Fishing reports
19291 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Central Coast Chinook Rally as Upwelling Opens a Real Salmon Season
Water temps at NOAA buoy 46042 read 54°F off the Central Coast — a cooldown that is translating directly to improved salmon action. Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reports from Monterey that Central Coast Chinook conditions have upgraded meaningfully as northwest winds drive upwelling, pulling nutrient-rich water to the surface and activating the bait schools salmon follow. Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing confirms the shift: temps fell from 58°F to 54°F near Pigeon Point since the April 11 season opener, and salmon responded while warm-water species like bonita headed out. Buoy 46026 shows an even cooler 51°F in active upwelling zones, and buoy 46028 reads 60°F in calmer nearshore pockets — a thermal mosaic anglers can work edge-to-edge. The waxing crescent moon and sustained northwest breeze are keeping the upwelling engine running heading into this week.
Sacramento-Delta stripers and largemouth on the move in post-spawn transition
USGS gauge 11447650 on the Sacramento River clocked 67°F and 15,600 cfs on the afternoon of May 19 — water temperature that sits squarely in the striper sweet spot and signals the Delta's post-spawn largemouth window is open. NorCal Fish Reports covers the Sacramento-Delta beat in its regional roundup but returned only navigation content in this pull, with no specific bite reports available. Working from the gauge data and seasonal patterns: striped bass have likely wrapped their upstream spawning push and are now scattering to current seams, rip-rap banks, and bridge pilings across the tidal system. Early-morning topwater and swimbaits are the standard play for this phase. Largemouth are transitioning off beds and pushing toward tule edges and dock pilings. Channel catfish become progressively more active as water climbs through the mid-60s — nighttime sessions with cut bait near deep channel edges are worth targeting. The waxing crescent moon keeps overnight skies dark, a mild edge for evening striper and catfish anglers.
Gulf of Alaska spring season builds: halibut and kings gaining momentum
NOAA buoys across the Gulf of Alaska are registering water temperatures of 42–43°F as of May 19, with light winds of 2–6 m/s across the monitoring network — conditions that sit in the window when Pacific halibut and king salmon fishing traditionally builds to its spring peak. No charter, shop, or tackle-blog dispatches specific to Gulf of Alaska conditions arrived in this reporting cycle, so this update draws on seasonal baselines and the community signal from AK Sea Grant, which noted Kodiak fishermen were active at ComFish harbor skills events last month — a clear sign that commercial and sport fishing communities are deep into spring preparations. Halibut season is prime across the Gulf of Alaska in May and June, with fish moving onto traditional offshore grounds. King salmon returns are building toward their spring apex in nearshore and river-mouth areas, and this week's waxing crescent moon favors low-light bite windows at dawn and dusk.
Kenai kings on the doorstep as spring snowmelt holds river near peak
USGS gauge 15266300 placed the river at 44°F and 2,850 cfs on the afternoon of May 19 — archetypal late-spring snowmelt conditions for an Alaska freshwater drainage approaching its summer prime. Angler-specific intel from tackle shops or charter captains is absent from this week's feeds; AK Sea Grant's recent publications center on fellowship programs and community resilience work rather than on-the-water fishing reports. With that caveat noted, 44°F water is within the range where early king salmon (Chinook) typically begin appearing in lower-river holding lies, and resident rainbow trout and Dolly Varden are seasonally active along current seams throughout this temperature band. Arctic grayling in interior tributaries typically respond to nymphs and dry flies once overnight lows stabilize. Flows at 2,850 cfs indicate solid volume — wade anglers should stick to slower inside bends and use caution on exposed gravel bars. Check current emergency orders and bag limits before any king salmon trip.
Toledo Bend post-spawn bass and crappie heating up as Sabine flows run lean
USGS gauge 08025500 is recording just 7.93 cfs on the Sabine system as of May 19 — a lean reading that points to low, clear inflow conditions into Toledo Bend Reservoir. No water temperature telemetry is available today, though mid-May surface temps on Toledo Bend typically run in the mid-to-upper 70s°F. The post-spawn bass transition appears to be in full swing: Tactical Bassin's current post-spawn coverage highlights topwater frogs and heavy-cover shallow presentations timed to the bluegill spawn cycle — a pattern that maps directly onto Toledo Bend's standing timber and grass edges. LakeForkGuy's recent post-spawn crappie content describes what he calls "the most aggressive crappie bite of the year," a pattern that tracks across comparable deep-South reservoir systems at this point in the season. Catfish action should hold steady as late-May temperatures continue climbing. Check current Louisiana and Texas regulations before heading out, as Toledo Bend straddles both states.
Post-spawn bass go deep as Georgia summer heat settles on Hartwell & Russell
Joshua Barber's May 10 Southern Waters Fishing Report in GA Sportsman signals the seasonal shift clearly: 'Hot weather is now approaching and fish will probably start to move into deeper water.' Barber also noted that recent rains had 'helped our rivers and lakes' after fire-suppression challenges earlier in the spring. The Clyo gauge on the Savannah stood at 3.6 feet and falling as of May 14, and USGS gauge 02192000 recorded 425 cfs on May 19 — moderate, steady outflow consistent with stable dam operations on the Hartwell–Russell chain. Georgia Wildlife Blog flagged May 15 as the start of 'another great week of fishing' across the state. Largemouth that were hammering spinnerbaits in post-rain conditions during late April — including an 8-lb 11-oz fish caught in Morgan County per Georgia Wildlife Blog — are now in the early summer transition off spawning flats. Crappie, which Georgia Wildlife Blog documented in prime shallow-spawn mode through mid-April at 3–8 feet around brush and dock structure, are likely pulling back from the beds to deeper holds.
Delta stripers and bass in post-spawn transition as spring flows surge
Flow at USGS gauge 11455420 on the Sacramento River registered 112,000 cfs on the morning of May 19 — a robust snowmelt-driven surge well above typical late-spring baselines. No water temperature was available at the gauge. Angler-intel feeds this cycle returned no Delta-specific reports; NorCal Fish Reports covers the Delta regularly but its current-conditions data was not included in this update's pull. With high, off-color water pushing through the main channels, striped bass — the Delta's signature sport fish — typically concentrate near hard structure: riprap levees, bridge pilings, and the mouths of back-channel sloughs where current breaks create holding lies. Mid-May is historically post-spawn territory for Delta stripers as fish exit the Sacramento and San Joaquin tributaries and work back into tidal reaches. Largemouth bass are in a post-spawn transition this week, scattering from shallow spawning flats toward mid-depth structure as water temperatures climb into early summer ranges.
Post-spawn smallmouth and walleye prime up across New York's Finger Lakes
Water temperatures recorded at 66°F by USGS gauge 04232050 as of May 19 place the Finger Lakes squarely in post-spawn territory. Smallmouth bass on Cayuga, Seneca, and Skaneateles have largely finished bedding at these temperatures and are pushing toward main-lake structure and rocky points in early-summer feeding mode. Tactical Bassin notes that with the bluegill spawn in full swing at comparable water temps, big bass are moving shallow to key on the forage—topwater frogs and walking baits over heavy cover are producing in regional fisheries right now. Walleye, which completed their spawn several weeks prior, are in active post-spawn recovery; low-light presentations along main-lake structure should be productive. Lake trout and brown trout will be retreating to deeper, cooler thermal layers as surface temperatures continue to climb—trollers should step down in depth accordingly. No Finger Lakes–specific charter or shop reports were available this cycle; observations here are grounded in gauge data and seasonal patterns typical of mid-May in central New York.
Rangeley headwaters enter peak salmon window as spring flows settle
The Magalloway River gauge (USGS 01054200) registered 228 cfs on May 19 — moderate spring flow signaling the tail end of snowmelt runoff across the Rangeley Lakes and Androscoggin headwaters. Mainely Fly Fishing (ME) documented an unusually early 2026 spring, with ice-out arriving at regional ponds by April 4 — suggesting Rangeley's larger lakes cleared well ahead of their typical late-April schedule. That head start means landlocked Atlantic salmon have had extra weeks on their post-ice-out feeding rhythm, and mid-May is traditionally the prime smelt-run window across this watershed. Brook trout in tributary mouths and shallower lake margins should also be near peak. No water temperature reading was available at the gauge, but this watershed typically sees surface temps in the low-to-mid 50s°F by the third week of May — squarely in the cold-water sweet spot for salmonids. The waxing crescent moon favors low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk.
Moosehead and upper Penobscot enter prime salmon and togue window
USGS gauge 01030500 recorded 2,670 cfs on the upper Penobscot drainage on May 19, a level consistent with active late-spring runoff still moving through the watershed. No direct on-the-water intel from Moosehead Lake or upper Penobscot guides and tackle shops reached this cycle's feeds, but the date alone places this region in one of Maine's marquee freshwater windows: the post-ice-out spring period when landlocked salmon cruise near the surface following smelt runs and lake trout spread into shallower zones before summer stratification pushes them deep. The Fisherman's New England Freshwater reports confirm late-May trout and bass fishing across Massachusetts and Connecticut are in active transition — a seasonal signal that typically precedes Maine inland patterns by one to two weeks. Anglers headed to Moosehead should expect some color in tributary streams given current flows. Verify season dates and bag limits with Maine state fisheries regulations before targeting any specific water body, as spring rules vary by water.
Snake cutthroat holding in seams as spring runoff peaks in the Tetons
USGS gauge 06192500 logged 6,200 cfs and 45°F on May 19 — classic peak-runoff conditions for the Snake River and Yellowstone drainage in the Tetons corridor. At these volumes, fish abandon the main current and stack in slower bank seams, eddies, and the slack water behind mid-river structure. Heavy nymphing rigs — stonefly and attractor nymphs fished tight to structure — are the workable approach when visibility is limited by snowmelt color. The salmonfly hatch is one of the most anticipated events on this system, and at 6,200 cfs we're squarely in the pre-hatch window; Caddis Fly (OR) recently published an articulated jigged salmonfly nymph tutorial that's directly on point for these conditions. Flylords Mag notes drought pressure gripping parts of the Rockies broadly, though current gauge readings here reflect a robust snowmelt pulse still moving through the system. Expect elevated, turbid conditions to persist into early June.
Spring Salmon Push Builds Along Indiana's Lake Michigan Shore
The WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report documented a standout 2024 harvest — over 210,000 coho and 160,000 Chinook salmon taken lake-wide, driven by strong alewife forage classes — and that momentum carries into the 2026 season. For the Indiana shoreline specifically, no live buoy readings or charter reports are available in this cycle; Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant operates three nearshore Lake Michigan monitoring buoys and notes spring deployment is active as of mid-May. With a waxing crescent moon and water temps climbing toward late-spring norms, coho salmon are typically found staged within a few miles of shore along this stretch. Smallmouth bass are also expected to be transitioning into post-spawn patterns in the rocky nearshore habitat near the Indiana Dunes corridor. Tactical Bassin highlights that Great Lakes smallmouth in clear water respond well to finesse presentations — drop-shots and tube baits — once they move off beds. Check local conditions before launching; direct Indiana shoreline intel is limited this week.
Spring coho surge on Lake Michigan as Chicago's peak trolling window arrives
The WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report documented a record-shattering 2024 coho harvest — over 210,000 fish, the highest on record — alongside 160,000 Chinook, the best King return since 2012. Strong alewife forage classes drove that survival, and those year-classes now feed into the 2026 fishery. No live NOAA buoy readings were available for this report, so precise water temperatures cannot be confirmed; check local forecasts before heading out. Late May typically places Chicago nearshore surface temps in the low-to-mid 50s°F, which puts coho and early-season Chinook well within reach. Across the Great Lakes system, a Michigan Sportsman Forum angler reported spring cohos already in hand and projected full coho season arriving within weeks — consistent with the WI DNR's optimistic population outlook. Smallmouth bass are also worth targeting around Chicago's breakwalls; Tactical Bassin identifies finesse techniques in clear Great Lakes water as reliable post-spawn producers this time of year.
White River rainbows within reach as low, clear tailwaters favor finesse
The USGS gauge at site 07060710 recorded 65°F water and a lean 66.7 cfs on the White River as of the afternoon of May 19 — a combination that puts the fishery squarely in finesse territory. Water sitting at the upper edge of trout comfort suggests fish may be stacking near dam outlets and deeper runs where cooler discharge lingers from Bull Shoals and Norfork. Low flows mean gin-clear conditions and pressured trout that will scrutinize every presentation; dropping to lighter tippet and smaller flies becomes non-negotiable. No current local charter or shop reports were available in today's intel feeds to confirm specific bite windows, but tailrace systems running comparable flows historically reward methodical midge and nymph work — MidCurrent's current Tying Tuesday highlights midge patterns built specifically for "the clear, pressured water of stillwaters and tailraces," and Flylab (Substack) notes this week that trout "readily eat" midges in all life stages regardless of season. Wading access should be favorable across most public stretches at this discharge.
Georgia bass and crappie in post-spawn swing on Lanier and Allatoona
The Georgia Wildlife Blog — Fishing declared 'another great week of fishing' across the state as of May 15, and conditions on Lanier and Allatoona fit that picture. Largemouth bass are finishing the post-spawn transition — Georgia Wildlife Blog — Fishing documented an 8-pound, 11-ounce largemouth taken in late April on a spinnerbait during post-rain conditions, a pattern that remains relevant as fish stage near secondary structure off the spawning flats. Crappie were stacked on brush piles, fallen timber, and docks in 3–8 feet of water through the Georgia spawn window per Georgia Wildlife Blog — Fishing's April report; by mid-May those fish are scattering to slightly deeper adjacent structure. GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News noted hot weather arriving for the region around May 10, compressing productive feeding windows to dawn and dusk. USGS gauge 02334430 on the Chattahoochee reads 50°F at 660 cfs — cold tailwater discharge below Buford Dam, not representative of main-lake surface temperatures on Lanier proper, which should be running considerably warmer.
Smokies trout on the clock as late-May heat builds in the headwaters
USGS gauge 03512000 on the Little Tennessee River recorded 70°F and 184 cfs at 3:00 p.m. on May 19 — water temperatures that put Smokies trout in genuine heat-stress territory. Trout begin experiencing physiological stress above 68°F, and catch-and-release mortality rises sharply at 70°F; plan sessions around the coolest hours and carry a stream thermometer. On the hatch front, Flylords Mag reports green drakes are emerging on the East Coast between early May and late June, a window that squarely overlaps prime Smokies high-country streams. Gink and Gasoline flagged this spring that unusually warm conditions have been accelerating hatch timing, pushing sulphurs and light cahills onto Appalachian freestone water ahead of schedule — a pattern that aligns with what the gauge is showing right now. Lower-elevation reaches where smallmouth bass hold are better suited to current temperatures. If temps climb further, consider resting trout water until a cooling event resets the system.
Bull reds and slot drum flood Pamlico Sound and Cape Lookout for May
Red drum are making a strong push into Pamlico Sound and along the Outer Banks surf this week. Per Fisherman's Post (NC), Donald of Custom Marine Fabrication reports slot-sized fish spread across just about the whole Neuse River. At the shoals, Steve of Chasin' Tails confirms schools of bull red drum working the Cape Lookout area, with plenty of good-sized bluefish alongside. Hatteras guide Ryan of Hatteras Jack reports the surf has come alive on the Ocracoke and Hatteras beaches, with drum making a strong push and good numbers being caught. Over at Swansboro and Emerald Isle, Morgan of The Reel Outdoors notes surf fishing has picked up with sea mullet, black drum, and early pompano. NOAA buoy 41037 logged light 5 m/s winds and air temperatures near 77°F on May 19, keeping coastal conditions comfortable. The waxing crescent moon is building tidal movement through the weekend, which should help concentrate fish along current seams and shoal edges.
Spring striper push peaks along Chincoteague's Eastern Shore
Water temperature off the Eastern Shore is holding at 61°F per NOAA buoy 44014, landing squarely in the prime spring window for migratory fishing. The Virginia DWR Wildlife Blog's spring striped bass report confirms rockfish are schooling along channel edges, sandy flats, grass beds, and near hard coastal structure across Virginia's tidal zone — exactly the staging behavior Chincoteague-area anglers target this time of year. The OTW Saltwater striper migration report dated May 19 places the run's leading edge all the way into New Hampshire and Maine, meaning Virginia waters are seeing active push-through traffic right now. The Fisherman's NJ/DE regional forecast from May 14 adds that the fluke bite is also warming alongside striper action as weather improves across the mid-Atlantic. With a waxing crescent moon keeping tidal pressure moderate and water temps trending upward, the window for quality inshore fishing through late May looks favorable across multiple species.
Spring Stripers Schooling as Post-Spawn Bass Start Working the Flats
The Virginia DWR Wildlife Blog's spring striper report confirms landlocked rockfish are schooling along channel edges, sandy flats, and grass beds statewide — a pattern that holds equally well for Smith Mountain Lake and Buggs Island. Per that report, fish are also keying on rocky shorelines and hard structure, making main-channel points and dock pilings high-percentage spots right now. The Staunton River, the primary feeder into Buggs Island (John H. Kerr Reservoir), was running at a moderate 474 cfs as of mid-afternoon May 19 (USGS gauge 02075045), indicating stable reservoir conditions heading into the weekend. Water temperature readings were unavailable from our automated sensors. Meanwhile, Tactical Bassin confirms the bluegill spawn is currently in full swing — a trigger that pushes largemouth into heavy shallow cover and turns frog and topwater presentations into go-to choices. Bass are in the post-spawn transition, and the waxing crescent moon sets up strong low-light feeding windows.
Sandy Hook delivers a spring super slam as NJ sea bass season gets underway
Water at 57°F per NOAA buoy 44065 — a meaningful climb from the 46–48°F readings that had suppressed early-season bottom fishing — sets the stage for improving action across Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook. The headline this week belongs to Sandy Hook itself: per The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf (Tackle Box Fishing Co.), one angler working the Hook's tip on bobber-and-live-killie rigs landed a genuine super slam of bass, bluefish, fluke, black drum, and blackfish in a single outing. Blue Chip Sportfishing (NJ) calls the striper bite "the best striper fishing possible" right now, while OTW Northern New Jersey (May 14) reports the action has shifted from Raritan Bay proper to the beachfront. Party boats out of Atlantic Highlands are posting fair ling counts with tog in the mix, per Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands NJ, but sea bass — whose season opened May 15 with a 12.5-inch minimum — remain well below last year's pace across the fleet. A Memorial Day warming trend is the next key variable to watch.
Oversize Stripers Running Hot at Fortescue as Delaware Bay Spring Push Peaks
Water at NOAA Buoy 44009 checked in at 59°F on May 19, and the Delaware Bay's NJ shoreline is producing one of the better striper runs of the spring. The Fisherman — Southern NJ's Higbee's Bait and Tackle reports 'plenty of fish' from the Fortescue beaches this week — oversize stripers running 36 to 46 inches, with bloodworms, bloodworm balls, and spawn-net combos leading the charge. Big Dave's Tackle, also via The Fisherman — Southern NJ, calls the fishing 'firing on all cylinders,' noting bayfront beaches on both sides of the bay are producing oversize fish on bloodworm and clam presentations. Black drum have arrived as well: Dockside Café and Marina (The Fisherman — Southern NJ) logged fish to 15 pounds on clam baits in the bay. A South Jersey correspondent for The Fisherman — Southern NJ notes that persistent winds and cooler water have actually kept both stripers and drum locked into the bay. Flounder remains the weak spot — winds have dirtied the water — though Tuckerton Bait and Tackle reports early-morning anglers squeezed limits to 20 inches on live minnows and Gulp before the chop built.
Late-May trout and bass window building at Quabbin and Wachusett
Trout action in western Massachusetts was confirmed as recently as May 13, when The Fisherman — New England Freshwater reported brook and rainbow trout catches at Hampton Pond in Westfield — a productive signal for the broader central MA freshwater corridor that includes Quabbin and Wachusett. The Swift River below Quabbin (USGS gauge 01174500) posted 81.4 cfs on May 19, indicating stable outflow and steady reservoir levels heading into the Memorial Day weekend. Water temperature was unavailable from the gauge. Regionally, The Fisherman — New England Freshwater notes that largemouth bass have moved onto beds and are proving "trickier to entice than in prespawn" — a pattern likely playing out in Wachusett's shallower coves as well. Smallmouth bass and Quabbin's lake trout typically hold at transitional depths before summer stratification pushes them deeper; early-morning low-light windows remain the most productive sessions on both reservoirs at this point in May.
Buzzards Bay stripers and blues break loose in peak spring push
Red Top Sporting Goods called last weekend 'dealer's choice,' with striper schools working bait almost all over Buzzards Bay — and bluefish already showing off Mattapoisett and Wareham. Capt. Carl at Westport River Outfitters (per The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands) found stripers from schoolies to high 30-inchers in Buzzards Bay, with fish taken on top from Fairhaven to the west end of the Canal during a worm hatch. NOAA buoy 44020 logged water at 58°F in Vineyard Sound while buoy 44085 put Buzzards Bay at 54°F, with 4.3-foot seas limiting offshore runs. The Canal is producing at both ends, tautog remain active on structure, and jumbo scup have moved into the bay. The Fisherman (Northeast) reported a 'supercharged' spring striper run across New England with 40-pound-class fish entering regional waters — the 2026 season is shaping up well above average.
Columbia Spring Chinook on the Move as Snowmelt Swells the River
At 57°F as of this morning, USGS gauge 14105700 puts the Columbia River squarely in prime territory for spring Chinook salmon — a species that migrates most actively between 50°F and 60°F. Alongside that favorable temperature, the gauge logged 239,000 cfs, elevated snowmelt flows that are reshaping where fish hold: Chinook stack in slower bank seams, deep eddies, and current breaks rather than the mid-river lanes that fish more easily at lower volumes. White sturgeon remain a second strong option, anchored in deep-water slots where high current concentrates forage along the bottom. No charter, shop, or agency angler reports specific to the Columbia corridor appeared in today's intel feeds; IFish.net Fishing Reports showed recent angler activity around Chinook Landing and the Wilson River but only lost-gear notices — not bite reports. Current conditions are assessed from gauge data and typical mid-May patterns for this drainage. Confirm bite windows with local shops before launching.