Fishing reports
19276 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Columbia and Rogue pivot to summer steelhead as Chinook season winds down
USGS gauge 14211720 clocked 13,500 cfs and 66°F on the Columbia basin as of May 26 — water temperatures pushing toward the upper threshold that stresses spring Chinook and accelerates their upstream push. The spring Chinook run is typically at or past its seasonal peak by late May, and at 66°F fish are moving fast rather than stacking in fishable pools. No local charter, shop, or agency reports for the Columbia or Rogue reached our feeds this cycle; IFish.net's Oregon forum posts were limited to lost-gear notices, with no bite accounts to draw from. Based on the seasonal calendar, summer steelhead are beginning to enter the lower Rogue and Columbia system, providing the natural transition target as the Chinook window narrows. White sturgeon remain a dependable year-round option on the mainstem Columbia. Verify current retention windows with ODFW before heading out, as regulations shift quickly with run strength and timing.
Post-spawn bass on the bite across Lake Eufaula and Red River
Per MLF News, the Arkansas River near Muskogee is 'currently on a high,' with big bags more common there now than they've ever been on the river. That's the strongest regional bass signal for eastern Oklahoma right now. USGS gauge 07247500 puts the Red River at 486 cfs as of Tuesday afternoon, a moderate and fishable stage that concentrates catfish and bass along current seams and outside bends. Lake Eufaula's largemouth have fully transitioned to post-spawn. Wired 2 Fish's current breakdown notes fish splitting into two camps: aggressive biters gorging on shad spawns near shallow vegetation, and spooky fish still guarding fry balls closer to the beds. The waxing gibbous moon is sharpening solunar feeding windows heading into the holiday weekend, with dawn topwater likely the highest-odds play. Striped bass on Eufaula typically suspend over main-lake structure by late May; vertical presentations are the standard go-to.
May walleye bite kicks into high gear on the Red and Missouri
Water at USGS gauge 05054000 is reading 65°F at 758 cfs as of this afternoon, right in the wheelhouse for post-spawn walleye feeding hard along the Red and Missouri River drainages. Jason Mitchell Outdoors is calling this stretch of May 'Walleye Craziness,' a framing that lines up with the thermal window we're seeing right now. AnglingBuzz features guide Jason Freed's slip-bobber rig as a standout walleye setup for current conditions, a presentation that translates well to moderate river current. Northern pike are also post-spawn and feeding aggressively in edge cover. Channel catfish on the Missouri will grow more active as daily highs push water temps toward the upper 60s through the week. The waxing gibbous moon sets up strong feeding windows at dawn and dusk, worth timing a launch around. Check North Dakota Game and Fish regulations before harvesting any fish.
Red Drum Push Hard onto OBX Beaches as May Surf Bite Heats Up
Red drum have made a strong push onto the beaches of Hatteras and Ocracoke this week — Ryan of Hatteras Jack, per Fisherman's Post (NC), reports the surf has come alive with anglers catching good numbers along the stretch. Water temps are squarely in the feeding zone: NOAA buoy 41025 off Diamond Shoals reads 79°F, with buoy 41013 near Beaufort at 78°F. In the Pamlico Sound and along the Neuse River, Fisherman's Post (NC) relays that Donald of Custom Marine Fabrication is finding slot-sized drum pushing throughout the system. Fisherman's Post — Carolinas saltwater adds that bluefish are running near Cape Lookout shoals (via Steve of Chasin' Tails) and early pompano, sea mullet, and black drum are showing in the Swansboro/Emerald Isle surf (per Morgan of The Reel Outdoors). The waxing gibbous moon is building strong tidal movement — time your sessions around moving water for the best shot at the drum bite.
San Juan tailwater prime for Memorial Day; Rio Grande holding at fishable flows
USGS gauge 08330000 put the Rio Grande at 297 cfs as of midday May 26, a moderate reading that keeps most wading-accessible stretches fishable heading into Memorial Day weekend. No NM-specific charter or shop reports surfaced in this cycle's feeds, so on-the-water conditions here draw from gauge data and the seasonal patterns that define late May on these waters. The San Juan tailwater below Navajo Dam runs on dam-regulated releases, insulating it from snowmelt swings, and late May is historically one of its most consistent dry-fly windows as PMD and caddis hatches warm into full swing by midday. MidCurrent's current fly-tying coverage highlights midge patterns built for "clear, pressured water of stillwaters and tailraces": language that fits the San Juan precisely. Waxing gibbous moon conditions add productive low-light windows at dawn and dusk worth building your day around.
Rains Lift South Jersey Cedar Waters as Bass Enter Post-Spawn Feeding Mode
A late-week rain gave NJ freshwater a much-needed lift after months of drought. The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater reports the precipitation was widespread, boosting northern trout streams, the Delaware River, and South Jersey cedar waters, potentially extending pickerel fishing into June. The USGS gauge 01408000 is currently reading 50.3 cfs, a low-flow figure consistent with the drought conditions that have stressed the watershed all spring. On the Delaware at Lambertville, the American shad run has wound down noticeably, and river striped bass that had been productive north of Trenton earlier this week faded by the weekend, per The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater. The encouraging headline is the post-spawn bass transition: bass are moving off beds and entering a feeding window, with local lake fishing at Carnegie Lake and Lake Mercer producing decent crappie action as well. Smallmouth and catfishing on the main river stem remain average at best.
Big stripers on the NH coast as the Merrimack herring run peaks
Water temperatures of 53°F at NOAA buoy 44007 and an active herring run have pushed striper fishing on the NH coast into high gear. Surfland Bait and Tackle (per The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME) calls it plainly: "it's really good up here right now." Clam-fishing off the front beaches is producing slot and over-slot stripers, while the Merrimack mouth stands out as the most consistent producer. Paddletails on leadheads on either side of low tide are the go-to, with SP Minnows and bucktails also drawing strikes. Reports of fish into the 40-inch class are coming in from both the river and the front beaches. Capt. Tom at Beauport Fishing Adventures (The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME) confirms 20-plus-pound bass chasing mackerel on the inshore grounds, with early signs of pogies showing in lobster gear. The Fisherman (Northeast) adds that this spring push of 20-to-30-pound fish is "the likes of which we haven't seen in many years."
Merrimack stripers tracking the herring run as moon peaks
Surfland Bait & Tackle reports stripers up to the 40-inch class working the Merrimack River with the herring run still fully active, per The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME. The most consistent action on bigger fish is coming from inside the river. The USGS gauge on the Merrimack recorded 225 cfs on the afternoon of May 26, a moderate and fishable flow that keeps presentations clean for anglers working NH's stretch of the system. At the river mouth, paddletails on leadheads are the leading presentation, with SP Minnows and bucktails also drawing bites, according to The Fisherman — New England Freshwater. Heading into the weekend, the waxing gibbous moon sets up a favorable feeding push: On The Water's striper migration map as of May 22 noted the spring run peaks around moon phases, making the next several days a prime window. No fresh Lake Winnipesaukee reports are available for this cycle.
Gray Triggerfish Season Closes June 1 — Final Tides on Mississippi Sound
MS DMR announced that recreational Gray Triggerfish harvest in Mississippi territorial waters closes at 12:01 a.m. June 1, leaving anglers just a handful of tides to target them legally on nearshore reefs and ledges before the season ends. On an equally significant note, the 2026-2027 Mississippi shrimp season opened this morning — May 26 — in waters south of the half-mile offshore boundary, meaning fresh live shrimp are now flowing into bait wells across the coast, per MS DMR. NOAA buoy 42067 logged 3.3-foot wave heights and winds near 10 knots with air temperatures around 80°F, keeping nearshore runs workable but worth a fresh weather check before departure. The waxing gibbous moon sets up strong evening feeding windows over the next several nights. Speckled trout and redfish remain the dependable late-spring workhorses across the Sound's grass flats and shell reefs as the fishery transitions fully into its summer rhythm.
Grand River moderating as Michigan's bass and salmon season shifts into gear
The Grand River is logging 4,630 cfs at USGS gauge 04119000 as of May 26, a moderate late-spring flow that keeps the lower river fishable for walleye and smallmouth without blown-out conditions. No water temperature reading is available from this gauge cycle. The MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report (through May 20) covers statewide conditions, though detailed catch breakdowns were not available in this feed. On the charter-planning front, anglers on the Michigan Sportsman Forum are actively shopping King salmon trips out of Ludington on Lake Michigan, a reliable seasonal signal that the summer Chinook window is opening. Michigan Sea Grant recently launched new research tracking smallmouth bass seasonal movements in Saginaw Bay, a fishery that historically hits stride in late May and early June. With a waxing gibbous moon peaking this week, low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk are worth prioritizing across both river and Great Lakes targets.
Big Stripers and Sea Bass Light Up Cape Cod for Memorial Day
Water temps holding at 57°F off Massachusetts Bay (NOAA buoy 44013) and 59°F near Nantucket Sound (NOAA buoy 44020) have Cape Cod Bay fishing in peak late-May form. The Cape Cod Canal is the headline: The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands reports Red Top Sporting Goods describing the bite as resembling 'the Good Old Days,' with anglers hooked up both directions along the bank and mackerel-colored plugs and jigs leading at the east end. Capt. Carl at Westport River Outfitters has been running limit sea bass trips alongside stripers from 34 to 42 inches, per the same source. The Fisherman (Northeast) confirms bluefish have arrived at three locations across southern New England, sea bass action is beginning on the Cape, and fluke catches are starting to build. The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME notes mackerel are moving in thick, and the first pogy sightings have surfaced in lobster traps — a promising signal for the weeks ahead.
Connecticut River shad run fires at Holyoke as spring fishing peaks
Shad are packing the Connecticut River through the Holyoke stretch, making it Central Massachusetts' standout freshwater destination heading into late May. Per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, Fishin' Factory 3 reports the Holyoke section is loaded with shad and stripers, with strong angler interest through the post-Memorial Day window. The same report notes white perch delivering consistent action on sandworms, a secondary bite worth pursuing alongside the main migration push. Trout remain in area rivers, though Fishin' Factory 3 observes that far fewer anglers are now targeting them as the season shifts toward warmwater and migratory species. USGS gauge 01111500 reads 106 cfs and gauge 01105500 logs 23.3 cfs, both indicating stable, fishable flows across Central MA's river network. No in-stream water temperatures are available from our gauge network today, but late May typically brings warming inland waters that push largemouth bass into post-spawn recovery patterns. The waxing gibbous moon through the weekend should extend feeding windows at dawn and dusk.
Black drum and stripers hold as Chesapeake winds finally ease
Water at 59°F per NOAA buoy 44009, the Chesapeake Bay region has been fighting wind and unsettled weather through the Memorial Day holiday. The Fisherman — DE/MD/Chesapeake's Eric Burnley put it plainly: 'the weatherman was the boogieman for most of the week.' But through the chop, black drum have been the standout story. Smith Bait in Leipsic reports consistent drum action at the Coral Beds off Slaughter Beach on blue crab, with sand fleas and clams at dusk also doing the job. That report is backed by The Fisherman — Southern NJ, where black drum described as 'booming' in the Delaware Bay corridor are running near 80 pounds on fresh clams. Striped bass remain regionally active: On The Water's May 22 striper migration map shows the spring run peaking around moon phases, and this waxing gibbous window is the kind that typically produces.
Stripers Running Full Tilt in the Gulf of Maine as Herring Push Peaks
Water at NOAA buoy 44007 reads 53°F on May 26, cold enough to hold baitfish tight to structure but not slowing the bite. Surfland Bait and Tackle, per The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME, says striper season is now 'pretty much in full swing,' with fish up to 40 inches reported from the Merrimack River and the front beaches. Belsan's Bait and Tackle confirms a rapid week-over-week turn: large mackerel have moved in alongside sea herring, and bass up to the low 40-pound class have taken notice. Beaches from Fourth Cliff to Minot are producing 30-pound-class fish on plugs and plastics. Capt. Tom at Beauport Fishing Adventures reports stripers chasing mackerel well into the 20-pound class, with early pogies appearing in lobster traps. That bait signal is a strong indicator for the weeks ahead. Multiple reports in The Fisherman — New England Freshwater confirm the Merrimack mouth is producing well around low tide on paddletails, SP Minnows, and bucktails. A waxing gibbous moon is building toward peak tidal flow.
Smallmouth spawn and landlocked salmon bite shape up on Kennebec & Penobscot
Elevated spring flows on the Kennebec system, with USGS gauge 01046500 logging 4,100 cfs as of May 26, are holding river levels above typical late-May baseflow for central Maine. Water temperature data was unavailable from the gauge this cycle, though late-May conditions in this region historically push river temps into the upper 50s to low 60s F, the prime window for smallmouth bass moving through their spawn. No direct on-the-water reports for the upper Kennebec or Penobscot appear in this period's angler intel, but The Fisherman - South Shore MA to ME notes herring runs are "very much on" in area rivers this week, a baitfish pulse that typically drives predator activity throughout connected Maine drainages. With the waxing gibbous moon overhead, dawn and dusk feeding windows are worth prioritizing. Landlocked salmon, a hallmark of both river systems, should be holding in cooler, oxygenated runs as surface temperatures continue their seasonal climb.
Blue cats and bass retreat to slack water as the Mississippi runs strong
USGS gauge 07374000 recorded the lower Mississippi at 408,000 cfs and 75°F at mid-day on May 26 — a robust spring pulse that is pushing fish off the main channel and into slack-water refuges. Post-spawn largemouth and blue catfish are predictably staging in flooded timber, oxbow cuts, and the Atchafalaya's backwater flats, where current slackens and baitfish concentrate. Louisiana Sportsman noted LDWF agents conducting joint enforcement patrols with NOAA Fisheries in the region this week — a reminder to check your licenses and verify current slot limits before heading out. Direct freshwater bite reports from guides or tackle shops were limited in this week's available feeds, so the picture drawn here leans on gauge conditions and late-May seasonal inference. The Waxing Gibbous moon adds a reliable overnight feeding window that experienced catfish anglers on this system plan around explicitly.
Georgia Offshore Enters Prime Late-May Window, Red Snapper Season Murky
NOAA buoy 41008 logged 4.6-foot seas and moderate 10-knot winds off the Georgia coast on May 26, with air temperature near 80°F. Offshore conditions are manageable for larger vessels heading to the live-bottom reefs. The biggest development for Georgia saltwater anglers this week is the red snapper situation: Sport Fishing Mag confirmed South Atlantic states including Georgia received exempted fishing permits (EFPs) for a greatly expanded 2026 red snapper season, but Coastal Angler Magazine subsequently reported a federal court halted that season just one day before launch. Until a ruling clears the path, check current state regulations before targeting snapper offshore. Inshore, the Georgia Wildlife Blog's May 22 report points to active conditions statewide, and GA Sportsman's Southern Waters report from May 23 confirms panfish biting well along river systems from the Altamaha to the Savannah, suggesting favorable water conditions feeding into the coastal zone.
Late-May bass and shellcracker action heating up across Georgia's river country
Panfish and bass have been biting well across Georgia's river systems this week, per the GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News Southern Waters report from May 23, with Jimmy Zinker boating a 6-pound largemouth on a Muskie Jitterbug during a night fishing trip as a recent highlight. The Savannah River at Clyo was holding steady at 3.0 feet as of May 21, a moderate level that keeps fish accessible on typical river structure. Adding to the action, Phil Black set a new Lake Tugalo record for shellcracker on May 20, weighing a 2-lb., 3.26-oz. fish on a simple worm rig (per GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News), strong evidence that late-spring panfish are in peak form. The Georgia Wildlife Blog confirmed another solid week of fishing activity underway statewide as of May 22. USGS gauge 02197000 shows the Savannah running at 7,900 cfs today, consistent with a stable, fishable flow heading into the week.
Post-spawn largemouth scatter across Lake O and the St. Johns
The St. Johns River is running at 118 cfs at USGS gauge 02232000 as of May 26, a moderate, stable flow consistent with the pre-rainy-season low-water window typical of late May. No water temperature was recorded at the gauge, but surface temps across both the St. Johns and Lake Okeechobee typically reach the upper 70s to low 80s°F this time of year. Largemouth bass are firmly in post-spawn territory on both systems. Wired 2 Fish describes the phase as a split: some fish are aggressively feeding along bream beds and shad schools, while others hold shallow and spooky, demanding finesse presentations over heavier cover. The waxing gibbous moon should keep dawn and dusk feeding windows active heading into the Memorial Day weekend. Bluegill and shellcracker beds are winding down from their May peak but remain catchable on shallow hard-bottom pockets through the current moon cycle. No direct charter or shop reports for Lake Okeechobee or the St. Johns were available in this week's intel feeds.
Blackfin Tuna Run Strong as Snook Hit Pre-Spawn Peak
Snook Nook out of Stuart reports late-spring snook fishing is "heating up" as fish begin pre-spawn staging along the Treasure Coast — May is one of the best inshore months on the Indian River and St. Lucie River systems, with quality slot and over-slot fish appearing with increasing regularity. Offshore, Sport Fishing Mag confirms blackfin tuna are flooding Atlantic waters from the Keys north to Palm Beach, making May through July prime season for these hard-fighting fish on live bait, dead bait, and lures. Saltwater Sportsman highlights wahoo opportunities out of Boynton Beach, with Capt. Chris Lemieux noting that full-moon phases drive bigger fish to the surface. One significant development: Coastal Angler Magazine and CCA Florida both report a federal court issued an injunction halting Florida's anticipated 39-day Atlantic red snapper season just one day before its Memorial Day launch, blocking the state-led EFP pilot programs. Anglers planning to target red snapper should verify current regulatory status before heading out.
White perch turn on in Delaware creeks as post-spawn bass push begins
White perch have 'really turned on' in back-creek waters per Higbee's Bait and Tackle (The Fisherman, Southern NJ), a tidewater pattern that tracks closely with the Christina and Nanticoke drainages in late May. USGS gauge 01493500 logged just 4.35 cfs on May 26, signaling lean, clear conditions that concentrate fish in deeper channel bends and pool heads. Eric Burnley (The Fisherman, DE/MD/Chesapeake) reports high winds and cold water defined most of the Memorial Day stretch, frustrating anglers across the region, but improving skies should open better windows soon. On the freshwater side, both Tackle World and JB Kasper (The Fisherman, NJ/DE Freshwater) confirm bass are moving off their beds and entering a post-spawn feed, a transition that typically plays out across Delaware tidal tributaries in the same window. The waxing gibbous moon supports low-light bites at dawn and dusk. With runoff minimal, finesse presentations in slow pools are the move right now.
Big Stripers Stacking LIS Reefs as Spring Bait Surge Peaks
Fisherman's World in Norwalk is reporting an influx of bass up to 40 pounds and larger this week, concentrated on deep-water reefs over schools of bunker holding in the water column. Water temps sit at 56 to 57 degrees F per NOAA buoys 44025 and 44065, a dip from a recent high near 61 degrees, but Captain Morgan's Bait and Tackle notes that fish migrated up the coast and from the Shelf regardless, settling into structure rather than retreating. Captain TJ Karbowski of Rock and Roll Charters told The Fisherman — Connecticut that striper fishing has been nothing short of phenomenal, with slot fish and larger taking both bunker and squid. Bait diversity is excellent across the Sound, with squid, bunker, mackerel, and silversides all in play depending on location. The fluke bite is beginning to pick up per Bobby J's, and bluefish have arrived at three locations across southern New England per The Fisherman (Northeast), putting them at LIS's doorstep.
CT River shad run peaks as stripers and perch join the spring push
Water temperatures on the Connecticut River have climbed to 64°F (USGS gauge 01184000), and the warmth is driving prime conditions across CT's inland waters. Andrew at Fishin' Factory 3 in Middletown reports the Connecticut River as the most popular freshwater destination right now, with the Middletown-to-Cromwell stretch packed with shad and stripers. The Rocky Hill boat launch area is also producing steadily. White perch are coming in on sandworms intended for stripers, making trips doubly productive. On smaller tributaries, Rich at Fisherman's World in Norwalk reports trout enthusiasts doing well in the Wilton section of the Norwalk River, recently stocked on April 2, April 29, and May 9, with Roostertails, Kastmasters, and Mepps Spinners accounting for most catches. A smaller inland gauge (USGS gauge 01193500) reads 203 cfs, suggesting moderate, fishable flows on tributary systems. The waxing gibbous moon adds low-light feeding windows worth planning around.
Chinook salmon come alive on the Central Coast as upwelling reshapes the bite
Water temps at NOAA buoy 46042 are reading 56°F off Monterey, and that cool reading is precisely the signal salmon chasers have been waiting for. Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reports the Central Coast Chinook situation has shaped up to be "actually looking pretty good," with northwest winds driving an upwelling event that pulls nutrient-rich cold water to the surface and concentrates baitfish from the Santa Cruz area southward. Up at Half Moon Bay, Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady (via Western Outdoor News — Saltwater) says water below Pigeon Point has fallen to 54°F after the season opened four degrees warmer, a swing he calls game-changing. The waxing gibbous moon and building northwest swell running at 6.6 ft at buoys 46042 and 46028 are keeping conditions sporty, so plan early-morning departures before afternoon wind builds. Rockfish and lingcod hold on structure throughout the region as typical for late May saltwater conditions.