Fishing reports
19070 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Squid-fed stripers stay hot around Block Island as fluke slowly wake up
Squid is stacked along Narragansett Bay's shoreline and boat grounds right now, and it's fueling one of the more reliable striped bass bites of the season. The Saltwater Edge says bass are hammering squid hardest during the low-light windows of early morning and evening, though fish are still eating through the day. Big bass are also stacking up around Block Island, per Snug Harbor Marina and Booked Off Charters, where Tony Guarino's crews found excellent striper action whenever wind let them run trips. Fluke has been the tougher story: Frances Fleet and Booked Off Charters both describe a real grind so far, only up to a dozen keepers a trip despite thick bait on the grounds, though Frances Fleet and The Saltwater Edge note fluke reports are starting to improve around the islands. Black sea bass and scup are filling in as a steady mixed bag alongside the fluke effort.
Cobia and flounder carry Chincoteague's summer bite
Chincoteague's summer pattern is running true to form this week, with cobia and flounder the two most dependable targets on the lower Eastern Shore as water temperatures sit at their seasonal peak. No fresh Chincoteague-specific catch reports came through our sources this cycle, so this outlook leans on typical mid-July patterns for the region: cobia holding over structure and sandy flats for anglers sight-casting live eels or menhaden, while flounder stack along channel edges and inlet drop-offs for bucktail-and-gulp drifters. Spot and croaker remain the reliable bottom-fishing option on bloodworm or FishBites rigs for anglers wanting steady action over a trophy shot. Striped bass typically slide into deeper, cooler water this time of year and go quiet inshore, so expect a slow pick until fall. Offshore, per OTW Saltwater's Northeast Offshore Report, tuna action has been strong from Maryland north into New England, a signal worth watching for Virginia's canyon grounds.
Red drum keep firing on Pamlico Sound flats as summer surf mix rolls in
Red drum of all sizes are stacking up on flats and structure along the main Pamlico and Neuse River shorelines, per Custom Marine Fabrication, with some genuinely big drum mixed in. Down toward Cape Lookout's doorstep at Swansboro/Emerald Isle, The Reel Outdoors reports red drum holding steady in the sounds while surf anglers pick through bluefish, spots, sea mullet, and pompano. Topsail/Sneads Ferry is seeing its own drum push, with East Coast Sports calling out an early-morning topwater bite as the highlight before the action slides to bottom baits later in the day. Farther up the coast, Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle and Island Tackle and Hardware describe a mixed surf bag of whiting, croaker, pompano, and bluefish despite some dirty water and seaweed. Sport Fishing Mag also notes North Carolina's summer tarpon run, stretching from Southport to Kitty Hawk and through Pamlico Sound, continuing to build. No live buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, so lean on local reports for water clarity.
Alaska's summer salmon push continues as marine heatwave concerns simmer
Kodiak Island hosted the 34th Lowell Wakefield Fisheries Symposium this month, drawing scientists, stakeholders, and policymakers to dig into marine heatwaves in Alaska's high-latitude waters, per AK Sea Grant — a notable backdrop as the Gulf of Alaska moves through peak summer salmon season. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for this region in this cycle, and no fresh charter, shop, or state-agency bite reports landed either, so this update leans on seasonal norms rather than confirmed intel: July typically has king and silver salmon runs pushing through nearshore feeding grounds alongside halibut and rockfish holding on deeper structure. AK Sea Grant also flagged that invasive European green crabs continue their advance in Southeast Alaska, worth a glance if you're working bait or nearshore structure down that way. Check current state regs before harvesting anything, and expect sharper specifics once buoy readings and angler-intel feeds refresh for this region.
Snook and Trout Turn On as Gulf Coast Summer Pattern Locks In
Coastal Angler Magazine reports snook and speckled trout stacking up in the passes and along the beaches as Florida's summer heat sets in, calling July one of the best windows of the year for both species. Salt Strong is seeing the same trout pattern from the Homosassa area, pointing anglers toward specific summer holding spots that reload rather than open-water searching, and working Smart Fishing Spots logic to dial in redfish and snook too. Down in Naples, Naples Offshore Fishing Charters' most recent seasonal dispatches had tarpon and permit still firing from the spring migration, mornings on rolling tarpon and afternoons sight-casting permit, with kingfish, cobia, and amberjack mixed in offshore. That combination typically carries into early summer before dispersing. Expect snook and trout to be the headline inshore bite this week, with lingering tarpon a bonus for anglers still finding fish before the full summer pattern locks in.
Hawaii pelagic bite presumed steady through peak summer window
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for Hawaiian waters this cycle, and this week's angler-intel feeds carried no on-the-water reports specific to Hawaii — the HI Sea Grant posts in today's feed cover Knauss fellowships and Pacific climate-adaptation fieldwork rather than current bite conditions. That leaves general seasonal knowledge as the guide: early July is peak pelagic season across the islands, with mahimahi, yellowfin tuna (ahi), and wahoo (ono) typically holding around FADs and current edges in warm, blue offshore water, while blue marlin activity usually builds through summer. Hawaii Fishing News remains the standard resource for this month's moon and tide calendar and for tracking state-record catches if you want a benchmark. With a waning crescent moon this week, expect quieter, darker predawn hours that can favor an early trolling start. Confirm local forecasts and current bag and size regulations before heading out, since none of today's specifics are confirmed by fresh reports.
Snook Rebound at St. Lucie Inlet as Red Snapper Season Stalls
Snook fishing at the St. Lucie Inlet has turned a corner. Snook Nook in Stuart reports this summer's slow start, caused by ongoing dredging in the inlet, has eased now that the dredging project has paused, with anglers marking large schools on side-scan gear around the detached jetty and Hole in the Wall. Live bait, croakers and pilchards, remains the key to bites. Florida's Atlantic snook season stays closed to harvest through August, so it's catch-and-release only right now. Coastal Angler Magazine notes speckled trout are stacking up in the passes and along the beaches as summer heat settles in, a typical July pattern. Red snapper anglers face fresh uncertainty: CCA Florida reports a federal court issued a preliminary injunction blocking the South Atlantic red snapper pilot programs just hours before Florida's Atlantic season was set to open, so access there is unsettled. No live buoy or gauge readings are available for this update.
Bull Reds Keep Working the Louisiana Delta's Popping-Cork Bite
Per Sport Fishing Mag, Capt. Mike Frenette of The Redfish Lodge of Louisiana in Venice reports bull redfish remain a go-to target in the Louisiana Delta, with popping-cork rigs still the most reliable way to work oversized reds around the passes and current breaks. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for the Gulf Coast & Delta this cycle, so anglers should lean on typical mid-July patterns rather than fresh numbers: speckled trout holding on grass edges and drains, flounder stacking near current breaks, and black drum showing up incidentally in the same skinny water as redfish. Louisiana Sportsman flagged new freshwater black bass and crappie regulations taking effect Aug. 1 in the Atchafalaya Basin, a reminder that state rules are shifting this summer, though it doesn't touch saltwater Delta limits. This week's waning crescent moon means smaller tidal swings and generally calmer conditions for sight-casting.
Bass and walleye heat up at CT reservoirs as summer trout bite fades
At Saugatuck Reservoir, largemouth and smallmouth bass along with walleye are producing well in the morning and evening hours, according to Fisherman's World in Norwalk, while trout action there has cooled compared to earlier in the season. Statewide, freshwater fishing has settled into full summertime mode: Fishin' Factory 3 in Middletown reports trout have gone quiet even at typically reliable stretches of the Salmon River, the Connecticut River's spring shad run has wrapped up, and river anglers are now turning attention to channel catfish and bowfin. Warm-water bass in ponds and lakes are keying on classic summer presentations — fake frogs, Whopper Ploppers, and Senkos working best early and late in the day, per Fishin' Factory 3. Fisherman's World also notes night crawlers and shiners have been popular bait choices recently. With no fresh gauge or buoy readings available for this region today, anglers should confirm current water levels and clarity locally before heading out.
Walleye and sauger settle into summer weed-line patterns
Fresh buoy and gauge readings didn't come through for Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River this cycle, so this update leans on regional seasonal patterns rather than a specific on-the-water report. Writing for Fishing the Midwest, Bob Jensen notes the 2026 open-water season is in full swing across the upper Midwest and reminds anglers that versatility, working weedlines and being willing to switch presentations, is what separates consistent catches from slow days right now. That tracks with what's typical here in mid-July: walleye and sauger sliding onto emerging weed edges and rocky current breaks as water warms, muskie activity building toward its summer peak, and smallmouth holding tight to rock structure. Mike Frisch, also in Fishing the Midwest, adds that many anglers are now leaning on forward-facing sonar to locate fish before committing a cast, a trend worth factoring in even if you're fishing more traditionally. Check current MN DNR regulations before harvesting a walleye or sauger limit.
Green River tailwater settles into peak summer trout rhythm
No fresh NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings came through for this cycle, and this week's angler-intel feeds were dominated by national gear news and Midwest bass content rather than direct dispatches from the Green River or Uinta high lakes, so we're leaning on typical early-July patterns for this fishery rather than fresh on-the-water chatter. That said, mid-July is prime time on the tailwater below Flaming Gorge Dam, where stable, cold dam-release flows typically hold rainbows and browns in feeding lanes through the morning and evening hours. Up in the Uintas, high-elevation lakes are usually in full open-water swing by now, with cutthroat and brook trout active in the shallows early and late. We'd treat any specific bite reports with caution until a shop or agency source confirms current conditions on these waters.
Lake of the Ozarks anglers lean on deep-summer patterns as Missouri catfish put on a show
A Hazelwood, Missouri catfisherman hauled two blue cats totaling 178 pounds out of a 25-foot Missouri River back-eddy hole just before dusk on July 1, per Wired 2 Fish — proof the state's catfish are feeding hard as summer heat sets in, even though that fish came off the Missouri River rather than the Lake of the Ozarks/Osage River system itself. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Lake of the Ozarks this cycle, so treat water temp and flow as unconfirmed and check a local source before you launch. Seasonally, mid-July on the Lake of the Ozarks and Osage typically means bass sliding onto main-lake structure and deeper cover as surface temps climb, while catfish stay aggressive in low light. Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen and Mike Frisch note anglers working moving baits over emerging weed growth are still connecting, and that versatility — not one go-to bait — is what separates a good July trip from a slow one.
Deep-structure bass bite firms up across East Texas reservoirs
No fresh buoy or gauge data came back for Toledo Bend or Sam Rayburn this cycle, so this report leans on regional East Texas bass intel to frame what anglers should expect. Lake Fork Trophy Bass, reporting from a neighboring East Texas fishery, says lake levels are running about two feet low with good-to-fair clarity and that the mid-summer heat hasn't slowed things down -- some of the season's biggest bass are coming now as fish settle into deep summer patterns. That same structural shift applies broadly: Texas Fish & Game Magazine notes offshore brush piles concentrate baitfish and predators once summer heat pushes fish off the bank, with forward-facing/Mega 360 imaging making those piles easier to pinpoint. Expect Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn largemouth to be relating to similar deep cover, ledges, and brush this week, with crappie and white bass stacking in the same depth zones. Fish the early and late windows; midday heat typically shuts down the shallow bite this time of year.
South Platte tailwaters fish low and clear as trico season peaks
Colorado's tailwaters are heading into peak trico season on low, clear water. Gink and Gasoline recalls the South Platte's trico spinner falls as some of the densest bug activity in the state, with tricos so thick on the surface anglers can scoop dozens in a single pass, a pattern that repeats each summer on this stretch. That fishability comes against a backdrop of what Pat Dorsey Fly Fishing calls one of Colorado's worst droughts on record, with snowpack readings at historic lows heading into 2026. Cutthroat Anglers frames the low water as opportunity rather than crisis: fish are grouped up and still eager, rewarding anglers willing to hike farther and downsize tippet. Expect technical, low-and-clear tactics on South Platte and Arkansas tailwaters: small nymphs, careful wading, and morning windows before pressure builds.
Canyon Ferry walleye harvest holds as MT trout rivers face drought watch
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is asking Canyon Ferry Reservoir anglers to keep more of the smaller walleye they land this summer, aiming to ease competition for food so the reservoir's bigger fish keep growing — a fishery that's matured steadily since the first walleye there was documented in 1989 (per MT FWP Fishing News). On the trout side, FWP and USGS just rolled out TroutCast, a new drought-forecasting tool for Montana's blue-ribbon rivers, signaling agencies are watching water and heat trends closely on the systems that feed the Yellowstone and Missouri corridors this season. We're not seeing direct on-the-water bite reports for this specific stretch in today's feed, so treat species notes below as seasonal expectations rather than confirmed hot bites. Expect typical mid-summer patterns: trout keying on low-light windows, walleye holding deeper as reservoirs warm. Check regional regs before harvesting, especially around any bull trout encounters — they remain a protected, catch-and-release species throughout most of their Montana range.
Delta anglers lean on summer basics as fresh reports stay quiet
No Sacramento-Delta-specific catch reports surfaced in this week's watch, and neither NOAA buoys nor USGS gauges are returning readings for the region right now, so this update leans on typical mid-July patterns rather than confirmed bites. NorCal Fish Reports tracks the Delta as one of its regular beats, but no dedicated bulletin was available this cycle. In general, high summer heat pushes striped bass and largemouth bass toward deeper water, points, and shaded tule lines during peak daylight, with the better action showing up in early morning and evening windows. Sturgeon and catfish tend to hold steadier through the heat, working bottom structure in the deeper channels and holes that keep cooler water longer. Check current CDFW regulations before targeting sturgeon, since size and slot limits apply and change by water. We'll keep watching for fresh on-the-water Delta intel and update this report as soon as sources check in.
Summer heat pushes Roosevelt Lake bass into low-light windows
No live buoy or gauge readings came back for Roosevelt Lake and the Salt River chain this cycle, so this update leans on seasonal expectations and general technique intel rather than a confirmed on-the-water bite. Early July in the desert Southwest typically pushes surface temps well into the 80s, which usually shoves largemouth and smallmouth bass onto deeper structure or into a tight dawn-and-dusk window. Catfish tend to do the opposite in summer heat; Wired 2 Fish's recent account of a two-fish, 178-pound catch pulled from a deep, near-dark hole is a good reminder that whiskerfish reward patience after sundown. Fishing the Midwest's advice on working weedlines and keeping treble hooks freshly sharpened applies directly to bass still holding in the lake's remaining green cover. Treat the above as general seasonal guidance rather than a confirmed local report until fresher intel comes in.
Summer heat pushes AZ bass and catfish bite into low-light hours
Neither the Salt nor the Colorado logged a fresh buoy or gauge reading this cycle, so this update leans on established early-July patterns for the region rather than a single spot check. Arizona's reservoir-fed stretches are typically running warm by now, pushing largemouth and smallmouth bass into pre-dawn and dusk feeding windows before the midday heat shuts the bite down. Crankbaits worked through moderate depths remain a reliable summer search bait for bass, per Field & Stream's rundown of the category, while Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen notes that working weedlines and transition edges pays off once fish slide shallow to feed early or late in the day. Catfish typically stay steadier through summer heat than bass on both rivers. No Arizona-specific 'what's biting' reports came through the intel feed this week, so treat the species status below as seasonal defaults rather than confirmed bites, and check current flows before launching.
Missouri River and Black Hills settle into typical midsummer patterns
No buoy or gauge telemetry came through for the Missouri River or Black Hills waters this cycle, and today's angler-intel sweep turned up no South Dakota-specific reports either, so this outlook leans on general seasonal knowledge rather than fresh local testimony. Walleye on the Missouri River system typically settle onto deeper structure once surface temps climb through July, and smallmouth bass in Black Hills streams and reservoirs usually stay willing on moving baits during the long summer days. Channel and blue catfish action on the river tends to hold up well into midsummer heat, a pattern echoed nationally this week by Wired 2 Fish, which featured an angler boating a two-catfish, 178-pound haul on the Missouri River farther downstream in Missouri. That report isn't local confirmation for SD water, but it's a reminder catfish are actively feeding on this river system right now. Treat the species notes below as seasonal defaults and check a local shop before making the drive.
Columbia River holds in its typical summer Chinook window
Mid-July on the Columbia River typically sits in the heart of the summer Chinook run, with fish still pushing upstream through the lower and mid-river reaches while anglers work troll gear and bank presentations as flows and water temperature shift through the season. This cycle's environmental feed came back empty for buoy and gauge readings on this stretch, and none of the angler-intel sources we track this week filed a direct Columbia River salmon or sturgeon report, so we're leaning on general seasonal knowledge rather than fresh on-the-water testimony. That's worth being upfront about: treat today's outlook as a seasonal baseline, not a live bite report. Sturgeon fisheries on the system typically see steady summer interest from bank and boat anglers working deep holes and current seams with bait, though retention windows vary and should always be checked against current regulations before planning a keeper trip.
Truckee River dials in for prime summer dry-fly action
Wet wading season is in full swing on the Truckee River, with Reno Fly Shop reporting good flows and prime water temps on both the CA and NV sides, plus solid dry fly action most afternoons. In reports from earlier this season, the shop described the river hitting "prime condition" as Pale Morning Duns, Green Drakes, Yellow Sallies, Golden Stones, and caddis all came off, and pointed anglers toward crayfish patterns as trout keyed in on them heading into summer. More recently, Reno Fly Shop noted high air temps starting to break with afternoon thunderstorms and steered anglers toward early mornings and late-day windows to dodge the heat, tubers, and the midday "tube hatch" crowds, with caddis, stonefly, and evening hatches drawing dry-fly eats into dusk. Flylords Mag also flagged fresh Lahontan cutthroat stockings into Lake Tahoe, part of the historic range tying Tahoe to the Truckee and Pyramid Lake.
Weed Lines Heat Up as Open-Water Season Hits Full Swing
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for the Boundary Waters & Iron Range this cycle, so this update leans on angler intel. Per Fishing the Midwest, columnist Bob Jensen reports the 2026 open-water season is now in full swing across the upper Midwest, and the versatile anglers doing best are working weed lines rather than sticking to one pattern. Also via Fishing the Midwest, Mike Frisch described a fishing partner who missed a couple of bass casting moving baits over emerging weed tops, touched up his treble hooks mid-outing, and then boated a largemouth pushing nearly 5 pounds on the next bite. That mirrors the seasonal norm for this region in mid-July: warm, stable water pushing fish shallow onto weed edges and structure through the morning and evening bite windows. We're not seeing region-specific chatter from forums beyond general Midwest activity, so treat species notes below as typical-for-season until a harder local report comes in.
Summer Terrestrial Bite Set to Dial In on Wyoming Trout Water
No buoy or gauge telemetry came in for the Wind River or North Platte this cycle, so this week's read leans on seasonal pattern rather than a fresh regional dispatch — no shop, guide, or agency source filed a direct Wyoming report. What we do have: Trout Unlimited's summer TROUT Tip series flags pink terrestrials as a go-to now that "summer is in full swing," with hoppers, ants, and beetles crawling banks and dropping into the current — a pattern that lines up with what Wind River and North Platte trout typically key on through July. Expect rainbows, browns, and native cutthroat to keep feeding on terrestrials and attractor dries through the warm midday hours, with low-light windows staying most productive as water warms. Treat species status below as seasonal expectation until a direct regional report lands.
Mille Lacs walleye anglers dial in weedlines as summer season peaks
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for Mille Lacs this cycle, so this update leans on the week's on-the-water intel instead. With Minnesota's open-water season now in full swing, Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen is steering anglers toward weedline work as the technique to add to the rotation right now, arguing that versatility beats a one-trick approach this time of year, and walleye sit squarely in that mix as fish relate to transitioning weed edges. Elsewhere in the same outlet, Mike Frisch notes more boats on Midwest lakes are leaning on forward-facing sonar to pinpoint fish before the first cast, a trend worth knowing even for traditional anglers. No source in our feeds filed a Mille Lacs-specific bite report this cycle, so treat the species notes below as typical for early July on this fishery rather than confirmed local intel, and check current MN regs before harvesting anything.