Fishing reports
19070 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Deep summer patterns take over at Smith Mountain Lake and Buggs Island
Smith Mountain Lake and Buggs Island are settling into classic mid-July patterns, with surface water almost certainly pushing into the mid-to-upper 80s and bass, stripers, and crappie sliding toward deeper, cooler structure. Today's angler-intel feeds carried no direct catch reports from either reservoir, so we're leaning on seasonal knowledge rather than a fresh regional bite report: largemouth typically pull off ledges and points into 10-plus feet this time of year, and Field & Stream's rundown of jig styles this week is a useful refresher for working that depth, with football jigs built for exactly this kind of deep bottom-dragging. Smith Mountain Lake's signature striper fishery usually suspends near the thermocline in summer heat, calling for downlines or live bait rather than surface tactics. Buggs Island crappie and catfish tend to hold tight to brush piles and channel edges. Check current state regulations before harvesting striped bass or other reservoir species.
Summer patterns hold for Yakima and Spokane-area anglers
No buoy or gauge readings came through for the Yakima/Spokane region this cycle, and this pull of angler intel didn't surface any Eastern Washington-specific catch reports either. WDFW's statewide creel and stocking program (WA WDFW Fishing Reports) remains the primary resource for what's been stocked and what anglers are catching on regional lakes and rivers, though no fresh region-specific numbers landed in today's feed. In the absence of direct local intel, conditions this time of year typically favor early-morning and evening windows as daytime water temps climb. Trout, smallmouth bass, kokanee, and walleye are the mainstays across Yakima and Spokane-area waters through mid-summer. Check WDFW's current stocking and creel reports directly before heading out, since specific bite reports for this region weren't available in this update. We're erring on the side of general seasonal guidance here rather than guessing at conditions nobody reported.
Bay-side fluke and striper action mirrors the Jersey Shore's hot July bite
No angler intel came in directly from Delaware Bay boats this cycle, but the species mix reported up the Jersey coast lines up with what the bay typically holds in mid-July. Grumpys Tackle (NJ) describes fluke, bluefish, and striped bass as the summer standard, with croaker and spot rounding out the bycatch. Fishermans HQ LBI reports the same lineup plus weakfish, croaker, and kingfish showing in the mix as water temps climb into the low-to-mid 70s. Blue Chip Sportfishing calls sea bass fishing "red hot," with boats limiting out on nearly every trip, while Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands notes a mixed fluke bite that depends heavily on drift and current speed. For Delaware Bay anglers, expect a similar pattern: fluke and weakfish working the channels and edges, striper holdovers in the current lines, and blue crabs filling out the bay's summer bycatch as the season peaks.
Fluke and sea bass fire up around Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook
Keeper fluke are turning up more consistently from the surf to the reefs this week, per OTW Northern New Jersey's July 16 report, and Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands NJ has posted a run of solid trips through mid-July, with anglers Mark Hrubic and Gen Wong topping recent flounder pools at over four and six pounds. Black sea bass are mixed in on nearly every drift at the Highlands, and Blue Chip Sportfishing (NJ) calls sea bass fishing "red hot," with boats limiting out on almost every trip. Offshore, bluefin tuna continue working the midshore grounds 15 to 40 miles out while yellowfin dominate the canyons, and cocktail bluefish are active in the rivers and inlets, per OTW Northern New Jersey. Striped bass remain in the mix on area beaches, though summer numbers typically run smaller than the spring push. Drift and current have been inconsistent day to day at the Highlands, so timing the tide matters as much as location.
Summer heat locks in classic bass and catfish patterns on LA rivers
Louisiana Sportsman's July 14 column flagged the Highway 1 corridor down toward Grand Isle as a hotspot for summer kayak anglers, and that same mid-July heat signature is shaping freshwater behavior across the Mississippi and Atchafalaya basins as well. No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for this stretch this cycle, so we're leaning on seasonal norms: largemouth bass are settling into classic summer structure, with Tactical Bassin and Field & Stream both pointing anglers toward football jigs worked deep through the heat of the day and jig-and-minnow strolling over ledges, then a shift shallow into shade during the low-light morning and evening windows. Catfish typically stay reliably active through Louisiana's warm-water summer regardless of pressure, bream activity often holds up in the state's southern parishes into July, and crappie tend to slow once water temps climb this high. Check current parish regulations before harvesting, and plan around the cooler bookends of the day rather than midday sun.
Santee and Lake Murray settle into classic mid-July summer bass mode
With no fresh buoy or gauge readings pulled for Santee and Lake Murray this cycle, this report leans on seasonal patterns and general angler intel rather than local numbers. Mid-July puts both reservoirs squarely in peak summer bass mode: per Tactical Bassin's rundown on fishing bass through the heat, hot weather pushes largemouth into predictable spots, shallow fish tucking into shade and deep fish grouping around structure. Field & Stream's summer jig breakdown backs that up, calling football jigs the go-to for dragging deep summer structure (10-plus feet) while swim jigs work shallow vegetation for fish still holding up top. Santee's landlocked striped bass typically push deeper and slow down as surface temps climb this time of year, and catfish action tends to hold steady through summer nights. Crappie are the likely laggard, schooling up deep until temperatures ease.
NY trout seek cool water as summer bass bite heats up
New York's freshwater bite is shifting with the summer heat. The NY DEC's July 17th Fishing Line flags cold-water species under stress and is urging anglers to help trout and salmon find refuge as temperatures climb, a seasonal caution that applies to Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes streams alike. On the warmer-water side, DEC's June 12th issue notes the bass bite picking up as the region warmed into summer, with smallmouth and largemouth turning more active through the season. DEC is also holding public meetings on walleye research at Irondequoit Bay and Sodus Bay, both Finger Lakes-region waters, keeping walleye a live management and angler focus. Musky season, which DEC flagged as approaching back in May, should be in full swing now for anglers chasing summer muskies. Overall, expect bass to be the most reliable target right now, walleye activity worth watching in those Finger Lakes bays, and trout anglers needing to fish early or in cold-water refuges to avoid added stress on fish.
Striper technique chatter builds as summer Sound season rolls on
On The Water's Northeast Offshore Report (July 15) pegs the tuna bite as strengthening across the region, with quality yellowfin turning up in the canyons and bluefin spreading from New Jersey up into the Gulf of Maine, a sign the broader Northeast season is heating up even though this week's angler intel didn't surface a direct Long Island Sound bite report. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for this update either, so treat water temp and tide as unconfirmed and check a local source before running. Inshore, Sound regulars typically lean on classic summer striper tools this time of year: On The Water's surfcasting desk is currently featuring live-eel circle-hook picks and Slug-Go rigging notes, both staples for working stripers around structure and current lines in mid-July. Fluke, black sea bass and bluefish round out the typical summer mix for the Sound, though we don't have fresh reports confirming activity levels on any of them right now.
Red Drum Turn On Inshore as NC's Summer Tarpon Push Builds
Red drum are the story on North Carolina's sound-side flats right now: anglers working the Pamlico and Neuse River shorelines are landing drum of all sizes, with some genuinely big fish mixed in, per Fisherman's Post (NC). Up in Topsail and Sneads Ferry, the early-morning topwater bite on red drum has been the highlight before anglers shift to bottom baits later in the day, the same source reports. Surf action from Carolina Beach down through Southport/Oak Island is a mixed bag of whiting, croaker, pompano, bluefish, and the occasional shark, though Southport anglers are fighting dirty water and drifting seaweed to find them. Sport Fishing Mag also flags a summer tarpon push stretching from Southport up toward Kitty Hawk, a fishery that's reportedly been building for years. No fresh buoy or gauge data came through this cycle, so lean on tide timing and check a current local forecast before running offshore.
Dog-days tactics take over the Clinton-Dubuque pools as summer settles in
No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for the Clinton-Dubuque stretch this cycle, so this update leans on seasonal patterns rather than pool-specific numbers. Mid-July on the Upper Mississippi is classic dog-days water, and the broader intel feed backs that up: Jason Mitchell Outdoors flags the "algae bloom pattern" and weed-pocket walleyes as the go-to summer read, while Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen and Mike Frisch push anglers toward versatility, noting walleyes are often suspended off bottom rather than glued to structure once forward-facing sonar shows the real picture. Tactical Bassin's recent summer-jig breakdowns are a useful template for smallmouth working current breaks and shade lines along the pools' wing dams. None of these sources report directly from the Clinton-Dubuque reach, so treat this as regional-pattern guidance rather than a confirmed local bite until pool-specific reports surface.
Low, Falling Rivers Set Up Clear Water Along the Georgia Coast
Georgia's coastal rivers are running low and falling across the board this week, per Joshua Barber's Southern Waters Fishing Report in GA Sportsman/Georgia Outdoor News — the Altamaha at Doctortown down to 4.4 feet, the Satilla at Waycross to 6.6 feet, and the Savannah at Clyo holding near 3.1 feet, all trending down as of July 10. For anglers working the Atlantic marshes and tidal creeks, that typically means clearer, saltier water pushing into the estuaries, the kind of setup that favors sight-casting redfish and seatrout around oyster bars and grass edges through midsummer. No direct coastal bite reports came through this week's feeds, so treat species activity as seasonal-typical rather than confirmed hot bites. Georgia Sea Grant researchers, meanwhile, are studying how saltwater intrusion is reshaping freshwater habitat on Sapelo Island, a reminder that the same falling-river, rising-salinity pattern driving good inshore water clarity is also a longer-term watch item for coastal ecosystems.
Charleston Harbor reds and trout settle into summer rhythm
Surf anglers along the Carolina coast are pulling a solid summer mix of whiting, croakers, pompano, bluefish, and the occasional shark, per Fisherman's Post's Carolinas saltwater report out of Carolina Beach and Southport/Oak Island, with live bait working best when surf and weed conditions cooperate. No direct buoy or shop reads came in for Charleston Harbor this cycle, so treat these South Atlantic surf patterns as the closest regional signal for South Carolina beaches right now. Inshore, Charleston Harbor's redfish and spotted seatrout should be settling into a typical mid-July pattern, working grass edges and structure on moving tides as water temperatures climb into the warm-season range. Sport Fishing Mag also flagged a growing summer tarpon push working up the Carolina coast, worth watching as it extends toward South Carolina waters in the coming weeks.
Lake Mead stripers slide deep as summer heat clamps down
Mid-July on Lake Mead and the lower Colorado means one thing for striper anglers: the fish slide deep and the reliable bite window shrinks to first and last light. No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for this stretch of the Colorado this cycle, and this week's angler-intel sweep turned up no Lake Mead-specific field reports from trusted sources, so treat what follows as seasonal baseline rather than a today's-bite report. Typically, surface temps climbing well into the 80s push shad schools, and the striper packs chasing them, down into the thermocline by mid-morning, with the best topwater and jigging action confined to dawn, dusk, and after-dark hours around main-lake humps and channel edges. Largemouth follow a similar heat-driven pattern, tucking into shade and deeper cover through the heat of the day. Check back as fresh regional reports come in, and lean on your electronics to mark suspended bait and fish rather than fishing memory of spring locations.
Chequamegon Bay whitefish fishery buzz carries into summer weedline season
The WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing program continues to flag Chequamegon Bay's lake whitefish fishery as a genuine draw, noting a "popular fishery has emerged" for whitefish taken both through the ice and from a boat — relevant now as open-water boat effort carries the pattern through summer. We don't have a current buoy or gauge reading for either the Wisconsin River or Lake Superior this cycle, and no shop, captain, or state report filed a direct "what's biting" update for Wisconsin River anglers this week. In lieu of that, general Midwest technique chatter still applies: Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen is urging anglers to work weedlines as the open-water season hits full swing, and Mike Frisch points to forward-facing sonar changing where anglers find suspended walleyes rather than assuming bottom-hugging structure. Smallmouth bass remain a Wisconsin River summer staple by reputation even without a fresh bite report to cite.
Iowa river bass and walleye settle into summer patterns
Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch is flipping the old walleye rulebook this month, reporting that forward-facing sonar is turning up suspended fish well off bottom and away from classic structure, a reminder that river walleye don't always sit where the old assumptions say. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for the Iowa or Des Moines Rivers today, so this report leans on regional Midwest trends. Bob Jensen, also with Fishing the Midwest, notes that working weedlines is paying off as the open-water season runs full swing for versatile anglers. Bass anglers can lean on jig presentations too, a go-to summer technique covered by both Tactical Bassin and Field & Stream for working cover in the heat. Channel catfish should be active on Iowa's warm river current in mid-July, typical for the season. Expect steady action if you're willing to adjust depth and presentation rather than camping on one spot all day.
Deep structure and summer jigs set the pattern on SD waters
No dedicated dispatch came in this week from a Missouri River or Black Hills outfit, so this update leans on the broader Midwest and national bass intel that applies to the region's walleye and smallmouth fisheries. Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch notes that walleye are increasingly found suspended off classic bottom structure now that forward-facing sonar has changed where anglers look for summer fish, a pattern that fits reservoir and river walleye behavior generally. On the bass side, Tactical Bassin's recent breakdowns of summer jig fishing and strolling a jig-and-minnow combo, along with Field & Stream's rundown of football jigs for deep summer bottom-dragging, all describe the kind of slow, deliberate presentations that tend to out-produce reaction baits once water warms through July. Expect typical midsummer behavior on Missouri River impoundments and Black Hills lakes and streams: early and late light windows outperforming midday, and fish pulling toward deeper, cooler water as afternoon heat builds.
Puget Sound salmon push builds as Salish Sea crab watch ramps up
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for Puget Sound and the outer coast this cycle, so today's picture leans on agency and program updates rather than hour-by-hour numbers. Washington Sea Grant's Crab Team flagged the season's first confirmed European green crab shells on Orcas Island's Crescent Beach back in May, a sign this invasive species keeps advancing through the Salish Sea and worth watching for anyone running crab pots. The program's annual Salish Sea-wide Molt Blitz on June 26 drew citizen-scientist crabbers out shorewide to document molts, underscoring how active the summer crabbing scene has been. WDFW's ongoing creel-survey and stocking program continues tracking angler effort and restocking lakes and streams statewide, though no specific catch counts came through this round. With no direct salmon or bottomfish reports in hand today, expect the typical mid-July pattern to hold: salmon runs building through Puget Sound and offshore, with bottomfish holding steady in deeper water.
Sarasota Bay seatrout bite peaks as tarpon linger into July
Spotted seatrout are "aggressively biting" in Sarasota Bay right now, according to Capt. Brandon Naeve of CB's Saltwater Outfitters, who's finding the peak summer trout bite firing on inshore grass flats, mangrove shorelines, and the local passes. Redfish are mixing in too — Capt. Chuck Cress (CB's) worked a Sarasota Bay oyster bar this past week with mullet stacked and bait busting, boating a red on the same trip. Tarpon remain a solid target per Capt. Rick Grassett's July forecast (CB's): spin anglers are doing best drifting live bait under floats in travel lanes, while fly anglers stake out bar edges, and July fish are running more aggressive than earlier in the season, though numbers should start thinning as the month wears on. Shark activity (Bull, Blacktip, Lemon) is also active in the bay and nearshore Gulf, typical for this late-spring-through-fall window per Capt. Naeve. No fresh buoy or gauge data came through for this update, so plan around bite windows and moving water rather than a specific temp reading.
Summer bass tactics take hold on the Finger Lakes
Tactical Bassin's summer playbook offers the clearest read for Cayuga, Seneca, and Skaneateles this week: with no fresh buoy or gauge data in this cycle, this update leans on the techniques anglers are working right now. The blog highlights spy-bait presentations drawing strikes from trophy smallmouth in ultra-clear water, a style that fits the Finger Lakes' famously transparent basins well. Field & Stream's rundown of jig styles notes football jigs dragging bottom in 10-plus feet as the go-to summer largemouth approach, while Fishing the Midwest points out that walleye increasingly hold off traditional bottom and structure spots once forward-facing sonar reveals them suspended over open water. Expect largemouth and smallmouth to bite best early and late as afternoon heat pushes fish tight to shade or deeper break lines, per Tactical Bassin's heat-pattern notes. Lake trout should stay deep and slow, typical for mid-July stratification. Check state regs before harvesting.
Summer heat sends VT bass and walleye deep as midday bite slows
Water temperatures across the Northeast have pushed well into the 80s this month, and regional freshwater reports point to a pattern likely playing out the same way on the Connecticut River and Lake Champlain: bass sliding off shallow flats into deeper, cooler structure once the sun gets high. Red Top Sporting Goods, reporting on nearby Cape Cod ponds, found largemouth had gone tough since the Fourth of July heat wave, with finesse Ned rigs and drop-shotted plastics working best in the deeper water bass retreated to. Roger Aziz Jr. and Sauder's Boat Livery, covering New England ponds and lakes for The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, likewise noted bass holding on deep structure through a recent stretch of 86-88 degree surface temps. Field & Stream's summer jig-fishing rundown backs this up broadly: football jigs dragging deep bottom become the go-to once bass push past the 10-foot mark. No direct buoy or gauge readings were available for the Connecticut River or Champlain this cycle, so treat these as seasonal-typical expectations until confirmed on the water.
Summer jig patterns hold the key for Tennessee & Cumberland bass
Field & Stream's midsummer jig breakdown is the clearest read for Tennessee and Cumberland anglers this week: match the jig style to depth and cover, with football jigs dragging bottom in 10-plus feet of water and swim jigs cutting through shallow vegetation as bass settle into typical summer holds. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through this cycle, so we don't have hard temp or flow numbers to report, but standard mid-July behavior applies across the region's reservoirs and river stretches. Tactical Bassin's recent coverage backs this up, pointing anglers toward spy baits and a strolled jig-and-minnow rig for bass holding in clear water, plus shaded cover and deeper structure once the afternoon heat sets in. Striped bass and catfish are typically active on Cumberland River current breaks through summer, though no source in this cycle reported specifically on either species locally. Expect largemouth and smallmouth to key on cover-to-depth transitions, with low-light windows producing the most consistent bites until a front or rain event resets things.
Mississippi Sound trout and redfish hold steady summer patterns
This cycle brings no fresh buoy or gauge readings and no direct charter or shop reports for Mississippi Sound, so today's update leans on typical mid-July patterns for the region. The MS DMR's licensing office reopened in Biloxi's Bolton Building on July 16 after a one-day relocation closure, a useful prompt to square away paperwork before heading out, and the Marine Resources advisory commission meets Tuesday, July 21, in D'Iberville. Absent confirmed bite reports, speckled trout and redfish are the Sound's usual summer workhorses around grass edges, reef structure, and marsh drains, while sheepshead typically hold tight to pilings and rock, and flounder tends to slow through peak summer heat. Water clarity around the barrier islands and current timing near passes usually decide the morning bite this time of year. We're not seeing region-specific catch reports in this cycle's intel, so treat species status below as a seasonal baseline rather than confirmed action.
Hill Country bass shift deep as summer heat locks in
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for Travis, LBJ, or Buchanan this cycle, so this update leans on established summer patterns for the Highland Lakes chain plus technique intel from national tackle press. Central Texas is deep into peak summer heat, and largemouth bass are pushing to deeper structure during the hottest hours, per Field & Stream's rundown on jig styles this week: football jigs dragging bottom in 10-plus feet of water are the go-to as bass abandon the shallows. Tactical Bassin's recent summer-heat coverage echoes the same shift, noting shallow fish tuck into shadows early and late while the bulk of the school groups up deep by midday. Striped bass and white bass on Travis, LBJ, and Buchanan typically follow the same pattern this time of year, suspending over deep structure and feeding hardest in low-light windows. Catfish remain a dependable summer option on cut bait after dark.
Ozarks bass slide into shade and structure as summer heat locks in
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for Lake of the Ozarks or the Osage River this cycle, so today's picture leans on seasonal pattern and technique intel rather than a fresh number. With July heat fully established, Tactical Bassin's latest hot-weather breakdown ('How To Catch Bass When Its HOT') notes that shallow bass tuck into shadows while deeper fish group up in predictable pockets, both catchable if you adjust depth rather than force a shallow bite all day. Field & Stream's jig-style guide reinforces the same seasonal logic, pointing anglers toward football jigs for bottom-dragging summer bass in 10-plus feet of water, while flipping and pitching jigs stay the call for any remaining heavy shoreline cover. Crappie typically slide deeper and slow down this time of year, and catfish activity generally holds steady through summer heat regardless of daytime temps. Expect a deep-structure, low-light pattern to dominate until conditions or reports say otherwise.