Fishing reports
19070 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Red drum bite fires up NC sounds as surf action stays mixed
Red drum are delivering the most consistent action on North Carolina's sound-side waters this week. Per Fisherman's Post (NC), Nathan of East Coast Sports reports a strong early-morning topwater bite on red drum around Topsail/Sneads Ferry, while Donald of Custom Marine Fabrication says anglers working flats and structure on the Pamlico/Neuse River are finding red drum of all sizes, including some big fish. Surf conditions are more mixed: Lewis of Island Tackle and Hardware notes sharks, croakers, pompano, whiting, and pinfish at Carolina Beach, and Angie of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle says Southport/Oak Island anglers are fighting dirty water and seaweed for a mixed bag of whiting, croakers, and bluefish. Rich of The Reel Outdoors adds bluefish, spots, sea mullet, and pompano off Swansboro/Emerald Isle. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, so exact Outer Banks water temps aren't available. Separately, NC Division of Marine Fisheries has withdrawn its Red Snapper Exempted Fishing Permit request, so that season isn't opening as planned.
Charleston Harbor's summer bite tracks the region's mixed surf action
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came back for Charleston Harbor this cycle, so this report leans on regional trends and seasonal knowledge rather than a live temp or tide gauge. Per this week's Fisherman's Post coverage of the Carolinas coast, surf anglers up the seaboard are into a mixed bag of whiting, croaker, pompano, bluefish, and the occasional shark — a species mix that lines up with what Charleston Harbor's beaches and inlets typically produce through late July. Inshore, that same report notes live bait working well around structure, a pattern that generally holds for Charleston's grass flats and dock pilings too. With a full moon pushing bigger tidal swings this week, expect stronger current on the flood and ebb, which should push bait — and the fish chasing it — onto the flats and around creek mouths on the higher stages of the tide. Water clarity and temperature should be checked locally before heading out, since no direct SC reading was available today.
Sarasota Bay seatrout bite stays red-hot through summer flats
Spotted seatrout are the story in Sarasota Bay right now. Capt. Brandon Naeve at CB's Saltwater Outfitters reports the peak summer trout bite is on, with fish aggressively hitting on inshore grass flats, mangrove shorelines, and local passes, including a released 27-inch trout landed this past week. CB's recommends targeting sunrise and sunset feeding windows to beat the summer heat. Capt. Rick Grassett's July forecast from the same shop still has tarpon in play, with spin anglers working travel lanes and drifting live baits under floats, staying ready to sight-cast to fish that pop up unannounced; fly anglers are staking out bar edges. Shark activity, per CB's, typically runs strong from late spring through fall in and around Sarasota Bay and the nearshore Gulf, with bull, blacktip, and lemon sharks the common inshore visitors this time of year. With a full moon overhead, expect stronger tidal movement to sharpen the bite windows on the flats and around passes.
Smallmouth patience pays as Potomac settles into summer flow
USGS gauge 01646500 on the Potomac logged 2,600 cfs as of early Tuesday morning, a moderate summer flow that should keep normal-access stretches wadable and deeper bends comfortably driftable for boats. Water temperature wasn't reported in this read, but by late July the river's smallmouth bass typically settle into a standard summer rhythm: topwater at dawn and dusk over gravel bars and ledges, then a slide to deeper current seams and shaded cover once the sun climbs. Channel catfish tend to feed hardest after dark this time of year, and tonight's full moon should extend that overnight window. Up in the cooler Shenandoah tributaries, trout action typically eases as water warms, so handle any catch-and-release fish gently and keep them wet. Virginia DWR's Wildlife Blog notes the agency currently has a draft Stocked Trout Management Plan open for public comment, worth a read for anyone planning trips around stocked water later this year. No fresh Potomac or Shenandoah bite reports surfaced in today's angler-intel sweep.
Red drum turn on across Pamlico Sound flats and Cape Lookout surf
Red drum are the story across the Pamlico Sound backcountry this week. Fisherman's Post (NC) reports anglers working the Pamlico/Neuse River are connecting with drum 'of all sizes' on the flats and structure along the main river shorelines, while its Topsail/Sneads Ferry report calls the early-morning topwater bite for red drum the highlight before the action shifts to bottom rigs later in the day. Over toward Swansboro/Emerald Isle, red drum fishing in the sounds has been steady alongside a surf mix of bluefish, spots, sea mullet, and pompano. Along the beaches at Carolina Beach and Southport/Oak Island, surf anglers are working through a mixed bag of whiting, croakers, bluefish, pompano, and even some sharks, though the Southport report notes dirty water and heavy seaweed have complicated things. Tonight's full moon should push tides and stir the bite further.
UP Trout Streams and Superior Settle Into Summer Patterns
Flow at USGS gauge 04059500 held steady at 62.3 cfs as of Monday morning, a manageable clip for late-July wading on Upper Peninsula trout water, though no water-temperature reading came through with this update. Direct fishing intel out of Michigan's UP was thin this cycle — Michigan DNR's Weekly Fishing Report page didn't return usable details in this pull, so this update leans on regional context and seasonal baselines instead of a confirmed local bite report. Wisconsin DNR's Lake Superior Fishing program notes lake whitefish has become a genuinely popular target in the Chequamegon Bay area, both through the ice and from a boat, a trend worth watching on the Michigan side of the lake too. Absent hard MI catch reports this week, expect stream trout to hold to classic summer patterns: brookies and browns favoring shaded, spring-fed stretches and low-light hours as afternoons warm, while Lake Superior trout and salmon slide deeper to chase cooler water. Check current state regs before harvesting.
Full moon current fuels fluke, sea bass, and shark action across NJ
Croaker are showing up thick in NJ back bays right now, with Grumpys Tackle (NJ) reporting anglers finding 'plenty of them, and decent size' while fluke in the surf show 'steady improvement' on bucktails and scented soft plastics. In Atlantic Highlands, Capt Ron's crew has been limiting out on sea bass with jumbo fish finally showing around structure, best on bait, jigs, and Gulp. Offshore, Blue Chip Sportfishing (NJ) describes recent striper trips as 'the best Striper Fishing possible,' and shark fishing has 'busted wide open,' with multiple mako sharks hooked and released. Fishermans HQ LBI (NJ) is seeing bluefin tuna push inshore behind what it calls a 'massive squid invasion,' alongside bluefish and fluke in the bay and inlet. No live buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, so treat water temperature as unconfirmed. It's a full moon week, which typically sharpens current and moving-water bites across NJ's bay systems.
Quabbin, Wachusett bass settle into summer dropshot patterns
USGS gauge 01174500 is reading a scant 1.24 cfs this morning, a sign of the low, stable summer flows typical across central Massachusetts watersheds after weeks without a soaking rain. No water-temperature reading came through with today's data pull, but late-July norms at Quabbin and Wachusett put surface temps well into the 70s, pushing bass toward dawn-and-dusk shallow feeding windows while the reservoirs' signature lake trout and landlocked salmon slide down into deeper, cooler water near the thermocline. National bass-technique coverage this week from Tactical Bassin is leaning hard into offshore dropshot and summer-pattern approaches for hot-weather largemouth and smallmouth, which tracks with what these deep, structure-rich reservoirs typically reward this time of year. A Wired 2 Fish piece on individual bass catchability is a fair reminder that some fish in any given cove are simply easier marks than others right now. We're not seeing a direct Quabbin/Wachusett-specific report this cycle, so treat today's read as seasonal guidance rather than a live bite report.
Gulf of Alaska settles into peak summer halibut and coho window
No buoy or gauge readings came through for the Gulf of Alaska this cycle, and none of today's state-agency, charter, shop, or blog feeds reported directly on the bite here — Alaska Sea Grant's recent items covered Kodiak kelp research, mariculture safety, and summer fellowship news, not conditions on the water. Without direct testimony, this report leans on general seasonal knowledge rather than fresh reports. Late July sits in the heart of the Gulf of Alaska's peak summer stretch, when halibut fishing typically holds strong over the region's banks and nearshore ledges, king salmon runs are usually tapering toward the end of their window, silver (coho) salmon begin showing in better numbers as summer advances, and lingcod remain a dependable option around structure and rockpiles. We'd expect solid action for anglers on the water this week, but treat this as a seasonal outlook rather than a live bite report until fresh charter or shop intel comes through the feed.
Salmon and steelhead momentum carries into Chicago's summer troll
Direct on-the-water reports for the Chicago lakefront were thin this cycle, but the season's backdrop is strong: the WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report notes 2024 delivered a record coho salmon harvest of over 210,000 fish plus more than 160,000 Chinook salmon, the best Chinook year since 2012, with improved alewife survival boosting stocked-fish numbers. That kind of stocked-class strength typically feeds forward into summer trolling action for Chinook, coho, and steelhead as the thermocline firms up offshore. No shop, charter, or blog specific to the Chicago lakefront came through in this cycle's feed, so treat smallmouth bass and nearshore structure bites as seasonally typical rather than confirmed hot right now. With a full moon overhead, we'd expect the strongest bite windows to cluster around dawn and dusk low light. Check local marine forecast and current trolling depths before running offshore this week.
High glacial flow shapes the bite as Kenai's peak run rolls on
USGS gauge 15266300 logged 16,900 cfs and 51°F early this morning (July 29) — a notably elevated flow for this stretch, consistent with active glacial melt feeding the system during peak Southcentral summer runoff. No angler-specific reports came through the Kenai and interior-rivers network today, so this update leans on the hydrology rather than a confirmed bite. High, cooler, faster water typically pushes fish into softer seams and undercut banks, and the added turbidity can slow sight-fishing on shallow riffles until flows settle. Late July is historically peak sockeye season on Kenai-area systems, with coho starting to trickle in and resident rainbow trout and Dolly Varden holding behind spawning salmon for eggs — treat that as seasonal expectation rather than a filed report until a shop, guide, or agency source checks in. Check current state fishing regulations before you head out, since flow and any closures can shift quickly on glacially fed rivers this time of year.
Grand River holds steady summer flow as Lake Michigan bite sets up
The Grand River gauge at Grand Rapids read 1,410 cfs early Tuesday morning, a steady mid-summer flow with no big spikes or drops heading into the Lake Michigan mouth. Lake-wide, the fishery is coming off a strong stretch — the WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report notes 2024 was a record year for coho salmon harvest (over 210,000 fish) and the best Chinook year since 2012, a sign of solid alewife forage supporting the stocked salmon and steelhead program both Michigan and Wisconsin anglers draw from. This week's regional feeds didn't return fresh Grand River or Michigan-side catch reports, so we're leaning on typical late-July patterns: salmon and steelhead holding in cooler deep water off the river mouth, walleye anglers increasingly running forward-facing sonar to find suspended fish (a trend Fishing the Midwest has tracked this season), and smallmouth working nearshore rock and gravel. Stable flow and a full moon both favor low-light bite windows this week.
Full-moon tides set to juice Chesapeake bottom bite as Bay simmers in summer heat
Offshore Ocean City is producing headline-grade action: a 19-year-old Salisbury University angler trolling for bluefin tuna roughly 20 miles out on July 3 boated a fish that broke Maryland's albie record for the third time in twelve months, per On The Water. Direct reports from inside the Chesapeake Bay itself are thin this week, so we're leaning on typical late-July patterns for the region. Striped bass fishing in the Bay traditionally slows through the summer heat as fish push into deeper, cooler water and become more of an early-morning or evening target. Spanish mackerel, croaker, and flounder tend to carry the bulk of summer bay action, with anglers working channel edges and bottom structure. With a full moon overhead, expect stronger tidal swings to concentrate bait and predators around structure and current breaks over the next few days.
Full moon tides set up NH's summer striper surf window
On The Water's late-summer outlook ("August Fishing on Buzzards Bay") is a fair proxy for what's coming to the wider Gulf of Maine: as surface water peaks through late summer, striped bass action typically gets tougher and more tide-dependent, with fish pushing toward cooler water, deeper structure, and low-light hours. That's the backdrop for NH's coast heading into tonight's full moon. Saltwater Edge Blog's July full-moon forecast points to the same seasonal window — the tail end of the "summer doldrums" stretch before the fall run builds. For NH surfcasters, OTW Surfcasting's recent notes make the case for fishing small and natural right now: sand fleas (mole crabs) worked right along the beach lip have been producing for bass cruising the wash, and live eels fished on inline circle hooks remain the after-dark standby. Expect the bite to hinge more on moving water and light than on any single temperature threshold. Bluefish and mackerel are typically the more dependable options through the warmest stretch and are worth a troll or a jig column check while stripers sort themselves out.
Western NC trout streams settle into a dawn-patrol summer pattern
No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge reading came through for the Smokies this cycle, so today's read leans on seasonal pattern and technique reporting rather than a live temp or flow number. Late July is peak thermal-stress season for Southern Appalachian trout: as Caddis Fly (OR), citing a Trout Unlimited note, points out, trout are cold-blooded and their comfort window narrows fast once water warms, which typically pushes the best bite in freestone streams like these into the first hour or two of daylight. Gink and Gasoline's rundown of summer trico spinner falls is a good technique cue for that window - small, precise dries fished dead-drift over feeding lanes once spinners hit the surface film. Hatch Magazine's streamer-fishing notes are worth keeping in your back pocket for deeper, shaded pools once the sun climbs and fish slide off the shallow riffles. Expect a slower midday, with fish concentrating wherever shade and cooler tributary inflows hold up.
Champlain smallmouth settle into summer structure as salmon go deep
No Lake Champlain-specific angler reports came through in this cycle's feeds, so this update leans on typical late-July patterns for the lake's smallmouth and landlocked salmon fishery. With no buoy or gauge readings available for Champlain right now, we're working off seasonal norms rather than a fresh temperature read. Smallmouth bass this time of year typically push onto rocky humps, points, and deeper drop-offs as the shallows warm, while landlocked salmon generally slide down into cooler, oxygenated water column layers, making them a tougher, deeper target through the dog days. Elsewhere in freshwater circles, Fishing the Midwest continues to highlight forward-facing sonar as the technique reshaping how anglers locate suspended fish rather than blind-casting structure, a trend worth trying on Champlain's humps and salmon layers alike. Separately, Wired 2 Fish flagged research suggesting individual bass vary in how catchable they are regardless of conditions, a reminder that a quiet stretch doesn't always mean the bite is off.
Galveston jetties to blue water fire up as summer heat settles in
Capt. Greg Ball reports warm Gulf waters, plenty of bait, and a strong variety of fish from the jetties out to blue water, calling late July into early August one of the best stretches of the year (per Galveston Daily News, Reel Report). Offshore trips out of Galveston Yacht Marina have been productive whenever boats can get out, according to Capt. Shannon LaBauve. Mid-coast action has cooled some, with high air temps and southwest winds slowing things down; Capt. Bink Grimes still found trout biting fair while drifting shell and mud in about 5 feet of water in east Matagorda Bay. A hot week is ahead, with coastal temps in the 90s and wind out of the southwest, per the Reel Report. Two local tournaments run Saturday out of Baytown and Bastrop Marina, and the CCA-Texas STAR tournament remains underway coastwide through September, per Texas Fish & Game Magazine.
Newport salmon trolling active as albacore bite builds to the south
NOAA buoys off the Oregon Coast are reading water temps between 61 and 63°F this week (buoy 46002 at 63°F, buoy 46029 at 61°F), with light to moderate winds around 3 to 6 m/s across buoys 46002, 46050, and 46029 and no significant swell reported. Salmon anglers are staying busy at Newport, per a post on IFish.net Fishing Reports describing a rod and flasher setup lost off the back of a boat near the harbor, a sign the Chinook troll is drawing steady effort. To the south, Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reports NMFS closed the Klamath Management Zone at the California/Oregon border on July 28, while the Fort Bragg Management Area reopens August 1, worth watching for anglers fishing near the state line. Bottom fishing for lingcod and rockfish remains a reliable option on nearshore reefs in this water range. Under this week's full moon, expect stronger tidal exchanges to influence timing on the bar.
Walleye and smallmouth settle into a summer rhythm on the pools
No buoy or gauge readings came back for the Prescott-to-La Crosse stretch this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel feeds carry a direct report from the Upper Mississippi pools, so this update leans on general late-July patterns for the fishery rather than fabricated numbers. Regionally, Fishing the Midwest notes that Midwest walleye anglers are increasingly pairing traditional live-bait jigging with forward-facing sonar to find fish suspended off classic structure instead of glued to bottom, a shift worth testing on pool current seams and wing dams. Smallmouth typically hold tight to current breaks and rock as water settles into summer ranges. Largemouth activity often eases during the hottest stretch of July, with Tactical Bassin pointing anglers toward submerged vegetation and deeper offshore cover rather than the shallow bank bite. Catfish remain a dependable option on cut bait near current breaks through this window. Check current stage and regs locally before heading out.
Warm Gulf water keeps late-July bite steady off Mobile Bay
Water off Mobile Bay and the nearshore Gulf is running warm at 85°F as of this morning's NOAA buoy 42012 reading, with light wind near 5 m/s (about 11 mph) and air temps near 86°F, all typical for late July on the Alabama coast. This week's angler-intel feeds didn't turn up fresh, AL-specific bite reports, so rather than fabricate a claim, we're leaning on seasonal patterns: speckled trout and redfish typically work grass edges and passes hardest early and late in the day this time of year, while red snapper and king mackerel hold over nearshore structure. With a Full Moon overhead, expect stronger tidal swings that can sharpen feeding windows around moving water. Check current state and federal regs before targeting red snapper, since recreational seasons in Gulf waters are tightly managed and can close on short notice.
Central Coast anglers watch albacore push as rockfish bite holds
Buoy 46028 off the Central Coast is reading 57°F this morning, with 46042 near Monterey a touch warmer at 62°F and 46026 to the north at 55°F, a normal summer upwelling spread that keeps water cool along the rocky structure this stretch is known for. Rockfish and lingcod remain the dependable target while surface conditions stay breezy, with winds around 12 m/s logged at 46028. Regionally, Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reports an albacore push off the Mendocino coast this week, a signal worth watching since warm-water tuna often work their way south along the coast as summer progresses. The same report notes the Fort Bragg salmon zone reopening August 1 to 9 following the Klamath Management Zone closure, a reminder to check current regs before targeting Chinook anywhere along the coast. No direct Central Coast charter reports came through this cycle, so treat species status here as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed local bite.
Yellowtail action heats up at San Clemente Island despite windy seas
Water temps are holding steady at 71°F across both NOAA buoy 46025 and buoy 46221 this week, with roughly a 4.6-foot swell running off the Channel Islands. The bite is matching the warmth: Western Outdoor News reports the WON-Toronado overnight charter loaded sardines and worked San Clemente Island for good-sized yellowtail after 35-knot wind pushed captains off the bluefin grounds, while a Dana Wharf overnighter aboard the Fury put together a hot pre-graylight bite ahead of dawn. Inshore, Surf Fishing In So Cal's July report notes the surf has calmed from June's rough stretch, with early signs of life for spotfin croaker and corbina along area beaches. Calico bass remain a typical summer draw around the islands this time of year. Shore anglers targeting sharks or seabass should also note California's emergency wire leader and hook-size ban is now in effect for anyone fishing within 1,000 yards of the coast south of Pigeon Point.
Albacore push reaches Mendocino as North Coast salmon water tightens
The NOAA buoy off San Francisco (46026) read 55°F water this morning, while the Bodega buoy (46013) logged a stiffer 12 m/s breeze offshore — a classic summer upwelling signature for the North Coast. The bigger story sits just north of the immediate Bay/Bodega grounds: Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reports an "albacore explosion" off the Mendocino coast, with Noyo Fishing Charters boats out of Fort Bragg logging an epic first tuna trip of the season, a strong early signal for anyone willing to run north. Closer to home, salmon access is tightening — the same source confirms the Klamath Management Zone is now closed and the Fort Bragg Management Area stays shut until August 1, so check current regs before planning a trip. Inside the Bay, striped bass and rockfish remain the steady summer fallback while water stays on the cooler side. Expect a breezy week per the offshore buoy readings.
Tennessee bass push deeper as summer heat and full moon set in
Tennessee and Cumberland anglers are heading into the back half of July with no fresh buoy or gauge readings logged this cycle, so this update leans on typical late-summer patterns for the region layered with technique notes making the rounds nationally. Water temperatures typically climb into the mid-80s on Cumberland-system reservoirs by late July, and largemouth and smallmouth bass are sliding off the banks into deeper cover — Tactical Bassin's recent summer coverage points anglers away from shoreline structure and toward submerged vegetation and offshore breaks once the heat sets in, a pattern that tracks well for Tennessee's reservoir fisheries. Crappie behavior is shifting too: Fishing the Midwest notes forward-facing sonar has upended old assumptions about where suspended fish hold, useful context as Cumberland-system crappie scatter off traditional cover in summer. With tonight's full moon, expect an active low-light bite before and after dark.