Fishing reports
19028 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Deep summer pattern takes hold on the Mississippi & Atchafalaya
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came back for this reach this cycle, and this week's angler-intel pull didn't turn up a direct shop or captain report for the Mississippi River/Atchafalaya Basin freshwater fishery specifically — worth saying plainly rather than guessing. What we can lean on is the broader seasonal signal: Wired 2 Fish's August rundown notes that bass across the country are now fully post-spawn and pushed to their deepest summer haunts, a pattern that tracks for Louisiana's river and backwater systems too as water warms into early August. Expect catfish to stay the most dependable target on the Mississippi and Atchafalaya this time of year, with bream/bluegill holding tight to shaded cover and stumps. Bass and crappie tend to slow into a classic summer doldrums stretch until mornings cool off. Treat all of this as seasonal expectation, not a confirmed bite report, until a local source checks in.
Santee and Murray bass slide deep as summer heat peaks
Direct on-the-water reports for Santee Cooper and Lake Murray weren't available in this week's data pull, so this update leans on the broader seasonal picture instead of a specific local bite. Wired 2 Fish's August lure roundup notes that water temps have topped out for the year across much of the country, running past 100 degrees in some shallow water and staying at their hottest even in cooler regions, with bass now fully post-spawn and pushed out to the deepest water they'll sit in all year. That lines up with the standard early-August pattern on these two reservoirs: largemouth slide off primary points onto deeper structure, striped bass and catfish work toward the thermocline and river-channel edges where oxygen and forage concentrate, and crappie stack in deep brush. No Santee- or Murray-specific catch reports came through this cycle, so treat the species notes below as seasonal expectation rather than a confirmed bite, and check current South Carolina regs before keeping anything, especially catfish limits on Santee.
Potomac and Shenandoah bass slide into deep summer holding patterns
No live buoy or gauge readings came through for the Potomac or Shenandoah systems this cycle, and none of this week's regional feeds carry a direct catch report for VA freshwater, so this update leans on seasonal pattern rather than a fresh bite report. Virginia DWR Wildlife Blog is spotlighting its Draft Virginia Stocked Trout Management Plan, now open for public comment, a sign the department is rethinking how put-and-take waters get managed heading into cooler months. On the bass side, Wired 2 Fish's August rundown notes that fish nationally are full post-spawn by now, pushed out to their deepest summer holding water, a pattern that typically applies to Potomac and Shenandoah smallmouth and largemouth as well. Expect early and late top-water windows to fade fast once the sun gets up, with most consistent action likely coming from deeper structure and current breaks through the middle of the day. Channel catfish should stay a dependable after-dark option in the deeper holes.
Lake Superior salmon and trout settle into deep, steady August patterns
Wired 2 Fish's August rundown pegs most gamefish nationwide as full-blown post-spawn and sitting as deep as they'll get all year, and that pattern holds true for Lake Superior's trout and salmon fishery heading into the second week of August. With no fresh buoy or stream-gauge readings in this cycle, we're leaning on typical seasonal behavior for Upper Peninsula water: brook and brown trout retreating to shaded, spring-fed stretches during the heat of the day, while lake trout and coho salmon push down toward the thermocline off Superior's open water. On the Wisconsin side of the lake, the WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing program continues tracking a lake whitefish fishery that's grown noticeably in popularity in recent seasons, a reminder that whitefish interest across the basin keeps building even outside peak ice season. Early and late low-light windows remain the best bet for UP stream trout right now.
Quabbin and Wachusett bass dig into deep structure as summer holds
No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came in for Quabbin or Wachusett this cycle, and neither reservoir showed up directly in this week's shop or captain reports. Regionally, though, the pattern fits what these deep, cold-water reservoirs typically see as August heat sets in: per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, Massachusetts pond and lake bass have turned tougher as water warms unevenly, with fish sliding onto deep drop-edges, lily pads, and deep-water docks instead of holding shallow. The same report has anglers still connecting on Ned Rigs, Senkos, and slow-worked soft plastics along structure, a solid template for Quabbin and Wachusett's rocky points right now. Quabbin's lake trout and landlocked salmon typically push toward deeper, cooler water as surface temps peak this time of year, a seasonal pattern rather than a specific report. Expect a technical, patience-required bite through the reservoirs' deep basins into the weekend.
Hill Country bass push deep as Highland Lakes summer heat holds
Wired2Fish's August lure roundup sums up where Highland Lakes bass sit right now: fully post-spawn and pushed as deep as they'll go for the year, with water in most Texas reservoirs topping out for the season. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for Travis, LBJ, or Buchanan this cycle, and none of this week's shop, charter, or agency intel covered those three lakes directly, so treat the specifics here as seasonal pattern rather than an on-the-water report. Highland Lakes staples — largemouth bass, striped bass, white bass, and catfish — tend to follow a similar late-summer script: bass and stripers slide onto main-lake structure and suspend over deeper water through the heat of the day, white bass keep schooling in open water, and catfish stay one of the more dependable bites through August. Best odds are early morning and after dark, working deep structure and moving baits rather than counting on a strong daytime surface bite.
Record-Low Flows Push Colorado's Trout Into Tighter Pods
Colorado's rivers are running about as low as anyone in the business can remember, and it's reshaping how anglers need to approach the water this month. Pat Dorsey Fly Fishing (CO) calls the 2026 drought possibly the worst on record for the state, a read echoed by Cutthroat Anglers (CO), which reports a genuine record-low water year and is urging anglers to carry a thermometer and stop fishing once water hits 68°F. On the Colorado River between Glenwood Springs and Rifle, Crystal Fly Shop (CO) notes a CPW voluntary full-day closure remains in effect with flows holding near 2,000 cfs. The upside, per Cutthroat Anglers' Matt Campanella: fish haven't vanished, they've concentrated. Low water has pushed trout into fewer, deeper pockets, and anglers willing to hike farther or downsize leaders are still finding grouped-up, catchable fish across the drainage.
Kenai silvers stage as the sockeye push winds down
Early August marks a hand-off week for the Kenai Peninsula and nearby interior river systems: the summer sockeye run typically starts tailing off through this stretch while the first push of coho (silver) salmon begins showing in the lower river and tributary mouths, a pattern that generally holds on Alaska's road-system streams this time of year. No buoy or gauge telemetry came through for this region in this cycle, and none of the angler-intel feeds available today carried a charter, shop, or state-agency report specific to the Kenai or interior rivers, so treat what follows as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed on-the-water intel. Rainbow trout and Arctic grayling should still be holding in classic summer lies, feeding behind spawning salmon. Coho numbers usually build steadily through August into September on these systems. Check current state regulations and any in-season emergency orders before targeting kings or sockeye, since closures are common on Kenai Peninsula systems at this point in the season.
Lake Michigan salmon build behind a strong year class ahead of fall run
Lake Michigan's Chinook and coho salmon fishery enters August riding real momentum: the WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report notes 2024 produced a record coho harvest (over 210,000 fish) and the strongest Chinook numbers since 2012, with improved alewife survival boosting returns for stocked fish. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Grand River mouth today, so treat conditions as typical for early August until a local reading updates. Salmon and steelhead should still be staged offshore in deeper, cooler water ahead of the fall push toward river mouths like the Grand. Smallmouth bass are in their classic post-spawn pattern this time of year — per Wired 2 Fish's August lure roundup, bass nationally are pushing as deep as they get all year, a cue worth applying to nearshore Michigan structure. Walleye fishing typically slows through midday summer heat, picking up at dawn and dusk.
Smokies trout play it cool as August heat tightens the bite window
Trout Unlimited's midsummer note is the best anchor for the Smokies right now: trout are cold-blooded, so their activity tracks water temperature directly, and August typically pushes Western NC freestone streams toward their warmest, lowest-flow stretch of the year (a point Trout Unlimited's piece made and Caddis Fly (OR) reprinted this cycle). No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge telemetry came through for this region this cycle, and no NC-specific shop or charter reports landed in the intel feed either, so what follows leans on typical seasonal pattern rather than confirmed sightings. Expect brook trout holding tightest to the coolest headwater pockets and shaded plunge pools, with rainbows and browns in lower, warmer stretches going quieter through midday. Early morning and last light are the usual highest-percentage windows this time of year. Check current NC regulations before harvesting, and handle fish caught in warm water quickly if releasing.
Sonar-savvy walleye anglers adjust as Mississippi pools go deep
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Prescott-to-La Crosse stretch this cycle, so we're leaning on regional technique reports rather than hard numbers today. Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch notes that forward-facing sonar has upended old walleye assumptions this season — fish once thought to be strictly bottom-huggers near points and weedlines are turning up suspended well off structure, and anglers willing to scan instead of assume are cashing in. On the bass side, the same source flags a simple fix worth copying: touching up treble hooks with a sharpener mid-trip turned a string of missed bites into a solid largemouth over emerging weed tops. Broader Midwest coverage (Wired 2 Fish) notes August typically pushes water toward its yearly peak and sends fish, largemouth included, into their deepest post-spawn holding areas of the year — worth keeping in mind if bites go quiet on typical summer patterns this week.
Croakers pile up in Delaware Bay as slot stripers hang on at the Wall
Delaware Bay's mixed bag is running deep this week: Higbee's Bait and Tackle reports blues, croakers, weakfish, flounder, sheepshead and even black drum coming over the rails, with party-boat pool winners including a 15-pound black drum and a 3-pound weakfish. Fortescue Beach anglers are stacking croakers on bloodworms and lung worms, and creek regulars are finding a strong white perch bite. At Port Mahon, Smith's Bait Shop says flounder are hitting minnows and jigs tipped with Gulp or squid strips, black drum are coming on clams, and slot stripers are still holding around the Augustine Wall on peeler crab, shrimp, bloodworms and bucktails dressed with squid. Big Dave's Tackle adds that nearshore and offshore reef flounder fishing remains strong, though the back bays are thick with short fish. Woodland Beach Pier's croaker run has been excellent and looks set to hold through August, with the 20-24 inch striped bass summer slot still in effect per Delaware's revised regulation.
Fluke Bite Roars Across Long Island as Bluefin Push Inshore
Fluke are the story on Long Island right now. On The Water's July 30 report calls the bite productive from the bays to the oceanfront, and the Captree Fleet counted well over 500 fluke landed on one recent ocean trip. The Ebb Tide reported a full bail job on the South Shore, with a 5 pound, 4 ounce pool winner, while the Shinnecock Star kept a steady pick going through the rain. Offshore, bluefin tuna from 40 to 55 inches are firing for White Water Outfitters out of Hampton Bays, with poppers working well 15 to 40 miles out. Striped bass are patchier: Tyalure Professional Tackle says the East River run is on, with live eels drawing up to 15 fish per angler, while Tight Lines Tackle notes only scattered bass on Montauk's sand beaches during early morning hours. Porgy fishing has rebounded sharply on the North Shore per the Rip Tide III.
Roosevelt Lake bass push deep as peak summer heat settles in
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for Roosevelt Lake and the Salt River chain this cycle, so this report leans on the seasonal pattern anglers nationwide are already living through. Per Wired 2 Fish's August lure roundup, water temperatures have peaked for the year and bass across the country are fully post-spawn, pushed as deep as they'll get all season — a pattern that typically holds for Arizona's desert reservoirs too. Expect largemouth and smallmouth bass sliding onto main-lake structure and deeper points during daylight, with the most consistent action concentrated around dawn and dusk. Channel catfish typically stay the most reliable target through the heat, feeding actively after dark in the shallows and coves. Crappie tend to scatter and suspend over deeper brush this time of year. No Arizona-specific angler intel came through our feeds this week, so treat species status below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed local reports, and check conditions before heading out.
Catskills & Adirondacks trout hunt shade as August heat peaks
Trout Unlimited reports work is underway this season on the South Branch Moose River in the Adirondacks, part of a multi-year effort with New York's DEC to replace 63 culverts and reconnect 44 miles of native brook trout water — a sign this region's headwater fisheries are getting real habitat investment even as peak-summer heat sets in. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for Catskills/Adirondacks streams this cycle, so treat flows and temps as unconfirmed until you check a local gauge. Typical for early August, we'd expect trout pushed into deeper pools, spring seeps, and shaded, faster riffles as afternoon water warms; brook trout and browns should bite best in the first and last hour of light. Smallmouth bass in the bigger river stretches remain a solid warm-water backup when trout shut down at midday. Check current advisories before fishing any project-area sections on the Moose River.
Post-spawn bass push deep as Kentucky's rivers hit peak summer heat
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came back for the Ohio and Cumberland systems this cycle, so this update leans on regional intel and seasonal pattern. Per Wired 2 Fish's August lure roundup, bass across the country are now full-blown post-spawn and holding as deep as they'll get all year, with water temps at or near their annual peak — a pattern that typically applies to Kentucky's river systems as well. That the bite is still firing nearby is clear from B.A.S.S. News: Caige Bragg needed 38 pounds, 4 ounces to win the Strike King Bassmaster High School Championship at Kentucky Lake, on the Tennessee River system bordering the Cumberland drainage, suggesting bass are still eating well despite the dog-days slowdown typical of early August. Catfish remain a dependable target on the Ohio's deeper channel bends this time of year, a typical pattern for the season rather than anything reported directly. Check current USGS stage before launching.
Sea Bass Limits Out as Bluefin Fire Up Off the Jersey Shore
Black sea bass are limiting out boat after boat right now, with Blue Chip Sportfishing calling the bite 'red hot' on nearly every trip out of the northern Shore. Fluke fishing is a mixed bag along the coast: Capt Ron's out of Atlantic Highlands is finding quality doormats to 6 pounds on slower-current days, while Jingle's Bait and Tackle in Beach Haven reports plenty of fluke but mostly shorts in the surf and bay, and Fisherman's Headquarters notes an impressive 12-pound fish mixed into an otherwise smaller-fish pattern. Striped bass remain in the mix on bunker per Grumpys Tackle, alongside bluefish and a strong croaker and spot bite in the back bays. Offshore, bluefin tuna are firing: Fishermans HQ LBI boated 30-to-35-pound bluefin on the troll, and boats working the Barnegat Ridge and Masseys are finding 30-to-60-pound fish on jigs, poppers, and chunk baits. Blackfish season has also opened along the surf line, with triggerfish and sheepshead mixed into inlet structure.
Low, Clear Limestone Water Tests Anglers as PA Trout Rules Shift
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Spring Creek/Penns Creek corridor this cycle, so this report leans on regional context rather than a live temp check. The bigger story for Pennsylvania trout anglers right now isn't a hot bite report — it's regulatory: Wired 2 Fish reports the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has approved raising the statewide minimum harvest size for trout from 7 inches to 9 inches, effective Jan. 1, 2027, the first change to that rule in more than four decades and aimed squarely at protecting wild brook trout populations. On the water, early August on these spring-fed limestone flows typically means cooler, more stable water than nearby freestone streams, but still low and gin-clear under summer pressure, which calls for careful wading, fine tippet, and terrestrial patterns as summer hatches thin out. Check current PFBC regional data and stream conditions before heading out.
Hawaii's pelagic bite holds to typical early-August rhythms
Hawaii Fishing News, the state's official keeper of record catches, remains the reference point for trophy fish across the Islands, but this cycle's feeds carried no fresh nearshore or offshore bite reports specific to Hawaiian waters, and no NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through either. Hawaiʻi Sea Grant's latest posts this week focused on coastal research in Palau and Knauss fellowship updates rather than fishing conditions, so there's no direct testimony to lean on. In the absence of fresh reports, we're describing typical early-August patterns rather than confirmed activity: pelagics like mahimahi, ahi, and ono generally stay active around current edges and FADs as trade-wind patterns hold this time of year, while ulua fishing off rocky shorelines tends to stay steady but technical. Treat the species notes below as seasonal expectation, not verified bite reports, and check with local shops for the freshest word before planning a trip.
Ned rigs and deep structure carry bass through the summer wobble
Regional freshwater reports this week point to an inconsistent bite driven by swinging water temps, with Sauder's Boat Livery noting bass fishing has "turned tough again" as temperatures bounce up and down, pushing fish onto deep drop-edges, lily pads, and deep-water docks. Ned Rigs, jigs, and Senkos are the baits doing the work there, and the same trip produced rainbow and brown trout — including one topping 3 pounds — off a deep hump on a Ned Rig. Jerry's Bait and Tackle still called largemouth fishing good on shiners, wacky worms, and Ned Rigs, and a couple of pike in the 30-32 inch class turned up on large swimbaits. No CT-specific inland report came through this cycle, so treat these as regional New England signals: for Connecticut's Statewide inland waters, expect the same early-August pattern — early/late light windows, deep structure, and finesse presentations when the midday sun pushes fish down.
Cobia and flounder carry Eastern Shore days as offshore marlin bite builds
Offshore, On The Water reports the white marlin bite is "on fire" in the Mid-Atlantic canyons with the 35th MidAtlantic tournament just days out, a signal worth watching for Eastern Shore boats that run from Chincoteague-area inlets out to the canyons this time of year. No buoy or gauge readings came back for this update, and none of today's angler-intel feeds filed a direct Chincoteague or Eastern Shore report, so we're leaning on typical early-August patterns for this stretch of Virginia's seaside: summer flounder holding on nearshore structure and inlet drop-offs, cobia cruising the lower bay and seaside shoals, and Spanish mackerel working bait schools along the beachfront. On The Water's fluke primer this week is a good refresher if the doormat bite has been slow for you — match bait size to the fish you're after and work structure deliberately instead of drifting open bottom.
Sarasota trout bite stays red-hot as tarpon linger in the Gulf
Spotted seatrout are aggressively biting across Sarasota Bay's grass flats and mangrove shorelines right now, with Capt. Brandon Naeve of CB's Saltwater Outfitters landing and releasing a 27-inch trout this past week and calling the peak summer bite fully on. Sunrise and sunset feeding windows are producing the most consistent action, with the mid-day August heat typically pushing fish deeper. Offshore, Capt. Rick Grassett's August forecast (also via CB's Saltwater Outfitters) notes tarpon are still holding along the coastal Gulf beaches early in the month, with flies, DOA Baitbusters, and DOA Shrimp working in shallow water. As beach tarpon thin out through August, expect that bite to shift toward bridges and deep grass flats inshore, where schools of ladyfish will hold their attention. No live buoy or gauge data came through for this update, so treat water temp and tide as unknowns and plan trips around the reported dawn/dusk windows instead.
Mississippi Sound bonnethead record signals active summer bite
Mississippi Sound's clearest signal this week comes from Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, which certified a youth state saltwater record: Jackson Callender of Vancleave landed an 8-pound, 11.2-ounce bonnethead shark on conventional tackle in late July, per MS DMR. That's a solid marker that small coastal sharks are actively feeding in Sound waters right now, typical for late summer as bait pushes into the shallows. Direct captain and tackle-shop reports on the Sound's speckled trout, redfish, and flounder bite weren't available in this cycle's intel sweep, and no buoy or gauge readings came through either, so we're leaning on seasonal norms rather than fresh numbers today. Early August in the Sound typically keeps speckled trout and redfish working marsh drains, reef markers, and jetties on moving water, with flounder starting to stage for their fall push. Check state regs before harvesting, and plan around typical late-summer heat and afternoon storm risk.
Narragansett Bay stripers grind through the summer doldrums
Saltwater Edge, the Newport-area shop that tracks Narragansett Bay conditions closely, is calling this stretch of early August the "summer doldrums" — the roughly month-long lull after the Fourth of July when heat, wind, and short sleep test angler patience, though the shop stresses there's still plenty to catch for anglers who put in the time. Striped bass remain the bay's bread-and-butter target: On The Water's surf desk is pointing anglers toward live eels on circle hooks and sand fleas as surf baits, while Saltwater Edge just walked through rigging your own Slug-Go for the bigger fish that keep the pre-rigged versions sold out shop-wide. Yo-Zuri's Chris Bishop, in a Saltwater Edge conversation, flagged lure choices that carry all the way from the Cape Cod Canal down through the bay. No live buoy or gauge readings came through for this report, so expect action to stay technique-dependent rather than a wide-open bite through the waning gibbous moon, with false albacore starting to show as summer edges toward fall.