Fishing reports
14688 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Fall mullet run reaches Alabama waters as Gulf temps start their slide
Our Mobile Bay-area stations logged water temperatures of 76.8°F and 75.7°F this afternoon, still solidly warm but easing toward the seasonal cool-down anglers watch for through the back half of fall. The timing lines up with the Gulf's annual mullet run, which Saltwater Sportsman notes typically begins in September and keeps rolling into November as millions of baitfish pour out of bays and estuaries along the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coast — exactly the kind of bait movement that pulls predators tight to beaches, passes and jetties this time of year. Tonight's new moon brings a stronger-than-average tidal exchange, which should help concentrate that baitfish push through the narrower cuts and channels anglers lean on along Mobile Bay and the nearby Gulf.
Fall transition takes hold on Virginia's Eastern Shore as new moon tides peak
NOAA's Wachapreague station (8631044) has water running 69.6°F this morning, with Kiptopeke to the south at 68.9°F (8632200), both holding in the typical fall-transition band for Virginia's Eastern Shore. Today's new moon stacks the tides, and low water arrives mid-afternoon at both stations: 2:08 PM at Wachapreague, 2:40 PM at Kiptopeke. The seasonal signal moving down the coast is worth tracking: Saltwater Edge Blog in Rhode Island reports tautog chewing and false albacore stacked on the oceanfront, while The Fisherman (Northeast) notes fall tautog season just opened in Connecticut. Both fisheries follow the same cooling trend now working its way onto the Eastern Shore.
Storm watch tops this week's outlook for Lanier and Allatoona
Georgia Wildlife Blog's October 9 Fishing Report is asking anglers statewide to watch the weather closely this weekend, flagging possible severe conditions from a tropical system and noting the agency's Region 5 office closed early as a precaution. For anyone planning time on Lake Lanier or Allatoona, that caution matters more than any bite pattern right now. The same blog had already flagged the season turning two weeks earlier, calling out cooler mornings and changing leaves as fall settled in across the state. That seasonal shift is the backdrop for both reservoirs heading into mid-October, even with this week's attention on the sky rather than the water.
New Moon Tides Set the Pace on the Oregon Coast
Oregon Coast water reads 52°F at NOAA CO-OPS station 9435380 as of this afternoon, with the next high tide stacking up near midday at both coastal gauges: 12:09 PM at the southern station, 1:11 PM at the northern one. The New Moon is driving a bigger tidal swing into the weekend, the kind of exchange that stirs bait and current along jetties and river mouths.
Warm Gulf water lingers across the Panhandle as fall's transition builds
Three NOAA CO-OPS stations spanning the Pensacola-to-Destin corridor are reading water temperatures between 77.4°F and 80.2°F this morning, still squarely in late-summer territory even as the calendar turns toward fall. Station 8729108 shows the next low tide arriving at 3:17pm local, and station 8728690 shows a high tide landing almost simultaneously at 3:14pm, a reminder that tide timing shifts meaningfully across just a few miles of this coastline. Today's new moon amplifies that swing, pushing tidal range toward the stronger end of the monthly cycle. Saltwater Sportsman's coverage of the fall baitfish push through Gulf of Mexico bays and estuaries lines up with where the Panhandle sits on the calendar right now: forage is on the move, and that movement is the signal worth tracking into the back half of October.
Fall transition takes hold on Wisconsin's Northwoods walleye lakes
Rollie & Helen's Musky Shop in North Central Wisconsin reports the Northwoods has reached peak fall foliage this week, with guide Steve 'Herbie' Herbeck noting that dropping water temperatures over the past couple weeks have pushed the fishery into a full transitional phase. That cooling trend is shaping behavior across these lakes, not only for the predators the shop tracks. For walleye, Fishing the Midwest's seasonal notes point to a slow bottom-bouncer presentation, the 'plain rig,' a snelled hook and nightcrawler worked along weed edges, as summer weed growth dies back and baitfish relocate toward structure. The same shift favors northern pike on a bladed swim jig paired with a plastic trailer, a combo Fishing the Midwest flags as effective on shoreline flats holding emerging weed growth this time of year.
Lake Trout Season Shuts Down as Fall Walleye Bite Builds on Superior
The Minnesota DNR's Lake Superior Summer Fishing report confirms lake trout season on the Lake closed October 4 and won't reopen until December 1, while other trout species stay open year-round, including brown trout. In the days before the closure, the DNR's October 1 report had anglers working the Lower Shore from Duluth to Two Harbors finding good numbers of 15 to 19 inch walleye, alongside a lake trout bite running steady at 18 to 29 inches right up to closing day. That was a real jump from earlier in September, when the same reports described fairly slow lake trout fishing and light pressure as strong winds kept boats off the water for much of the month.
Fluke and sea bass keep NJ anglers busy as fall bottom bite holds
Delaware Bay's NJ side sat at 66.9°F on this morning's NOAA CO-OPS reading, with the next low tide due at 4:03 p.m. local. Bottom fishing is carrying the week along the Jersey coast: Capt Ron's out of Atlantic Highlands reports a steady sea bass bite on recent trips, with plenty of drops producing keepers for the crowd and fluke up to four pounds mixed in on a Saturday charter. Blue Chip Sportfishing is putting anglers on both fluke and sea bass on half- and full-day runs, calling the action strong for the cost. Up on Long Beach Island, Fishermans HQ notes live peanut bunker working well for bonita and albies offshore, with fluke still showing inshore.
Keys fishery eyes seasonal turn as summer heat finally breaks
Water across the Florida Keys flats and offshore grounds is still running summer-warm, reading 86.2°F and 87.3°F at the two local tide stations tracked this week. ALL IN Key West reports the first real break in the heat is arriving, with cooler air finally moving in after a hot September; the captain is back on the water after taking the month off for boat upgrades, a sign of the fall shift Keys anglers watch for.
Yellowtail Blitz and Halibut Action Heat Up the SoCal Bight
Water temps across the Southern California Bight are holding firm in the upper 60s to mid-70s this week, with NOAA CO-OPS buoys reading 74.8°F near the Los Angeles outer harbor and 68.5°F off Santa Monica. Western Outdoor News reports the half-day boat Daily Double out of Point Loma Sportfishing rewarded its crew with a strong yellowtail bite after a stacked season of counts, part of a broader surface push the outlet is tracking through the Bight. Closer to shore, a reader report out of Newport Harbor (Western Outdoor News) describes a kayak angler working halibut, bass and barracuda inside the harbor as bonito chatter builds along the beach.
Fluke and sea bass carry the Jersey Shore bottom bite
Bottom fishing is doing the work on the Jersey Shore this week. Capt Ron's out of Atlantic Highlands landed several fluke up to four pounds on a recent all-day charter alongside a strong sea bass bite, and Blue Chip Sportfishing reports both species being caught on its half-day and full-day trips. Water is holding in the mid-60s, 64.8°F at the Sandy Hook CO-OPS station and 65.8°F at Cape May, comfortable enough to keep fish feeding through the fall transition.
Sea Bass and Fluke Keep Producing Ahead of the Fall Run
Water temperature at the Sandy Hook tide station read 63.1°F this afternoon, still comfortable water that's been carrying the Raritan Bay bottom bite through early October. Capt Ron's out of Atlantic Highlands reports steady bottom-fishing trips this week, with Sean Pearl and Catskill John each taking the boat pool on 2-pound class sea bass, and Saturday's charter producing fluke up to four pounds. Blue Chip Sportfishing, working the mid-shore grounds, calls sea bass charters 'very good' with full boxes most trips, and fluke and sea bass continuing to fill out half and full-day trips. Grumpys Tackle in Ocean County has its bucktail inventory on sale ahead of the fall run, with the Barrier Island Beach Brawl surf tournament running this weekend, October 9-10.
Delaware River, Pine Barrens Ease Into Fall's Prime Feeding Window
The Delaware River and Pine Barrens freshwater fisheries are settling into the early fall transition this week, with the October 9 new moon landing right as nights continue cooling across the region. Statewide, boaters should also note NJ Saltwater Fisherman's reminder that New Jersey's new mandatory PFD rule for vessels under 26 feet takes effect November 1, a regulation that applies on Delaware River stretches as well as the coast.
Fall Turnover Arrives on the Savannah Chain Amid Storm Watch
Georgia Wildlife Blog's October 9 fishing report centered on caution rather than bite news: the agency flagged possible severe weather moving through the state, closed its Region 5 office early as a precaution, and urged anglers to watch conditions closely before heading out on Hartwell or Russell this week. The same blog's late-September post marked the turn into fall, noting cooler mornings and changing leaves, the seasonal cue anglers on the Savannah chain watch for every year. This week's new moon means minimal overnight light, worth factoring into dawn and dusk sessions on either reservoir.
Storm watch shapes the week for Chattahoochee, Savannah anglers
Georgia Wildlife Blog's October 9 report flags a developing severe-weather risk across the state, with the DNR's Region 5 office closing early as a precaution — a clear signal for anyone eyeing the Chattahoochee or Savannah river systems this weekend to watch conditions closely rather than take chances on the water. The same outlet's recent notes point to a mild fall transition already underway, with cooler mornings settling into the river corridors as the calendar turns toward late October. That cooling trend, not the storm, is the backdrop worth planning around once the weather clears. Anglers should also expect typical storm-season disruptions — rising runoff and debris are common after heavy rain moves through river corridors — so a cautious approach to launch points is warranted until conditions stabilize.
Storm Watch Keeps Georgia Coast Anglers Cautious This Week
Georgia's coast heads into the weekend under a storm watch: the Georgia Wildlife Blog — Fishing reported Thursday that its Region 5 office closed early as Hurricane Isaias tracked toward the coast, and the agency urged anglers to watch conditions closely before getting on the water. NOAA's CO-OPS station 8670870 logged water at 76.8°F as of midday Thursday, still solidly in warm-season range for inshore and nearshore species. The next low tide falls around 2:05 p.m. local time, and with Thursday's New Moon driving stronger spring tides, current will run harder through the swings than on a typical week.
Nor'easter looms as fall striper migration builds off Long Island
NY DEC's Saltwater Fishing and Boating program is warning boaters that a nor'easter is moving in, urging anyone still on the water to watch wind and barometric pressure and come in well ahead of the storm. Inshore readings sit in the mid-60s today: 64.8°F at two of our three NY tide stations and 65.5°F at the third, water still warm enough to hold the fall run together. That lines up with what Anglers Journal is seeing regionwide this week, describing the weeks around the equinox as the strongest stretch of the Northeast fishery, when striped bass, bait and diving birds bunch up ahead of their move offshore and south. NY DEC's own newsletter cycle has leaned the same direction this season, with a dedicated striped bass management edition and continuing coverage of the shark and sturgeon salvage program, both signs of a fishery that's actively moving rather than winding down.
Bluefish show along Cape Lookout surf as fall bite builds
Bluefish are turning up along the surf this week, with Morgan at The Reel Outdoors in the Swansboro/Emerald Isle area reporting scattered fish working the beachfront as part of a broader mixed bite, per Fisherman's Post. Water temperatures are holding in the low 70s, with NOAA CO-OPS station 8652587 reading 71.2°F and station 8654467 at 72.5°F as of this afternoon, typical for the sound and nearshore Atlantic heading into mid-October. Tonight's New Moon is pulling a stronger tidal exchange through the inlets, and that extra current appears to be doing the work of pushing baitfish, and the bluefish following them, into range along the beachfront troughs.
Redfish and snook turn on as Isaias clears Mississippi Sound
Mississippi Sound's inshore water is holding in the upper 70s this week, 76.6°F at the Bay Waveland-area reading and 79.3°F off Pascagoula, classic early-October numbers for a bite that's just now turning on. Salt Strong's inshore team reports a lure switch made the difference on a recent trip: dropping hardbaits for soft plastic jerk lures on the same water turned a dead stretch into 'a quick inshore slam, including some nice redfish and snook.' The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources closed its Biloxi licensing office Friday, October 9, because of Hurricane Isaias, with plans to reopen Monday — a reminder that weather has been moving through the coast and water clarity may still be settling out in the backs of the bays.
Fall migration trend points toward Chincoteague's Eastern Shore
Water temperatures along Virginia's Eastern Shore are holding in the upper 60s, with NOAA's Wachapreague station (8631044) reading 67.3°F this morning and the Kiptopeke station (8632200) just to the south at 69.1°F. That's still comfortable water for the fall transition, not yet the sharp cool-down that triggers a hard bite shift. Further up the coast, Saltwater Edge Blog in Rhode Island is already reporting tautog chewing and false albacore stacked along the oceanfront as the fall run accelerates, the leading edge of a pattern that typically migrates south toward Virginia's barrier islands as temperatures keep dropping.
Fall turnover lines up walleye, lake trout bite across NY
New York's fall transition is underway. The NY DEC's Fishing Line newsletter flags fall-run trout pushing into Lake Ontario tributaries, the seasonal cue anglers statewide watch for as water starts to cool. On the western end of the state, Brookdog Fishing Co. is seeing that cooldown translate directly into bites: walleye remain strong on the Niagara River and Lake Erie, lake trout are feeding hard in deep water out of Barcelona on jigging presentations, and smallmouth bass action has picked up on both the Upper and Lower Niagara. That same cooling trend is the backdrop shaping the fall bite across New York's inland waters, including the Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes region, as surface temperatures continue to slide.
Morning high tides set the pace for Central Coast anglers
NOAA tide stations along the Central Coast are reading 64.6°F and 67.5°F this morning, with the next high tide moving through mid-morning and the low settling in by mid-afternoon, a typical early-October setup before the real seasonal cool-down begins. Farther south, Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reports a solid yellowtail bite building off San Diego, with crews finding good numbers mixed into the school activity there.
Redfish and snook turn on as Gulf Coast anglers switch tactics
NOAA tide stations along the upper Texas coast are reading 82-85°F this week, water still holding plenty of summer heat into early October. That warmth is keeping redfish and snook working the shallows. Per Salt Strong, an angler fishing a baitfish-loaded flat came up empty on topwater plugs before switching to soft plastic jerk lures and turning the session into what the site described as 'a quick inshore slam, including some NICE redfish and snook.' The takeaway: when fish go quiet on a reaction bait over visible bait, dropping to a slower subsurface presentation can flip the bite without leaving the spot.
Redfish and snook turn on as Gulf anglers ditch the plugs
Gulf Coast water is running warm this week, with the NOAA CO-OPS station at Fort Myers reading 83.8°F this morning and the Cedar Key station several degrees cooler at 76.6°F, a gradient worth watching as it marks where warmer backwater meets a cooling open Gulf. Salt Strong reports a telling trip this week: a spot loaded with bait produced zero bites on plugs until they switched to soft plastic jerk lures, which turned a dead stretch into what they called a quick inshore slam, with redfish and snook both showing up in the same water. That lure-switch lesson is the standout piece of intel right now, a reminder that fish holding tight to structure this time of year often need a subtler presentation before they commit.