Fishing reports
19070 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Maine stripers push north as summer mackerel keep bass pinned to structure
Maine's striper season is hitting its stride: anglers up the coast reported a strong push of larger fish this week, per Dave Anderson's South Shore Massachusetts to Maine column for The Fisherman. That push follows the bite shifting north out of Massachusetts, with Cohasset, the Nantasket area, and Boston Harbor holding the most consistent action as fish work their way toward the Gulf of Maine. Mackerel remain thick along the corridor per Beauport Fishing Adventures, and that bait is keeping stripers and bluefish tight to structure. Flounder action has stayed reliable around Gloucester and Rockport, while haddock have been inconsistent as those fish wind down from their spawning period, with Tilly's Basin still producing. No direct Gulf of Maine buoy or gauge readings came through this cycle, so treat water temps as seasonal-typical for early July until fresher data lands.
Mutton and yellowtail snapper bite stays red-hot in the Keys
Mutton snapper are chewing "like crazy" around the recent full-moon spawn, and yellowtail snapper are "practically jumping in the boat," according to ALL IN Key West, which says the May-June bite has been as good as any it has seen in 16 years fishing out of Key West, with July availability just opening up. The same operation is also putting clients on grouper, cobia, barracuda and kingfish on Gulf-side trips, and reports sailfish activity starting earlier than usual this year on live bait in strong Gulfstream current. On the regulatory side, CCA Florida flags that a federal court has issued a preliminary injunction blocking the 2026 South Atlantic red snapper Exempted Fishing Permit pilot program for Florida and neighboring states, landing just hours before Florida's Atlantic red snapper season was due to open — worth checking before targeting that species. We don't have live buoy or gauge readings for the Keys right now, so confirm exact water temps and tide timing locally before running offshore.
Stripers Hold Strong in Buzzards Bay as Bonito Show Early Off the Cape
Striped bass remain the headline in the Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound corridor this week. Capt. Carl of Westport River Outfitters is finding slot and over-slot stripers on almost every trip, per The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands, while Little Sister Charters out of Westport is on breaking stripers with occasional bluefish and bonito mixed into the feed. Black sea bass are cooperating around Westport Harbor, and tautog are biting on jigs, tubes, and even a live eel. Red Top Sporting Goods reports the Cape Cod Canal bite has slowed with the wind, though shop staff are still picking off stripers to the high 30-inch class on white pencils and canal jigs; bluefish are thin in the Canal itself but showing off Wareham and West Falmouth. Fluke remain unproven locally as boats eye offshore grounds.
Fluke Bite Takes Over the Jersey Shore as Summer Patterns Lock In
Southern New Jersey's back bays are thick with summer flounder — Waterfront Marine says "everyone is flounder fishing," with keeper numbers climbing at spots like the Ocean City Reef Site, where Fin-Atics logged an 8-pound fish, and Boulevard Bait & Tackle weighed a 7-pound, 8-ounce back-bay flattie. Central Jersey mirrors the trend: Creekside Outfitters reports an 8.5-pound keeper striper mixed in with fluke on live spot, while Barnegat Light produces steady action once water temps stabilized after a cool spell, per Miss Barnegat Light. Striped bass are thinning out in the surf — Hook House in Toms River says most anglers around Island Beach State Park are pivoting to fluke as errant stripers fade. Offshore, bluefin tuna remain the story, with Fin-Atics and Hands Too Bait and Tackle both logging fish to 40-60 pounds at the inshore lumps and canyons. Sea bass, meanwhile, closed out one of its poorer seasons per Northern Jersey boat captains.
Summer bass tactics take hold across Hill Country lakes as flows steady
USGS gauge 08158000 in the Hill Country logged 520 cfs early this morning, a steady flow that signals stable water conditions heading into peak summer heat on Travis, LBJ, and Buchanan. Water temperature wasn't reported at the gauge, but with July settling in, expect the Highland Lakes to be running solidly into the upper-70s to low-80s typical for this stretch of summer. Direct on-the-water reports from Travis/LBJ/Buchanan were thin this week, but regional technique intel points to classic summer patterns: Tactical Bassin (blog) is pushing jigs and Neko-rigged worms for bass buried in heavy cover, while Texas Fish & Game Magazine notes forward-facing/360 imaging is paying off on offshore brush piles holding bass and crappie. Wired 2 Fish highlights creature baits like the Pro Hog for flipping thick summer cover. Early mornings and low-light windows remain the play as surface temps climb; stripers and white bass should stay most catchable at first light before the sun pushes fish deep.
High water pushes Pearl River bass and cats to the banks
The Pearl River gauge at USGS site 07289000 logged flow near 906,000 cfs this morning, an exceptionally high reading that signals a major high-water event across the Mississippi and Pearl River system. With the mainstem running that hard, expect stained, fast current and debris; fish are pushing out of the main channel into flooded timber, laydowns, and backwater eddies where the current breaks. Largemouth bass fishing stays a good bet in that skinny, brushy water this time of year — Tactical Bassin's summer jig and Neko-rig breakdowns this week both lean on slow, junk-and-cover presentations for hot-weather bass, a pattern that fits high, warm river water well. Crappie and bluegill/sunfish should hold tight to the same slack-water cover; Field & Stream's crappie and bluegill primers both point anglers toward wood, weed edges, and slower presentations rather than open current. Catfish typically turn on when rivers run high and murky, feeding on forage washed in along the margins. No water-temp reading came through this cycle, so check a thermometer before committing to a summer pattern.
Georgia coast anglers lean on seasonal patterns as direct bite reports stay thin
Georgia Wildlife Blog's June 26 fishing report pointed anglers toward the state's Angler Resources page for forecasts and stocking updates rather than specific coastal bite details, and this week's broader angler-intel sweep turned up little dedicated Georgia Atlantic Coast saltwater testimony beyond that. With no fresh buoy or gauge readings available for the coast either, we're leaning on seasonal knowledge: early July typically keeps redfish and spotted seatrout active around grass flats and marsh edges on Georgia's barrier-island coastline, especially during low-light hours before summer heat pushes fish to shade and deeper cuts. Regionally, Anglers Journal notes Florida is pushing for expanded state management of South Atlantic red snapper season structure, a reminder that federal water regulations are worth checking before any offshore trip. Salt Strong's general summer trout guidance (aimed broadly at Southeast anglers) suggests targeting reload spots rather than just covering more water, a pattern that should hold for Georgia's sounds and tidal creeks too.
Catfish Thrive as Red and Missouri Rivers Push Into Peak Summer Heat
USGS gauge 05054000 read 80°F with flow holding near 715 cfs early Thursday, conditions that put both the Red and Missouri squarely into peak summer mode. Warm water like this is prime time for channel catfish, which feed aggressively through the heat and often bite best after dark. Walleye and sauger typically slide off to deeper current breaks and structure as surface temps climb, favoring dawn and dusk windows over midday. Smallmouth bass should still be catchable shallow, and Tactical Bassin's July roundup of top baits and jig-fishing tips for hot-weather conditions applies well here, targeting shade, current seams, and structure. Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen also reminds anglers this time of year to work weed lines and vary presentations rather than staying locked into one pattern. No brand-specific ND reports came in this week, so treat species calls as seasonal expectations rather than confirmed bites.
Puget Sound salmon season builds as summer Pacific action heats up
Washington's summer fishery is building as WDFW's statewide creel and catch survey continues monitoring angler success at access sites across Puget Sound and the Pacific coast, per WA WDFW Fishing Reports. No fresh buoy or gauge data came through this cycle, so expect conditions typical for early July: warming surface water, active baitfish, and settled summer weather patterns for the region. Washington Sea Grant's Crab Team wrapped its third annual Salish Sea-wide Molt Blitz on June 26, confirming Dungeness crab are actively shedding shells right now across the Salish Sea, a signal that harvested crab may run soft-shelled and lighter until they harden back up. The same Crab Team also logged the first European green crab detection on Orcas Island in May, an invasive species anglers and crabbers should watch for and report. Chinook, coho, and halibut remain the marquee summer targets typically running strong through Puget Sound and the open Pacific this time of year.
Redfish and trout hold the marsh flats as Charleston settles into summer
No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge came through for Charleston Harbor this cycle, and this week's angler intel skewed toward the wider Carolina coast rather than Charleston specifically. Fisherman's Post reports surf anglers at Carolina Beach and Southport/Oak Island, North Carolina digging into a mixed bag of whiting, croaker, pompano, bluefish and sharks, with live bait working the inshore bite there. Sport Fishing Mag notes the summertime tarpon push into North Carolina's Cape Fear River and Pamlico Sound waters is building earlier each year. Neither of those is a confirmed Charleston Harbor report, but the pattern tracks with what the harbor typically holds by early July: redfish and spotted seatrout working marsh edges and grass flats on the tide changes, flounder ambushing current breaks, and an early trickle of tarpon showing along the coast. Treat species notes below as seasonal expectation, not a confirmed local bite, until direct Charleston reports come in.
Summer weedline bite dials in for Western NY bass and walleye
Western NY water is running summer-warm this week — our regional USGS gauge (04231600) read 74°F with flow pushing a strong 2,590 cfs, the kind of stage that pushes fish tight to cover and shade. That warmth lines up with the pattern Tactical Bassin flagged in its Top 5 Baits for July roundup: bass metabolisms are running hot and fish are feeding aggressively on moving baits and jigs worked through heavy cover, especially early and late in the day. Fishing the Midwest's Bob Jensen is preaching weedline versatility right now, a pattern that also tends to stack walleye behind emerging vegetation as summer sets in. New York's bass fishery is drawing statewide attention too — per Outdoor Hub, the DEC's first Black Bass Tournament Report logged more than 51,000 largemouth and smallmouth caught in sanctioned events this season, a sign of strong numbers across the state's waters. Expect smallmouth and largemouth to hold tight to structure and weed edges through the heat this week.
Delaware River Smallmouth Bite Building as Flows Run Lean
USGS gauge 01408000 is reading a lean 32.8 cfs this morning, consistent with what Old School Outdoors in Ewing describes as a river still running below normal even after late-June rains. The good news: smallmouth fishing is good there now and should get better in July, per the shop, with catfishing also holding up well in the river. Crappie action has cooled off as the bite shifts into a more typical summer pattern. JB Kasper notes June's 90-degree days and inconsistent weather made for tricky reading, but expects more stable Dog Days conditions to settle in through July, which should tighten up topwater windows early and late in the day. At Dow's Boat Rentals, largemouth are keying on shadow lines during the coolest parts of the day as open season draws more traffic to local lakes and ponds, with vegetation left standing after recent cutting holding fish close to structure.
Georgia summer bass keys weed lines as river flows run strong
Georgia's Chattahoochee and Savannah systems are carrying a strong push of water this week, with the region's USGS gauge (02197000) logging 4,080 cfs as of early this morning — notably heavy for early July and a sign fish are likely holding tight to cover rather than roaming open channels. No water-temperature reading came through with this cycle's gauge data, but summer heat has bass and panfish keying on shade and structure regardless. National technique outlets are leaning into the classic midsummer playbook right now: Tactical Bassin's July roundup points anglers toward jigs and weed-line edges, while Fishing the Midwest's "Work the Weedline" column stresses versatility as the open-water season peaks. Field & Stream's seasonal bluegill guide backs the same pattern, pointing anglers to weed lines over mud bottoms for panfish. Georgia Wildlife's fishing-report blog didn't carry stretch-specific bite intel this cycle, so treat today's picture as seasonal-pattern-driven rather than confirmed on-the-water reports from the rivers themselves.
Hartwell and Russell bass dial into summer jig and neko patterns
The Savannah chain's flow held steady at 351 cfs on the latest USGS gauge reading this morning, a typical mid-summer pace for Hartwell and Russell releases. Water temp wasn't reported at this gauge, but by early July the lakes are solidly into their summer pattern. Per Tactical Bassin's current bass-fishing coverage, jig and neko rig presentations around shallow cover are producing this time of year, alongside shallow-water power-fishing tricks when conditions align, and the outlet's July bait roundup points to a handful of go-to search baits for the hottest month. Field & Stream's bluegill guide notes fish are holding tight to weed lines over mud bottoms, a pattern that should carry over onto Hartwell and Russell's grass edges. We didn't see lake-specific reports in today's feeds, so treat species status below as seasonal-typical rather than confirmed fresh intel, and check Georgia Wildlife's angler resources page for updated forecasts before you launch.
Connecticut River corridor settles into summer topwater bass bite
Freshwater fishing along the Connecticut River corridor has shifted into full summertime mode, per Fishin' Factory 3 in Middletown (via The Fisherman — New England Freshwater): the spring shad run has wrapped up, trout have gone quiet in the warm water, and river anglers are now turning to channel catfish and bowfin instead. Bass in ponds and connected lake water have followed the same seasonal pattern, with fake frogs, Whopper Ploppers, Senkos, and shiners producing best in the low-light hours of morning and evening. Fisherman's World in Norwalk reports a similar trend on nearby reservoir water, with largemouth, smallmouth, and walleye biting well at dawn and dusk while the trout bite stays slower on night crawlers and shiners. Locally, our flow reading on the watershed sits low at 12.5 cfs — typical mid-July low-water stage — which should be pushing fish toward deeper structure and shaded banks through the heat of the day.
Ohio reservoir bass push onto summer weed lines as heat builds
A regional USGS gauge (03110000) logged a modest 44.6 cfs this morning, a steady reading with no dramatic runoff or drought signal behind it, though water temp wasn't reported at this site so anglers should check surface temps on arrival at Mosquito or Pymatuning. With no direct captain or shop reports filed for these lakes this cycle, the read comes from seasonal technique intel: Fishing the Midwest's latest column urges anglers to work the weedline as open-water season hits full swing, versatility with moving baits over emerging vegetation is paying off for Midwest anglers right now. Tactical Bassin's July roundup backs that up, noting bass metabolisms run hot this month and aggressive feeding windows favor moving baits fished shallow early and deep structure once the sun climbs. Field & Stream's bluegill primer points anglers toward weed-line edges over mud bottoms for panfish. Expect largemouth and panfish activity to track vegetation and low light, with walleye sliding deeper as afternoon heat sets in.
Moosehead's deepwater shift arrives as togue and salmon dig for cooler water
Flow at USGS gauge 01030500 in the upper Penobscot drainage held near 501 cfs as of Wednesday morning, a moderate summer stage that keeps wading and canoe access workable along the Moosehead tributary stretches. No direct Moosehead-area catch reports came through this cycle, but regional New England freshwater intel from The Fisherman — New England Freshwater points to a textbook early-July pattern taking hold across the Northeast: bass shifting into warm-water mode on topwater frogs, Whopper Ploppers, and Senkos worked early and late, while river trout action goes quiet as water warms. Applied to Moosehead and the upper Penobscot, that typically means lake trout (togue) and landlocked salmon sliding toward the thermocline for deep jigging or lead-core trolling, smallmouth turning on in the shallows at dawn and dusk, and brook trout retreating to spring-fed inlets. Check current Maine regulations before harvesting.
Kenai River sockeye push holds as high glacial flows persist
USGS gauge 15266300 on the Kenai River logged 10,800 cfs and 53°F water temperature in early Wednesday readings, numbers consistent with a glacially-fed system running through peak summer melt. No fresh charter, shop, or forum reports specific to the Kenai and interior river systems came through this cycle, so species status below leans on general seasonal knowledge rather than a confirmed hot bite. Early-to-mid July typically lines up with the second sockeye run pushing into the Kenai drainage, while king salmon fishing usually starts tapering as that run winds down for the season. Rainbow trout tend to settle in behind salmon schools working on drifting eggs and flesh through this stretch, and interior grayling fisheries generally slow down when flows run this high and cold. High, turbid water like this typically limits sight-fishing, so scent and bait presentations are the safer bet until levels start to recede. Check current state regulations before harvesting any salmon this week.
New Fish Habitat Gives Lake Eufaula Bass an Edge This Summer
Lake Eufaula anglers now have fresh structure to work after Major League Fishing's Fisheries Management Division, partnering with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and Kubota Tractor Corporation, anchored a network of MossBack Fish Habitat units and a new Tournament Recovery Zone late last month, per MLF News — the build survived severe summer thunderstorms during deployment. USGS gauge 07331600 shows flow holding at a modest 102 cfs, consistent with typical low summer baseflow feeding the Texoma and Eufaula systems; no fresh water-temp reading came through this cycle, so plan around the usual mid-90s surface highs for early July in Oklahoma. With the heat locked in, Tactical Bassin's current summer coverage points toward shallow power-fishing in low light and jig presentations tight to cover once the sun climbs. Largemouth should be holding on shade and the newly placed brush; Texoma's signature striper schools typically push deep and roam open water through the hottest midday hours this time of year.
Bitterroot and Flathead trout lean on terrestrials as flows stay strong
A pre-dawn read from USGS gauge 12372000 puts the system at roughly 14,300 cfs with water holding at 67°F, still workable for trout but nudging toward the point where afternoon feeding slows. No charter or shop dispatch came in specifically from the Flathead/Bitterroot corridor this cycle, so this update leans on the gauge plus what comparable western trout water is doing right now. Trout Unlimited's current TROUT Tip is pushing pink terrestrials as grasshoppers and other bank bugs become primary trout food in the summer heat, a pattern that applies directly to these rivers. Elsewhere, Reno Fly Shop (NV) and Caddis Fly (OR) both report Green Drake, Yellow Sally, and caddis activity on comparable western rivers, a hatch sequence the Bitterroot typically tracks closely in July. Expect rainbows, cutthroat, and browns to bite hardest in low light, with whitefish staying steadier through the heat of the day.
Summer bass patterns take hold on the Potomac as flows hold steady
USGS gauge 01646500 on the Potomac logged a flow of 3,010 cfs early this morning, a solid mid-summer stage that keeps most of the river's shoals and ledges fishable without blowing out wading access. Water temperature wasn't captured at this gauge today, but early July on the Potomac and Shenandoah typically means classic warm-water bass mode. Tactical Bassin's July bait roundup points anglers toward jigs and topwater worked in low light for river smallmouth, a pattern that lines up well with the kind of rocky structure both rivers offer. Bluegill should stay active around weed edges over mud bottoms, per Field & Stream's seasonal breakdown, and crappie can still be picked off suspended near cover using the same slow presentations Field & Stream outlines. Stocked trout water is the slower story into midsummer heat, and Virginia DWR's draft Stocked Trout Management Plan is worth watching if you fish put-and-take stretches. No shop or charter reports specific to this stretch came in today, so treat today's bite call as seasonal expectation rather than a confirmed report.
Kennebec and Penobscot bass settle into steady summer patterns
USGS gauge 01046500 on the Kennebec system posted 2,100 cfs as of 7:15 a.m. this morning, a solid mid-summer flow stage with no water-temperature reading logged. This week's report feeds turned up no direct catch intel from Kennebec or Penobscot waters specifically, so we're leaning on general seasonal knowledge for central Maine: early July typically has smallmouth bass and chain pickerel keying on warm, shallow structure with the best feeding windows at dawn and dusk, while landlocked salmon and brook trout push toward cooler, more oxygenated deeper stretches or feeder-stream mouths as surface temps climb through the month. Regionally, per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, freshwater fishing across the broader Northeast has settled into typical warm-weather mode, with topwater frogs, Whopper Ploppers, Senkos, and live shiners producing best during low-light hours — a pattern that generally carries over to Maine's rivers and lakes as well. Check current Maine IFW regulations before harvesting, and expect steady, pattern-based action rather than a blow-up bite given where the season sits.
Taneycomo trout rebound as generation eases into July
Trout fishing on Lake Taneycomo has turned a corner heading into July, according to Lilleys Landing's July 4 report: after a stretch of heavy hydroelectric generation driven by a wet June, trout fishing has improved over the last couple of weeks even though flows still run heavy through afternoons and evenings. The shop expects more no-generation windows this month, especially in the mornings, which should reopen bank and dock access that June's heavy flows shut down. That's a reversal from the outlook Lilleys Landing gave on May 1, when a near-rainless stretch had them calling for a light-generation, easy-fishing summer with no flood-control releases. June's rain rewrote that script into fickle, mini-front-driven conditions the shop said made trout fishing good one day and off the next. USGS gauge 07054410 has no live flow or temperature reading for this update, so plan around the generation schedule rather than a specific number.
High Iowa River flows push catfish bite as bass fishing waits on a drop
The Iowa River was running high at 25,600 cfs at USGS gauge 05465500 as of early Wednesday morning, with no water-temperature reading available at that site. Flows in that range keep the river stained and current strong through much of the Iowa & Des Moines system, a setup that typically favors catfish keying on drifting bait along current breaks over clear-water sight bites for bass and walleye. Per Fishing the Midwest, staying versatile and working weedlines and current edges remains the standard summer approach for anglers chasing bass and panfish right now, particularly in backwater and tributary stretches away from the main flow. We're not seeing direct Iowa River catch reports in today's feeds, so species status below leans on seasonal norms and general technique guidance rather than fresh on-the-water testimony. Anglers should treat the high flow as the dominant factor this week and plan around current breaks, eddies, and any structure that breaks the main push of water.