bridges and rolling on deep grass flats, with juvenile tarpon showing up in schools of feeding ladyfish. Typical late-summer heat and afternoon thunderstorms favor an early start on the water.
MS Sound bite reports stay quiet as late-summer patterns hold
The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources certified a new youth saltwater record this week: an 8-pound, 11.2-ounce bonnethead shark landed on conventional tackle by Jackson Callender of Vancleave, per MS DMR. Beyond that headline, this cycle's angler intel skewed heavily toward MDMR administrative notices, two derelict-vessel proceedings, a dispatch-contract RFQ, and a wetlands permit review near Biloxi, rather than on-the-water bite reports, and no buoy or gauge readings came through for the Sound this cycle. We don't have fresh testimony on speckled trout, redfish, or flounder activity this week, so treat the species status below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed bite reports. Early August in Mississippi Sound typically still favors low-light and moving-water periods for trout and reds around structure, with flounder holding tighter to sandy bottoms near passes. Check state regs before harvesting, and watch for fresher shop and captain reports as we move closer to the next cycle.
White Marlin Bite Building Offshore Ahead of MidAtlantic Tournament
Offshore canyon action is the clearest signal in this cycle's intel: On The Water reports 768 white marlin caught in last year's MidAtlantic tournament, with 2026 boats already working the canyons ahead of the 35th edition, days away as of this week — relevant water for Chincoteague-based boats running toward the Washington and Poor Man's canyons. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Eastern Shore this cycle, so check a local thermometer or shop board before trusting any temp call. Inshore, this stretch of the Delmarva coast typically eases into its mid-summer lull by early August, with striped bass slow and scattered while summer flounder carries most of the dock traffic — On The Water's fluke guide is worth a look for adjusting drift speed and bait profile when the bite turns finicky. Cobia should still be working the lower bay and nearshore structure this time of year. Work the last-quarter moon's tide swings for the strongest current windows.
Striper bite stays mobile as bluefin push into Gulf of Maine
Gulf of Maine anglers are chasing a moving target this week. Per The Fisherman's South Shore MA to ME report, striped bass action has been shifting day to day, with hot pockets showing near Fourth Cliff and around Plum Island Sound and Crane's, though boats are consistently outproducing the surf; surf guys are cashing in mostly after dark on needlefish-style plugs. A surprise winter flounder flare-up has taken hold near river mouths including the Merrimack and Sandy Point, good enough that New Hampshire party boats have been working it. Giant bluefin tuna are also showing more frequently in northern waters according to the same regional dispatch, alongside a near-record mahi caught further along the coast. On the downside, dogfish have crowded onto several bottom marks, pushing groundfish trips to hunt clear water. Anglers should also note NOAA has closed the Gulf of Maine trophy bluefin tuna fishery through the end of 2026, per On The Water, so any giant-class fish encountered needs to be handled with that closure in mind. Stay mobile, stay on the bait.
Trout and red drum patterns keep SC coastal bite alive in August
No buoy or gauge readings came through for Charleston Harbor this cycle, so this report leans on regional angler intel from the wider Carolinas coast. Per Fisherman's Post's North Myrtle/Little River report, just above the SC line, anglers are finding summertime spotted seatrout on slip-cork rigs with live shrimp, with red drum also working the marsh edges. That's a reasonable proxy for South Carolina's harbor and marsh systems this time of year, where warm-season trout and slot redfish are the bread-and-butter targets. Direct Charleston Harbor catch reports weren't available in this cycle's feeds, so treat the species status below as season-typical rather than confirmed local word. Lowcountry harbor water typically runs warm through early August, keeping fish oriented to shade, moving water, and low-light hours. Check current state regulations before harvesting any of these species.
Ohio Walleye Bite Shifts Deep as Anglers Lean on Sonar Tech
With no fresh buoy or gauge readings available for Lake Erie or the Ohio River this reporting cycle, we're leaning on regional technique intel to gauge where fish are sitting. Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch notes a real shift in how anglers are finding walleye this season — forward-facing sonar has moved the bite away from the old bottom-and-structure rule of thumb, with fish now showing up in spots anglers wouldn't have checked a few years back. Bob Jensen, also writing for Fishing the Midwest, points to bass responding to oddball 'urchin'-style baits worked near cover, and notes that a quick hook touch-up saved a nearly 5-pound largemouth on a recent outing. Nationally, Wired 2 Fish's August lure roundup notes most bass are now full-blown post-spawn and pushing deep, a pattern that typically holds for Ohio's inland waters too. Treat today's picture as technique-driven guidance rather than an on-the-water snapshot.
Tautog limits and hot sea bass offset a tough striper bite in Narragansett Bay
It's a mixed bag on the Bay this week. Tautog season reopened August 1st and Quonnie Bait and Tackle is already reporting limit catches on rock piles and reefs in around 30 feet of water. Black sea bass are picking up too — Frances Fleet and The Saltwater Edge both note a strengthening bite mixed with fluke on full and half-day trips, and Snug Harbor Marina says fluke numbers are trending the right direction along the south county beaches and around Block Island, with Booked Off Charters logging trips averaging a dozen keepers including several over 5 pounds. Striped bass are the soft spot — The Saltwater Edge and multiple South County shops describe the bite as tougher with warmer bay water, and brown sharks are harassing hooked stripers on both boats and from shore. On a brighter note, green bonito are starting to show along the beaches per Snug Harbor and Quonnie, though they're feeding on tiny bait and proving tricky to fool.