Fishing reports
19028 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Puget Sound salmon and bottomfish action holds through peak summer
No fresh buoy readings or angler reports came in for Puget Sound and the Washington coast this cycle, so this update leans on typical early-August patterns for the region rather than live numbers. Early August sits in the heart of Washington's saltwater season, with summer Chinook and coho typically moving through Puget Sound, the Strait, and coastal ports while lingcod and rockfish stay in play in open bottomfish zones — area and season regs rotate throughout the month, so check current WDFW rules before you keep anything. WDFW's ongoing creel and catch-report program (WA WDFW Fishing Reports) tracks angler activity and stocking statewide and is the best next stop for water-specific numbers we don't have here. With no water-temperature or swell data available this cycle, plan around typical late-summer conditions: warm surface water, lighter morning winds, and tide-driven bait movement. We'll fold in buoy and angler-intel data as soon as it's flowing again.
Panhandle bite holds steady on snapper and pelagics
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, and this week's angler-intel sweep didn't turn up a direct fishing report out of Destin or Pensacola waters, so we're leaning on seasonal patterns rather than a confirmed catch report. Early August in the Panhandle typically keeps red snapper the headline species over nearshore wrecks and reefs, with king mackerel and mahi mahi showing up on trolled baits as Gulf waters hold their summer warmth. Inshore, redfish and speckled trout remain the standard grass-flat and marsh-edge targets this time of year. Sport Fishing Mag's guidance on picking offshore days flags moon phase and barometric pressure as key timing levers, worth weighing against today's Last Quarter moon. We'll flag it plainly: without a corroborated local report this cycle, treat the species status below as a seasonal baseline rather than a confirmed bite, and check current conditions before running offshore.
Yellowtail and mutton snapper keep the Keys reef bite red-hot
Yellowtail and mutton snapper are stacked up on the reef and around Key West structure, with ALL IN Key West calling this stretch some of the best snapper action the shop has seen in 16 years guiding out of Key West — big yellowtails and mutton snapper feeding aggressively in numbers. Bud n' Mary's in Islamorada reports the same early-summer pattern holding: warm water, abundant bait, tarpon working the bridges, and mahi mahi showing on the reef edge and offshore. Sport Fishing Mag notes live chumming with pilchards and block chum is the key producer for mutton snapper working Biscayne Bay's finger channels. ALL IN Key West also reports grouper, cobia, and kingfish mixed in on Gulf-side trips, plus an early sailfish push riding a strong Gulf Stream current. With the South Atlantic red snapper Exempted Fishing Permit program tied up in litigation per CCA Florida, most anglers are staying focused on the reliable reef species instead.
Bottom bite steals the show as CT striper action turns choppy
At the mouth of the Thames River, AW Marina reports steady action on scup, school stripers, and the season's first snapper bluefish, with porgy fishing productive on sand worms over at Avery Point. Bottom fishing is the clear story across the region this week: Tartan II calls scup and sea bass "great action" with sea bass coming from deeper water and scup off typical hard bottom, while Black Hawk logged porgies, sea bass, and a mix of triggerfish before a mid-week weather system knocked out a Thursday fluke trip. Striper fishing is mixed, per Tartan II the earlier consistent bass bite has broken up, though J&B Tackle still calls inshore striper fishing "very good" on light tackle at dawn and dusk with slow-reeled glide baits and deep jig heads. The Fisherman (Northeast) also highlights live-lining spot as a producer for quality Sound bass right now.
Spanish mackerel push turns on around Cape Lookout piers
Spanish mackerel are stacking up around Cape Lookout, with Dave of Chasin' Tails in Morehead City/Atlantic Beach reporting a good nearshore bite and the bigger fish concentrated near the Cape itself, per Fisherman's Post (NC). Up the coast toward Swansboro/Emerald Isle, Morgan of The Reel Outdoors notes anglers throwing casting jigs and Gotcha plugs off the pier are connecting with spanish mackerel and bluefish, with a few king mackerel mixed in. Along the Pamlico Sound side, Hugh of TW's Bait and Tackle in the OBX/Northern Beaches area reports surf anglers pulling sea mullet, bluefish, and plenty of croaker on bottom rigs, with inshore action starting to turn on. Further south, Carolina Beach's Island Tackle and Hardware is seeing a typical summer mix of red drum, flounder, croaker, and assorted sharks in the surf. Overall, it's a classic early-August pattern for the sound-to-Cape corridor: nearshore mackerel action, steady surf bottom fishing, and red drum starting to show.
Coho salmon build toward peak as Gulf of Alaska enters prime August window
No buoy or gauge readings came back for the Gulf of Alaska this cycle, and this week's AK Sea Grant feed leaned toward research and outreach news, an oyster aquaculture launch and a kelp-focused gathering in Kodiak, rather than open-water bite reports, so today's read draws on typical early-August patterns for the region. Coho (silver) salmon typically build steadily through August as fish stage for river returns, and trolling herring or spoons off nearshore points and current seams is the standard approach this time of year. Pacific halibut fishing usually stays productive into fall over deeper structure, and lingcod continues to hold tight to rocky nearshore bottom. The last-quarter moon points to a neap tide window, generally softer currents than around the full or new moon. Check current state regulations before targeting any of these species, since seasons and limits can shift through the summer.
Deep summer pattern grips Hartwell and Russell bass
Wired 2 Fish's August 2026 lure report frames this stretch as the toughest read of the year, with water temps at their annual peak and bass fully post-spawn, pushed as deep as they will go until fall turnover. That national pattern tracks with what anglers on Lake Hartwell and Lake Russell should expect on the Savannah chain right now: largemouth and spotted bass sliding off deep points, ledges, and standing timber, more willing to chase moving baits in low light than through the heat of the day. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings were available for this stretch this week, and neither the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division's blog nor any Georgia-specific shop or charter report surfaced Hartwell or Russell particulars, so treat this as a seasonal outlook rather than a confirmed bite report. Hartwell's blueback herring forage base should still be pulling striped bass and spotted bass toward deep, cooler water, a pattern typical for early August on Piedmont reservoirs.
Mosquito and Pymatuning bass slide deep as August heat sets in
No buoy or gauge data is available for Mosquito or Pymatuning reservoirs this cycle, so today's read leans on regional angler intel rather than instrument readings. Per Wired 2 Fish's August lure roundup, bass across the country are full-blown post-spawn and holding as deep as they'll get all year now that surface temps have peaked — a pattern typical for northeast Ohio reservoirs by early August. Fishing the Midwest notes forward-facing sonar has changed how anglers find walleye, which are increasingly located suspended off structure rather than glued to bottom points and weedlines the way they were fished a decade ago. The same outlet points to moving baits worked over emerging weed tops for bass, with a sharp treble hook making the difference between a missed swipe and a solid hookup. Expect a tougher daytime bite typical of peak summer heat, with better windows early and late. Check current state regs before harvesting.
Smokies tailwater trout lean on cold releases through August heat
No live NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for the Hiwassee or Caney Fork this cycle, and this week's angler-intel feeds carried no direct Tennessee reports, so this update draws on established seasonal patterns for Southern Appalachian tailwater fisheries in early August. Both rivers are dam-controlled by TVA, and the cold, oxygen-rich water released from depth typically keeps trout active even as regional air temps push into the 90s, unlike freestone streams that stress under summer heat. Generation schedule matters more than the calendar: high-flow release windows favor nymphing and streamer swings for rainbows and browns, while low-water or no-generation stretches open up sight-fishing and dry-fly presentations in clearer water. Smallmouth in the lower reaches typically slow down in peak-summer heat, holding deeper and feeding mainly at low light. Check the generation schedule before heading out, since it will do more to set your day than the forecast will.
Forward-facing sonar unlocks suspended walleye across the Iron Range
Walleye anglers across the Boundary Waters and Iron Range are adjusting to classic August patterns as fish push away from bottom structure into open water. Per Fishing the Midwest, Forward-Facing Sonar has changed how anglers locate suspended walleye that no longer sit tight to points, turns, or weedlines the way old-school logic assumed — many fish are now found well off bottom in open water. Smallmouth and largemouth bass are keying on emerging weed tops, with moving baits like crankbaits producing when retrieves stay tight and trebles are kept sharp, also per Fishing the Midwest. Wired 2 Fish notes August water temps have generally peaked for the season and most fish are in a full post-spawn pattern, holding as deep as they'll get all year — a useful baseline for Iron Range lakes right now. No buoy or gauge readings were available for this region today; plan around water clarity and structure instead.
Croakers and Drum Keep Delaware Bay's NJ Shore Busy
Higbee's Bait and Tackle in Fortescue is reporting a strong, varied Delaware Bay mix right now — blues, croakers, weakfish, flounder, sheepshead and the occasional black drum, with party-boat pool winners running from a 5-pound flounder up to a 15-pound drum, and croakers stacking up along Fortescue Beach on blood or lung worms. Big Dave's Tackle backs that up with plenty of Delaware Bay croaker action mixed with kingfish, spot and smaller weakfish, plus what they're calling an exceptionally strong back-bay sheepshead bite. Down toward the bay mouth in Cape May, Hands Too Bait and Tackle has weakfish toothing up bloodworms at the seawall and croakers thick on the bayside beaches, with sheepshead and triggerfish mixed into the tog bite and inlet flounder still producing on bucktails. Higbee's also notes very good white perch action in the creeks — a nice bonus target while the bay's bottom bite stays busy.
Western Basin walleye push deeper as August heat sets in
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Western Basin this cycle, so this update leans on seasonal pattern and technique intel rather than a same-day bite report. Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch notes that forward-facing sonar has upended the old walleye rulebook — fish that used to sit tight to bottom along points, turns, and weedlines are increasingly showing up suspended over open water, and FFS is what's revealing it. That shift is worth knowing for boats working reef complexes and open-lake humps this time of year. Wired 2 Fish's August lure roundup adds the broader context: most freshwater gamefish are full-blown post-spawn and pushed into their deepest water of the year, which typically makes for a tougher, more technical bite than the June rush. Expect walleye, perch, and white bass to be scattered and structure-or-suspension dependent rather than schooled up shallow until water temps start easing toward fall.
Green River tailwater sight-fishing holds through August heat
Hatch Magazine's midsummer piece on leading a rising trout is timely reading for the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam, where cold, bottom-release flows typically keep rainbows and browns feeding through the hottest weeks of the year even as water temps peak elsewhere, per Wired 2 Fish's August lure roundup. No fresh buoy or streamflow readings came through for this stretch this cycle, and no shop, charter, or agency report was filed specifically on Flaming Gorge or the Green River tailwater this week, so treat the species notes below as seasonal-pattern guidance rather than a confirmed bite call. This time of year the tailwater's dry-fly game typically stays alive on small mayfly and midge patterns worked to visibly feeding fish, while Flaming Gorge Reservoir's kokanee begin staging deeper ahead of their fall run. Check current Utah regulations before harvesting, and confirm dam release schedules locally before wading in.
Ozark trout parks settle into early-morning-only mode as August heat builds
Early August has the Current and Niangua trout waters heading into the toughest stretch of the season, and no fresh buoy or gauge readings came back for this update, so plan around low-light windows rather than midday heat. Trout are cold-blooded and their activity tracks water temperature directly; Caddis Fly (OR) flagged that exact dynamic in a recent piece on when summer heat turns into a welfare issue for trout, a timely reminder for anglers working the spring-fed stretches of these rivers. Nationally, Wired 2 Fish's August lure roundup notes most gamefish are now fully post-spawn and pushing to the deepest, coolest water they can find for the year, a pattern that tracks for smallmouth bass holding in the deeper Ozark pools once the sun climbs. Expect rainbow and brown trout to feed hardest at first light, with smallmouth activity building as the morning warms and easing back off by midday.
Lake Michigan salmon strong as DNR reviews smallmouth, whitefish rules
Wisconsin anglers landed a record 210,000-plus coho salmon and more than 160,000 Chinook salmon out of Lake Michigan in 2024, the strongest Chinook harvest since 2012, per the WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report, evidence that healthy alewife year classes are sustaining the salmon fishery off Door County and Sheboygan. No direct on-the-water bite reports came through today's feed for this stretch of shoreline, so the species notes below reflect typical early-August expectations rather than a confirmed hot bite. The DNR is currently gathering public feedback on smallmouth bass management in Green Bay and northern Lake Michigan, and on a proposed new lake whitefish total allowable catch, both signs regulators are watching pressure on these fisheries closely. Early August on Lake Michigan typically means salmon and trout holding deep as surface temps peak, with smallmouth working nearshore rock and gravel. Check current DNR notices before launching.
Wabash cats and Lake Michigan perch settle into deep summer patterns
Direct "what's biting" reports out of the Wabash River and Indiana's Lake Michigan shoreline were thin this cycle, so this update leans on typical early-August patterns for the region rather than invented specifics. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came back this run, so exact water temps are unconfirmed, but August in the Ohio Valley and southern Lake Michigan typically means fish pushed deep and holding tight to structure or suspended over it. Fishing the Midwest's recent walleye coverage notes more anglers now using forward-facing sonar to find suspended fish off deeper structure rather than assuming everything sits tight to points and weedlines, a technique worth trying on Wabash holes and Lake Michigan humps alike. Wired 2 Fish's August lure outlook pegs bass nationally as full-blown post-spawn and sitting as deep as they get all year, a pattern that tracks for Wabash smallmouth too. Catfish remain the most dependable summer bite on Indiana rivers this time of year. Check current state regs before harvesting.
Post-spawn bass push deep as August heat settles over Lanier and Allatoona
Georgia's lake bass have settled into the toughest stretch of the summer calendar. Per Wired 2 Fish's August lure rundown, largemouth across the region are full post-spawn and holding as deep as they'll get all year, with surface temps cresting well past seasonal norms and making the bite tougher through the middle of the day. Anglers are still finding quality fish, though — Georgia Outdoor News' August Scrapbook features Grayson Jackson of Conyers boating a 6.5-lb largemouth on the last cast of the day, proof the bigger fish are still catchable when you put in the time. The Georgia Wildlife Blog's July reports keep pointing anglers toward the state's stocking reports and Angler Resources page for lake-specific detail, but neither Lanier nor Allatoona had a dedicated report this cycle — treat today's read as a regional August pattern, not a lake-specific readout, until fresh local reports land.
River smallmouth and musky keep biting through PA's summer heat
Wired2Fish reports Pennsylvania's Fish and Boat Commission has approved raising the statewide trout minimum size limit from 7 to 9 inches, effective Jan. 1, 2027 — the first change to that rule in more than four decades, and a headline worth knowing even though it doesn't affect this season's creel. We don't have fresh buoy or gauge readings for the Susquehanna or Allegheny corridors this cycle, so treat conditions as typical for early August: rivers running warm and generally low, smallmouth bass holding on deeper structure and feeding hardest in low light, walleye sliding deeper and turning more nocturnal, and musky still workable around cover. Wired2Fish's August lure roundup notes gamefish nationwide are full-blown post-spawn and pushed as deep as they'll get all year, a pattern that tracks for PA's river systems too. Trout fishing stays the more reliable bet in higher, cooler tributaries than in the mainstems right now.
Illinois anglers chase deep, post-spawn fish as August heat sets in
Wired 2 Fish's August lure roundup frames the month bluntly: post-spawn largemouth and walleye across the Midwest are pushing into their deepest water of the year, with bites getting tougher as surface temps peak. That pattern fits typical early-August conditions on the Illinois River and Lake Michigan, where warm, stable water usually pushes gamefish off traditional shoreline structure. Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch notes forward-facing sonar has upended old assumptions about walleye location, finding suspended fish well off bottom and away from classic points and weedlines, worth trying if the usual spots have gone quiet. Bob Jensen adds that bass are still keying on moving baits worked over emerging weed growth, with sharp treble hooks making the difference on missed strikes. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for this region this cycle, so treat water levels and temps as typical for early August until a local check confirms conditions.
August heat sends Catawba, Roanoke fish deep and slow
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Catawba or Roanoke systems this cycle, so this update leans on the broader seasonal picture rather than a confirmed local report. August is peak dog-days territory across freshwater fisheries nationwide: per Wired 2 Fish's national August lure roundup, water temps have topped out for the year in most lakes and fish are fully post-spawn, sitting "as deep as they'll get all year." That pattern typically holds true on the Catawba-chain reservoirs and the Roanoke system as well — largemouth bass sliding onto main-lake structure and thermoclines, striped bass and catfish pushing toward deeper, cooler water, and crappie going quiet in the heat. No NC-specific shop, captain, or agency report came through this cycle for these particular waters, so treat the species calls below as seasonal expectation rather than a confirmed local bite until fresher intel lands from the region.
Potomac and Patapsco bass slide into full summer pattern
No buoy or gauge readings came in for the Potomac or Patapsco this cycle, and none of this week's angler-intel feeds cover Maryland's tidal-fresh stretches directly, so this report leans on typical early-August patterns for the region. By this point in the season both rivers are normally at or near their yearly temperature peak, which pushes largemouth bass, blue catfish, and northern snakehead into classic summer positioning: bass tucked tight to grass edges and shaded laydowns, catfish working deeper holes and current breaks, and snakehead cruising shallow slop and lily pad fields in the early and late hours. Under a Last Quarter moon, expect a modest uptick in overnight and pre-dawn feeding activity compared to a full or new moon week. Anglers should check current Maryland DNR guidance before heading out, and plan around typical dog-days conditions — warm, sluggish water that rewards low-light starts over a midday grind. We'll fold in specific on-the-water reports as they come in.
Rio Grande & San Juan trout dig deep as drought and August heat build
Trout Unlimited's recent drought feature on the Colorado and Rio Grande Rivers lays out the backdrop for New Mexico's coldwater fisheries right now: record low snowpack, drying reservoirs, heat waves, and hoot owl restrictions stacking up after more than 25 years of regional drought. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Rio Grande or San Juan this cycle, so treat the numbers panel as pending and lean on pattern instead. Wired 2 Fish's August rundown notes water temps nationwide are peaking and trout are fully post-spawn, pushing into the deepest water they'll hold all year — a pattern that applies here too. For Rio Grande and San Juan anglers, that means working early-morning and late-evening windows, focusing on deeper runs and pools, and checking for active hoot-owl or flow advisories before heading out. Treat any midday surface activity as a bonus, not the plan.
Salmon fishing turns on for Lake Ontario trollers this week
Salmon fishing has been "very good" this past week on Lake Ontario, with browns and lake trout mixed into the catch, per Strike Zone Charters (Lake Ontario). The charter reports fish holding in the 100 to 160 foot range, with preferred depths shifting day to day as wind pushes warmer water around the lake — dialing in the right depth has meant adjusting through the day rather than locking into one number. Mag Dipsey Divers have been producing when fish sit deep, and green, white, and chartreuse E-Chip spoons run behind Atomic attractors are getting bit. For anglers focused on the Salmon River and Oswego tributaries, this offshore lake bite is the leading edge of the season — fish staging out in open water now typically push toward river mouths as conditions shift later in summer. No direct buoy or gauge readings were available for this update, so lean on typical early-August lake patterns and check local conditions before heading out.
Ozark rivers turn technical as August heat pushes fish deep
August has arrived with typically the year's peak water temperatures across Missouri and Ozark river systems, and no fresh buoy or gauge readings came through this reporting cycle, so anglers should check current flow stage locally before launching. Regional coverage from Fishing the Midwest points to a pattern worth watching: walleye anglers are finding fish suspended off traditional bottom structure, tracked down with forward-facing sonar rather than the points-and-weedlines rule anglers leaned on for years. Bass anglers are seeing results working moving baits over emerging weed growth, with one angler crediting a quick hook touch-up with a sharpener for converting a missed strike into a near 5-pound largemouth. Wired 2 Fish's August lure roundup reinforces the seasonal read: with spawning long finished, most gamefish across the country are full-blown post-spawn and holding as deep as they'll get all year, which typically means slower, more technical presentations pay off on Ozark water through the rest of the month.