Fishing reports
19276 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Stripers Rolling Through Eastern Shore as Late-May Migration Peaks
Water temperature at 60°F off the Eastern Shore as of May 31, per NOAA buoy 44014, puts Chincoteague-area inlets and bay channels in prime late-spring range. The main story this week is the ongoing striper migration: On The Water's May 29 migration map shows big stripers pushing north and feeding heavily on bunker, squid, and river herring along the Atlantic coast corridor, and the Eastern Shore sits squarely in that pipeline. Offshore seas are running rough at 5.2 feet, limiting open-beach and nearshore access, but protected inlets and back-bay channels remain workable. Per Saltwater Edge Blog, the second full moon of May is generating strong bite windows even as a cold front trails the lunar peak. The Fisherman reports stripers approaching the 50-pound barrier in multiple Northeast locations, meaning the bulk of that fish class would have moved through this corridor over the past few weeks as the northward push rolled on.
Bass and stripers begin summer pattern shift at Smith Mountain and Buggs Island
Water flowing at 720 cfs through the Roanoke River corridor (USGS gauge 02075045) reflects an ongoing spring drought the Virginia DWR Wildlife Blog says has drawn reservoir and wetland levels down across the southeastern U.S., a factor anglers at Smith Mountain Lake and Buggs Island should verify before launching. With the full moon coinciding with the late-May post-spawn window, largemouth bass are pulling off shallow flats and beginning to relate to offshore structure. Tactical Bassin's recent post-spawn coverage emphasizes that fish in this transition phase respond best to isolated humps and points away from the bank, with chatterbaits, drop shots, and Neko rigs all drawing strikes when fished deliberately around deeper cover. No water temperature was returned by the gauge this cycle. Landlocked striped bass, a defining fishery at both Smith Mountain and Buggs Island, are also likely completing their own spawn run and beginning the summer deep-water transition.
Black drum booming on the Jersey side of Delaware Bay
Black drum are putting on a show along the Jersey side of Delaware Bay. Nick at Hands Too Bait and Tackle, reporting via The Fisherman — Southern NJ, says the bite is "booming," with the Jersey side delivering bigger fish than Delaware this year. Multiple fish in the 60-pound class landed off Villas Beaches, and a top weigh-in of 75 pounds by Tom Lynan headlined the past week. Big Dave's Tackle (The Fisherman — Southern NJ) echoes that, calling the black drum action "excellent" with fish pushing 80 pounds hitting clams, shedders, and she-crabs at Slaughter Beach, the Coral Beds, and Tussy's Slough. NOAA buoy 44009 logged 59°F on May 31, right in the drum's preferred late-spring window. Striped bass are winding down at Fortescue. Higbee's Bait and Tackle notes fish to 44 inches still responding to bloodworms, but horseshoe crab spawning has arrived and is competing aggressively for baits. Back-bay flounder action is sporadic but slowly improving.
Canal Bass Running Hot as Vineyard Blues Start to Show
Water temps at 57-59°F per NOAA buoys 44085 and 44020 have Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound fishing in full late-May stride. Striped bass lead the action: Capt. Carl at Westport River Outfitters has been scoring stripers from 34 to 42 inches daily alongside limit trips of legal sea bass, and Red Top Sporting Goods reports the Cape Cod Canal fishing like "the Good Old Days of years ago" with anglers hooked up in both directions — white pencil plugs and mackerel-patterned lures producing well on the Canal's east end, per The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands. Bluefish are filtering in on the Vineyard, with correspondent Charley Soares noting teen-sized blues on Middle Ground and the north side of Quicks Hole, plus a 15-17 pound fish near Menemsha — though the full blitz has not yet materialized. On The Water's May 29 striper migration map confirms big bass still pushing north on bunker, squid, and river herring, with the full moon boosting tidal push across the Bay.
Post-spawn bass and stocked trout open up Eastern WA for late-May anglers
The Yakima River is running at 2,040 cfs as of Sunday morning, per USGS gauge 12484500, a moderate late-spring flow reflecting ongoing snowmelt drainage from the eastern Cascades. Water temperature data was not available from the gauge this cycle, but flows at this level typically carry a light stain in the main channel, pushing trout toward slower edges and side channels. WA WDFW Fishing Reports confirms active stocking operations statewide through the spring season, giving anglers on Eastern WA lakes a consistent target in planted rainbow trout. On the bass front, Tactical Bassin notes that post-spawn largemouth and smallmouth are responding well to chatterbaits and drop-shot rigs worked around isolated offshore structure, a transition that fits precisely with the late-May calendar. Full moon tonight tightens the best feeding windows to first light and dusk. River wading is difficult at current flows; lake fishing is the stronger play this weekend.
Olympic Peninsula Chinook in Prime Late-May Season Window
Two USGS gauges across the Olympic Peninsula registered flows of 857 cfs and 608 cfs this morning, moderate and fishable levels heading into the final days of May. Water temperatures were unavailable from either station this cycle. No specific creel data or on-the-water reports were available from regional sources in today's pull; WA WDFW Fishing Reports remains the most current local source for catch and stocking updates on individual drainages. Based on gauge conditions and calendar timing, spring Chinook are the marquee target for late May, typically at or near peak run concentration across major Olympic Peninsula systems at this point in the season. Steelhead returns generally wind down through late spring, though straggler fish are possible in select systems. Sea-run cutthroat are beginning to appear in lower river reaches and tidewater, a fishery that builds through summer. Tonight's Full Moon may compress the most productive bite into low-light windows at dawn and dusk.
Full Moon Mutton Spawn Lights Up the Florida Keys Reefs
Mutton snappers are stacking on spawn aggregations across the Florida Keys, timed perfectly to the full moon. ALL IN Key West captains report the mutton snapper fishing is at an "all-time high" right now, with yellowtail snappers described as "practically jumping in the boat" along reef edges. Conditions could hardly be better overhead: NOAA buoys SMKF1 and SANF1 both clocked winds at just 1.5 m/s this afternoon, setting up near-calm seas for flats and offshore runs alike. On the Gulf side, an ALL IN Key West outing turned up groupers, snappers, cobia, barracudas, and kingfish in a single trip. With late May marking the heart of the Keys snapper spawn season and offshore pelagics building toward their summer peak, this full-moon window is one of the most productive on the Keys fishing calendar.
Post-spawn bass shift to offshore structure on Hill Country lakes
The Colorado River at the Hill Country corridor is flowing at 244 cfs (USGS gauge 08158000, May 31), and the Highland Lakes are settling into the post-spawn transition that defines early summer fishing here. Direct angler reports for Lakes Travis, LBJ, and Buchanan are limited this cycle, but regional technique intel is consistent: Tactical Bassin reports that post-spawn bass are responding well to chatterbaits, neko rigs, and drop-shots worked around isolated offshore structure, as fish recover and scatter from shallow spawning beds. At nearby Canyon Lake — a comparable Hill Country impoundment — My Canyon Lake Fishing confirms conditions remain "ideal for boating and fishing," with multiple ramps open and lake levels running eight feet higher than this time last year. Lone Star Outdoor News notes a record-setting year statewide for Texas anglers. The full moon this weekend typically concentrates surface feeding into dawn and dusk windows. No water temperature reading is available from the gauge at this writing.
Salmon Surge as NorCal Coast Cools Into Prime Conditions
Water temps at NOAA buoy 46026 are sitting at 53°F on May 31, right in the productive zone for Chinook salmon. The clearest on-water signal comes from Western Outdoor News — Saltwater, where Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing reports conditions have improved dramatically below Pigeon Point after water temps shed four degrees from the 58°F mark logged at the start of salmon season. That cooling traces directly to northwest winds and upwelling — the same mechanism Allen "Bushy" Bushnell highlights in his WON Central Coast update, describing nutrient-rich water rising toward the surface and drawing salmon into productive range. Buoy 46013 is logging 10 m/s northwest winds, confirming the upwelling engine is still running. Today's full moon adds significant tidal movement throughout the Bay, making early-morning pushes worth timing carefully. Salmon prospects along this coast look as strong as they have all season.
UP Trout Streams Settling Post-Runoff as Lake Superior Season Builds
USGS gauge 04059500 logged 187 cfs on a monitored Upper Peninsula tributary as of the morning of May 31, pointing to moderating post-snowmelt flows across the UP's trout-stream network. Water temperature data was not returned from the gauge this cycle. Direct on-the-water trip reports for the region were sparse — the MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report did not return readable conditions this cycle, and no charter or shop feeds were in the data payload. What the broader record does confirm: lake whitefish have become a growing draw across the Lake Superior basin. Per WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing, the Chequamegon Bay fishery has attracted increasing numbers of boat and ice anglers in recent seasons, prompting active DNR management review in early 2026. For UP stream anglers, late May is typically a prime transition window as runoff moderates and evening hatches begin building toward the Hex. Today's full moon adds solunar pressure worth timing your dawn and dusk sessions around.
Grand River bass go post-spawn; late-spring salmon window still open
The Grand River is running at 3,330 cfs this morning per USGS gauge 04119000, a moderate late-spring level that keeps drift boat access on the lower river workable and wading manageable near the upper comfortable threshold. No water temperature data is available from current gauge readings. Today's Full Moon pushes largemouth and smallmouth bass squarely into post-spawn recovery, when fish leave beds and scatter to transition structure and offshore holds. Tactical Bassin's recent post-spawn coverage points to chatterbaits, swimbaits, and finesse rigs — neko and drop-shot — worked over outside flats and isolated offshore structure as the productive patterns for this phase. On the big lake, the WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report provides useful season backdrop: 2024 delivered record coho harvests topping 210,000 fish and the strongest Chinook showing since 2012, with improved alewife forage credited for driving exceptional survival rates. Spring steelhead returns are winding down through late May, while charter boats are beginning their seasonal pivot toward open-lake Chinook and coho trolling.
Prime sulphur season arrives on Pennsylvania's limestone trout streams
USGS gauge 01546500 clocked 90.1 cfs at 10:45 this morning, putting regional limestone creek levels in a stable, fishable range. No water temperature came off the gauge, but late May is the heart of Pennsylvania's limestone-creek sulphur season, when evening hatches define the fishing. Gink and Gasoline flagged this spring that warming conditions pushed Sulphur and Light Cahill emergences earlier than typical, with fish rising to dries before the calendar usually allows it; by the last day of May, those hatches are running at or near their peak. MidCurrent's latest hatch-tying content highlights patterns covering every feeding lane from the surface film to open water, a framework that translates directly to the evening risers Spring Creek and Penns Creek produce this time of year. Tonight's full moon can compress daytime feeding windows, but the cold, constant groundwater on these limestone streams keeps trout active through the low-light spinner fall.
Lake Erie & Niagara bass shift post-spawn as late-May warmup peaks
USGS gauge 04231600 logged 64°F and 2,000 cfs on a western New York tributary this morning, confirming the late-May thermal transition is underway throughout the Lake Erie and Niagara corridor. Smallmouth and largemouth bass are firmly in post-spawn mode; Tactical Bassin this week reports that isolated offshore structure is key, with fish responding to chatterbaits, dropshot rigs, and neko presentations worked along wind-driven flats and outside edges. Walleye are seasonally expected to be active at these temperatures, though no charter or shop intel reached this cycle to confirm bite specifics. The full moon this weekend will compress productive windows into early morning and evening. A conservation note from Wired 2 Fish: litigation continues over last year's Ischua Creek fish kill in western New York, a reminder that some area trout tributaries remain in a recovery phase. Check current state regulations before harvesting.
Puget Sound spring kings and Pacific halibut peak in full moon window
NOAA buoy 46087 recorded 6.2-foot swells and air near 47°F at midday Sunday, with buoy 46041 logging 5.9 feet and air around 51°F — rough but within the normal range for late May off the WA coast. No species-specific bite updates were available through citable angler-intel sources this cycle; WA WDFW Fishing Reports tracks creel and stocking data statewide, but specific catch summaries did not reach this pull. What we can say with confidence: late May is historically one of the better windows for spring Chinook salmon and Pacific halibut in both Puget Sound and Pacific-side waters. Tonight's full moon is driving some of the month's largest tidal exchanges through inland passages, and feeding windows tend to cluster around slack water on either side of peak current. Lingcod and rockfish on structure remain accessible year-round and can be particularly active during a running flood or ebb. Expect continued cool, choppy offshore conditions through at least the early part of the week.
Spring Chinook window holding on Columbia tributaries as late-May flows settle
USGS gauge 14113000 measured 51°F and 1,110 cfs on the morning of May 31, placing Columbia tributary conditions squarely in the productive temperature range for late-spring salmon. The WA WDFW Fishing Reports portal tracks creel interviews and stocking activity across Washington drainages, though specific bite tallies were not available in this reporting cycle. At 51°F, spring Chinook in Columbia system tributaries are typically on the move, and flows near 1,110 cfs suggest the post-peak-runoff settling that anglers generally look for on these rivers. For the warmer mainstem Columbia, smallmouth bass are likely in their post-spawn feeding phase, typical for late May. Puget Sound river systems are entering the shoulder between lingering spring steelhead and incoming summer-run fish. The full moon on May 31 tends to concentrate feeding activity at low-light hours. Verify current regulations and stocking updates through WDFW before your trip, as rules vary by drainage.
Potomac running high as post-spawn bass and rockfish push into early summer
The Potomac River is running at 22,800 cfs (USGS gauge 01646500, May 31 morning), a markedly elevated flow pushing fish off main-channel banks and into slower pockets, eddies, and submerged structure. With bass past the spawn and the full moon overhead, Tactical Bassin reports this transition window rewards anglers working isolated offshore structure with dropshots, neko rigs, and chatterbaits, presentations that produce as fish move off beds and resume chasing. On The Water's May 29 striper migration update confirms big rockfish continue pushing north, feeding heavily on river herring and bunker, a pulse that historically reaches the tidal Potomac this time of year. The Virginia DWR Wildlife Blog flags that spring drought conditions have stressed aquatic habitats across the Commonwealth, which may be affecting smaller Shenandoah tributaries more acutely than the main-stem gauge reflects. Target current seams, bridge pilings, and deeper outside bends where fish hold to avoid the push.
Blue catfish on the feed at Eagle Mountain Lake as June opens strong
North Texas Catfish Guide reports Eagle Mountain Lake sitting at near-full pool with significant fresh water inflows, conditions the operation calls 'perfect' for activating fish. Blue catfish and channel catfish are on the move and feeding aggressively, with the guide noting trips come together fast once anglers lock onto schools. A comparable June window in 2024 produced limits of channel cats and blue catfish on most trips, with white bass also running the main lake. Tonight's full moon adds a natural feeding trigger that should keep catfish active through the overnight hours and into dawn. USGS gauge 08211200 is reading 68.5 cfs this morning, signaling low, stable flows typical for this time of year across many Texas river systems. Water temperature data was unavailable from the gauge. Lone Star Outdoor News notes 2026 is shaping up as a record year for Texas anglers overall.
Susquehanna smallmouth in prime post-spawn window ahead of June
USGS gauge 01540500 on the West Branch Susquehanna recorded 65°F water temperature and 11,600 cfs discharge on the morning of May 31 — elevated flow for late spring, but temperatures firmly in the post-spawn transition zone for smallmouth bass. At 65°F, the bulk of Susquehanna smallmouth have wrapped spawning and are shifting into a feed-up phase that typically marks one of the most consistent bite windows of the year. Tactical Bassin's post-spawn breakdown this week notes that bass are holding around isolated offshore structure in higher flows, with chatterbaits, neko rigs, and dropshot presentations outpacing shallow approaches. With elevated discharge pushing fish off exposed gravel bars and into current breaks and deeper boulder pockets, anglers working mid-channel edges and slower side-channel seams will find the most cooperative fish. Tonight's full moon adds a dawn and dusk feeding bonus across both the Susquehanna and Allegheny drainages. Specific bite intel from PA Fish & Boat's biologist network was not available in this update cycle.
Oregon Coast Enters Peak Spring Chinook Window with Active Upwelling
NOAA buoy 46029 at the Columbia River Bar and buoy 46002 offshore are both logging 55–56°F as of May 31, right in the band that historically concentrates spring chinook and keeps Pacific halibut active along the Oregon Coast. Northwest winds running 4–8 m/s across monitoring stations signal the seasonal upwelling cycle that draws nutrient-rich cold water toward the surface, stacking baitfish and the gamefish that follow. Western Outdoor News — Saltwater coverage of the Central California coast this week notes that northwest winds and cool upwelled water have sharply improved salmon conditions there — the same oceanographic pattern applies to Oregon. No direct on-water reports from Oregon charter captains or tackle shops are available in current feeds, so specific bite locations and depths represent general seasonal expectations rather than confirmed intel. Full moon on May 31 drives strong tidal exchanges through the weekend; morning tide-change windows are traditionally the most productive for both nearshore rockfish and offshore halibut. Check state regulations before heading out, as halibut and salmon seasons carry in-season adjustments.
Red drum surge onto Outer Banks beaches for the late-May push
Red drum are making a strong push onto Outer Banks beaches right now. Ryan of Hatteras Jack reports surf action has come alive, with anglers catching good numbers along the Hatteras-to-Ocracoke stretch. Water temperatures are running at 77°F per NOAA buoy readings off the Carolina coast, prime late-spring conditions for drum activity. Bluefish are adding to the action around the Cape Lookout shoals area, where Steve of Chasin' Tails reports plenty of good-sized fish off the beach. Farther up the sound, Donald of Custom Marine Fabrication is finding slot-sized red drum pushing through the entire Pamlico/Neuse system, signaling a broad run from sound to surf. The Full Moon today brings elevated tidal movement that should concentrate bait on shoal edges and inlet mouths. Winds are running around 20 mph, so surf casters should target calmer morning windows. Sea mullet, black drum, and early pompano are already showing at adjacent NC stretches per Fisherman's Post.
Stripers to 50 pounds running Long Island as bluefish push kicks off
Water temps have settled at 56°F across both offshore buoys this morning, and the striper bite up and down Long Island is as good as it gets in spring. The Fisherman's East End correspondent reports fish to 50 pounds around Montauk Point on flood tide rips, with quality bass running from Montauk through Shinnecock. On The Water confirmed the bite runs "hot from New York City to Montauk" as of May 28. The Fisherman's surf correspondent notes fish to 50 inches on glide baits, SP Minnows, and bucktails from Breezy Point through the South Shore inlets. Bluefish are now making their presence felt, with The Fisherman's South Shore reporting 9 blues in a single bay session and the West End noting fish to 8 pounds at Wantagh Bridge. Fluke action is picky system-wide, with cold water keeping feeding windows short.
Post-spawn bass and pickerel step up as shad run winds down on the Delaware
Eight weeks of declining water levels and wrong forecasts finally broke last weekend — JB Kasper's report in The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater notes widespread rains gave the Delaware River, northern trout streams, and South Jersey cedar waters a meaningful reprieve. The relief comes just as the American shad run at Lambertville wraps up: Old School Outdoors in Ewing confirmed the bite has slowed significantly, with striped bass north of Trenton also tapering off by week's end after a productive early stretch. USGS gauge 01408000 read 26.8 cfs, reflecting drought-depleted flows across much of the spring. On the upside, bass across the region are transitioning into a post-spawn feeding phase, with Old School Outdoors noting decent action at Lake Mercer and Carnegie Lake. South Jersey's cedar-stained backwaters got a rain boost that should extend chain pickerel fishing well into June, per JB Kasper. Full moon timing may push the best bite into low-light windows this weekend.
Post-spawn bass and catfish prime on Nebraska's Platte and Missouri
The Platte River is running at 3,970 cfs as of this morning per USGS gauge 06796000, a healthy late-May pulse that concentrates fish around current breaks, wing dams, and slack-water eddies. No temperature reading is attached to today's gauge data, though late May in Nebraska typically pushes river temps into the mid- to upper-60s. Tactical Bassin is reporting post-spawn bass firing on offshore structure right now, with anglers scoring on chatterbaits, neko rigs, and swimbaits while drifting wind-blown outside flats — a technique set that maps cleanly onto the Missouri's current seams and deeper Platte eddies. Tonight's full moon sets up a prime after-dark catfishing window on both systems; channel cats and flatheads tend to push onto feeding flats under a bright moon in warming late-May water. Fishing the Midwest notes that larger river systems hit their stride as summer approaches, and the Platte and Missouri are right on schedule.
Post-spawn bass bite picks up as Grand River runs high heading into June
The Grand River is logging 3,340 cfs at USGS gauge 04119000 as of May 31 — an elevated late-spring flow that pushes off-color water toward Lake Michigan and concentrates baitfish near tributary mouths. Post-spawn bass fishing is the headline story across the upper Midwest: Tactical Bassin recently detailed a productive outing targeting largemouth and smallmouth off isolated offshore structure using chatterbaits, swimbaits, drop-shots, and neko rigs — presentations that translate directly to Michigan's Great Lakes shorelines at this stage of the season. Angler chatter is circulating around spring coho beginning to show at Harbor Beach on Lake Huron's Thumb Coast. The MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report for May 27 covers statewide conditions across all five regions. With the full moon falling on May 31, the low-light windows at dawn and dusk are worth prioritizing for walleye and surface-feeding bass. Check the latest MI DNR report for region-specific updates before heading out.