Fishing reports
19291 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Red drum flooding Outer Banks surf in strong late-May push
A 77°F water temperature at both NOAA buoy 41025 and buoy 41013 has red drum flooding the Outer Banks surf in force. Fisherman's Post (NC) reports that Ryan of Hatteras Jack describes the surf action as alive, with drum making a strong beach push and anglers catching good numbers along the Hatteras stretch. Pamlico Sound is equally active: Donald of Custom Marine Fabrication reports slot-sized drum covering the full length of the Neuse, per Fisherman's Post (NC). Offshore from Morehead/Atlantic Beach, Steve of Chasin' Tails reports bull reds working Cape Lookout shoals alongside plenty of good-sized bluefish, per Fisherman's Post. Surf casters are also picking up sea mullet, black drum, and early big pompano along the Carolina coast. With a First Quarter moon and moderate 3.9-to-4.9-foot swells, conditions favor active daytime surf sessions through the week.
Roanoke's spring striper window meets post-spawn bass on a low Catawba
USGS gauge 02142900 logged the Catawba at just 2.76 cfs on May 23 — a strikingly lean reading that signals drought-stressed water levels heading into Memorial Day weekend. No water temperature was recorded at this station. Direct on-the-water reports for the Catawba and Roanoke inland systems weren't captured in this update's angler feeds, which skewed heavily toward the NC coast; the conditions picture here draws on gauge data and established late-May patterns. On the Roanoke, late May typically marks the final weeks of the spring striped bass migration — fish that pushed upriver through April are beginning to stage back toward Kerr Lake and Gaston as surface temperatures climb. On Catawba-chain reservoirs, largemouth bass are in post-spawn recovery, trading bed flats for dock shade and adjacent grass lines. The critically low gauge reading on the Catawba proper will concentrate catfish and other species in deeper channel holes, making structure the key variable this weekend.
Big Stripers Running Island-Wide as Memorial Day Weekend Arrives
Water temperatures holding at 55°F across both NOAA monitoring stations are keeping the fluke bite measured, but striped bass are the undisputed headliner across Long Island this week. Per The Fisherman — Long Island East End, Montauk is delivering steady action on slot fish and occasional larger bass taking diamond jigs, bucktails, trolling lures, and surface plugs from boat and surf alike. On the South Shore, Chasing Tails Bait & Tackle in Oakdale called this past week 'one for the books,' with solid bass schools working bays and beaches. River Bay Outfitters on the West End confirms big fish are keying on bunker, sand eels, and spearing, with early mornings and moving tides most productive. Fluke are cooperating in spots: Sea Rogue Charters in Freeport drilled nine keepers on Saturday, though cooler-than-average water is still limiting numbers. Porgies are showing well inside Peconic Bay, bluefish have begun trickling into bay systems, and sea bass season opened May 16, per NY DEC.
Hudson Valley bass push shallow and stripers stay active for late-May anglers
Water temperatures hit 63°F at USGS gauge 01357500 on the Hudson River as of May 23, placing the region in the prime late-May window for multiple freshwater species. NY DEC The Fishing Line (Freshwater) reports that the coolwater sportfish season opened statewide on May 1, putting walleye, northern pike, and related species back in play across the Finger Lakes system. Inland striped bass have been in season since April 1, per NY DEC, and On The Water's May 22 striper migration map notes the spring run tracks through peak-and-valley cycles tied to lunar phases. With First Quarter moon this week, the next stronger bite window may build over the coming days. River bass are showing classic late-May behavior, pushing shallow and entering spawning mode, a pattern Brookdog Fishing Co. documented on western New York rivers through mid-May that mirrors conditions on Hudson Valley tributaries. Spring trout stocking, highlighted in recent NY DEC Fishing Line issues, has been loading accessible streams across the state.
Rio Grande Running Slim at Memorial Day; San Juan Tailwater the Better Bet
USGS gauge 08330000 recorded the Rio Grande at just 33 cfs on the evening of May 23, strikingly lean for late May, when snowmelt and upstream irrigation diversions typically compete to shape the river's mood. No water temperature was logged at the gauge. Flows this compressed concentrate trout in deeper pools and undercut banks; fish will be visible but skittish, and presentation precision outweighs water coverage. No direct on-the-water reports for New Mexico reached our sources this cycle, so confirming conditions locally before the drive out is worth the call. The San Juan tailwater below Navajo Dam runs on its own release schedule and typically holds steadier, more fishable conditions regardless of what the Rio Grande is doing. MidCurrent's recent fly-tying coverage highlights midge-style patterns built for the clear, pressured water of tailraces; a description that fits the San Juan's signature environment heading into the Memorial Day weekend.
Bass on the beds and pickerel in the pines as Delaware spring bite peaks
Largemouth are locked onto spawning beds across Delaware River tributaries and Pine Barrens lakes, with Dow's Boat Rentals reporting fish actively holding despite the season's fluctuating water temperatures. Crappie fishing has been strong all month — JB Kasper cites good reports statewide through the first half of May — with fish now beginning to school toward their summer haunts as Memorial Day approaches. In the tidewater reach of the Delaware, Old School Outdoors in Ewing reports solid striper action from the Trenton area down through Lambertville, while the shad run is expected to wind down by early June. Chain pickerel remain active in the cedar-stained waters of the Pine Barrens, per JB Kasper. Water is running lean: USGS gauge 01408000 logged 29.7 cfs on the evening of May 23, consistent with the dry stretch Tackle World flagged as a concern for trout-stream fishing heading into June.
Spring Stripers in Full Stride Along NH's Gulf of Maine Coast
Water temps at 50°F per NOAA buoy 44007 are holding in typical late-May Gulf of Maine range, but they haven't slowed the striper run. The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME reports the spring bass migration is now fully underway, with fish into the 40-inch class turning up from the Merrimack River all the way out to the front beaches. The most consistent action for bigger stripers is coming from inside the river, where the herring run remains active — herring imitations and live bait are the clear approach per the same source. Offshore, the haddock bite has quietly caught fire: Beauport Fishing Adventures Capt. Tom Lukegord describes limit catches as common over the past 10 days, calling it some of the best groundfishing in years. Mackerel are also beginning to push close to shore just north of the region, a development that should pull additional stripers onto the NH front beaches as those fish arrive.
Late-May trout window opening on Truckee as snowmelt eases
The USGS gauge on the Truckee River (site 10311000) logged 337 cfs on the evening of May 23, a moderate late-spring flow signaling that the bulk of Sierra snowmelt is winding down. No water temperature was recorded at the gauge, but flows at this level typically bring improving clarity to the canyon reaches, a promising transition for rainbow and brown trout. None of the angler intel feeds this cycle carried specific Truckee or Lake Tahoe reports, so the conditions picture here is built from gauge data and seasonal patterns for this corridor. Hatch Magazine's ongoing coverage of spring creek technique is directly applicable: as flows clear and surface pressure eases, precise presentation and fine tippet become the deciding factors over pattern selection. On Lake Tahoe, mackinaw (lake trout) and kokanee should still be reachable at moderate depths before summer thermal stratification pushes them to the deeper layers.
Largemouth bass keyed on bluegills across Nebraska pits and ponds
Nebraska Game & Parks has the standout call for late May: largemouth bass in Nebraska pits and ponds are aggressively targeting bluegills right now, and the agency flags this as a prime window to take advantage of that forage connection. Bluegill-profile baits, swimbaits, and live bait (check current state regulations before using live bluegill) are the direct play. Channel catfish are also confirmed active in the region's stillwaters, with Nebraska Game & Parks noting a large catfish found inside a vehicle pulled from a Lincoln-area reservoir this week, a clear sign that cats are holding across popular waters. The Platte River is running at 3,420 cfs per USGS gauge 06796000, a moderate late-May volume that keeps river structure reachable for catfish and walleye. The First Quarter moon supports productive low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk across both still and moving water, making early morning worth the alarm.
Paddlefish Season Opens Under New Rules as Yellowstone Flows Hold Steady
MT FWP Fishing News has issued new paddlefish tagging rules for 2026. The old colored plastic tags are gone, replaced by big-game-style validation that must be completed before the carcass is tied to shore, stored, or cleaned. Anglers targeting paddlefish on the Yellowstone should read the updated requirements carefully before heading out. The USGS gauge 06043500 recorded 1,030 cfs on the Yellowstone as of the evening of May 23, a manageable spring-runoff reading that leaves drift-boat and wade access workable on many reaches. Grey Bear Fishing Access Site, which had a partial boat-ramp and parking-area closure since March 30, was projected by MT FWP to reopen around May 21; anglers should confirm current status at myfwp.mt.gov before planning a launch. No tackle-shop or charter reports for this specific corridor were available in this reporting cycle, so species outlooks below reflect seasonal norms for the region.
Missouri catfish season peaks as high spring flows push bass to backwaters
The Missouri River is running at 199,000 cfs and 67°F at USGS gauge 06934500 as of May 23, warm enough to fire catfish activity but carrying enough current to push bass out of the main channel and into quieter water. With post-spawn timing and water temps solidly in the mid-60s, channel catfish and flatheads are staging in current seams, eddy pockets, and the downstream tailouts of wing dams. Per Fishing the Midwest, summer rivers like the Missouri reward anglers who find slack-water pockets away from the dominant flow. Bass are completing their post-spawn transition; Wired 2 Fish highlights that early-morning topwater around shallow cover, including grass, reeds, and dock edges, triggers reaction bites when fish stay active near structure. On the spring-fed Ozark streams, which run cleaner and cooler than the Missouri mainstem, smallmouth and goggle-eye should be feeding actively. Check current state regulations before harvesting.
MS Shrimp Season Opens May 26 as Sound Readies for Late-Spring Inshore Bite
MS DMR issued the order this week: the 2026-2027 Mississippi shrimp season opens at 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26, across all Mississippi waters south of a line beginning one-half mile offshore at the Mississippi-Alabama state line. That announcement is the most concrete fishing news out of the Sound right now, and it sets up what should be a productive Memorial Day weekend on the water. NOAA buoy 42067 recorded 1.6-foot seas and light winds near 6 mph under 79°F air overnight, calm enough for comfortable runs to nearshore structure and back-bay flats. No water temperature was available from the buoy this cycle, but late May typically puts Sound waters into the mid-70s°F range, priming the speckled trout bite on shallow grass flats and pushing redfish against oyster-bar structure. Salt Strong (articles) this week covers how redfish actually position along oyster bars, a tactic directly applicable to back-Sound inshore fishing. Direct captain or shop reports for the Sound were not available in this cycle.
Post-Spawn Bass and Catfish Active as Mississippi Runs High
USGS gauge 07289000 recorded the Mississippi River at 529,000 cfs on May 23, running elevated and pushing fish out of main-channel haunts into flooded timber, backwater sloughs, and current breaks behind wing dams. Blue catfish and channel cats are the primary draw under high-water conditions like these; the big-fish potential of southern river blue cats was reinforced this week when Wired 2 Fish covered a Florida blue-catfish state record, a reminder that river cats in this region routinely reach trophy size. Bass are in the post-spawn transition: Tactical Bassin's recent coverage of post-spawn fishing on Tennessee's Chickamauga illustrates how fish in analogous lowland river systems are sliding off flats and holding near submerged wood. First-light topwater in calm backwater pockets is worth targeting, consistent with the low-light shallow topwater approach Wired 2 Fish contributor Justin Lucas outlined this week. No water temperature reading was available from the gauge this cycle.
Minnesota Walleyes Hit Their Stride as Spring Streams Wind Down
The MN DNR North Shore Fishing Report issued its final spring streams update for 2026 this week, signaling that Minnesota's fisheries are turning the page from spawning runs to open-water season, with summer boat creel surveys launching this weekend. On the North Shore, steelhead remain in the system with anglers catching a few harvestable clipped fish on lower-shore rivers (Lester to Stewart), but spawning is winding down and streams have dropped to low, clear conditions. Inland, post-spawn walleye are the story: Jason Mitchell Outdoors flagged "May Walleye Craziness" this week, capturing the feeding binge that makes late May prime on Minnesota lakes. Twin Cities river anglers should note USGS gauge 05331000 puts the Mississippi at 17,500 cfs, elevated flows that tend to push walleye and bass off main-channel structure toward backwaters and tributary mouths. Fishing the Midwest reports that shallow spring flats are producing well with a casting approach for crappie, bass, and walleye alike.
Michigan walleye and smallmouth hit their late-May stride
The Grand River is flowing at 3,380 cfs (USGS gauge 04119000) as of May 23 — a moderately elevated spring level pushing fish toward current seams and deeper structure. The MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report for May 20 encourages Great Lakes charter outings, while the May 13 edition flags active commercial netting gear with orange-flagged buoys near several ports — a heads-up for open-water boaters. Direct bite reports in the available intel are limited this week, but AnglingBuzz's coverage of big-water walleye tactics with guide Jason Freed speaks to conditions broadly relevant across Michigan's open-water fisheries. Tactical Bassin notes Great Lakes clear-water smallmouth responding well to paddle-tail swimbaits — a tactic worth loading up for as bass approach the spawn. Steelhead runs across Michigan tributaries are typically winding down by late May. A First Quarter moon this weekend creates moderate lunar pressure; morning and evening windows should produce the most consistent action.
Stripers Running Strong on Cape Cod Bay as Blues Begin to Show
Water temps registering 53°F at NOAA buoy 44013 and 58°F at buoy 44020 signal a Cape Cod Bay that is finally waking up after a sluggish spring start. Charley Soares, writing for The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands, reports stripers making 'impressive appearances' along the Cape Cod Bay shoreline and in Buzzards Bay, with the Canal delivering at both ends. The Fisherman (Northeast) frames this as a spring push of 20- to 30-pound fish 'the likes of which we haven't seen in many years.' Red Top Sporting Goods, covered in The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands, confirms bass schools working bait all over Buzzards Bay, bluefish turning up off Mattapoisett and Wareham, and mackerel showing in the east end of the canal. Black sea bass action is just beginning on the Cape per The Fisherman (Northeast), while tautog are still producing — though green crab bait supply may tighten as demand builds.
Central MA bass on the beds as trout action holds into Memorial Day
Brook and rainbow trout remained catchable at Hampton (Pequot) Pond in Westfield on May 13, per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, with fish holding over deep water on the north side of the island and responding to trolled presentations. That stocked-trout window is narrowing, but cooler, spring-fed pockets should hold fish through the long weekend. The bigger story right now is largemouth bass: The Fisherman — New England Freshwater reports that across New England, 'many are now spawning and proving trickier to entice than they were in prespawn.' USGS gauge 01105500 recorded 13.1 cfs and gauge 01111500 read 49.2 cfs as of May 23 evening, pointing to low, likely clear flows on area waterways: ideal conditions for spotting bass on beds in the shallows. No water temperature readings were logged at either gauge, but late-May norms in this region typically place surface temps in the low-to-mid 60s, solidly within largemouth spawning range.
Post-Spawn Bass and Blues Opening Up on Potomac and Patapsco
The USGS Patapsco gauge logged 309 cfs on the evening of May 23 — a moderate, fishable flow heading into the Memorial Day weekend. No water temperature was recorded at this gauge during this cycle, though regional reporting from The Fisherman — DE/MD/Chesapeake placed mid-May Chesapeake corridor conditions on the cool and rough side, with a warming trend building through the holiday weekend. On the Potomac and Patapsco freshwater stretches, late May is the post-spawn transition: largemouth that were locked on beds through mid-month are scattering to summer structure, and blue catfish — the tidal Potomac's most consistent year-round species — remain actively feeding on channel edges and tributary mouths. Direct angler intel from local Maryland freshwater sources is thin this report cycle; the picture below is grounded in gauge data, regional context, and seasonal patterns. Cross-check current bite conditions with your local tackle shop before heading out.
Spring Striper Push Reaches Maine as Haddock Bite Fires Up
Striped bass have arrived in Maine waters, with 30-inch-class fish confirmed as far north as the Saco River and 40-inch class fish at the Merrimack, per The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME. OTW Saltwater's May 19 migration update confirms fresh stripers have reached New Hampshire and Maine, declaring the spring run fully underway. NOAA buoy 44007 puts inshore water temperature at 51°F — enough to keep bass active and feeding. The bigger surprise this week is the groundfish bite: Capt. Tom Lukegord of Beauport Fishing Adventures calls the haddock action over the past 10 days "some of the best they've seen in years," with limit catches common. Atlantic mackerel are also pushing close to shore per Belsan's Bait and Tackle, a development that should further fire up striper feeding windows. With the herring run still strong in tidal rivers, any herring imitation is a reliable choice for bass through the Memorial Day weekend.
Stripers push into Maine river mouths as the spring herring run peaks
The Kennebec River registered 3,820 cfs at USGS gauge 01046500 on the evening of May 23 — an elevated spring flow that scatters fish from mid-channel and concentrates them along bank edges, behind boulders, and at tributary confluences. The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME declared the striper run "fully underway" this week, with fish confirmed in the 30-inch class reaching at least as far north as the Saco River in Maine. Herring runs across the New England corridor remain "very much on," per the same source — a forage pulse that draws predators deep into river systems. Inland, landlocked salmon and brook trout, the Kennebec and Penobscot watersheds' marquee cold-water species, are likely pulling into deeper, thermally stable water as late-May surface temperatures climb. No water temperature data was captured at the gauge on this cycle. The First Quarter moon on May 24 sets up moderate tidal exchanges along the lower river.
Redfish on oyster bars as Gulf warmth builds along Louisiana's coast
NOAA buoy 42001 recorded 83°F Gulf water on May 24, firmly establishing late-spring conditions across Louisiana's inshore grounds. Light winds at 2–5 m/s and modest wave heights of 1.6 feet per buoy 42067 kept coastal access comfortable heading into Memorial Day weekend. Direct Louisiana-specific catch reports are limited this cycle, but Salt Strong's current breakdown of redfish behavior around oyster bars translates directly to the state's back-bay marsh edges — reds tend to stage downcurrent of shell structure rather than on top, and small bait-placement adjustments make the difference. That same source's analysis of black drum around bridge pilings and dock structure applies equally along Louisiana's coastal crossings and bayou canal systems. Louisiana Sportsman confirmed that LDWF and NOAA Fisheries ran joint enforcement patrols on the Gulf on May 23, signaling active fishing pressure across the region heading into the holiday weekend. A First Quarter moon should produce moderate tidal movement through the weekend, favoring transition-tide feeding windows.
Catfish and Gar in Season as Mississippi and Atchafalaya Warm Toward June
USGS gauge 07374000 at Baton Rouge logged 74°F water temperature and 424,000 cfs on the evening of May 23, placing the Mississippi and Atchafalaya squarely in late-spring fishing mode heading into Memorial Day weekend. At 74°F, conditions fall inside the preferred feeding range for blue and flathead catfish, and the elevated flow is pushing forage into tributary mouths, inside bends, and backwater cuts where big-river fish stack up. Hatch Magazine's recent feature on Southern river gar, tracing the species through warm, slow, muddy-water haunts much like the lower Mississippi corridor, underscores that late May is a prime window for targeting gar in backwater sloughs and Atchafalaya Basin oxbows. Direct on-the-water reports from captains or tackle shops serving this specific drainage did not surface in this week's feeds, so conditions below reflect gauge data combined with established late-May seasonal patterns. Confirm current bite locally before heading out.
Post-Spawn Bass Bite Kicks Into Gear on the Ohio and Cumberland
B.A.S.S. News reports that Kentucky Lake native Clint Knight claimed the Turtlebox Bassmaster Open at Kentucky Lake/Lake Barkley with a three-day total of 62 pounds, 2 ounces, while Day 2 leader Tristan McCormick posted a single-day event-best of 25-4 — numbers pointing to a fully activated post-spawn bass pattern across the regional Kentucky watershed. That same momentum should carry into the Ohio and Cumberland river corridors, where largemouth and smallmouth are pushing off spawning flats and orienting to current seams and deeper secondary structure. USGS gauge 03301500 recorded 3,260 cfs on May 23, confirming moderate, fishable flows. No water temperature was available from the gauge, but late May in Kentucky typically pushes river temps through the upper 60s and into the low 70s°F — favorable territory for active bass and building catfish activity. Per Fishing the Midwest, larger river systems often deliver reliable early-summer action that anglers overlook; the Ohio and Cumberland are exactly that kind of fishery as Memorial Day weekend arrives.
Kansas River Catfish and Post-Spawn Bass Prime for Late May Push
USGS gauge 06892350 recorded 71 degrees and 5,950 cfs on the Kansas River as of May 23, placing conditions squarely in the sweet spot for channel and flathead catfish entering their pre-spawn feeding surge. At 71 degrees, catfish are stacking near current seams ahead of the late-spring spawn, and the moderate flow keeps presentations productive without blowing fish out of their feeding lanes. For bass, Tactical Bassin's recent post-spawn coverage from comparable warm-water river systems shows largemouth and smallmouth vacating beds and staging along deeper structure, a pattern that fits the Kansas and Arkansas rivers well right now. Wired 2 Fish highlights topwater presentations during low-light windows as a reliable post-spawn trigger, and calm backwater coves off the main channel are the right address for that approach at dawn and dusk. Per Fishing the Midwest, current breaks and river structure are the consistent producers as water climbs through late May.