Fishing reports
19070 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Ocean Salmon Bite Holds Strong Off the Sonoma-Mendocino Coast
Ocean salmon fishing below Point Arena has been "nothing short of spectacular" this week, according to Western Outdoor News — Saltwater, with wind the only thing keeping boats off the water on the roughest days. Captain Trent Slate of Bite Me Charters put Lafayette angler Anna Connolly on her first-ever ocean salmon out of San Francisco, part of a run the outlet says is delivering a real boost to local coastal communities. We didn't get fresh buoy or gauge readings for this cycle, so treat sea-state and water temp as unknowns until you check a live source before heading out. With Chinook the clear headline species right now, expect boats working the troll between wind windows from the Mendocino coast down toward the Bay. Bottom and structure species (rockfish, lingcod) should be following typical mid-summer patterns, though no direct report came in on them this cycle — check local shop intel before targeting them specifically.
Finger Lakes bass bite holds as DEC flags summer trout stress
A 17-year-old shoreline angler landed an 8.5-pound largemouth out of a Livingston County pond near Avon this summer, working a deep pocket along the shore at first light, per Wired 2 Fish — a reminder that Finger Lakes-region waters are still producing quality bass even as peak summer heat sets in. The NY DEC's July 17th Fishing Line newsletter is urging anglers targeting trout and salmon to help those coldwater species beat the heat, a signal that Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes stream and reservoir trout fishing should shift toward early-morning and low-light windows while water temperatures climb. Smallmouth and largemouth bass remain the more dependable summer options region-wide, with black bass season in full swing per DEC's June coverage. Walleye anglers in Finger Lakes waters should expect typical summer patterns, working deeper structure as the shallows warm. No fresh buoy or gauge readings were available for this update.
Summer heat slows the bite on Hartwell and Russell
Georgia's Southern Waters fishing report for July 25 (GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News) put it plainly: "the bite has slowed down this week" as many anglers stayed off the water in the summer heat, though some good fish were still caught, including a giant bass landed at Lake Blackshear on an urchin-style bait. The Georgia Wildlife Resources Division's own July 24 update echoed the same theme, framing this stretch as tough-to-fish weather and steering anglers toward indoor options like the GON Outdoor Blast (July 24-26). On the Savannah River system, the Clyo gauge was reported falling as of July 23, consistent with typical mid-summer drawdown. No direct buoy or gauge readings were available for Hartwell or Russell specifically this cycle, so treat conditions as inferred from the broader regional pattern rather than site-measured. Expect a classic deep-summer pattern: slower daytime bites, better activity early and late.
Puget Sound salmon holds steady as crab season shifts into gear
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this cycle, so this update leans on seasonal patterns and the most relevant signals available for Washington's Puget Sound and outer coast. The clearest on-the-water news isn't a bite report but a citizen-science one: Washington Sea Grant's Crab Team flagged the first detection of invasive European green crab on Orcas Island in May and is running its Third Annual Salish Sea-wide Molt Blitz to track Dungeness crab molting across the Salish Sea, a good cue for potters to check shell condition before keeping. Late July sits squarely inside peak summer Chinook and Coho season for Puget Sound and nearshore Pacific waters, typical for this window even without a fresh creel count in hand. WDFW's fishing and stocking reports remain the standard resource for current catch and effort by marine area; none were pulled fresh into this cycle, so treat species status below as seasonal expectation, not a confirmed bite, until you check WDFW's latest posting for your area.
Deep structure and low-light bites define summer patterns at SML, Buggs Island
No fresh water-temp or flow readings came in from buoys or gauges this cycle, and no captain or shop specifically checked in from Smith Mountain Lake or Buggs Island (John H. Kerr) this week, so this report leans on general mid-summer patterns for Virginia's big largemouth and smallmouth reservoirs plus technique intel from regional bass-fishing sources. Late July typically pushes largemouth and smallmouth bass onto deeper structure and shade during peak sun, with topwater and moving baits working the low-light windows at dawn and dusk. Tactical Bassin's latest breakdown of summer bass patterns highlights dropshotting and strolling a jig-and-minnow combo as producers when fish push deep, while their spy-bait segment notes it can still draw strikes from pressured smallmouth in clear water. Fishing the Midwest's weedline piece reinforces working emerging vegetation edges as a go-to summer move. Striped bass and crappie typically hold deeper and suspend through summer at both lakes. Check current Virginia DWR regulations before heading out, as a public comment period on proposed rules is open.
Blackwater Bay reds keep firing as summer heat holds over Pensacola
Redfish are the standout story out of Pensacola right now. One angler on the Pensacola Fishing Forum logged 16 slot-or-bigger reds out of Blackwater Bay across July, including a 31-incher landed July 21 as storm surge pushed extra water in from the Gulf ahead of a squall, working a soft swimbait rig alongside a topwater Wake lure. Speckled trout are holding up too, with dock-light sessions producing the best bite in the pre-dawn and after-dark hours as summer heat pushes fish to seek shade and moving current, per the same forum's Santa Rosa County reports. Offshore is tougher going: a July 25 trip out toward the edge came home with a full box but disappointing mingo (vermilion snapper) size, plus dirty water and grass mostly missing from the usual spots. With no fresh buoy or gauge readings logged today, lean on the tide table and a direct marine forecast check before running out into typical late-July Gulf chop.
Cold front settles Northwoods water, muskies flip back on
A recent heatwave pushed water temperatures across Oneida and Vilas counties into the mid-to-high 80s, above the 80-degree mark that makes musky anglers cautious about safe releases, according to Rollie & Helen's Musky Shop. A cold front has since moved through, dropping overnight lows into the 40s and pulling surface temps on mid-sized Northwoods lakes back into the 70s. That cool-down is good news for musky anglers, who can fish more aggressively again as water settles into the mid-70s range the shop calls prime this time of year. Walleye action typically holds steady through a stretch like this, with anglers working weedlines and leaning on forward-facing sonar to locate suspended fish, a pattern Fishing the Midwest has been highlighting as standard for open-water summer. Smallmouth bass should stay active in cooling shallows on jig-and-minnow and search-bait presentations. We're watching how fast this post-frontal cool-down holds before the next warm stretch rebuilds.
Summer salmon push builds through Columbia and Puget Sound tributaries
No fresh USGS gauge or NOAA buoy readings came back for the Columbia and Puget Sound river systems this cycle, so we're leaning on seasonal pattern rather than a specific temp or flow reading today. Late July is peak timing for the Columbia's summer Chinook and sockeye pushes to be working upstream, with wild and hatchery steelhead also moving through lower river reaches, and resident rainbow trout holding in cooler tributary stretches as mainstem water warms. WDFW's ongoing creel and stocking survey program (WA WDFW Fishing Reports) is the primary statewide source anglers should check before heading out, since it tracks actual angler catch rates and where recent plants have gone in, and none of the angler-intel feeds available to us today carried a river-specific WA catch report. Smallmouth bass in Columbia impoundments typically turn aggressive in summer heat, a pattern worth watching as water continues to warm through early August.
Creature baits keep Louisiana bass biting as summer heat holds
Louisiana Sportsman reports bass anglers statewide are getting bit consistently this week (July 25) on the American Baitworks Co. NetBait BaitFuel HexTek Bull Bream Creature Bait, a pattern worth carrying into Toledo Bend and the Sabine border stretch, where creature baits and slow-moving soft plastics are a standard summer-heat play for largemouth. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge reading came back for this stretch today, so we can't post a hard water-temp or flow number, but late-July freshwater conditions in this part of Louisiana typically mean warm, often stained water with bass sliding to deeper cover, timber, and channel points during peak sun and feeding harder around dawn and dusk. Catfish stay a reliable summer fallback on deep flats and channels, while crappie and white bass typically pull back to deeper structure once the surface really heats up. Check current Louisiana state regs before harvesting, and expect lighter weekday boat traffic given the heat.
Olympic Peninsula rivers sit in the pre-fall-run lull
No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for Olympic Peninsula salmon rivers today, and this week's angler-intel sweep didn't turn up any region-specific catch reports from shops, captains, or forums either — so today's update leans on general seasonal knowledge rather than fresh dispatches. Late July on the Peninsula typically falls in the pre-fall-run lull: early summer-run steelhead and resident cutthroat are the more consistent draw, while the bulk of the Chinook and coho push most anglers wait for is still weeks out. WDFW's statewide fishing and stocking reports remain the best on-the-ground source for creel checks and access-site counts on Peninsula streams, though no specific numbers were available in today's feed. Anglers scouting now should plan around typical low, clear summer flows and work early-morning or evening light. Check current WDFW regulations before targeting any specific run — Peninsula tributary openers and bag limits vary and shift through the season.
Allegheny smallmouth dial in as summer heat settles over Pittsburgh tailwaters
Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen writes that the 2026 open-water season is in full swing and versatile anglers who mix up techniques and target species are catching more fish right now — a mindset that fits the Allegheny River and Pittsburgh's three-rivers tailwaters as summer settles in region-wide. No buoy or gauge readings came back for this stretch this week, so treat water levels and clarity as typical late-July summer flow until you check gauges on site. Smallmouth bass, the backbone of Allegheny River fishing, should be most active early and late in the day as surface temperatures climb, sliding to deeper current breaks and shaded structure during peak afternoon heat. Muskellunge and channel catfish both tend to feed well after dark in warm water, while walleye in the tailwater pools typically pull tighter to bottom structure and current seams once the sun gets high. Check PA Fish and Boat Commission Biologist Reports for the latest stream-specific stocking and survey updates before you head out.
Smallmouth and perch carry the bite as Indiana's salmon slide deep
Late July has Lake Michigan's Indiana shoreline settling into its typical summer pattern: king salmon and steelhead pushing into deeper, cooler water well off the piers, while smallmouth bass and yellow perch hold tight to nearshore rock, rip-rap, and breakwall structure that stays fishable through the heat. We don't have fresh on-the-water reports specific to the Indiana shoreline this cycle, so this update leans on regional and seasonal context rather than a same-week bite report. For scale on the fishery, the WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report notes the broader lake produced a record coho salmon harvest in 2024 (over 210,000 fish) and the best Chinook return since 2012 (over 160,000), a reminder this fishery has been running strong lakewide in recent seasons. Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant is also currently funding 2026 seed-grant research focused specifically on southern Lake Michigan, underscoring continued scientific attention on this exact stretch of water. No buoy or gauge data was available for this run.
Snapper bite stays lights-out across the Florida Keys
Yellowtail and mutton snapper fishing remains outstanding across the Keys right now. ALL IN Key West reports "huge yellowtails" and mutton snappers "chewing like crazy," calling the recent stretch some of the best fishing the captain has seen in 16 years running out of Key West, with plenty of open July dates. Bud n' Mary's Islamorada Fishing Marina backs up the pattern in its Early Summer Fishing Report, pointing to warm water, calm seas, and abundant bait supporting tarpon around the bridges, mahi offshore, and yellowtail on the reef. Sport Fishing Mag adds nearby Biscayne Bay as a strong mutton snapper option, with live chumming and pilchards under a chum bag doing the work. ALL IN Key West also logged solid grouper, cobia, and kingfish action on a recent Gulf-side run. One regulatory note: CCA Florida reports a federal court has blocked the 2026 South Atlantic red snapper pilot program, so confirm current rules before targeting that species.
Georgia bass hang tough on urchin baits as summer heat slows the bite
Georgia anglers are grinding through peak-summer heat this week, but Joshua Barber's Southern Waters Fishing Report (GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News, July 25) notes some quality fish are still coming through, including a giant bass landed at Lake Blackshear on an urchin-style bait, part of a broader urchin-bait craze B.A.S.S. News says is dominating conversations and tournaments this season. Barber's report flags that the overall bite has slowed statewide this week as the dog days set in, and lists the Savannah River gauge at Clyo running 3.4 feet and falling as of July 23, a useful flow reference for Chattahoochee and Savannah system anglers working similar reaches. Separately, Georgia Wildlife Resources Division's weekly dispatch keeps steering anglers toward the state's 11 Public Fishing Areas for lower-pressure water, several of which (Rocky Mountain, Evans, McDuffie) recently added camping upgrades. Early mornings and shaded, deeper water remain the best bets until temperatures ease.
Summer heat pushes Okeechobee, St. Johns bass into early bite windows
No buoy or gauge readings came in for Lake Okeechobee or the St. Johns River this cycle, and this week's regional intel feed didn't carry a direct report from either fishery, so this update leans on seasonal pattern and general technique intel. Late July has both waters deep into their summer stretch, with largemouth bass, bluegill, and black crappie holding to typical warm water positioning: bass tucked into shade and deeper cover through midday, feeding hardest at dawn and dusk. Tactical Bassin's latest summer roundup highlights dropshot rigging and jig and minnow "strolling" as two techniques producing through the heat, plus working shallow weed edges early before the sun climbs, patterns that translate directly to Okeechobee and St. Johns largemouth this time of year. Panfish should stay steady around deeper structure and weedlines. Check state regs before harvesting, and expect a slow midday bite to give way to better action in the first and last light hours.
Rangeley hatches keep dry-fly bite alive into late July
Mainely Fly Fishing (ME) — the closest first-hand voice covering the Rangeley area — posted a Summer Solstice update confirming steady hatch activity on local ponds and rivers through early summer, and the same blog's spring report logged ice-out on Dundee Pond as early as April 4, putting this season on a normal-to-slightly-early track. No live buoy or gauge readings came through for this update, so an exact water temperature isn't available; check current flows before heading out. With the moon in a Waxing Gibbous phase, expect a bit more overnight light to nudge some feeding activity toward early morning and dusk. Brook trout and landlocked salmon remain the marquee species for the Rangeley Lakes and Androscoggin headwaters this time of year, with smallmouth bass adding warm-afternoon action in the shallows. Brown trout, the most temperature-sensitive of the group per Trout Unlimited's July notes on cold-blooded fish behavior, likely favor deeper, cooler holding water as midsummer heat builds.
Late-July heat pushes Saginaw Bay fish patterns deeper
No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came back for Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay this cycle, and this week's angler-intel sweep didn't surface a region-specific "what's biting" report from MI DNR, a charter, or a tackle shop for this stretch of water. Rather than guess at numbers nobody reported, we're leaning on typical late-July patterns for the bay and main lake: walleye sliding into deeper, cooler water during peak sun and pushing shallower at dawn and dusk, smallmouth bass staying active around rock and gravel structure, and yellow perch schooling tighter over deeper basin flats as surface temps climb. Under a waxing gibbous moon, expect a steady overnight bite window as fish key on low light. Treat all of the above as seasonal general knowledge, not confirmed on-the-water intel, until a Michigan-specific report lands. Check the MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report directly for the freshest read before planning a trip.
Moosehead lake trout push deep as summer heat settles in
No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came in for Moosehead Lake or the upper Penobscot this cycle, and this week's angler-intel feeds carried no direct shop, charter, or state-agency reports from Maine's interior fishing corridor either — Maine Sea Grant's latest posts covered newsletters and aquaculture research rather than on-the-water conditions. In the absence of fresh local testimony, we're leaning on general seasonal knowledge for late July under a waxing gibbous moon: lake trout (togue) typically push deep as surface water warms, landlocked salmon fishing usually cools off once a summer thermocline sets up, brook trout retreat to spring holes and cold tributary mouths, and smallmouth bass stay active in shallower structure through the warm stretch. Anglers should treat these as typical-for-season expectations rather than confirmed bites this week, and check current state regulations before harvesting any species.
Smallmouth bite holds steady as Maine rivers settle into summer rhythm
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came back for the Kennebec/Penobscot corridor this cycle, and none of today's angler-intel feeds filed a direct report from Maine's freshwater side — so this update leans on typical late-July patterns for the region rather than a specific bite report. With a waxing gibbous moon overhead and water bodies statewide sitting in full summer warmth, smallmouth and largemouth bass are the reliable target on the Kennebec and Penobscot systems, typically holding on deeper structure and weedlines during peak sun. Regional bass coverage this week, including Tactical Bassin's rundown of summer patterns and Fishing the Midwest's weedline notes, points to deep structure, dropshot rigs, and jig-and-minnow strolling as productive approaches for this time of year. Landlocked salmon and brook trout typically push deeper or retreat to cooler tributary mouths once main-stem temps climb, so success there usually means working thermoclines or early-morning windows. Check state regs before harvesting.
Eastern Washington trout and bass settle into summer patterns
Midsummer has arrived across Eastern Washington's lakes and rivers around Yakima and Spokane, with no fresh buoy or gauge readings in hand for this cycle, so anglers should lean on local conditions at the ramp. WDFW's statewide creel and stocking program continues to track catch activity and replenish lakes and streams through the season, per WA WDFW Fishing Reports, though no region-specific numbers came through this update. Typical for late July, warmwater bass fisheries and reservoir kokanee/trout programs are the mainstay of the Yakima and Spokane corridors this time of year, with cooler early-morning and evening windows generally producing the best action as surface temperatures climb. No angler-specific catch reports came through the feeds this cycle for this exact region, so treat species status below as seasonal expectation rather than confirmed bites, and check WDFW's creel and stocking pages before heading out.
Creature baits keep LA bass biting through summer heat
Bass anglers working Louisiana's freshwater basins are finding consistent action on creature-style baits, per Louisiana Sportsman, which reports steady bites this week on the NetBait BaitFuel HexTek Bull Bream Creature Bait. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Mississippi and Atchafalaya basins today, so exact water temp and flow stage aren't available to confirm conditions readers can plan around, but the creature-bait pattern lines up with a typical late-July deep-summer bite, when bass slide toward heavier cover and structure as surface temps climb. Catfish typically stay active in this warm-water stretch, while bream and crappie tend to slow and hold deeper as midsummer heat sets in. Check local forecasts and current river-stage data before heading out, and confirm size and creel limits with the state ahead of your trip since specific regulations aren't detailed here.
Deep summer patterns take over as Santee and Murray anglers beat the heat
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for Santee Cooper or Lake Murray this cycle, so this update leans on the broader summer bass-fishing intel moving through the freshwater scene right now. Late-July heat is pushing bass toward classic warm-water refuges — Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen has been reminding anglers this season that working the weedline remains one of the most reliable open-water tactics as summer progresses, while Tactical Bassin has been dialing in dropshot rigs and shade/weed-cover patterns for hot-weather largemouth and smallmouth. Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch also notes forward-facing sonar is reshaping where anglers find bass, with more fish showing up suspended off traditional bottom structure than in years past. Santee's striper fishery and Lake Murray's largemouth-and-crappie mix typically follow the same seasonal script this time of year: deeper, shadier, current-relief water during peak daytime heat. No SC-specific report came through this cycle, so treat the species status below as seasonal-typical rather than confirmed local activity.
Striped Bass Bite Holds Steady in CT as Sea Bass Surge
Striped bass continue to produce consistently around the mouth of the Connecticut River, with AW Marina reporting boat and shore anglers connecting with fish from the river mouth up past the bridge and beyond. Tartan II likewise notes striper fishing has been steady since the season started, with trolling proving the more reliable presentation as fish grow selective about which tide they'll eat a jig on. Bottom fishing is the other bright spot: Black Hawk reports limits of jumbo porgies mixed with sea bass, triggerfish, and the occasional fluke, while J&B Tackle notes fluke and black sea bass showing minor improvement, with keepers concentrated in a narrow window during specific tide stages. Regionally, this week's New England video forecast from The Fisherman (Northeast) flags sharks becoming more of a nuisance in Rhode Island and Connecticut waters, something surfcasters and boat anglers alike should plan around.
Red Drum Bite Heats Up as OBX Tarpon Push Builds
Red drum are turning on across North Carolina's sound country, with anglers working flats and river structure landing fish of all sizes on the Pamlico and Neuse, per Fisherman's Post (NC). Just south in Topsail/Sneads Ferry, the early morning topwater bite on red drum has been the standout, while Swansboro/Emerald Isle reports a steady red drum bite in the sounds alongside bluefish, spots, sea mullet, and pompano in the surf. Down at Carolina Beach and Southport/Oak Island, surf anglers are picking through a mixed bag of whiting, croakers, pompano, and bluefish, though some are battling dirty water and seaweed. Notably for Outer Banks anglers, Sport Fishing Mag flags a summer tarpon fishery building from Southport all the way to Kitty Hawk, a run that has reportedly grown in recent years. Check current regs before an offshore bottom-fishing trip, as the NC Division of Marine Fisheries recently withdrew its red snapper EFP application.