Fishing reports
19206 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Full Moon Opens Prime Striper Window Across Cape Cod Bay
Striped bass fishing across southern New England has been "fantastic" through late June, per Saltwater Edge Blog (RI), with squid action adding to the mix in regional waters. Today's Full Moon marks the strongest tidal pull of the month — a prime timing window for Cape Cod Bay's current edges and rip lines where bass concentrate to feed. Saltwater Edge's June Full Moon forecast warns that as water temperatures rise toward midsummer, stripers are beginning their transition to deeper, cooler oceanfront water, making the next few days a key window to work the shallows before fish disperse. On The Water reports that glide baits have emerged as "the hottest striper bait of 2026," their large profiles and deliberate action outpacing topwater plugs for both numbers and size this season. OTW Surfcasting also notes a resurgence of rigged Slug-Gos for surf casters targeting bass staging on open sandy beaches without obvious structure. No NOAA buoy data was available for this period; verify local water temperatures and conditions before launching.
Ozark trout parks enter summer's hardest stretch — spring seeps and dawn windows are the play
Trout Unlimited's recent writing on drought and warm-water trout stress captures the mood along the Current and Niangua as June closes. No real-time gauge or temperature readings are available for this report, but late June is historically the most thermally demanding stretch of the year for Missouri's Ozark trout parks — air temperatures regularly push into the 90s and river temperatures in slower pools can brush against the 68°F threshold that puts rainbow trout under serious heat stress. The spring-fed inputs that define both rivers become the focal points: cold groundwater upwellings keep isolated pockets measurably cooler and concentrate fish through midday. Tonight's full moon shifts productive windows firmly toward first light and the hour before dark. MidCurrent's tying coverage highlights sparse midge and tailrace nymph patterns well suited to clear, pressured cold-water pockets; Caddis Fly (OR) points to small scud imitations for spring-creek and tailwater situations that mirror these spring seeps closely. Smallmouth bass in the Current's warmer shoal sections may offer the most consistent daytime action this week.
Redfish and Specks Active as Full Moon Tides Sweep Mississippi Sound
Sport Fishing Mag's regional coverage of Gulf Coast bull redfish highlights the corridor running from Louisiana east into Mississippi Sound as a reliable summer destination, and late June is squarely in that window. No live NOAA buoy readings reached this cycle, so water temperatures and tidal data should be confirmed locally before heading out. Salt Strong notes that summer high tides push redfish tight into shoreline cover and marsh edges, a pattern well-suited to Mississippi Sound's extensive estuarine fringe. The full moon tonight (June 30) will drive the strongest tidal swings of the month, concentrating baitfish on drain mouths and current seams. MS DMR's continued coastal permitting activity along the Jackson County shoreline, including a new pier application near Pointe Aux Chenes Road in Ocean Springs, reflects an active working waterfront, though direct on-water fishing reports from Sound captains or shops were not available in this cycle.
Full Moon Tides Fire Up Striper Action on Maine's Rocky Coast
No buoy readings are available for the Gulf of Maine today, so we're reading the bite through regional angler intel. OTW Surfcasting reports that surfcasters from New York to Maine have been finding schools of striped bass staging on shallow beaches, with rigged Slug-Gos drawing strikes where current meets structure. Saltwater Edge Blog (RI) notes that cooler-than-average water temperatures have defined this late-June window across southern New England, keeping the striper bite active well into the month with no signs of slowing down. On The Water identifies glide baits as the standout striper presentation of 2026, with their large profiles and swimming action drawing strikes that topwaters used to own. Today's Full Moon is pushing tidal rips to their seasonal peak. Dawn and dusk windows along ledges and rocky points should offer the strongest action. Mackerel and bluefish are typical Gulf of Maine companions at this stage of the season, though no direct local reports are available today.
Cobia Season Peaks and Stripers Run Deep at the Chesapeake Mouth
On The Water's 2026 headline — "Anglers are Trading Topwaters for the Hottest Striper Bait of 2026" — captures a season-wide technique shift toward deeper, larger presentations, and that same transition is underway at the Chesapeake mouth as June closes out. No buoy readings are available this cycle, so conditions are interpreted from the seasonal calendar and regional signals. Late June is historically the core window for cobia at the Bay mouth, with fish staging on inlet channel edges as menhaden schools push north from the Atlantic shelf. Striped bass are completing their post-spawn migration and settling into deeper, cooler water — On The Water has also raised broader concern about striper spawning success this cycle, adding seasonal caution to summer expectations. Spanish mackerel and summer flounder round out the typical late-June menu. Tonight's full moon will drive strong tidal currents through the inlet, the classic cue for early-morning cobia sightings along the surface.
Stripers shifting to the oceanfront as Narragansett Bay enters full summer
Per Saltwater Edge Blog (RI), both striped bass and squid fishing have been 'fantastic' through the June new moon, with cooler-than-expected water temperatures extending the late-spring bite well into late June. Now at the full moon, Saltwater Edge's June forecast notes that bass are making their seasonal push toward deeper, cooler oceanfront water: the Bay's familiar mid-summer transition. Scup, black sea bass, and fluke are settling into their summer structure. On The Water reports glide baits have emerged as the dominant striper presentation of 2026, with large-profile swimmers drawing strikes where topwaters have slowed. Squid, which was still producing strong at the new moon, is expected to taper as surface temperatures climb, a shift Saltwater Edge had anticipated for this two-week window. Tonight's full moon is driving aggressive tidal movement through Bay channels; dusk and dawn rip transitions are the prime windows to target before summer doldrums take hold.
Chincoteague Enters Prime Cobia Window Under the Full Moon
Coastal Angler Magazine is reporting active cobia on North Carolina's coast, a strong signal that fish are pushing north through Virginia's Eastern Shore and into Chincoteague's nearshore channels on schedule for late June. No NOAA buoy data was available at press time, so water temperatures are unconfirmed for this subregion. On The Water documents a region-wide shift: Mid-Atlantic striper anglers have abandoned topwaters in favor of glide baits as the hottest presentation of 2026, consistent with warming water pushing fish off the surface and deeper into the column. Tonight's full moon drives the month's largest tidal exchanges through Chincoteague Inlet, concentrating bait and predators on the rip lines. Late June marks the traditional peak of the cobia push and the heart of summer flounder season on the barrier flats. The combination of peak tide swings and prime species windows makes this week worth prioritizing. Plan tides carefully; two hours either side of peak incoming is typically the most productive slot.
Spanish Mackerel Pack the Crystal Coast as Big Blues Rule the Hatteras Surf
Jumbo bluefish to 30"+ are crashing the Hatteras surf, per Tom of Hatteras Jack, who reports casting metals and cut baits both producing in late-June conditions. Spanish mackerel are equally hot: Morgan of The Reel Outdoors (Swansboro/Emerald Isle) says the fish have moved into nearshore areas and along the beachfront in good numbers, a report echoed by Rich of Chasin' Tails at Morehead/Atlantic Beach, where mackerel join bluefish and bonito for consistent pier and surf catches. Inshore, red drum are present but scattered, tucking into deeper holes near Morehead City. Sea mullet action has been holding steady along the Hatteras beaches. The full moon tonight brings amplified tidal exchange that should concentrate bait and predators around structure, inlet cuts, and channel edges over the next several days. Multiple Fisherman's Post reports from across the Crystal Coast and Outer Banks paint a consistent picture of strong late-June action for nearshore and surf anglers.
Keys Mutton Spawn Peaks as Full Moon Drives Red-Hot Snapper Bite
ALL IN Key West captain reports summer snapper fishing is "as good as I've seen in my 16 years here in Key West," with mutton snappers and yellowtails firing on all cylinders through May and June. Today's Full Moon lands squarely on the peak mutton spawn window, when fish stage on reef ledges and offshore humps in concentrations that are difficult to match at any other time of year. Per ALL IN Key West, yellowtails are "practically jumping in the boat," and Gulf-side trips have been producing grouper, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish alongside the snappers. Live bait is the dominant technique across species, with captains finding consistent success on reef edges and Gulf structure alike. Offshore, mahi-mahi round out the summer picture as blue water pushes close to the reef line. With July on the doorstep and no sign of the bite slowing, the Florida Keys are delivering one of their strongest early-summer performances in recent memory. Confirm current FWC regulations before harvesting any species.
Summer Chinook and Halibut Take Center Stage Across Puget Sound
WA Sea Grant confirmed the first-ever detection of invasive European green crab on Orcas Island this May, a notable ecological signal for the Salish Sea that does not directly curtail current fishing opportunity. Specific catch reports from WA WDFW were not available in this update cycle; anglers should check the agency's fishing report hub for current creel data by marine area. What is clear: late June under a full moon is one of the stronger windows of the summer season. Peak tidal exchanges push baitfish onto structure and current seams, concentrating chinook near bluff walls and river-mouth rip zones. Pacific halibut season is active along the outer coast, and lingcod remain reliable year-round on rocky reef structure throughout the Sound. WA Sea Grant's third annual Salish Sea-wide Molt Blitz also ran June 26, designed to produce the largest single-day invasive crab molt count in state history. Verify current slot limits and closures with WA WDFW before heading out; summer regulations shift frequently.
Gulf of Alaska Halibut and Salmon Season Hits Midsummer Stride
AK Sea Grant's 34th Lowell Wakefield Fisheries Symposium, convened at Kodiak Island, recently brought scientists, stakeholders, and policymakers together around a pressing Gulf topic: marine heatwaves in high-latitude Alaska waters and their effects on baitfish and salmon distribution. No buoy readings or direct angler reports are available for this period, so the species outlook below reflects seasonal norms for late June rather than confirmed on-the-water intel. That said, late June is historically one of the Gulf's strongest windows: Pacific halibut fishing peaks on nearshore flats and mid-depth structure, sockeye salmon begin staging at tidal river mouths, and lingcod hold well on rocky reef structure. King salmon returns are in a late-June phase in many drainages, though regulations vary sharply by location and can change mid-season, so confirm current state orders before targeting kings. Tonight's Full Moon drives the month's largest tidal swings. Plan around the tide turns at narrows and passes for the sharpest feeding windows.
Spanish mackerel surge nearshore as redfish push into Charleston Harbor cover
Spanish mackerel are moving into nearshore waters in good numbers along the Carolinas coast, with Fisherman's Post reporting strong mackerel showing along beachfronts from Swansboro to Emerald Isle, bluefish biting well alongside them. The same migration front reaches Charleston Harbor's nearshore grounds this time of year. Inshore, red drum are holding scattered across deeper structure holes, per Fisherman's Post accounts from Morehead/Atlantic Beach. Salt Strong notes that summer high tides push reds into shoreline marsh cover, making backwater creek edges productive during the peak of tonight's full-moon swing. Sheepshead are staging on hard structure as well; Fisherman's Post reports the first push moving onto pilings and bridge rubble along the Cape Fear corridor to the north. No buoy data is available for the harbor this cycle, so exact water temperatures remain unconfirmed. Check local conditions before heading out.
Great Lakes bass and walleye converge on summer weedlines
The MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report (June 24) confirms Michigan's 2026 open-water season is in full swing statewide, with the Great Lakes and Grand River corridor shifting firmly into summer patterns. Saginaw Bay anglers are watching southwest winds running 15 to 20 knots with 1- to 3-foot waves this week, per the marine forecast discussed on the Michigan Sportsman Forum, making launch timing the critical variable for bay trips. Fishing the Midwest identifies weedline presentations as the dominant summer technique across the Great Lakes region, with bass and walleye keying on mature vegetation edges as temperatures climb. Wired 2 Fish notes that northern bass country is seeing spring "quickly dissipating into summer," with fish moving to predictable deep structure and feeding aggressively given elevated metabolic rates. The June 30 full moon typically triggers enhanced low-light feeding along the Grand River corridor. No buoy or gauge readings were available at press time — verify water temps and Grand River flow conditions before heading out.
Lake Michigan Salmon Season in Full Swing as Kings and Coho Stock Up Offshore
No buoy or gauge readings were returned for this report cycle, so current water temperatures and Grand River mouth flow are unconfirmed — anglers should verify conditions directly before launching. The most relevant regional signal comes from the WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report, which documented a record coho salmon harvest exceeding 210,000 fish and over 160,000 Chinook in 2024 — the strongest Chinook year since 2012 — driven by exceptional alewife survival that lifted stocked-fish returns across the lake. Those year-classes are now maturing into the 2026 open-water fishery. Late June on Lake Michigan traditionally marks the heart of the summer salmon season, with kings holding near the thermocline offshore and coho roaming mid-depths. At the Grand River mouth, walleye are a reliable late-June target in current seams where river and lake water intersect. Fishing the Midwest confirms the 2026 open-water season is fully underway across the Great Lakes region, with weedline and current-edge presentations drawing multiple species.
Sea Bass Red Hot and Fluke Rebounding as Full-Moon Tides Hit Jersey Shore
Sea bass fishing is on fire along the Jersey Shore, with Blue Chip Sportfishing reporting limits on nearly every trip and shark action running hot alongside. Makos have been caught and released this week. Fluke is back on the upswing after last week's upwelling, per OTW Northern New Jersey's June 25 report; Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands is landing quality keepers up to 5 lb 2 oz, with gulp sand eels and plain bait outperforming jigs. Stripers are still responding to clams in the surf and bluefish are mixed in, per Grumpys Tackle. The big offshore development: Fishermans HQ LBI reports a squid invasion has drawn bluefin tuna within 20 to 30 miles of the coast, making offshore runs shorter than typical. Capt Ron's has logged surface temps between 64 and 66 degrees this week. Tonight's full moon brings the month's strongest tidal surges. Prime time to position on moving water.
Full Moon Fuels Delaware River Catfish; Pine Barrens Bass Retreat to Cover
NJ Fish & Wildlife confirms seasonal closures at five Wildlife Management Areas remain in effect through September 7 — verify access before heading out. No real-time USGS gauge data or water temperatures were available for this report, an honest limitation that constrains how precisely we can characterize current conditions. With that caveat noted, late June on the Delaware River corridor historically signals peak channel catfish action: full moon nights drive the overnight bottom bite into high gear, and tidal reaches of the lower river see baitfish concentrated at current transitions around the tide change. Smallmouth bass on the upper, non-tidal river are in an early-summer rhythm — active on rocky riffles and ledge structure at dawn, retreating to deeper lies as midday heat climbs. In the Pine Barrens, acid-stained waters have warmed through June, pushing largemouth tight to shade and timber while pickerel enter their typical midsummer lull. No freshwater-specific tackle-shop or charter reports from this corridor were available in this cycle.
Fluke Rebounding and Weakfish Showing as Full Moon Arrives in Delaware Bay
Fluke fishing has bounced back across New Jersey coastal waters following last week's upwelling, with OTW Northern New Jersey's June 25 report noting the bite is 'back on the upswing.' Grumpys Tackle backs that with reports of fluke responding to bucktails and flavored soft baits in the bays, while surf stripers have returned to clam rigs after a quiet stretch. Perhaps the most welcome news: a couple of weakfish have surfaced in bay waters, per Grumpys Tackle, a species deeply tied to Delaware Bay fishing heritage. Bluefish are mixed in alongside fluke in bay and inlet areas, per Fishermans HQ LBI. Blue crab hauls off local docks remain solid this week. No NOAA buoy data was available for Delaware Bay water temperatures; Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands logged mid-60s °F in northern NJ as a nearby benchmark. Tonight's full moon will push strong tidal flow through the bay, historically prime timing for weakfish in the cuts.
Sea Bass Limits, Fluke Rebound, and Mako Sharks Opening Up Off Jersey
Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands is logging water at 65.7 degrees as fluke finally show quality off the bay grounds, with a 5-pound 2-ounce doormat claiming the pool last week and several customers landing three-fish limits using simple bait rigs and gulp sand eels. The bite had been grindy earlier; short counts dominated early trips. OTW Northern New Jersey's June 25 report confirms ocean fluking is back on the upswing after last week's upwelling pushed fish deeper. Black sea bass are the headline story closer to structure: Blue Chip Sportfishing calls the bite "red hot," reporting near-limits on almost every charter. Shark fishing has "busted wide open" per Blue Chip, with multiple Mako releases in recent days. The striper surf bite rebounded into the weekend, with Grumpys Tackle (NJ) reporting bass taking clams off the beach and a couple of weakfish in the catch. Bluefish are also in the mix along the shoreline, per OTW Northern New Jersey.
Tarpon Migration at Full Stride; Permit and Cobia Fill the Gulf Coast Bite
Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports the tarpon migration is fully underway, with captains intercepting quality fish on morning runs before switching to sight-fishing large permit in the afternoons. Cobia, amberjacks, and kingfish are also showing in the offshore mix per the same captains, making this one of the more dynamic multi-species stretches the Gulf Coast sees all year. Inshore, Coastal Angler Magazine highlights black drum catches from North Fort Myers and redfish out of Pine Island Sound. Salt Strong notes that summer high tides push redfish tight into shoreline cover, with fish abandoning open flats for mangrove edges and grass lines when water is up. With a full moon tonight driving strong tidal swings through the next several days, anglers who can time their launches around peak current windows are set up well. Kingfish on plugs and flies rounds out an active bite for those who prefer casting over anchoring on bottom.
Georgia River Bass Lock Into Summer Patterns as July Approaches
The Georgia Wildlife Blog's June 26 fishing report confirms summer conditions are firmly established across Georgia's freshwater systems, with the agency directing anglers to its angler resources page for current trout stocking schedules and species-specific forecasts. No USGS gauge or NOAA buoy readings were available for the Chattahoochee or Savannah drainages this cycle, so specific water temperatures cannot be confirmed. Throughout the spring, the Georgia Wildlife Blog promoted the Georgia Bass Slam and Trout Slam challenges, signaling that black bass and trout remain the primary freshwater targets statewide. Wired 2 Fish notes that southern bass anglers heading into July are finding fish split between deep offshore structure and early-morning shallow flats, with topwater drawing aggressive strikes at dawn and dusk. A full moon this week extends low-light bite windows. Anglers targeting tailwater trout on the upper Chattahoochee should consult the Georgia Wildlife Blog's angler resources page for the most current stocking update before making the trip.
Lake Ontario kings firing strong; Salmon River awaits fall run
Strike Zone Charters (Lake Ontario) is reporting that salmon fishing has been "very good" this past week, with brown trout and lake trout mixing in throughout catches. Kings are concentrated in 100 to 160 feet of water, though preferred depth shifts daily as wind-driven temperature changes move the thermocline. Per Strike Zone Charters, Mag Dipsey Divers are producing when the bite runs deeper, with green, white, and chartreuse e-chips paired with Atomic-style attractors as the presentation of the moment. No USGS gauge readings or NOAA buoy data were collected for this cycle, so current water temperatures and river flows on the Salmon River and Oswego River are unknown. Both tributaries are in a natural pause between seasonal runs: spring steelhead have retreated to the lake, and the fall chinook migration to the river systems typically does not begin in earnest until late August. Tonight's full moon may extend productive trolling windows into low-light hours.
Bluefin Tuna Firing Offshore; New Shark Rules Reshape SoCal Shore Game
A reader-submitted report in Western Outdoor News — Saltwater describes a kayak angler punching through 5-foot surf off Gaviota to land a quality white seabass, signaling the Channel Islands corridor is still delivering for committed anglers. Offshore, Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reports the bluefin tuna bite has reemerged roughly 1.5-day-trip range due west of Point Loma, with the Old Glory recently boating 16 bluefin alongside a daylight triple hookup on opah. Night jigging is reportedly the stronger play for bigger fish on longer trips. On the summer flats, Saltwater Sportsman notes barred sand bass concentrate in large numbers along SoCal coastal flats as June turns to July. Shore anglers face a critical regulatory shift: the California Fish and Game Commission unanimously approved an emergency regulation on June 17 banning wire leaders and hooks over 1.5 inches within 1,000 yards of shore from Pigeon Point south, per Surf Fishing in So Cal. Verify current regulations before your next outing.
Delaware Bay Stripers Push Deep as Summer Settles In
Saltwater Edge Blog (RI) flagged this week that late June marks the point when stripers migrate out to deeper, cooler oceanfront water across the Northeast, trading the nearshore spring bite for summer structure along channel edges and rips. That pattern applies to Delaware Bay as well, where fish following baitfish concentrations are best targeted off channel drop-offs rather than the shallows. On The Water identifies glide baits as the top striper presentation of 2026, displacing topwaters for larger fish. Delaware Surf Fishing reports that nearly 200 feet of the Cape Henlopen Fishing Pier end is now closed, a meaningful logistics note for shore anglers. No buoy data was available for this report, leaving water temperature unconfirmed. With today's full moon driving the month's strongest tidal exchanges in Delaware Bay, current-seam windows at the flood and ebb transitions are where the action tends to concentrate. Check current DNREC striper slot regulations before heading out, as the summer season rules typically take effect around July 1.
Full Moon Stripers Build Along the NH Coast as River Bite Winds Down
The Merrimack River striper bite is largely finished for the season, per The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME, with just a few stragglers left at the river mouth. Action has shifted to Joppa Flats, where tube-and-worm trollers are pulling the most consistent catches, and off the beaches where a low-40-inch class fish was recently reported. Charter reports from the Gloucester and Rockport corridor, via the same source, are logging mid-40-inch class stripers both inshore and offshore, with mackerel schools driving the feed on most trips. Correspondents in Maine are now seeing a strong push of larger fish, confirming the Gulf of Maine migration is tracking north through NH waters. On The Water flags glide baits as the breakout striper presentation of 2026, with large profiles and swimming action drawing fish that classic topwaters are missing. Full moon tonight sets up the month's biggest tidal swings along inlet edges and rip lines, prime timing to stack the odds.