Fishing reports
19273 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Mutton Snapper Spawn Still Hot off Key West as Summer Bite Builds
Mutton snapper are firing around Key West in the post-spawn window, per ALL IN Key West — the charter logged fish "chewing like crazy" through the May full moon cycle, with yellowtail snapper "practically jumping in the boat" alongside them. A recent Gulf-side run by the same captain produced grouper, snapper, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish in a single outing. With the Last Quarter moon now in play, spawn-related aggregations may be easing from their peak, but June remains one of the most productive months in the Keys across nearly every species. ALL IN Key West describes May through July as "lights out for everything from snappers to groupers, sharks, Mahi Mahi and so many more." No NOAA buoy readings were available at report time, so surface temperatures and current conditions are unconfirmed — check local conditions before departure. On the regulatory side, CCA Florida is tracking a federal court injunction that briefly blocked South Atlantic red snapper EFP pilot programs; verify current season rules before targeting snapper offshore.
Cow Stripers Stacking Long Island Sound Reefs as June Bite Peaks
Captain Morgan's Bait and Tackle describes anglers hooking over-40-inch striped bass this past week in Long Island Sound — battles at The Race and along the ebbing tide that are 'imprinting as core memories.' Per The Fisherman — Connecticut's full-region roundup, that red-hot bass bite is widespread and showing no signs of slowing. Fisherman's World CT confirms quality fish holding across a broad range of structure, from beaches and island edges to deep-water reefs including Green's Ledge, 28C, Cable and Anchor, and the OB Buoy, responding to mojos, bunker spoons, and flutter spoons. Bobby J's reports 20- to 30-pound class fish working deep ledges on soft plastics and glide baits, with bait — bunker, squid, and butterfish — spread throughout the Sound. Rock and Roll Charters' Capt. TJ Karbowski notes bunker scattered throughout the water column, keeping bass engaged at multiple depths. Bluefish are beginning to appear in limited numbers, and black sea bass have started to show on structure.
Tarpon Schools Building Along Sarasota's Gulf Beaches in June
Capt. Rick Grassett's June 2026 forecast from CB's Saltwater Outfitters puts Tarpon at the top of the Sarasota wish list — schools are building in size along the beaches, with fish moving offshore to spawn near new and full moons. Grassett recommends first-light setups in beach travel lanes, presenting live crabs, baitfish, or DOA Baitbusters to fish moving in both directions. Inshore, Capt. Chuck Cress (CB's Saltwater Outfitters) worked a bait-loaded oyster bar in upper Sarasota Bay last week and put clients on multiple upper-slot Redfish alongside Trout. Shark fishing is at a seasonal high: Capt. Brandon Naeve reports Bull Sharks, Blacktips, and Lemon Sharks active throughout Sarasota Bay and nearshore Gulf waters, with that activity expected to hold through fall. No buoy data was available for this report, so water temperature is unconfirmed. Gulf-side Snook are typically under a summer closure through August — verify current state regulations before targeting them.
Blue Catfish Running Hot on Eagle Mountain as June Heats Up
Water temperatures at 86°F (USGS gauge 08211200) confirm peak summer conditions across Texas freshwater, and the fishing is keeping pace. North Texas Catfish Guide reports Eagle Mountain Lake near Fort Worth is nearly full with fresh inflows spurring a strong active bite, describing conditions this way in their June update: "fish are moving, fish are feeding, and when you get on them, it happens fast." The guide is posting limits of big blue and channel catfish, a pattern that mirrors their June 2024 account when white bass were also running the main lake alongside the cats. For bass anglers, Tactical Bassin notes post-spawn fish have shifted to offshore structure, responding best to wobble-head jigs and shaky-head worm rigs as surface temps stabilize. Lone Star Outdoor News flags Rio Grande cichlids as a productive warm-weather light-tackle option now that spring trout programs are winding down. Full lake levels and stable summer heat should sustain the bite well into the month.
Bass Running Strong on the Catawba as Post-Spawn Summer Patterns Take Hold
Tournament results out of Lake Norman signal that Catawba chain bass are cooperating as the season shifts into early summer. B.A.S.S. News reports a Bassmaster Open was recently contested on Lake Norman, and MLF News records a 24-lb, 11-oz five-bass limit from a Newton, NC angler at High Rock Lake in the BFL North Carolina Division — a clear indication that quality bass are active across the region's piedmont impoundments. USGS gauge 02142900 is registering just 0.3 cfs, pointing to very low tributary flow and concentrated lake conditions on the Catawba chain. On the Roanoke, the celebrated spring striped bass run has wound down; by June those fish have largely dispersed into deeper water or moved north. Post-spawn largemouths are transitioning off shallow flats onto mid-lake structure, and Tactical Bassin's post-spawn breakdown — crankbaits on offshore points and dropshot rigs around isolated structure — maps directly onto where Catawba fish should be positioning right now.
Hudson Valley smallmouth and Finger Lakes walleye hit early summer stride
Water at the Mohawk-Hudson confluence is reading 69°F (USGS gauge 01357500), with the Mohawk at 3,030 cfs and the Hudson at Waterford logging 9,110 cfs. Both readings are elevated from recent rainfall but trending toward summer range. Those temperatures put Hudson Valley smallmouth squarely in post-spawn recovery and aggressive feeding mode. Tactical Bassin's June reports identify isolated offshore structure as the key zone, with chatterbaits and reaction baits producing strikes alongside finesse presentations like the neko rig and dropshot. On the Finger Lakes, NY DEC's May 22nd Fishing Line confirmed musky season is now underway, while walleye and other coolwater species have been open since May 1 per DEC's April report. The spring stocking of browns and rainbows through DEC hatcheries distributed trout across tributary streams, but at 69°F, early-morning and evening sessions are increasingly critical as river water pushes into summer thermal territory.
Quabbin smallmouth pulling to big-water islands as reservoir runs low
Reporting from a June 4 outing at Quabbin Reservoir in west central Massachusetts, The Fisherman — New England Freshwater correspondent Rod Teehan found the water level down at least ten feet, with large swaths of traditional smallmouth and largemouth habitat now sitting exposed as dry land. Teehan and partner John Chrisant ran the full distance from Gate 31 in New Salem to the open big water of Fishing Area 3, locating satisfying concentrations of smallmouth only around the larger mid-lake islands. USGS gauges reinforce the low-water picture across the region: gauge 01105500 reads 14.8 cfs and gauge 01111500 reads 34 cfs as of early Tuesday morning. With bass compressed into deeper main-basin structure and a June sun that warms shallows quickly, first light and evening are the productive windows to target. Trout prospects have softened, as is typical once Central MA waters tip past Memorial Day temperatures. The Last Quarter moon this week may extend the low-light feeding window into the early morning hours.
Wabash Running Full as Early-June Bass Patterns Set Up on Structure
The Wabash River is pushing 5,330 cfs as of June 9 (USGS gauge 03335500), elevated above the typical early-summer baseline and keeping water color off in many stretches. No temperature reading is available from the gauge at this time, though mid-June conditions on this system historically put river temps in the low-to-mid 70s°F range. Fishing the Midwest's summer river breakdown highlights wing dams, current seams, and deep holes as the key holding areas when flow is elevated — conditions that favor channel catfish on cut bait and smallmouth bass compressed tight to any structural break. Tactical Bassin's early-June playbook recommends pairing a wobble head jig with a shaky head worm for post-spawn bass that have backed off the shallows to offshore lies. On the Lake Michigan side, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant operates three nearshore buoys tracking conditions along Indiana's dune coast, where yellow perch and scattered coho typically hold in cooler nearshore water through mid-June.
Largemouth Shifting to Summer Haunts on Okeechobee and the St. Johns
Largemouth bass on Lake Okeechobee and the St. Johns River are in the thick of their post-spawn transition, with fish pushing from shallow spawning grounds toward deeper offshore structure as Florida's summer heat arrives. USGS gauge 02232000 logged 108 cfs on the St. Johns as of early June 9 — modest flow conditions that favor slower presentations around submerged vegetation and channel edges. Direct on-the-water reports for these specific waters were limited in this week's intel feeds, but Tactical Bassin (blog) documents that June bass across comparable freshwater systems are keying on isolated offshore structure, with a wobble head jig paired with a shaky head worm proving a reliable two-bait combination. Crankbaits covering the shallow-to-deep range also deserve a look as fish cycle through mid-column positions throughout the day. Bluegill and shellcracker, whose spawning activity typically extends into early summer in Florida, may still offer sight-fishing opportunities on shallow sandy beds near vegetation edges. Crappie are expected to be hunkered deep.
Bass and Walleye Step Up as CT's Shad Run Winds Down
With the Connecticut River registering 68°F at USGS gauge 01184000 and running at 9,150 cfs, early June is marking a clear seasonal handoff across Connecticut's inland waters. Per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, Colin at Fishin' Factory 3 in Middletown reports the shad run is 'tailing off,' though fishing remains pretty good and a solid supply of striped bass continues to work the river. The inland focus is shifting to reservoirs: Fisherman's World in Norwalk reports walleyes, largemouths, smallmouths, and brown trout all cooperating at Saugatuck Reservoir, with the north end — where the Saugatuck River enters — producing walleyes and browns consistently during early and late feeding windows. Live shiners drifted under a slip bobber lead the way, with paddletails, spinners, and spoons also working. A major carp tournament on the Connecticut River last week, per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, signals the warm-water species season is fully underway statewide.
Kenai king salmon season opens as rivers run cold and full
USGS gauge 15266300 recorded 4,710 cfs and 51°F on the Kenai system as of June 8, placing early-June conditions squarely within the snowmelt window that historically marks the opening of the Kenai's first king salmon run. Cold water in the low 50s and elevated flow push migrating kings toward softer current seams, inside bends, and cutbanks — the primary staging lies during high-flow periods. None of the angler-intel feeds we monitored this week filed specific on-the-water reports from Alaska's Kenai Peninsula or interior drainages, so species assessments below draw on established seasonal patterns rather than direct guide or shop testimony. Interior rivers — Fairbanks-area drainages and upper Yukon tributaries — typically reach ice-out by late May, leaving Arctic grayling and Dolly Varden actively feeding in riffles by early June. King salmon regulations on the Kenai are quota-driven and subject to in-season adjustment; confirm current openings with state fisheries managers before targeting kings.
Penobscot running full as landlocked salmon and togue approach summer holds
The upper Penobscot was flowing at 1,150 cfs as of early June 9 (USGS gauge 01030500), indicating moderate late-runoff levels that may limit wading access along some river stretches. No water temperature reading was available from the gauge this cycle. Direct angler intel for Moosehead Lake and the upper Penobscot corridor was thin this week: The Fisherman's New England Freshwater coverage focused on Massachusetts and Connecticut waters rather than Maine. With no region-specific reports in hand, conditions here reflect seasonal patterns. Early June typically marks the tail end of the prime landlocked salmon window before surface temperatures push fish deeper in large lakes like Moosehead. Togue (lake trout) begin staging in deeper structure as daylight hours peak. Smallmouth bass in the upper Penobscot system are generally wrapping their spawn and transitioning to post-spawn feeding. Brook trout in cold tributary streams can remain active during morning and evening windows. Check with local Maine tackle shops for current on-water conditions.
Early-June Staging Window Opens for Chinook on Chicago's Lake Michigan
The WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report documented a record 210,000-plus coho salmon harvested across Lake Michigan in 2024, alongside more than 160,000 Chinook, the highest Chinook tally since 2012, driven by strong alewife survival from recent stocking classes. Those year-classes are still working through the system as southern Lake Michigan enters its early-June staging window. No NOAA buoy readings were available for Chicago-area waters in this report cycle, leaving current surface temperatures unconfirmed; IL/IN Sea Grant maintains three nearshore Lake Michigan buoys that typically provide this data. With no current charter or tackle-shop intel in hand, conditions are best characterized by the seasonal calendar: Chinook typically begin pulling to deeper, cooler columns in early June, while yellow perch remain a consistent nearshore and pier option throughout the warm-weather months. Confirm current IL DNR bag limits and check live buoy readings before launching.
Brook trout on the rise as June hatches build in Rangeley waters
The Androscoggin headwaters gauge (USGS 01054200) recorded 78.9 cfs at 3 a.m. on June 9, pointing to moderate, wadeable flows as western Maine enters its early-summer fishing window. No water temperature reading was available from the gauge. Ice-out at Dundee Pond came April 4th per Mainely Fly Fishing (ME), placing the 2026 season well past the spring threshold and into the period when brook trout begin moving toward evening surface feeding in earnest. Trout Unlimited describes brook trout as "resilient and opportunistic feeders" — an accurate characterization of what this region typically delivers through mid-June, when caddis and mayfly hatches build toward their seasonal peak. No current tackle-shop or charter report was available specifically for this area in this update cycle; conditions can shift quickly with afternoon weather systems. The Last Quarter moon this week reduces overnight ambient light, generally a favorable setup for morning low-light bites on both streams and lake inlet channels.
White River trout pull deep as early-summer heat takes hold
Water temperatures on the White River tailwaters registered 72°F at USGS gauge 07060710 on the morning of June 9, pushing into the upper edge of comfort for rainbow and brown trout. Flows stand at 12.2 cfs — a near-zero-generation signature that leaves the river fully wadeable but concentrates fish in the deepest, coldest available lies. No local charter or shop reports landed in the intel feeds this cycle, so conditions are drawn from gauge data alongside broader trout-fishing guidance. Hatch Magazine's current piece on fishing through warm-water drought conditions offers timely context: when water climbs toward thermal stress territory, bite windows compress to first and last light, and bottom-bouncing small nymphs with serious weight becomes the most reliable method. Brown trout, the more heat-tolerant of the two primary tailwater species here, likely account for the bulk of daytime action. Anglers practicing catch-and-release should keep fight times short and skip any extended air exposure on fish showing signs of distress.
Guntersville & Wheeler Bass Moving Offshore as Early Summer Sets In
USGS gauge 03575100 — a major tributary feeding Guntersville's upper basin — recorded 3,670 cfs early this morning, signaling elevated inflow from recent rainfall; anglers working the upper lake near creek mouths should expect some water color variation this week. Direct on-water reports from Guntersville and Wheeler are limited this cycle, but regional intel points clearly to the emerging summer pattern. Tactical Bassin's June coverage highlights offshore structure as the central theme: post-spawn largemouth are vacating the shallows and stacking on ledges, points, and submerged humps, with a wobble head jig paired with a shaky head worm drawing consistent strikes. Topwater is still worth a morning run — at the MLF BFL Bulldog Division event on nearby Lake Eufaula this past weekend, MLF News reports winner Parker Guy opened on a buzzbait and swim jig before transitioning to flipping for his 22-pound winning bag. Guntersville's largemouth follow a near-identical seasonal script. The Last Quarter moon this week should favor daytime bite windows over dawn and dusk pushes.
Bass up shallow on bream as post-spawn patterns lock in on Lanier and Allatoona
With Georgia's rivers running high and muddy after recent rains, GA Sportsman's June 6 Southern Waters report confirms that lakes are outproducing river systems right now — and North Georgia's highland impoundments are well-positioned to deliver. GA Sportsman's Lake Jackson roundup shows largemouth and spotted bass pushing shallow to target bream beds and emerging mayfly hatches, a June pattern that mirrors conditions on similar Georgia impoundments including Allatoona. Below Buford Dam, USGS gauge 02334430 records tailwater flowing at 621 cfs and 48°F — cold hypolimnetic water drawn from Lanier's depths that concentrates striped bass near the dam structure as summer stratification builds. Georgia Wildlife Blog notes National Fishing and Boating Week runs June 6–14, adding traffic to public launches. For post-spawn bass, Tactical Bassin's early-summer breakdown highlights a wobble head jig paired with a shaky head worm as a reliable one-two combo for fish that have backed off spawning flats and are now staging on adjacent transition structure.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish fire up along Cape Lookout and Pamlico Sound
Spanish mackerel are pushing into nearshore waters in strong numbers as June gets underway across the Crystal Coast. Per Fisherman's Post (NC), Morgan of The Reel Outdoors in Swansboro/Emerald Isle reports mackerel moving in good numbers along the beachfront and nearshore zone, while Rich of Chasin' Tails at Morehead/Atlantic Beach confirms the same trend — surf and pier anglers there are connecting on bluefish, Spanish mackerel, and bonito. The bluefish bite stands out in particular: Tom of Hatteras Jack reports big bluefish to 30"+ crashing casting metals and cut baits in the Hatteras/Ocracoke surf, with sea mullet fishing holding steady on the same grounds. Inshore, red drum are present but scattered, holding in deeper holes and structural edges around Morehead City, per Fisherman's Post (NC). With mackerel and blues running strong and bonito making early appearances nearshore, this is shaping up as a productive early-summer window for both shore and boat anglers along this stretch.
Stripers Settling Into Summering Grounds as Eastern Shore Runs Cool
On The Water's June 5 striper migration map reports that mid-Atlantic fish are beginning to settle into summering grounds, though water temperatures are running a few degrees below normal for early June. No local buoy readings or charter reports are available for Chincoteague specifically this cycle, so exact conditions at the inlet and surrounding bays cannot be confirmed from real-time data. The cooler thermal backdrop suggests the early-summer transition may still be playing out, with stripers potentially holding in staging areas rather than fully dispersing to warm-weather haunts. Sport Fishing Mag highlights trolling live eels on planer boards, a technique with Chesapeake Bay roots, as a proven approach for bigger bass during this kind of transitional window. With the last quarter moon on June 9 producing more moderate tidal swings than a spring tide, dawn and dusk windows near structure and inlet mouths are worth prioritizing over midday. Check local charter reports and current tide charts before heading out this week.
Smith Mountain & Buggs Island bass in early summer post-spawn transition
USGS gauge 02075045 logged 447 cfs on the Roanoke River system early June 9 — a moderate reading reflecting stable reservoir inflows to Smith Mountain Lake and Buggs Island (Kerr Reservoir). No water temperature came through this cycle's sensors, but mid-June historically places Smith Mountain surface temps in the upper 70s to low 80s°F range, pushing bass off their spawning areas and into summer holding patterns. Direct local shop or charter reports weren't captured in this data pull, so angler intel is drawn from broadly applicable freshwater guidance: Tactical Bassin reports that post-spawn bass are responding well to a wobble-head jig paired with a shaky-head worm fished on offshore structure, with crankbaits covering the water column from shallow to mid-depth. Fishing the Midwest highlights weedline edges as reliable summer contact points. Early morning and late evening remain the most productive windows before midday heat builds.
Spanish mackerel push nearshore as sheepshead stage on Charleston structure
Per Fisherman's Post — Carolinas saltwater's June 2026 roundup, Spanish mackerel are moving in good numbers along Carolina nearshore areas and beachfronts, and the bluefish bite 'remains really good' across the same zone. Further north at Carolina Beach, the first push of smaller sheepshead have entered the Cape Fear River system, staging on hard structure — a pattern that typically tracks south into Charleston Harbor's docks, jetties, and bridge pilings around the same window. Red drum remain scattered, showing best in deeper holes. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge data was available for this update, so water temperature is unconfirmed; early June in Charleston Harbor typically means surface temps climbing into the low-to-mid 80s°F. The Last Quarter moon this week drives strong tidal current; inshore anglers should time outgoing and incoming pushes for the best action on structure-oriented species.
Tarpon Migration Peaks on the FL Gulf Coast as Permit and Kings Stay Hot
Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports the tarpon migration is "fully underway" along Southwest Florida, with captains intercepting moving schools and consistently jumping quality fish through the morning hours. After the tarpon bite, afternoons shift to the permit flats — Naples Offshore Fishing Charters describes sight-fishing large permit as steady and productive, making a tarpon-permit double a realistic goal on a single outing. Offshore, the same captains note kingfish responding well to plugs and flies, with cobia and amberjacks rounding out the variety for anyone willing to run further out. No buoy temperature data is currently available for this report, but early June Gulf conditions typically settle nearshore water squarely within the prime tarpon migration corridor running from Boca Grande Pass south through Naples and the Ten Thousand Islands. The Last Quarter moon this week produces moderate tidal movement — enough to push baitfish and crabs through productive structure on the flood, without the extremes of a spring tide.
Toledo Bend bass pushing to offshore structure as summer patterns lock in
USGS gauge 08025500 on the Sabine is clocking just 27.6 cfs as of June 9, signaling low inflows and stable reservoir conditions on Toledo Bend. Direct on-water reports from this specific fishery are limited in this cycle, but June's seasonal rhythm is dependable: post-spawn largemouth bass have pulled off beds and are beginning to stage on offshore timber, brush piles, and contour breaks across the reservoir's vast mid-section. Tactical Bassin's early-summer coverage highlights a two-bait approach, wobble-head jig paired with a shaky-head worm, for targeting bass that have transitioned to isolated offshore structure, a technique that translates well to Toledo Bend's legendary submerged forest. Crappie should be scattered around mid-depth brush and dock pilings; catfish typically build activity through summer nights in the deeper creek channels. Last Quarter moon over the coming days can favor low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk. Check current Louisiana regulations before keeping fish.
Early June Opens for UP Brook Trout and Lake Superior Whitefish
USGS gauge 04059500 shows UP tributary flows at 176 cfs as of June 9, placing stream conditions in solid wading range for brook trout anglers. On the Lake Superior front, WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing has been documenting a growing lake whitefish fishery in Chequamegon Bay — fish taken in both ice and open-water seasons — a trend that extends into the western UP's Lake Superior shoreline. Wired 2 Fish is tracking Michigan House Bills 5801 and 5802, proposals that would allow commercial netting of walleye and lake trout in Michigan state waters for the first time in decades; recreational anglers across the region are pushing back hard against both measures. No water temperature readings were available from active gauges this cycle. Seasonal patterns for early June in the UP point toward hungry brook trout in shaded stream pools, lake trout holding at accessible pre-stratification depths, and walleye active through evening low-light windows on UP drainages.