Fishing reports
15021 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Redfish keep biting as Florida's Gulf Coast holds onto summer warmth
Gulf Coast water is still running late-summer warm to open October, with NOAA's Clearwater Beach station reading 81.9°F and the Panama City gauge at 82.8°F. Those numbers are keeping redfish in the mix, and Fin & Fly Charters' latest report noted a solid redfish landed during a recent outing. The waning gibbous moon overhead this week tends to spread the bite across the tide rather than stacking it at one peak, worth building into a trip plan along the coast.
Delaware Bay stripers load up on sod banks as nor'easter clears
Our Ship John Shoal reading has the Delaware Bay sitting at 67.6 degrees with high tide rolling in near 1:51 PM, numbers that line up with the warm, bait-stacked water anglers are describing up and down the bay this week. Big Dave's Tackle in Southern New Jersey reports the Delaware Bay and back bays carried most of the early-week action, with plenty of bait pushed up the estuary and a good tautog bite building at the bridges and lighthouses on sandfleas and green crabs. Pier 47 Marina had nighttime striper action running strong on the sod banks during flood tide, with fish from 16 to 29 inches, and a few over 31, hitting everything from quarter-ounce bucktails to 6-inch darters as stripers fed heavily ahead of the weekend's nor'easter. Hands Too Bait and Tackle in Cape May found sea bass stacked on the local wrecks before the blow, a striper bite holding fish to 30 inches on the sod banks, and blackfish, weakfish, croakers and kingfish keeping anglers busy on most tides. Waterfront Marine picked up keeper flounder earlier in the week, just ahead of that fishery's closure.
First fall striper reports reach Sandy Hook as sea bass bite holds
Water temperature at the Sandy Hook NOAA station read 65.1°F this afternoon, still mild enough to keep the fall transition gradual. Capt. Ron out of Atlantic Highlands has kept parties into keeper black sea bass much of the week, working the 55-foot depths and timing drops around the tide change for the best action. The Fisherman's NJ/DE Bay Region forecast reports anglers are back on black sea bass in New Jersey waters now that this weekend's nor'easter has cleared, with winds swinging out of the W/NW and the first fall reports of striped bass over 50 inches showing along the north coast. Grumpys Tackle says bluefish have moved in and is running a bucktail sale ahead of the fall run. Fluke, meanwhile, is done for the season locally — Capt Ron called this past Friday possibly the last trip of 2026, and it produced strong fluke and sea bass action before the storm shut the dock down for over a week.
Delaware River smallmouth hold on as nor'easter clears the Pine Barrens
Delaware River smallmouth are back on the bite after last week's nor'easter scattered action across the region. Dave's Sport Shop in Doylestown, reporting via The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater, says catfish and smallmouth gave anglers decent fishing in the Delaware this past week, with better water levels opening up good access for both boat fishermen and waders. The same feed has Smith's Bait Shop in Leipsic noting that several area lakes and ponds had just turned over for fall and were starting to give up good numbers of fish right as the storm rolled in and shut things down for days. Farther north, Hyper Striper Sportfishing on Lake Wallenpaupack reported very good action for smallmouth, largemouth, hybrids, and a few crappies for anglers who got out despite the wind, and decent bass and crappie fishing was also coming out of Nockamixon. In South Jersey, Hands Too Bait and Tackle noted cooling-driven freshwater action building in the cedar waters near Cape May before the storm interrupted it, and up on Bass River, Allen's Dock described similar activity in the tidal creeks and nearby cedar waters right up until anglers pulled their boats ahead of the blow.
Fall Striper Push Lands at the Jersey Shore After the Nor'easter
Water temperatures are holding at 66-67°F at the NOAA CO-OPS stations in Atlantic City and Cape May, still warm for the first of October after last weekend's nor'easter pushed through. The storm dominated the week's reports: shops from Beach Haven to Atlantic Highlands described flooded lots and lost sailing days, but the fall intel coming out the other side is strong. The Fisherman's NJ/DE Bay Region forecast flagged the season's first 50-inch-and-over striped bass along the north coast now that winds have swung W/NW behind the blow, and notes anglers are back on black sea bass in Garden State waters. Closer to the beach, Pier 47 Marina in Ocean City described a strong pre-storm nighttime striper bite on the sod banks during flood tide, fish mostly 16 to 29 inches with some slot keepers past 31, taking bucktails and Mag Darters. Fisherman's Headquarters in Central New Jersey had stripers and blues on mullet-type plugs the same stretch, and Hands Too Bait and Tackle in Cape May reported blackfish, weakfish, stripers and blues all working before the weather arrived.
Fall smallmouth bite heats up on the Catawba and Roanoke
Fall is the signal this week across the Catawba and Roanoke systems, with national bass authorities converging on the same read: smallmouth bass are shifting into their autumn feeding pattern. Field & Stream's rundown of fall smallmouth tactics calls for targeting current and wind-blown areas where baitfish stack up, working crankbaits and jerkbaits aggressively before slowing down once a school is located. On The Water's fall finesse-bait roundup backs the same idea from the other direction — smaller, slower presentations once the initial reaction-bite window closes. Tactical Bassin's October rundown adds the power-fishing half of that cycle, noting topwater, swimbaits and crankbaits are all drawing strikes as big bass push back into accessible water chasing shad. Three independent outlets landing on the same seasonal shift this week is as strong a signal as freshwater bass fishing gets this time of year.
Fall turnover arrives at Smith Mountain Lake and Buggs Island
Smith Mountain Lake and Buggs Island are easing into the early fall turnover window, the stretch when steadily cooling surface water pushes baitfish and gamefish off deep summer structure and onto points, channel bends, and wind-blown banks. It's the seasonal transition anglers on both reservoirs watch for every October. Field & Stream's current fall smallmouth coverage backs the broader reservoir pattern: start aggressive with moving baits to locate schooled fish, then slow down and work them thoroughly once you find a group holding tight to structure.
Fall smallmouth pattern takes hold on Potomac, Shenandoah waters
Smallmouth bass are shifting into their fall feeding pattern across the Potomac and Shenandoah systems as river water continues its seasonal cool-down. Field & Stream's current smallmouth coverage points anglers toward current breaks and wind-blown banks where baitfish concentrate, recommending moving baits like crankbaits and jerkbaits to cover water until a school is located, then slowing down to work the area thoroughly. On The Water's roundup of fall finesse baits for smallmouth echoes the same transition: smaller, slower presentations once fish turn selective.
Fall striper migration builds offshore ahead of a Chesapeake mouth push
Water at the Chesapeake Bay mouth is holding in the low 70s, with NOAA CO-OPS station 8638610 reading 70.9°F and station 8637689 at 71.2°F. That is still solidly summer-range water, but the fall transition is accelerating well to the north. The Fisherman's NJ/DE Bay Region forecast reports the season's first striped bass over 50 inches along the Jersey Shore following this week's nor'easter, and its Long Island forecast has bluefish and striped bass mixing with bait along the eastern beaches. Virginia hasn't seen that push arrive yet, but the pattern building upstream is the one worth watching this week.
Smokies trout streams settle into fall rhythm as October opens
October 1 marks the start of the stretch Western North Carolina trout anglers wait for all summer: Smokies streams begin shedding their low, warm late-season flows as nights cool, and resident brown and brook trout push out of deep pools into faster runs and riffles to feed ahead of winter. The waning gibbous moon favors low-light outings — early mornings and last light — when fish sit shallower and feed with less caution under bright sun.
Brown Trout Spawning Run Boosts Lake Taneycomo's Strong Fall Bite
Trout fishing on Lake Taneycomo has picked up noticeably over the past month, with good numbers spread through the upper lake, a marked change from the slower summer stretch, according to Lilleys Landing. Brown trout are now showing up in the upper lake as the fall spawning run gets underway, alongside continued numbers of trophy-class fish. The shop credits part of the improvement to a stretch of favorable fall weather.
Red Drum Push Takes Over Pamlico Sound and Cape Lookout Waters
Red drum are the story across Pamlico Sound and Cape Lookout this week. Donald, of Custom Marine Fabrication, tells Fisherman's Post (NC) that reds are the main focus on the Pamlico/Neuse River, with fish showing throughout the river and bait stacking up. In the Topsail/Sneads Ferry surf, Nathan of East Coast Sports reports a run of slot-sized red drum mixed with some over-slot fish, plus Spanish mackerel working the suds. Down at Swansboro/Emerald Isle, Morgan of The Reel Outdoors has anglers picking off scattered red drum along the beachfront, with bluefish and Spanish mackerel also in the mix. Water held warm this afternoon, 75.7°F at NOAA CO-OPS station 8652587 and 77°F at station 8654467, solidly on the warm side for early October and consistent with the active reports.
Connecticut inland waters shift into fall feeding pattern
Connecticut's inland lakes and ponds are moving through the seasonal turnover window that defines early October across southern New England waters, with surface temperatures sliding toward fall norms and cooler nights pushing baitfish and gamefish out of their summer holding patterns. This transition typically scatters fish for a short stretch before they settle into more predictable fall locations, tracking baitfish toward wind-blown points, creek channels, and the first drop-offs off main-lake flats. With the moon in a waning gibbous phase, the low-light windows around dawn and dusk should offer the most consistent activity for anglers working CT's inland fisheries this week.
Fall run builds in Long Island Sound as nor'easter clears
Long Island Sound held steady near 65°F this week across the New London, New Haven and Bridgeport tide stations, conditions that keep the fall run building. Captain Mike aboard Tartan II reports black sea bass fishing has stayed strong through the recent blow, with a good mix of sizes and plenty of keepers. At Black Hawk, a Tuesday trip produced a strong mix of black sea bass and bluefish with a few keeper striped bass mixed in, while Monday's bottom-fishing trip also turned up a few fluke. J&B Tackle noted that ahead of this past weekend's nor'easter, striped bass, bluefish and false albacore fishing was heating up for what looks like a strong fall run, and the shop is hoping the storm pushed more bait and fish into the area. Shore anglers are producing too — AW Marina had a customer land a slot-sized striped bass from the beach.
SoCal Bight trophy run holds as surf conditions stay tough
NOAA CO-OPS station 9410170 reads 76°F in the LA Bight this week, with a cooler 72°F up the coast at station 9410230, a split that's keeping bait and gamefish stacked closer to the islands. Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reports an exceptional run of trophy-class gamefish moving through the SoCal Bight, with boats working out of San Diego scaling fish well past the 400-pound mark and sightings reported as far north as the Channel Islands. It's a tougher stretch on the beach: Surf Fishing In So Cal describes this year's El Niño pattern as one of the roughest surf seasons the region has seen in over a decade, with persistent swell limiting access to the troughs and holes anglers normally work.
Eastern Shore waits on cooler nights to spark the fall run
NOAA's Eastern Shore tide stations are reading water temperatures in the upper 60s to low 70s this morning: 70.2°F at Wachapreague (CO-OPS 8631044) and 69.6°F at Kiptopeke (CO-OPS 8632200). Up the coast, Saltwater Edge in Rhode Island reports the fall run already in gear, with the tautog bite picking up and striped bass expected to turn on as nights get colder and winds swing northerly. The Fisherman's New England forecast and Anglers Journal both describe the Northeast's fall striper migration as still finding its rhythm, waiting on the weather shift that typically pushes stripers south along the coast toward the Mid-Atlantic.
Warm surf keeps Outer Banks bite in late-summer mode
Water temperatures along the Outer Banks are holding in the high 70s this morning, with NOAA CO-OPS station 8658163 reading 77.7°F and station 8656483 reading 77°F, keeping conditions on the warm side as October opens. Per Fisherman's Post (NC), anglers working the Rodanthe-area beaches near Hatteras are finding bottom-fishing action productive this week, with sight-casting opportunities also turning up along the surf.
Buoy 10 action stirs as Oregon Coast cools into fall
NOAA CO-OPS station 9435380 is reading 55.6°F while station 9439040 shows a milder 64.6°F, a split consistent with Oregon's shift into fall saltwater conditions as open water cools faster than sheltered water. Chatter on IFish.net Fishing Reports points to strong solo-trolling action near Buoy 10 this week, though that's a single account worth treating as anecdotal rather than confirmed. Scattered lost-gear posts from Garibaldi and the Buoy 10 area hint at steady boat traffic working those waters.
Snook push toward structure as Tampa Bay redfish turn on
Water temps are holding at 82-83°F across Tampa Bay and Sarasota, per NOAA CO-OPS stations 8726724 and 8726520, and the fall shoulder season is in full swing. Capt. Rick Grassett's October forecast for CB's Saltwater Outfitters calls it "a good month for snook," with fish moving off the passes and beaches toward docks, bridges, and shallow ICW flats ahead of their wintertime holding spots; live shrimp around structure and smaller lures and flies are getting bites. Capt. Brandon Naeve, also with CB's, notes the overall warm water this time of year keeps snook most active, with the Gulf Coast's fall snook season in full swing since its September 1 opener. Capt. Kelly Kurtz, fishing out of the same Siesta Key shop, reports an active inshore bite in Sarasota Bay with snook and redfish both cooperating this past week. Across the bay, Capt. Sergio Atanes writes in Coastal Angler Magazine that October ranks among the best months of the year for large redfish in Tampa Bay, with reds pushing hard as the water eases down from summer highs.
Afternoon tide turn is the play as Bay waters ease into fall
Northern California's Bay-area tide station logged a water temperature of 53.1°F in the early hours this morning, continuing the slide into fall-range readings for SF Bay and Bodega. Tide guidance from both regional NOAA stations shows a straightforward single low-high cycle today: low water near 8 to 9 a.m. PDT, building to an afternoon high around 2 to 3 p.m. That midday turn is the window worth building a trip around, since moving water through the bay's channels and sloughs is what concentrates bait and gets predators working.
Florida Keys Anglers Welcome the First Signs of Fall Relief
Water temperatures in the Lower Keys are holding at 84.4°F per NOAA's Key West tide station (8724580), still summer-warm but trending toward the seasonal shift anglers wait for all year. ALL IN Key West reports the heat is finally breaking after a hot summer, with the captain back from a late-summer break and opening availability for fall and winter trips. Tide is building toward an afternoon high near 2:41 PM Eastern, with the next low around 6:46 PM; a secondary Atlantic-side station (8723970) logged this morning's low near 10:47 AM. On Florida's Gulf coast, Coastal Angler Magazine's October dispatch calls it "Red October," with redfish feeding well as water starts to cool.
Blues and fluke rebound as Chesapeake-area surf settles after nor'easter
The NOAA tide station at Ocean City Inlet logged water at 66.9°F this morning, as the Delaware-Maryland-Chesapeake corridor digs out from a nor'easter that shut down fishing for most of last week. Eric Burnley, reporting for The Fisherman — DE/MD/Chesapeake, measured over three inches of rain and winds topping 50 knots at his house, conditions that kept almost every boat tied to the dock. Old Inlet Bait and Tackle still managed bluefish on metal lures worked through the incoming tide, and Hook 'em and Cook 'em reported Capt. Aaron Hurd's Gale Force boxing 11 blues near the inlet while the Yoder family took flounder to 7.4 pounds on the few days boats could get out.
White River trout dial in as fall generation cools the tailwaters
Generation is running on the White River this week: USGS gauge 07060500 logged 2,760 cfs and 63°F early this morning, while gauge 07060000 closer to the dam read a colder 53°F with no flow recorded, a sign releases had paused between generation cycles. That split, cold water held at the dam face mixing into higher, milder flow downstream, is the normal fall signature on these tailwaters, and it puts trout in a predictable feeding window whenever turbines are running.
Hawaii's morning tide push sets up prime window as water holds warm
Nearshore water sits at 79.9°F per NOAA CO-OPS station 1615680, recorded in the early morning hours and squarely in the range that keeps Hawaii's reef and pelagic species comfortable heading into October. Both tracked tide stations show a morning high stacking up, station 1615680 near 6:10 a.m. local and station 1612340 close behind near 7:55 a.m., giving anglers a tight window to work the incoming push before the turn.