Fishing reports
19070 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Cobia season builds at the Chesapeake mouth as summer patterns settle in
The Fisherman's NJ/DE Bay Region Fishing Forecast, filed July 9, points to steady striped bass, fluke, and bluefish action working the Mid-Atlantic corridor north of here — a useful directional read since no buoy or gauge feed came back for the Chesapeake mouth this cycle, and this week's Virginia DWR Wildlife Blog and VA Sea Grant posts covered trout stocking plans and fellowship news rather than saltwater conditions. That leaves us working from seasonal expectation rather than confirmed local reports: July at the Chesapeake mouth typically means cobia stacking up along channel edges and pilings, striped bass sliding into deeper, cooler water as surface temps climb, and spot and croaker holding as the reliable inshore bottom bite. We can't confirm bite intensity against fresh regional testimony this cycle, so treat today's species read as a seasonal baseline, not a confirmed hot bite, until new Virginia-specific reports come in.
Striped bass feast on squid as Narragansett Bay fluke bite rebounds
Striped bass are the headline in Narragansett Bay right now — Booked Off Charters calls the bite 'excellent,' and The Saltwater Edge reports bass feeding heavily on squid during low-light hours, morning and evening. Big fish are stacking up around Block Island too, with Snug Harbor Marina hearing steady reports of larger bass there while the local bite holds its own. Fluke are more of a mixed bag: Snug Harbor and Booked Off Charters both describe keeper numbers as lagging so far this season, but Frances Fleet and The Saltwater Edge note the fluke bite is starting to pick up around the islands, with more keeper black sea bass and large scup mixing into the same drifts. Bait is thick on the grounds — sand eels and squid, per Booked Off Charters — which is likely helping hold stripers close to structure. No live buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, so lean on the low-light windows and follow the bait.
Cobia and flounder hold the spotlight on Virginia's Eastern Shore
No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge data came through for the Chincoteague area this cycle, so today's read leans on regional angler intel and the typical rhythm of a Virginia Eastern Shore July. Offshore, OTW Saltwater's Northeast Offshore Report (July 8) says tuna fishing is "on fire from Maryland to New England" as warm water pushes into the canyons — a solid signal for Chincoteague-based boats willing to make the run. Inshore, this stretch of coast is entering peak season for cobia, flounder, and croaker around the barrier islands and back bays, though no shop or charter feed filed a Chincoteague-specific report today. To the north, The Fisherman's NJ/Delaware Bay forecast describes active striped bass and fluke action, part of a broader Mid-Atlantic push that typically extends down the Delmarva coast through midsummer. With a waning crescent moon this week, expect modest tidal swings rather than the bigger flows around new and full moon. Check current Virginia regulations before harvesting any of the species below.
Red drum heat up Pamlico Sound flats as tarpon push through Cape Lookout
Red drum are stacking up on the flats and river-shoreline structure of the Pamlico and Neuse, with some big drum in the mix, per Donald of Custom Marine Fabrication in Fisherman's Post's July Pamlico/Neuse report. Just down the coast in Swansboro/Emerald Isle, Rich of The Reel Outdoors says red drum fishing has been steady in the sounds while surf anglers work a mixed bag of bluefish, spots, sea mullet, and pompano. Topsail/Sneads Ferry is seeing the same red drum push, with Nathan of East Coast Sports flagging the early-morning topwater bite as the standout pattern before the sun gets high. Offshore of Cape Lookout, Sport Fishing Mag reports North Carolina's summertime tarpon migration is building again this year, with fish showing anywhere from Southport to Kitty Hawk through the Cape Fear River and Pamlico Sound corridor. No fresh buoy or gauge data came through this cycle, so treat this as an angler-report snapshot rather than a numbers-backed read.
Gulf of Alaska hits the king-to-silver salmon handoff
Mid-July finds the Gulf of Alaska at its typical seasonal turning point, though direct captain and shop testimony was thin in this cycle's feed, so we're leaning on general seasonal knowledge rather than fresh on-the-water reports. AK Sea Grant's coverage this stretch centers on ecosystem watch items rather than bite reports: the 34th Lowell Wakefield Fisheries Symposium convened on Kodiak Island to examine marine heatwaves in high-latitude oceans, a trend worth tracking since warming pulses can shift baitfish and salmon distribution mid-summer. AK Sea Grant also flagged that invasive European green crabs continue advancing in Southeast Alaska waters, worth noting for anglers working estuary and nearshore structure. Typical for this window, king salmon runs are winding down while silvers begin showing, and halibut fishing stays a strong, steady producer over deeper structure. No buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, so treat water temp and tide notes as unavailable until the next update.
Tarpon push keeps rolling as Naples permit bite dials in
Tarpon are jumping and grabbing quality fish through the ongoing migration push, with mornings spent on tarpon before switching over to sight-fishing large permit in the afternoon, per Naples Offshore Fishing Charters' latest report. That two-species pairing has been the backbone of the Gulf Coast bite this stretch, with occasional bonus fish mixed in along the way. Meanwhile, Coastal Angler Magazine flags summer snook and speckled trout stacking up in the passes and along the beaches as the hot-weather pattern sets in, calling it some of the year's best action for linesiders. Between the tarpon-permit rotation offshore and nearshore and the snook/trout bite tightening up in the passes, Gulf Coast anglers have multiple high-percentage targets right now. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for this cycle, so treat water temps and swell as typical for mid-July until the next data pull confirms specifics.
Summer pelagics keep Hawaii's blue water working despite quiet intel
Hawaii Fishing News, the state's official keeper of record catches and monthly moon/tide calendars, remains the standing reference for island anglers this cycle — but there's little fresh dockside chatter to lean on. This week's HI Sea Grant coverage runs entirely toward Knauss fellowship recaps and international policy work (flood-indicator mapping in Palau, a U.S.-Korea Sea Grant exchange) rather than bite reports, and no buoy or gauge readings came back for Hawaiian waters this pass. Absent charter, shop, or blog dispatches specific to the islands, we're falling back on typical July patterns: offshore pelagics like ahi, ono, and mahimahi tend to run hardest as summer surface temps climb, while inshore bottomfish stay a steadier, less weather-dependent bet. The waning crescent favors quieter dawn and dusk bites over big tidal pushes. Cross-check Hawaii Fishing News' moon and tide calendar before you plan a trip, and confirm current bag limits and closed areas before harvesting anything.
Treasure Coast snook rebound as St. Lucie Inlet dredging pauses
The St. Lucie Inlet dredging project has stopped for now, and Snook Nook in Stuart reports snook numbers building back up around the detached jetty and Hole in the Wall, with anglers marking large schools on side-scan and drawing bites on live croakers and pilchards. Remember Atlantic snook season is closed to harvest through the summer and doesn't reopen until September 1, so it's catch-and-release only on the Treasure Coast right now. Coastal Angler Magazine reports speckled trout joining snook in the passes and along the beaches for what they're calling hot summer action. Meanwhile, red snapper access on Florida's Atlantic coast is unsettled — CCA Florida notes a federal court injunction blocked the 2026 South Atlantic red snapper Exempted Fishing Permit pilot program just hours before the state's planned season, so confirm current regulations before targeting snapper. Fish the early and late tide windows to beat the July heat.
Bull redfish keep Delta bite steady through summer heat
Louisiana's saltwater bite this week leans on one dependable name: bull redfish. Sport Fishing Mag's rundown of top redfish destinations singles out Venice and the Mississippi Delta as a rare year-round bull red fishery, with Capt. Mike Frenette of The Redfish Lodge of Louisiana working popping-cork rigs over grass edges and current breaks to draw the aggressive strikes bull reds are known for. No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for the coast today, so we can't hang a temperature or flow number on this report — treat water conditions as typical for mid-July Gulf Coast marsh and delta water until a local check confirms otherwise. Speckled trout should still be working deeper holes and current lines as marsh water warms through summer, and flounder activity is likely on the slower side ahead of the fall run. Check state regs before harvesting, and lean on local shops for the freshest read on tide-driven bite windows.
CT Inland Bass Bite Holds as Trout Action Cools for Summer
Connecticut's inland fisheries have settled into full summer mode, with bass carrying the action while trout quiet down. At Saugatuck Reservoir in Westport, Fisherman's World reports largemouth, smallmouth, and walleye all producing well in the morning and evening, with night crawlers and shiners the top baits; trout there are less consistent, though a few quality fish still show. Fishin' Factory 3 in Middletown confirms the statewide shift: trout have gone quiet even at popular spots like the Salmon River, the Connecticut River's shad run has wrapped for the season, and river anglers are now turning up channel catfish and bowfin instead. Bass in ponds and lakes have locked into classic warm-weather patterns, working topwater frogs, Whopper Ploppers, and Senkos early and late in the day. A USGS gauge on the Connecticut River is reading near 80°F, backing up the warm-water pattern anglers are describing.
Rainy River walleye and smallmouth push into summer weed pattern
Water at USGS gauge 05133500 near the Rainy River system read 80°F this morning with flow holding around 4,110 cfs, confirming this stretch is fully into its summer pattern. That kind of warmth typically pushes walleye tight to weed cover, and Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen is preaching exactly that this week, urging anglers to work the weedline rather than fish memories of where bites happened earlier in the season. Jason Mitchell Outdoors' latest video backs the same idea with a "Weed Pocket Walleye" pattern, and a separate clip from the show, "Pack of Smallmouth," suggests bass are grouping up as well, a pattern that fits the smallmouth-heavy stretches typical of this border-water fishery. Muskie hunters elsewhere in Minnesota are finding fish tucked into fresh weed growth per AnglingBuzz's Leech Lake coverage, a technique worth trying locally as vegetation fills in. Expect a morning bite window before the heat sets in.
Green River trout stay active as summer flows keep water cool
USGS gauge 09234500 on the Green River logged 56°F water with flow running 1,710 cfs early Saturday morning, a comfortable tailwater read for mid-July trout even as daytime air temps climb across the Uintas. No source in this cycle filed a direct report from the Green River or Uinta Lakes specifically, so we're leaning on regional trout fundamentals rather than a fresh bite report. Field & Stream's current spin-fishing guide for trout still applies well here: light 5.5 to 6.5 foot rods with 2 to 4 pound fluorocarbon and small inline spinners or jigs for the tighter stretches, stepping up to 7 to 7.5 foot medium-action gear on bigger water and open lake basins. Rainbow and brown trout should stay catchable through the cool morning window before the tailwater's steady cold flow and any afternoon warmup push fish toward deeper runs and shaded banks. Cutthroat in the high Uinta lakes remain a solid bet on typical July timing.
Missouri catfish put on a show as Lake of the Ozarks bakes in summer heat
A Hazelwood, Missouri angler landed two catfish totaling 178 pounds from a 25-foot-deep back-eddy hole just before dusk this week, per Wired 2 Fish — a clear sign big cats are feeding hard on Show-Me State river systems right now. Our gauge near the Lake of the Ozarks/Osage system reads water temperature at 83°F with flow running well above what's typical for mid-July, pointing to a stained, moving system rather than the low, clear summer pool anglers usually see this time of year. That combination tends to favor catfish and push largemouth bass toward harder structure. Per B.A.S.S. News, anglers on comparable Midwest reservoirs report bass schooling with stripers on points, ledges, and brushpiles as current eases off and heat climbs, while Fishing the Midwest notes that working weedlines with moving baits is still drawing bites on shallower flats. Crappie fishing typically slows through the hottest stretch of summer as fish scatter to deeper cover.
East Texas Bass Stay Aggressive Through the Summer Heat
Big bass action across East Texas is holding strong despite the summer heat, per Lake Fork Trophy Bass's July report, which notes lake levels running just under two feet low with water clarity still holding up as bass settle into deep summer patterns after the spawn. That report covers Lake Fork specifically, but the same seasonal timeline typically plays out across the region's other big reservoirs, including Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn. USGS gauge 08030500 read roughly 2,980 cfs early Thursday morning, a moderate, stable flow that shouldn't disrupt normal summer staging. Tactical Bassin's recent instructional posts point anglers toward jigs, Neko rigs, and finesse paddletails for tough summer bites, standard tools for working deep structure and shaded cover once fish push off the bank in the heat. Largemouth bass are the headline species right now, with catfish, crappie, and white bass settling into typical slower summer patterns.
Trico spinners and terrestrials take over CO's tailwaters
Flow at USGS gauge 06701900 held near 249 cfs early this morning, keeping South Platte and Arkansas tailwaters in the clear, wadable stage anglers count on through midsummer. Pat Dorsey Fly Fishing (CO) has flagged 2026 as one of Colorado's leanest water years on record, so stretches that run thin later this season are worth watching before wading deep. On the bug front, Gink and Gasoline points to the South Platte's reputation for dense morning trico spinner falls, a summer staple worth timing before the heat builds. Trout Unlimited's latest TROUT Tip leans into that same seasonal shift, noting terrestrials are now crawling the banks and getting eaten as big meals once they blow into the current. AvidMax Blog (CO) has been tying small tailwater midge and Euro-nymph patterns lately, a solid backup when the surface bite goes quiet. We're calling both rainbows and browns Active on light tippet and small profiles.
Hoot-owl limits push MT trout anglers to early mornings
Hoot-owl restrictions took effect Saturday at 2 p.m. on the Sun River (Highway 287 bridge to the mouth of Muddy Creek) and on the Lower Madison and Madison above Hebgen Reservoir, per MT FWP Fishing News — afternoon and evening fishing is now closed on those reaches once daily heat trips the threshold. Flow at USGS gauge 06043500 is holding at 779 cfs, a typical mid-summer stage, with no temperature reading logged this morning. Trout remain the headline draw across the Yellowstone/Missouri corridor, and with terrestrials in full swing, Trout Unlimited's current TROUT Tip points anglers toward pink terrestrial patterns as hoppers and ants start showing up in the drift. Down on Canyon Ferry Reservoir on the Missouri, MT FWP and Walleyes Unlimited of Montana are asking anglers to keep more of the smaller walleye they catch to ease competition for food and let bigger fish grow. Plan trout trips for early morning on affected rivers, save reservoir time for later in the day, and check current hoot-owl status before committing to an afternoon float.
Delta stripers and bass hold deep as summer flows stay strong
The Sacramento River gauge at site 11447650 read 70 degrees with flow running 13,400 cfs early this morning, a solid signal of warm, moving water as peak summer settles over the Delta. That combination typically pushes striped bass and largemouth toward current breaks, tule lines, and deeper structure once the sun climbs. No fresh Delta-specific bite reports came through our trusted intel feeds this cycle, so this update leans on seasonal patterns: warm, steady flow generally keeps channel catfish active on cut bait after dark, while bass hold tighter to shade and weed edges through the heat. Nationally, summer bass coverage from Fishing the Midwest points anglers toward working weed lines and finesse presentations as the season progresses, a pattern that generally carries over to Delta largemouth. Sturgeon activity typically slows through the hottest stretch of summer. Check NorCal Fish Reports' Delta section for the latest boat-by-boat intel before heading out.
Salt River chain bass turn to dawn topwater as summer heat sets in
The Salt River arm feeding Roosevelt Lake is running a steady 62.7 cfs at USGS gauge 09498500 as of early Tuesday morning, a modest, stable base flow that's typical for mid-July and points to low, clear conditions rather than any recent runoff bump. No Roosevelt-specific angler reports came through this cycle, so we're leaning on general seasonal patterns and technique notes from national sources rather than local testimony. Tactical Bassin's latest summer coverage emphasizes finesse paddletails and jigs worked around cover during the hottest stretch of the day, with topwater and shallow power-fishing producing best in low light — tactics that translate well to Roosevelt's largemouth and smallmouth populations right now. Catfish typically turn on in the heat of a desert summer, feeding most actively after dark. Crappie, by contrast, tend to pull deep and go quiet once surface temps climb into the 80s. Check current state regs before harvesting, and plan around the early-morning and post-dusk windows to beat the daytime heat.
Colorado tailwater trout ease into early-morning patterns as summer heat builds
A pre-dawn reading from USGS gauge 09380000 on the Colorado River put water at 65°F with flow running a strong 7,370 cfs, a robust release that keeps the tailwater moving and still cool enough to hold trout even as Arizona's July heat settles in elsewhere. This cycle's angler-intel sweep didn't turn up any dispatches specific to the Colorado or Salt River corridors, so we're leaning on general seasonal knowledge rather than fresh regional testimony for the bite outlook. Typical for mid-July, rainbow trout in tailwater stretches like this tend to pull back their feeding windows to dawn, dusk, and low-light periods as surface temps push toward the mid-60s, while warmwater species such as smallmouth bass, striped bass, and channel catfish usually turn more active through the heat of the day. For general trout technique this time of year, a recent Field & Stream spin-fishing guide recommends scaling down to light fluorocarbon and small inline spinners or jigs in tighter, faster water.
Summer patterns setting up on SD's Missouri River system
The USGS gauge at site 06440200 logged a flat 0 cfs reading in the early hours of July 12, with no water-temperature data reported alongside it. That reads more like a gap in this cycle's telemetry for the Missouri River and Black Hills stretch than a true no-flow event, so treat it as a placeholder and check the gauge directly before planning around it. Direct on-the-water intel for South Dakota's stretch of the river was thin this cycle. For broader context, Jason Mitchell Outdoors posted a summer spinner pattern for walleyes on Lake Sakakawea, upstream on the same Missouri River system in North Dakota, and Wired 2 Fish reported a Missouri River catfisherman (fishing downstream in the state of Missouri) boating two fish totaling 178 pounds from a 25-foot back-eddy hole. Neither confirms local conditions, but both point to the river system holding typical summer form. Black Hills trout streams should fish best early, before the afternoon heat sets in.
High Columbia River flows test summer salmon and sturgeon anglers
Columbia River gauge 14105700 logged 135,000 cfs and 67°F early this morning on July 12, signaling the river is still running high for mid-summer, likely reflecting upstream dam operations rather than a natural seasonal recession. That's the one hard data point available this cycle: no shop, charter, or state-agency reports specific to Columbia system salmon or sturgeon came through, and the lone regional forum activity, IFish.net Fishing Reports, was limited to lost-gear notices out of Newport rather than actual bite reports. With no direct intel to confirm what's biting, we're leaning on typical mid-July patterns for this fishery: summer Chinook and steelhead should be pushing through the system on schedule, while sturgeon anglers often find high, warm flows tougher for anchor presentations near bottom structure. Treat the species status below as seasonal expectation rather than a confirmed bite until fresher reports arrive.
Lake Erie summer pattern holds as Presque Isle creeks run low
Tributary flow at USGS gauge 04213000 is running skinny at 14.6 cfs, a sign of the low, clear conditions typical for the Lake Erie/Presque Isle area heading into mid-July. Today's feed doesn't carry a fresh captain or shop report specifically out of Presque Isle Bay, so we're leaning on regional seasonal patterns: walleye and smallmouth bass are the mainstay summer targets on Erie's PA waters, typically holding on deeper main-lake structure and rocky/gravel bottom as surface temps climb. Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen notes the 2026 open-water season is in full swing region-wide and encourages anglers to stay versatile and work weedlines rather than lock into one pattern, solid advice for Presque Isle Bay's mixed weed and rock structure. Pennsylvania Sea Grant, partnering with PA DEP, continues to flag harmful algal blooms as a growing summer risk across PA and Great Lakes waterways, worth checking before wading skinny tributaries. Water clarity should stay good with flows this low.
Summer flows steady as Columbia and Sound rivers warm into July
A regional USGS gauge (14113000) logged a flow of 799 cfs and a water temperature of 64°F early this morning, conditions that sit in the comfortable range for mid-summer river activity across Columbia and Puget Sound tributaries. Specific catch reports for this stretch weren't in today's feeds, but WA WDFW Fishing Reports remains the go-to check before heading out: the department tracks creel data through angler interviews and posts current stocking activity for lakes and streams statewide, so a quick look before launching is worth the few minutes it takes. With flows holding moderate and temps in the mid-60s, fish should still be feeding actively through the cooler early-morning and evening windows, though midday warmth typically slows the bite. Check current WDFW regulations, season dates, and any temporary closures before targeting salmon or steelhead this week, as timing varies significantly by drainage.
Summer bass go deep on Toledo Bend and Sabine as flows stay light
The Sabine River USGS gauge (08025500) read a slim 10.2 cfs early Sunday morning, consistent with the low, stable summer flow typical of mid-July on the Toledo Bend and Sabine border. With current minimal and water clearing up, largemouth bass are likely pushing to deeper structure and shade to escape the surface heat — a broadly seasonal pattern, not a specific Toledo Bend report, echoed in Tactical Bassin's summer jig-fishing rundown and Fishing the Midwest's weedline advice, both of which point anglers toward deeper cover and current breaks once water warms. Statewide, LDWF has scheduled a drawdown on Saline Lake in Natchitoches and Winn parishes per Louisiana Sportsman, a reminder that lake-level management is active on LA freshwater fisheries this month, even though Toledo Bend itself isn't part of that project. Sac-a-lait and catfish should still be workable around deep structure, with topwater bass bites likely limited to dawn and dusk windows.