Fishing reports
19276 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Black Drum and Stripers Lead the Charge in Delaware Bay
Water temps at NOAA buoy 44009 hit 60°F on June 2, and Delaware Bay's early-summer fishery is on. Black drum are the headliner on the NJ side, with The Fisherman NJ/DE Surf correspondent Nick Honachefsky reporting drum sucking up clam baits in the surf alongside a handful of sheepshead. Striped bass continue anchoring the action: Blue Chip Sportfishing called it "the best Striper Fishing possible," and The Fisherman NJ/DE Surf confirms bass feeding on bunker chunks, jigs, and clams from inlet structure to the beaches. Gator-class bluefish are pushing into inlet areas as well, per that same column. Fluke remain the weak link. Multiple Southern NJ shops report that cool water is holding the bite to mostly short fish, with keepers turning up only on larger presentations like live minnows and strip baits. The first kingfish, spot, and croaker are beginning to bubble up, signaling the seasonal transition toward summer.
Bass move post-spawn while trout push deep at Quabbin and Wachusett
The Swift River outlet gauge (USGS 01174500) logged 41.9 cfs on June 2, a steady regulated release as Quabbin heads into the warmest stretch of the season. No direct tackle-shop or charter reports from the reservoirs arrived this week, but The Fisherman — New England Freshwater offers useful regional context: a May 26 outing on a Berkshire Hills pond found trout marking heavily in 35-foot water, one angler taking a single 13-inch brown on a downrigged silver Mooselook Wobbler at 15 feet despite heavy concentrations showing on the sounder. That deep-holding pattern is a familiar early-June signal at both reservoirs as the upper water column warms. On the bass side, early June is the post-spawn window, when smallmouths leave the beds and shift to aggressive feeding on mid-depth rocky structure. The waning gibbous moon this week favors low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk across both impoundments.
Stripers, Sea Bass, and Scup All Firing in Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound
Water temps sitting at 58 to 60°F across the area, per NOAA buoys 44085 and 44020, have the bite dialed in. Per The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME, Belsan's Bait reports sea bass fishing has been "really solid" for anglers trailering to Buzzards Bay, while the striper picture is equally strong, with fish from 31 to 36 inches making up the bulk of the catch and bombers up to 47 inches in the mix. The Fisherman (Northeast) noted on May 28 that scup action has "rapidly come to a boil" in Nantucket Sound, with Rhode Island waters catching up fast, a trend that figures to carry into Vineyard Sound shortly. OTW Saltwater's June 2 migration report confirms 40-pound class bass are feeding hard on bunker outside Boston, with the baitfish push running south. Seas are a calm 1 to 1.3 feet, and the waning gibbous moon sets up good low-light windows to close out the week.
Deschutes Redsides and Klamath Trout Prime Up for June Hatch Window
Hatch Magazine's recent feature on fishing trout through drought conditions offers a useful frame for the current western picture: when rivers run low and clear, longer leaders and more precise presentations become critical. For the Deschutes and Upper Klamath as of June 2, USGS gauge 14070500 returned no live readings at report time, so direct flow and temperature data are unavailable this cycle. Working from seasonal patterns, early June is typically the heart of the golden stonefly and early-PMD window on the middle Deschutes, drawing native redsides visibly to the surface in riffles and tail-outs. Upper Klamath tributaries tend to carry solid trout fishing before mid-summer warming compresses the bite toward dawn and dusk. Tonight's waning gibbous moon favors active feeding in low-light transitions. Anglers should confirm current flows before heading out, as gauge data should be verified directly at waterdata.usgs.gov.
Spring Chinook Winding Down on the Columbia as Summer Run Builds
USGS gauge 14105700 clocked the Columbia River at 241,000 cfs and 61°F on June 2, reflecting strong snowmelt flows typical of early summer on this system. Spring Chinook are in their traditional season close — most lower-river fish have pushed upriver by this point in the calendar — and the fishery is shifting toward summer Chinook, which typically build through mid-June. White sturgeon remain a year-round option on the Columbia, though retention rules change seasonally, so confirm current ODFW regulations before keeping any fish. None of the regional intel feeds carried Columbia-specific salmon or sturgeon reports this week, so bite-activity notes below reflect established seasonal patterns rather than fresh charter or shop testimony. At elevated flows like these, fish tend to congregate in slower water: back-eddies, wing-dam pockets, and tributary confluences where they can rest out of the main current. Anchor fishing with sand shrimp or fresh roe near bottom structure is the historically reliable approach under these conditions.
Yakima trout holding tight to banks as spring runoff peaks in Eastern WA
The USGS gauge on the Yakima River system recorded 2,180 cfs on June 2, consistent with active late-spring snowmelt pushing through Eastern Washington's river corridors. Direct on-the-water reports for Yakima and Spokane-area drainages are sparse in current feeds, so readers should cross-check WA WDFW Fishing Reports for the latest creel surveys and stocking updates. At elevated flows, resident rainbow trout typically tuck tight to undercut banks and current seams where velocity drops; high-sticking heavy nymphs or drifting beads through those softer lanes is the most productive approach. The waning gibbous moon phase favors low-light activity windows, particularly early morning and late evening, across the region's lakes and reservoirs. Smaller tributary lakes around Spokane remain fishable even when main-stem flows run high, offering a solid backup option for largemouth bass, walleye, and panfish as surface temperatures continue climbing through early June.
Summer Chinook Window Opening as Olympic Peninsula Rivers Settle Into June Flows
USGS gauge 12041200 logged 835 cfs and gauge 12035000 checked in at 580 cfs on the afternoon of June 2, placing Olympic Peninsula river levels in a moderate, fishable range. No temperature readings were captured at either station this cycle, so anglers should check conditions at the put-in before targeting heat-sensitive species. No tackle-shop, charter, or state-agency field reports specific to Peninsula salmon rivers came through in this update; the picture below draws on gauge data and seasonal norms rather than direct angler testimony. Early June is a genuine inflection point on these drainages: spring Chinook runs are tapering off on most rivers while summer-run Chinook and early summer steelhead begin entering from saltwater. Hatchery-only rules and emergency closures can shift rapidly on individual rivers, sometimes mid-week. Verify current retention status before rigging up. Tonight's waning gibbous moon opens low-light windows through the early morning hours.
Red Snapper Season Peaks as Calm Seas Open Up Panhandle Offshore Runs
NOAA buoy 42012 is registering 82°F water temperatures off the Panhandle as of June 2, confirming the Gulf of America has fully transitioned into its summer pattern. Light winds are keeping offshore conditions favorable, and Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider Fishing Report has devoted recent coverage to Florida's red snapper season — the annual centerpiece for Destin and Pensacola charter fleets. Sport Fishing Mag reinforces what local captains already know: northern Gulf rigs from Mobile Bay to the Texas coast offer the most diverse offshore structure fishing on the continent, with snapper, amberjack, and other bottom species concentrated around platforms. Inshore, Salt Strong highlights the importance of targeting redfish along grass edges and oyster bars as temperatures climb into the low 80s. With near-zero winds recorded at buoy 42039 and a waning gibbous moon, the next few days set up well for both offshore platform runs and early-morning inshore sessions.
Keys Snapper Spawn Peaks as June Offshore Season Fires Up
ALL IN Key West reports mutton snappers 'chewing like crazy' around the recent full-moon spawn, with yellowtail snappers described as nearly jumping in the boat. Offshore Gulf of America trips have been landing grouper, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish in a single outing, and live bait is the dominant technique driving action on king mackerel, tuna, and sailfish as well. NOAA buoys at Sombrero Key (SMKF1) and Sand Key (SANF1) logged light winds of 2.6 and 3.6 m/s respectively on June 2, pointing to favorable offshore conditions. No current water temperature is available from Keys buoy stations; the only reading on file (78°F from buoy 41114) dates to late April and is too stale for current planning. Bottom fishing on deep wrecks at 220 feet has been productive for big muttons per ALL IN Key West, and the captain characterizes May through July as the Keys' peak multi-species window.
Whiting Running Strong as Lower Laguna Madre Warms Into Summer
NOAA buoy 42043 is reading 80°F off South Texas, confirming summer flats conditions are locked in across the Lower Laguna Madre. The headline from local sources is whiting: Lone Star Outdoor News reports the species is running "extremely" well along the Texas coast right now, calling it prime time for a fish fry. Redfish are the other consistent story this week, with Salt Strong (YT) posting multiple pieces on locating big schools and the grass flat approach most anglers overlook. Capt. Kevin Navid covering the Baffin Bay and Laguna Madre corridor and Capt. Larry Bell covering waters to the north both filed fresh reports via TexasFishingTips (YT) through early June, confirming boats are actively working South Texas bays. Texas Fish & Game Magazine points to this period as a solid window for coastal bank fishing, with redfish and trout within reach of wade anglers working the shoreline.
Post-spawn bass firing on Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn as summer begins
Lake Fork Trophy Bass reports outstanding post-spawn fishing across East Texas reservoirs this week, with bass 'moving to a number of productive feeding patterns to replenish themselves' after the spawn winds down. According to that guide service, fish can be targeted 'from shallow to deep,' making this a rare window where power and finesse approaches both hold. Tactical Bassin backs up the transition with a recent post-spawn session showing chatterbaits, dropshot, and neko rigs around offshore structure producing well. The USGS gauge on the Neches River (site 08030500) reads 1,930 cfs as of June 2, indicating stable late-spring flows in the region — no significant inflow events to muddy the upper reservoir arms. With the waning gibbous moon overhead, early-morning and late-evening windows are dialing in. No live water temperature is available for this area today; anglers should verify conditions locally, though mid-to-upper 70s are typical for early June on both lakes.
Hill Country bass push offshore as post-spawn summer window opens
The Colorado River below Lake Travis registered 205 cfs at USGS gauge 08158000 on June 2, reflecting stable release conditions from the Highland Lakes dam system. No water temperature reading was recorded at this gauge, though mid-summer surface temps on Travis, LBJ, and Buchanan typically climb well into the 80s by this point in the season. Nearby, My Canyon Lake Fishing reports that the region's impoundments are in notably better shape than a year ago: Canyon Lake sits eight feet higher than this time last season. TPWD has briefly paused its weekly fishing reports while finalizing a new format, leaving anglers without the usual state-agency benchmark. For bass, early June marks the post-spawn transition. Tactical Bassin's June bass breakdown highlights isolated offshore structure and reaction-bite presentations: chatterbaits, swimbaits, and bottom-contact finesse rigs as the top producers as fish vacate shallow flats and push toward deeper summer haunts.
Springtime Bluefin Showing Near Half Moon Bay as NorCal Pelagic Season Opens
Bluefin tuna are on the board near Half Moon Bay, with the Codfather, a six-pack running out of Alameda, reporting their first fish of the season after trolling south of the Half Moon Bay weather buoy, per Western Outdoor News - Saltwater. Deckhand Joseph Green noted the crew spotted life before connecting, suggesting fish are present but require some searching. Surface water is running 55°F at NOAA buoy 46026, cool but consistent with early-June upwelling conditions along this stretch of coast. Winds are light across both buoys 46026 and 46013, and the waning gibbous moon offers decent pre-dawn light for Bay anglers targeting striped bass on the tide changes. No Bay-specific reports surfaced this cycle for halibut or stripers, though both are typically active in SF Bay by early June as water temperatures gradually tick upward.
Calico and Sand Bass Delivering at Izors; Pelagics Lining Up for SoCal Summer
Water temps at 64–65°F — per NOAA buoys 46025 and 46221 — are putting nearshore bass in a cooperative mood off the LA Bight. An angler at Izors reported 16 bass to 21 inches in roughly three hours on June 2, landing three calicos and 13 sand bass on plastics while drifting in water clarity over 12 feet, with bait birds, porpoise, and sea lions working nearby, per BD Outdoors Forums (West Coast). Surf Fishing in So Cal's May 2026 report notes the season has come together 'in a big way' after a mixed April, with the best fishing of the season potentially still ahead. For surf casters, corbina are the prime early-summer target; Surf Fishing in So Cal highlights sand crabs as the top bait in the surf zone right now. Offshore, Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reports El Nino conditions are expected to drive tuna, yellowtail, and dorado into local waters for late-June charters.
Eastern Sierra Trout Prime for Early June as Midday Hatches Build
Reno Fly Shop (NV) reports the adjacent Truckee drainage running 'a bit higher than historic levels' in mid-May, with reliable midday hatches firing when winds stay down — a strong signal for conditions approaching early June on nearby Eastern Sierra waters. PMDs, caddis, and Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail nymphs have been the go-to presentations, with fish moving into faster water by midday. USGS gauge 10265200 returned no data this cycle, so anglers should verify local flows before heading out. The broader 2026 Western context matters: Hatch Magazine and Cutthroat Anglers (CO) both flag historically low snowpacks across the West this season, typically accelerating runoff completion and leaving high-country streams clearing earlier and running lower into summer. For Eastern Sierra tailwaters and stillwaters, that pattern points to a front-loaded window of clear, wadeable conditions in June — prime trout season for rainbow, brown, and golden trout — before heat builds later in summer.
Walleye and lake trout on the bite as Boundary Waters hit early-summer stride
Field & Stream reported that Joe Bouta landed a catch-and-release state-record lake trout on Lake Superior on May 9, guided by Ethan Waytashek of the Lake Superior Jigging Guide Service, who put the boat on deep structure while battling 15-to-20 mph wind gusts. That catch signals northeastern Minnesota lakers feeding aggressively heading into June. USGS gauge 05129115 recorded 673 cfs as of June 2, reflecting elevated late-spring runoff keeping BWCA entry rivers and portage streams running full; plan extra time on paddling legs. Walleye and smallmouth bass are in post-spawn recovery mode: Jason Mitchell Outdoors (YT) has been documenting May walleye patterns and shallow spring smallmouth technique that translate directly to Iron Range and BWCA lakes. The waning gibbous moon through mid-week sets up productive low-light feeding windows at dusk and dawn worth planning your launch around.
North Shore lake trout bite fires up as Superior enters early June
Field & Stream documented a new Minnesota catch-and-release lake trout state record landed May 9 — angler Joe Bouta, guided by Ethan Waytashek of the Lake Superior Jigging Guide Service, boated the fish in deep, wind-churned Superior water with 15–20 mph gusts running. That benchmark outing confirms how productive the open-lake jigging bite has been this spring heading into early summer. USGS gauge 04015330 on a North Shore tributary shows flow at just 13.2 cfs as of June 2 — lean conditions signaling snowmelt has wrapped up and run-fish are dispersing back to the lake. No buoy surface temperature is available; Superior's nearshore runs cold through June, so dress in layers. On the Wisconsin side, WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing has been tracking growing angler interest in lake whitefish out of Chequamegon Bay — a cross-border signal worth noting for Minnesota anglers working Superior's inlets and river mouths.
Northwoods walleye staging shallow as Vilas and Oneida county lakes warm
Minocqua-area lakes are sitting in the mid-50s to low-60s (°F) as of late May, keeping walleye somewhat scattered but beginning to move them toward shallower staging water, per Rollie & Helen's Musky Shop. The shop's current read: start shallow and work systematically deeper. Near Hayward, a May 24 report on Wired2Fish documented walleyes actively taking earthworm baits drift-bounced along rocky and gravel river bottom, with an angler who had already boated a couple of walleye before hooking a surprise 28-inch brown trout on the same rig. Across Vilas and Oneida county lakes, Rollie & Helen's reports that emergent cabbage and coontail beds are developing, shifting fish from post-spawn scatter toward early-summer feeding. Musky metabolism is also picking up, though Rollie & Helen's cautions that late cold fronts can still temporarily push fish back to deeper water. The transition is underway, and the first week of June should bring improving conditions.
Door County Launch Reopens as June Salmon Season Gets Underway
The Rowley's Bay Boat Launch in Door County returned to service around May 31 following infrastructure improvements, per WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report: well-timed as June marks one of Lake Michigan's prime months for salmon trolling. Last season set high expectations: the same report documented over 210,000 coho salmon harvested statewide in 2024, a record, alongside more than 160,000 Chinook, the highest total since 2012. Those gains were linked to strong alewife forage survival, and if that forage base carries into 2026, anglers along the Door County and Sheboygan shorelines have reason for optimism. No real-time buoy or water temperature readings are available for today's report; anglers should check local conditions before launching. Smallmouth bass across Green Bay and northern Lake Michigan are under active DNR management review, signaling a closely watched population. The Waning Gibbous moon this week may shift the sharpest bite windows toward early morning and low-light periods.
Lake Superior Lake Trout Running Deep as UP Streams Hit Seasonal Flow
Field & Stream reported a potential catch-and-release state record lake trout on Lake Superior in early May, landed by Joe Bouta while jigging in deep, white-capped water with the Lake Superior Jigging Guide Service — a strong signal that Superior lakers are staging on offshore structure this season. The monitored UP stream gauge (USGS 04059500) reads 153 cfs as of June 2, indicating moderate, seasonally appropriate flow favorable for wading. No water temperature readings are currently available from our sensors in this region. On the Wisconsin side of Lake Superior, WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing notes a growing and popular lake whitefish fishery in Chequamegon Bay, fishing well from boats — a trend that reflects broader Superior whitefish population health relevant to the full southern shoreline. With the waning gibbous moon overhead and early June conditions underway, UP brook trout streams should be entering their most productive early-summer window for anglers targeting cold, clear pocket water.
Saginaw Bay walleye and Lake Huron smallmouth enter early summer transition
Michigan Sportsman Forum discussion this week captures an early-morning bass outing on clear, calm water: fish were scattered at first but responded to 5-to-7-foot flats once a breeze kicked up, a pattern consistent with post-spawn bass regrouping over mid-depth structure. Direct environmental readings for this region were unavailable this cycle. USGS gauge 04157000 returned no flow or temperature data, and the MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report did not load usable content. With the waning gibbous moon overhead and the calendar flipping to June, Saginaw Bay walleye typically move off shallow spawning flats toward mid-depth gravel and sand, where slow-drifting techniques tend to produce well. Yellow perch remain a reliable year-round option across the bay. Smallmouth bass in Lake Huron's nearshore rock zones generally hit a seasonal peak right around this window. Check local forecasts and current Michigan regulations before heading out.
Early-June salmon staging and post-spawn bass at the Grand River mouth
The Grand River is running at 3,020 cfs as of June 2 (USGS gauge 04119000), a moderate spring flow keeping the river mouth transition zone active. Water temperature was unavailable from the gauge this cycle. Direct on-water reports for the Grand River mouth were sparse in our data feeds this week, though the broader Lake Michigan picture offers encouraging context: the WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report documented a record 2024 coho salmon harvest exceeding 210,000 fish and the highest Chinook count since 2012 (160,000+), reflecting strong year-classes now approaching prime size. Historically, the first week of June marks the start of pre-staging activity for Chinook near tributary mouths along the eastern Lake Michigan shore. Meanwhile, smallmouth bass have moved through the spawn and are actively feeding. Tactical Bassin's June breakdown calls out drop shots and chatterbaits fished around offshore structure as the top producers for post-spawn fish right now.
Post-spawn bass and walleye moving to summer patterns on Ohio's north reservoirs
The USGS gauge 03110000 logged 113 cfs on June 2, pointing to stable, moderate flow through the watershed as Mosquito and Pymatuning enter the early-summer transition. No instrument water temperature is available in this reporting cycle. Bass are the near-term story: Tactical Bassin's post-spawn guide calls out chatterbaits, swimbaits, and the neko rig as the techniques producing on post-spawn fish now scattered to isolated offshore structure, noting that working wind-swept flats and casting to visual cover are the key patterns for this window. Walleye, which typically wrap their spawn well ahead of bass on these northern Ohio reservoirs, should be in active post-spawn feeding mode across mid-depth flats. Crappie are transitioning off shallow spawning areas toward dock edges and brush. No local tackle-shop or charter reports were included in this data cycle, so anglers should verify current bite details through ODNR's weekly survey before heading out.
Western Basin Walleye in Early-June Post-Spawn Transition
NOAA Buoy 45005 logged 63°F surface water in the western Lake Erie basin on June 2, placing post-spawn walleye squarely in their early-summer dispersal window. The Sandusky River was flowing at 1,230 cfs and 74°F per USGS gauge 04193500; warmer tributary inflow mixing along bay edges can concentrate baitfish and create productive thermal breaks for roaming walleye. Fishing the Midwest notes slow trolling as a reliable Great Lakes walleye approach through this stretch of the season. Wave heights at buoy 45005 were a manageable 2 feet with light winds, and the waning gibbous moon reduces overnight illumination, typically pushing feeding activity into morning low-light windows. No specific Lake Erie charter or tackle-shop reports appeared in this week's major fishing feeds, so bite conditions here are grounded in the environmental readings and established early-June seasonal patterns for the basin rather than direct on-water testimony from captains or shops.