Fishing reports
19291 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Post-spawn walleye hitting prime window across Lake Erie's Western Basin
NOAA buoy 45005 logged a lake-surface temperature of 58°F in the western Lake Erie region on May 19, placing walleye firmly in their most active post-spawn feeding mode. Angler intel specific to the Western Basin is limited in this cycle's feeds, but Fishing the Midwest confirms that slow trolling is a reliable spring walleye approach, and the basin's seasonal rhythms strongly support fish on the move right now. The Maumee River — the Western Basin's dominant tributary and primary spawning corridor — is running at a moderate 1,930 cfs (USGS gauge 04193500), meaning the spring flood pulse has receded and walleye that pushed upriver for the spawn are filtering back into open-water structure. Typical for mid-May in this region, fish are staging on shallow reefs and sand flats in the 8–15-foot range. Jigging with blade baits or trolling stick baits along the river plume edge are the proven approaches for this post-spawn phase.
PA limestone trout streams prime for sulphur hatches in mid-May window
USGS gauge 01546500 logged 103 cfs early on May 19 — a moderate, wadeable flow that holds Spring Creek and Penns Creek in fishable shape heading into the week. No water temperature came through from the gauge, but limestone springs typically lock these corridors in the low-to-mid 50s°F range through May, supporting prime brown trout activity. Mid-May marks the heart of sulphur season on central Pennsylvania's limestone corridor, and Gink and Gasoline recently noted that warm-weather spikes earlier this spring pushed Ephemerella hatches ahead of their typical calendar on similar spring-creek water — worth factoring in if you're timing an evening visit. Compounding the picture, Flylords Mag reports severe drought tightening its grip across much of the Mid-Atlantic, raising concern that flows could tighten further in the weeks ahead. Fish this window while conditions hold. The evening rise — sulphur duns and spinner falls over flat limestone glides — is the signature payoff of the season.
Spring Chinook Season Active as Pacific Swells Test Washington Fleet
NOAA buoy 46041 recorded 8.2-foot seas off the Washington outer coast at 07:50 UTC this morning, with buoy 46087 near the Strait of Juan de Fuca entrance logging 6.6-foot swell — conditions that push the Pacific coast fleet toward protected anchorages and careful launch timing. Air temperatures at both buoys sat around 50–52°F. WA WDFW Fishing Reports tracks real-time creel data statewide, though specific catch tallies from this week were not detailed in the available feed; anglers should consult that resource directly for the latest harvest figures. Mid-May is historically a strong window for spring Chinook (blackmouth) in Puget Sound, and Pacific halibut season is underway on the outer coast. WA Sea Grant's Crab Team documented Pacific tomcod at two Grays Harbor monitoring sites last fall — a forage fish signal that speaks to the estuary productivity salmon depend on. No charter captain or tackle shop reports were available in this week's data pull.
Rockfish surge at the Chesapeake mouth as spring migration peaks
Virginia DWR's spring striped bass (rockfish) report has fish stacking on channel edges, sandy flats, grass beds, and rocky structures throughout Virginia's tidal rivers — biologists are tracking the run from both shore and boat right now. Per OTW Saltwater's May 12 migration update, trophy-class fish that overwintered in the Chesapeake have been pushing north toward New Jersey and Long Island, narrowing the window for big fish at the mouth. Slot-sized and resident rockfish remain active on structure. Buoy 44009 recorded a light-to-moderate breeze around 12 knots and air at 61°F at 7:50 a.m. — manageable spring conditions; no water temperature reading was available from the buoy at time of publication. The waxing crescent moon means modest tidal swings this week, giving anglers predictable current-transition windows before the approaching full moon amplifies the next significant bait push.
Connecticut River running low and clear as shad push and trout season peaks
With USGS gauge 01135300 recording just 99.4 cfs on the Connecticut River this morning — well below typical mid-May runoff levels — Vermont anglers are finding the water running low and clear heading into the Memorial Day stretch. No temperature reading is available from the gauge. Per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, a Connecticut River tackle shop reported customers in the Massachusetts and Connecticut reaches actively targeting shad and carp, with largemouth bass now cycling into the spawn and proving trickier to entice than in the prespawn weeks. Trout are stacking in deeper water across the region; a Massachusetts angler on May 13 located brook and rainbow trout holding in cold, deep water where the bite required patient trolling and varied presentations, per the same source. On Lake Champlain, smallmouth bass are likely pressing through the spawn window; Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is in full swing across northern fisheries, with big bass responding to topwater lures worked over shallow, heavy cover. The waxing crescent moon sets up productive low-light dawn windows worth targeting through the weekend.
Oregon Coast Spring Chinook Window Opens Amid Calm, Stable Seas
NOAA buoy 46002 is logging 56°F water along the outer Oregon Coast this morning, with buoy 46029 confirming 55°F near the Columbia River Bar — both readings squarely in the band that supports active spring Chinook salmon and productive nearshore rockfish. Winds across the buoy network are light to moderate at 2–8 m/s, with no significant swell data recorded, suggesting workable conditions for the near term. For the closest regional analog available this week, Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reports that Half Moon Bay captains noted markedly improved salmon activity after Pacific water temps dropped into the mid-50s following a warmer early-season stretch — a temperature pattern now mirrored across Oregon's buoy array. With stable readings and surface temps holding firm, anglers targeting Chinook in nearshore lanes and rockfish over rocky structure should find favorable conditions. Tight-line jigging over structure is the standard approach when temperatures are this settled.
Shad spawn ignites post-spawn bass across Catawba & Roanoke
USGS gauge 02142900 clocked just 2.06 cfs on the Catawba system early Tuesday morning — exceptionally lean for mid-May and a cue to concentrate on deeper pools and channel edges rather than scattered shallow flats. Water temperature was unavailable from the gauge, but typical NC Piedmont conditions this week put surface temps in the upper 60s to low 70s, timing squarely with the post-spawn transition for largemouth and the opening of the shad and bluegill spawn cycles. The strongest NC freshwater signal in this cycle comes from MLF News, which reports that Mount Airy's Troy Watson won the Phoenix Bass Fishing League event on High Rock Lake by keying an early-morning shad spawn bite before making a midday depth adjustment. High Rock sits on the Yadkin drainage rather than Catawba or Roanoke, but shad spawn timing typically runs in lockstep across NC Piedmont reservoirs. Crappie are likely easing into post-spawn lethargy, while landlocked stripers and channel catfish should be picking up steam as water temps climb.
Stripers Running Hot Shore-Wide While Sea Bass Season Waits for Warmer Water
Water temperatures of 55–56°F (per NOAA buoys 44065 and 44091) are keeping the Jersey Shore's spring striper run firing coast-wide into the third week of May. Blue Chip Sportfishing describes the current bass action as "the best Striper Fishing possible," with fish on every trip. The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf confirms fresh clam is the dominant daylight producer from Sandy Hook to the LBI beaches, while swim plugs and glide baits shine on the night shift. Black drum have entered the surf mix — The Fisherman — Southern NJ reports oversize fish to 46 inches from Cape May to Atlantic City eating clams and bunker. The newly opened sea bass season (check NJ state regs for current size and bag limits) is off to a rough start; captains speaking to The Fisherman — Northern NJ report ling dominating catches while sea bass run well below last year's pace. Everyone is eyeing the warmth forecast into Memorial Day weekend as a potential turning point.
Bass lock onto spawning beds as Delaware stripers and shad share the spotlight
Striped bass are running hard through the tidal Delaware River from Trenton south through Lambertville, with Old School Outdoors in Ewing reporting solid action that should hold into early June. American shad remain in the mix on the upper river but are expected to taper off around early June — anglers have a closing window on this migration. Largemouth bass are fully on spawning beds across area lakes and ponds, and Dow's Boat Rentals confirms crappie are schooling near bridges and pilings as they begin their transition toward summer haunts. Chain pickerel continue to hold in the cedar-stained Pine Barrens backwaters, consistent with late-spring patterns here. USGS gauge 01408000 on the Toms River clocked 26.8 cfs early this morning; The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater sources warn a dry stretch is pushing stream levels down regionwide, and smaller tributary fishing could tighten if rainfall stays absent through late May.
Post-Spawn Bass and Catfish Prime Time on the Platte and Missouri
The USGS gauge at site 06796000 put the Platte River at 2,690 cfs early this morning — moderate, fishable flow that keeps riverside access open without the turbidity of peak spring flood pulses. Water temperature data wasn't available on this cycle, so carry a thermometer; mid-May on this corridor typically sees surface temps climbing through the 60s, which accelerates post-spawn bass movement and starts catfish staging. Nationally, Tactical Bassin notes the bluegill spawn is in full swing across Midwest fisheries — a trigger that pushes big largemouth into shallow, heavy cover and makes topwater and frog presentations productive. Fishing the Midwest describes this as an ideal early-season window for shallow casting presentations, and highlights spinning gear paired with jigs and live-bait rigs as the go-to walleye approach along current edges. No regional charter or shop intel reached us this cycle; the outlook below draws on available sources and seasonal patterns for this corridor.
Mississippi Sound Enters Prime Late-Spring Window for Trout and Reds
Air temperatures near 78°F over the Mississippi Sound and a moderate 3.3-foot chop recorded at NOAA buoy 42067 signal a typical mid-May Gulf Coast setup. Regional fishing coverage points toward structure as the most productive focus right now — Coastal Angler Magazine notes that May is peak time for gag grouper and scamp to stack on ledges, wrecks, and rock outcrops wherever cigar minnows and sardines have congregated, advising anglers that "a live sardine or live cigar on a decoy has a life expectancy of under ten seconds around any kind of fish." Inshore across the Sound's grass flats and oyster edges, late May typically brings speckled trout and redfish into reliable feeding patterns. A waxing crescent moon is building tidal push, which Salt Strong's inshore coverage suggests is the right moment to match fish position against specific tide stages rather than hunting blind. No Mississippi Sound–specific charter or tackle-shop reports were available at publication; confirm conditions locally before launching.
Stripers blanket Cape Cod Bay and the Canal as spring push peaks
Water temps at 52°F (NOAA buoy 44013) mark a key warming threshold for Cape Cod Bay, and stripers have responded in force. The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands reports stripers — along with spotty bluefish — making "impressive appearances" along the Cape Cod Bay shoreline and through Buzzards Bay, with the Canal delivering steady action at both ends. Capt. Carl of Westport River Outfitters (per The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands) logged fish from schoolies up to the high-30-inch class, mixed with legal sea bass and jumbo scup. Red Top Sporting Goods confirms bass are "working bait almost all over Buzzards Bay," with mackerel beginning to push into the Canal's east end — a strong signal that the forage base is stacking up. The Fisherman (Northeast) describes New England's spring striper run as "supercharged," with sizes averaging upper-teens to 20 pounds and 40-pound class fish now entering local waters. Tautog remain a solid secondary bite, with action holding strong on green crab.
Spring Striper Push Reaches Maine as the Migration Hits Full Stride
Water temps at 51°F near Portland (NOAA buoy 44007) and 45°F further down east (NOAA buoy 44027) haven't slowed one of the more impressive spring striper arrivals in recent memory. Per The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME, stripers up to 40 inches have pushed as far north as the Saco River in Maine, with the spring run declared officially underway. The Fisherman (Northeast) describes New England's 2026 striper season as "supercharged," with fish averaging upper-teens to 20 pounds and 40-pound-class bass now entering regional waters. On The Water confirmed migratory fish arriving in Maine as of May 15, completing the coastal push. River-mouth herring runs are still "very much on" per The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME, making herring imitations the first-call bait. Mackerel are showing close to shore, and haddock reportedly lit up over the past 10 days, adding a solid offshore option for those willing to make the run.
Red Snapper Season Opens Strong Along Louisiana's Gulf Coast
Red snapper season kicked off with 8,307 pounds landed in the first three days of the 2026 opener, per Louisiana Sportsman — a solid early showing for offshore anglers. NOAA buoy 42001 logged 80°F water this morning, while buoy 42067 recorded 3.3-foot swells and winds around 13 mph, keeping offshore conditions fishable but lively. Coastal Angler Magazine flags May as prime time for gag grouper and scamp, advising anglers to work structure — ledges, wrecks, and rock outcrops — wherever cigar minnows and sardines are concentrated, noting that a live sardine near fish "has a life expectancy of under ten seconds." Inshore, the warming delta marshes are pulling speckled trout and redfish into their early-summer staging patterns. With a waxing crescent moon providing minimal nighttime light, dawn-to-midmorning windows should offer the sharpest feeding activity across the region this week.
Atchafalaya High Water Pushes Bass and Catfish Into Flooded Timber
USGS gauge 07374000 logged 479,000 cfs and 72°F at Baton Rouge in the early hours of May 19 — elevated spring flow forcing fish off main-channel structure and deep into the Atchafalaya Basin's flooded hardwoods and oxbows. Louisiana Sportsman reported strong angler turnout statewide this week, with the 2026 red snapper season opening to 8,307 pounds landed in the first three days, signaling peak participation across Louisiana fisheries. On the freshwater side, 72°F puts largemouth bass squarely in the post-spawn transition with the bluegill spawn in full swing — Tactical Bassin confirms that topwater frogs and hollow-body presentations over matted vegetation are producing nationally right now, a setup that maps directly onto Atchafalaya flats. Wired 2 Fish notes post-spawn bass are staging in mixed-visibility water where swimbaits and chatterbaits are the confidence picks. High water typically concentrates blue catfish on current seams where the river pours into slack backwaters; cut bait on bottom rigs in those transition zones is the standard play.
Bass and catfish hit their stride as Kansas River rolls into early summer
USGS gauge 06892350 clocked the Kansas River at 76°F and 2,300 cfs early Tuesday — temperatures that mark the tail end of the bass spawn and the onset of aggressive summer catfish feeding. At this thermal window, largemouth and channel cats are the primary targets. Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is in full swing right now, a key feeding trigger for big bass in shallow, heavy cover; topwater frogs and walking-style baits are drawing strikes in matted vegetation and woody structure. Fishing the Midwest highlights that shallow-flat casting is a dependable early-season approach for mixed-bag action on crappie and bass before fish transition deeper with warming water. White bass in river current remain a realistic secondary target, responding well to blade baits and small jigs fished through current seams. The waxing crescent moon limits surface light overnight, nudging the most productive windows toward first light and the final hour before dark.
River Backwaters Holding Bass and Crappie as Lake Michigan Season Heats Up
The Illinois River is running at 25,700 cfs (USGS gauge 05586100) — a substantial spring flow concentrating gamefish in protected backwaters, flooded timber, and slack-water bays where current is manageable. No water-temperature reading is available at the gauge; expect turbid main-channel conditions with clearer water in tributary sloughs and creek mouths. Fishing the Midwest recommends targeting shallow flats and current breaks for crappies and walleyes this time of year, with jigs and slip-sinker live-bait rigs among the top walleye producers for Midwest rivers running high. On Lake Michigan, IL/IN Sea Grant confirms its three nearshore monitoring buoys are now deployed for the season, providing real-time surface-temperature and wave-height data as the lake enters its late-spring window. Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is in full swing across Midwest waters, pushing largemouth and smallmouth bass to shallow cover where topwater frogs and walking baits are drawing aggressive strikes. A waxing crescent moon provides low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk.
Spring Chinook Running on the Salmon as Snowmelt Peaks and Salmonfly Season Looms
The USGS gauge on the Salmon River recorded 16,900 cfs and 48°F water on the evening of May 18 — high, cold conditions that define the drainage's snowmelt peak. Spring Chinook salmon are the marquee target at this stage; these fish push through the lower Salmon Canyon from April into June, navigating turbid runoff flows to reach spawning grounds deep in the central Idaho mountains. No direct shop or charter reports from the region surfaced in this week's feeds, but Caddis Fly (OR) is already tying and discussing articulated salmonfly nymph patterns, noting these giant stonefly nymphs have been making their spring emergence across Pacific Northwest drainages — a signal that the salmonfly hatch on Snake and Salmon tributaries could arrive within the next two to four weeks. With flows this high, classic technique favors heavy presentations in protected slack water, inside seams behind boulders, and eddy lines where fish hold without fighting peak current. Smallmouth bass in the lower Snake canyon will remain sluggish until water temperatures climb above 55°F.
Savannah River dropping as Georgia's post-spawn bass bite heats up
The Savannah River is running at 4,050 cfs as of the pre-dawn hours of May 19 (USGS gauge 02197000), with the Clyo gauge at 3.6 feet and falling as of May 14 per GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News. Georgia Wildlife Blog noted another strong week of fishing across the state on May 15, with warming conditions pushing the post-spawn transition into full swing. Joshua Barber's May 10 Southern Waters report (GA Sportsman) flags that hot weather will drive fish progressively deeper — early-morning topwater and spinnerbait runs near structure are the play before midday. Spring crappie remain accessible per Georgia Wildlife Blog, which noted fish stacking on brush piles, fallen timber, and dock pilings in 3–8 feet during the spawn window. Catfish should be findable in deeper river bends as levels stabilize, typical for this point in the season on the Savannah system.
Bluegill spawn ignites big-bass topwater bite on Okeechobee and St. Johns
With the bluegill spawn in full swing, Tactical Bassin reports largemouth bass are locked into shallow heavy cover and eating topwater frogs at a high clip — a pattern that translates directly to Lake Okeechobee's hydrilla flats and the slower reaches of the St. Johns. Field & Stream documented a new Florida state record for blue catfish — 73.6 pounds caught on a live, hand-sized bream earlier this season — underscoring how productive live panfish can be as bait across the state's freshwater systems right now. The USGS gauge on the St. Johns (site 02232000) recorded 108 cfs as of early this morning, signaling stable, low flows on that system. On Okeechobee, mid-May marks the post-spawn push, with bass filtering off spawning flats into nearby vegetation edges. With the waxing crescent moon providing modest overnight pull, weedless frog presentations through submerged mats and lily-pad fields remain the top morning play.
Central Coast salmon bite improves below Pigeon Point as spring upwelling kicks in
Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady, working out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing, reports vastly improved salmon conditions below Pigeon Point — water temperatures have settled at 54°F, down from the 58°F recorded when the season opened April 11, per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater. The cooler shift pushed bonita out of the area but is drawing salmon back into productive range. NOAA buoys confirm the trend: buoy 46026 recorded 50°F surface water with 6.9-foot wave heights Tuesday morning, buoy 46042 read 51°F with 7 m/s winds, and buoy 46028 showed warmer 59°F water farther south — a temperature gradient worth tracking as the season builds. Rough offshore seas are a real factor this week, giving larger charter vessels a clear advantage when swell is elevated. A waxing crescent moon brings modest tidal movement, which typically concentrates bait along kelp edges and rocky structure through the weekend.
Lee's Ferry rainbows in prime form as Salt River bass wrap up spawn
USGS gauge 09380000 clocked the Colorado River at 8,770 cfs and 54°F on the evening of May 18 — high but fishable flow that strongly favors boat anglers over waders at Lee's Ferry. The tailwater rainbow trout fishery below Glen Canyon Dam is typically at its most productive in these mid-spring conditions: 54°F sits squarely in the trout feeding window, and elevated current concentrates fish in seams and eddies where nymphs and small streamers shine. No Arizona-specific angler intel reached us from this cycle's source feeds, so this update leans on gauge data and seasonal patterns. Downstream on the Salt River chain of lakes, largemouth and smallmouth bass are typically transitioning off spawning beds by mid-May, pushing toward channel edges and deeper brush piles. Channel catfish remain broadly active across both systems as water temperatures begin their slow climb toward summer. Check current Arizona Game and Fish regulations before keeping any catch.
King salmon and halibut season peaks across the Gulf of Alaska
Water temperatures across the Gulf of Alaska are running 41–43°F as of May 19, per NOAA buoys 46001, 46066, and 46080 — cold but seasonally normal for this stretch of the North Pacific in late spring. Conditions at these temperatures are well-suited for Chinook salmon staging along nearshore corridors ahead of river systems, and for Pacific halibut building on offshore banks as the season moves toward its early-summer peak. Alaska Sea Grant's recent coverage of ComFish in Kodiak reflects a fishing community actively mobilizing for the productive months ahead, though no charter or tackle-shop bite reports were captured in this update's data pull. Species status entries below reflect mid-May seasonal patterns for the Gulf rather than confirmed on-the-water testimony. Winds registered at 5–9 m/s across buoy stations with no wave height readings available. Verify current sea state before any offshore departure — Gulf of Alaska conditions can deteriorate quickly.
Kenai early kings get underway as spring flows hold steady
USGS gauge 15266300 on the Kenai River recorded 2,790 cfs and 44°F water temperature as of May 18 — cold, steady spring conditions that align with the traditional opening window for the Kenai's early king salmon run. Kings typically begin staging and pushing into the lower river during the second and third weeks of May, and the current gauge reading suggests the river is in manageable shape for both drift boats and bank anglers. AK Sea Grant's recent coverage of the ComFish competition in Kodiak reflects a broader Alaska fishing community actively gearing up for the season. No direct sport-fishing field reports from the Kenai corridor or interior rivers appeared in the angler-intel feeds this cycle — conditions here are synthesized from gauge data and typical mid-May seasonal patterns. Anglers should verify current emergency orders and regulation updates with state fish and game before heading out, as in-season adjustments on the Kenai king run are common.