Fishing reports
19291 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Post-spawn window opens on the Platte as bass and catfish take the feed
The Platte River is running at 2,100 cfs as of May 18, per USGS gauge 06796000 — moderate spring flow that keeps structure accessible and current fishable for post-spawn bass and staging catfish. Nebraska Game & Parks signals the season is fully underway, with their weekly coverage calling out active time on the water across the state. One practical note for NE anglers: Nebraska Game & Parks reports road construction is underway on the route to Kramper Lake and Danish Alps SRA, with a detour in place for the next several weeks — check it before making the drive. Post-spawn bass are transitioning to summer feeding patterns; Fishing the Midwest recommends shallow flats and structure edges with a casting approach this time of year, noting that fish tend to be cooperative and school together during the early-summer transition. Channel catfish are likely moving to pre-spawn staging holds in deeper channel bends as water temperatures climb toward typical late-May ranges.
Post-spawn walleye and smallmouth prime Michigan's Great Lakes for late May
USGS gauge 04119000 recorded the Grand River running at 4,060 cfs on May 18—a robust spring pulse that typically pushes baitfish toward the river-mouth zone on Lake Michigan. On Lake Erie, a Michigan Sportsman Forum report from the afternoon of May 17 described a three-man walleye limit near the Fermi area: harnesses and stick baits in 15 feet of water, with cotton candy and fruit dots running 35 to 45 leads back. Forum accounts are chatter rather than confirmed testimony, but the timing fits post-spawn walleye staging on western Lake Erie. The MI DNR's May 13 weekly report flagged active commercial netting gear near several popular Great Lakes ports—watch for orange-flagged buoys that may be widely spaced. Michigan Sea Grant recently launched smallmouth bass tracking research in Saginaw Bay, a signal that the Great Lakes bass bite is building toward its early-summer peak. The waxing crescent moon favors low-light morning bites through the weekend.
Stripers flood Cape Cod Bay as spring migration peaks
Water temperatures in the 53–56°F range, confirmed by NOAA buoys 44013 and 44020, have ignited one of the stronger spring striper pushes in recent memory across Cape Cod Bay and Buzzards Bay. Per The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands, stripers have made "impressive appearances" along the Cape Cod Bay shoreline, with the Canal firing at both ends and mackerel beginning to show in its east end. Red Top Sporting Goods reports bass schools working bait "almost all over Buzzards Bay," with fish reaching the high 30-inch class, and bluefish making their first credible local appearances off Mattapoisett and Wareham. Tautog remain active on structure, though green crab supply is a reported concern. The Fisherman (Northeast) calls this a "supercharged spring striper run," with 40-pound class fish beginning to enter the region. On The Water's May 15 migration map confirms the run has extended all the way to Maine, underscoring the breadth of this push.
Largemouth hit spawning flats while trout action holds in Central MA
Trout are still in play across Central MA ponds, with Rod Teehan landing three brook trout and three rainbows on May 13 while trolling the deep north side of Hampton (Pequot) Pond in Westfield — a Bobby Garland Baby Shad on the surface accounted for fish despite cold, rainy conditions (The Fisherman — New England Freshwater). Largemouth bass have since shifted into spawning mode across local ponds, turning "trickier" to entice than they were during the pre-spawn surge just weeks ago, per the same source. USGS gauge 01105500 shows the Assabet River running at a low 15.2 cfs as of May 18 — conditions that concentrate bass on shallow structure and keep visibility high. The Blackstone River (gauge 01111500) reads a moderate 90.4 cfs. With a waxing crescent moon and late-May warming underway, both the trout and bass windows remain open for anglers willing to slow down and adjust their presentations.
Black Drum Biting and Stripers Staging for Chesapeake Bay's Spring Push
Water temperatures in the Delaware/Maryland coastal corridor are reading 58°F per NOAA buoy 44009, and conditions have been a mixed bag. The Fisherman — DE/MD/Chesapeake correspondent Eric Burnley reported as of May 17 that rough water and small craft advisories limited quality fishing, though fish were caught when windows opened. The standout bite right now is black drum: reports via The Fisherman — DE/MD/Chesapeake place fish stacked at the Coral Beds off Slaughter Beach and along Broadkill Beach, where clams and sand fleas fished at dusk are producing reliably. On the striper front, OTW Saltwater's May 15 migration map confirms the spring run has extended all the way to Maine, and their May 12 report notes large Chesapeake-origin bass — 50-pound-class fish — already staged along the coast ahead of the new moon. Flounder remain slow in the cool water but catchable. The waxing crescent moon and slowly climbing temps should open better windows in the days ahead.
Spring Striper Run Lands in Maine as Haddock Bite Surges
Inshore water temps in the western Gulf of Maine hit 51°F at NOAA buoy 44007 this week, and the spring striped bass migration has officially arrived on schedule. On The Water's May 15 striper migration map declared the run 'fully extended through the Northeast,' with migratory fish now reaching Maine. The Fisherman's South Shore MA to ME desk confirms stripers to the 40-inch class at the Merrimack River and fish in the 30-inch class as far north as the Saco River, with Surfland Bait & Tackle noting the herring run is still 'on' — river mouths on herring-imitating presentations are producing the most consistent results on bigger bass. Offshore, the haddock bite has lit up hard: Beauport Fishing Adventures describes it as 'some of the best they've seen in years,' with limit catches now common. Mackerel are also working inshore and pushing north, setting up what should be an active late-May finish across the Gulf of Maine.
Stripers Arrive in Maine as Herring Runs Peak on Kennebec & Penobscot
On The Water's May 15 striper migration map confirmed migratory fish are now arriving in Maine, and The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME placed 30-inch-class bass as far north as the Saco River — putting the vanguard of the spring push squarely on the doorstep of the Kennebec system. Surfland Bait & Tackle, reporting through The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME, notes the herring run is "still very much on," making herring imitations the clear top choice for bass working upriver. The Kennebec is running at 6,740 cfs (USGS gauge 01046500), a robust but fishable spring flow consistent with active herring migration into both river systems. Landlocked salmon and smallmouth bass fill out the freshwater calendar at this stage of the season, though no regional sources this week reported specific Kennebec or Penobscot condition updates for those species. With a waxing crescent moon, low-light windows at dawn and dusk favor topwater plugs and subsurface presentations in tidal reaches.
Topwater Trout Fire Up as Louisiana's Gulf Warms for Late May
Gulf water hitting 81°F at NOAA buoy 42001 signals peak late-spring conditions along Louisiana's coast. Louisiana Sportsman's May 17 column by Chris Holmes spotlights strong topwater action for speckled trout, particularly for kayak anglers working shallow marsh flats — Holmes notes that skipping surface lures entirely means missing some of the most exciting fishing of the season. Offshore, Coastal Angler Magazine flags May as prime time for gag and scamp grouper on structure: ledges, wrecks, and rock outcrops holding schools of cigar minnows and sardines, with a live offering near that bait concentration lasting "under ten seconds" before a strike. Both buoy stations report winds of 5–7 m/s; buoy 42067 shows 3-foot seas — manageable for bay and nearshore runs, but monitor forecasts before pushing offshore. Redfish remain a reliable target on shell reefs and marsh edges. A waxing crescent moon builds toward first quarter through the week, sharpening dawn and dusk feeding windows.
Flooded backwaters primed as bluegill spawn peaks across the Atchafalaya
The Mississippi River at Baton Rouge is pushing 484,000 cfs at 72°F (USGS gauge 07374000, Monday evening), flooding the Atchafalaya Basin's cypress flats and willowbrush into prime late-spring territory. Seventy-two degrees is the sweet spot for the bluegill spawn — Tactical Bassin reports the panfish spawn is in full swing, and where bream are bedding in Louisiana's warm shallows, trophy largemouth are rarely far behind. Topwater presentations over flooded heavy cover are the play, with frogs and walking baits drawing blow-ups from bass stacked along the timber edge. Louisiana Sportsman's May 17 kayak column reinforces the topwater momentum, noting that anglers who skip surface lures are leaving the most exciting spring fishing on the table. Blue catfish and channel cats also tend to stack near wing dams and hard structure when the river runs this high, ambushing baitfish pushed by the current. The waxing crescent moon should extend productive surface windows into last light on calm evenings.
Post-Spawn Bass and Catfish Prime on Kansas Rivers as Water Warms
USGS gauge 06892350 clocked the Kansas River at 81°F and 2,080 cfs on May 18 — a warm reading for mid-May that signals the post-spawn window is well in motion. At these temperatures, channel catfish are typically feeding aggressively; structure fishing with cut bait near deeper channel edges is the standard play. Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is currently 'in full swing,' a condition that pushes big largemouth bass into shallow, heavy cover — topwater frogs and buzzbaits around flooded timber and grass edges should draw strikes. Fishing the Midwest notes that early summer transitions can be some of the most productive freshwater windows for bass and crappie, when a simple casting approach in the shallows outperforms more complex presentations. No region-specific charter or shop reports were available this week; the picture is built primarily from gauge readings and general Midwest angler intel. Check state regulations for any slot limits before keeping fish.
Bass on the Move as Bluegill Spawn Fires and Wabash Flow Settles
The Wabash River is running at 4,050 cfs per USGS gauge 03335500 as of May 18 — elevated spring flow that is tapering but still likely pushing off-color water through the main channel. No water temperature came through on the gauge this cycle; anglers should probe conditions at the ramp before committing to a stretch. What the calendar confirms: the bluegill spawn is underway across the Midwest, and Tactical Bassin's recent coverage identifies this as one of the year's best windows for big largemouth bass — frogs and topwater walking baits worked in heavy shallow cover are the focal presentation right now. Fishing the Midwest's Mike Frisch recommends a casting approach into shallow flats and pockets for crappie, bass, and walleye in spring's early weeks, noting fish stack once you locate them. On Lake Michigan, IL/IN Sea Grant confirmed its three nearshore buoys are freshly deployed for the season, supporting anglers targeting the Indiana shoreline where post-spawn smallmouth and yellow perch are typical mid-May quarry.
Bluegill spawn fires up shallow bass bite on Illinois waters
The Illinois River is running at 27,200 cfs per USGS gauge 05586100, an elevated spring pulse pushing bass into calmer backwaters and slack-water margins. The bluegill spawn is confirmed in full swing across Midwest freshwater systems per Tactical Bassin, a reliable trigger for aggressive largemouth activity in shallow heavy cover — frogging and topwater walking baits are the priority presentations right now. Wired 2 Fish's recent topwater breakdown reinforces the case for walking baits and poppers when fish are actively looking up. On Lake Michigan, smallmouth are transitioning post-spawn in the nearshore zone; Tactical Bassin's Great Lakes smallmouth guide favors swimbaits and finesse rigs as fish slide off spawning structure. Fishing the Midwest recommends spinning gear with jigs and slip-sinker rigs for walleye pursuing current-break targets this season. Channel catfish should be active in river eddies based on seasonal timing, though no specific source confirmation is available this week. No water temperature reading is available from the gauge.
Blue marlin and ahi in play as Hawaii enters prime offshore season
Surface water temperatures of 75°F northwest of Oahu (NOAA buoy 51001) and 79°F east of the Big Island (NOAA buoy 51004) confirm that warm offshore conditions are well-established across the Hawaiian chain — precisely the foundation the region's summer pelagic season is built on. Seas are running 7–8 feet on northeast trades near 17 knots, so offshore access this week favors vessels built for open-ocean runs. Hawaii Fishing News — the state's official record-keeper and the primary source for current lunar and tidal data — is the go-to local reference; specific charter-captain or tackle-shop bite reports were not available in this cycle's intel feed. With water temps in the right zone, late May traditionally puts blue marlin, yellowfin tuna (ahi), mahi-mahi, and wahoo all in their productive season. Saltwater Sportsman highlights sub-surface trolling spreads with skirted lures and flat lines as a proven offshore setup in conditions like these.
Expanded Red Snapper Season Opens as Tripletail Surface Off Georgia
An around-12-pound tripletail caught by Joe Thompson and his father headlines recent Georgia Atlantic Coast action, highlighted in GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News' May 10 Southern Waters Fishing Report by Joshua Barber. Barber flags that approaching hot weather will likely push fish into deeper water — a key transition signal for offshore and nearshore anglers heading into the weekend. The biggest regulatory development of the season: Saltwater Sportsman and Sport Fishing Mag confirm that Georgia is among the South Atlantic states that secured exempted fishing permits (EFPs) for greatly expanded 2026 red snapper seasons this summer, a significant change from recent compressed seasons. NOAA buoy 41008 recorded air temperatures near 77°F with light winds around 10 knots on May 18, suggesting manageable offshore conditions. River levels remain elevated, with the Altamaha at Doctortown running at 6.7 feet and rising as of May 14, which can temporarily cloud nearshore waters and push inshore species toward saltier ground.
Post-spawn largemouth on the move as Savannah River clears and drops
Joshua Barber's May 10 Southern Waters report via GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News noted that hot weather is approaching and fish "will probably start to move into deeper water" across South Georgia — a clear signal that the post-spawn transition is underway. The Savannah River at Clyo was reading 3.6 feet and falling as of May 14, consistent with the current USGS gauge 02197000 reading of 4,150 cfs on May 18. That dropping flow means clearer water windows are opening up in the river's backwater systems. Largemouth bass remain the headliner: the Georgia Wildlife Blog — Fishing documented an 8-pound, 11-ounce largemouth taken in Morgan County on a spinnerbait just after rain in late April, and the GHSA Bass State Championship on Lake Sinclair (May 9) produced a competitive five-fish winning limit per GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News. With heat building, mid-depth structure and bluegill-spawn edges are the key targets heading into this week.
Florida Blue Catfish Record Falls; Bluegill Spawn Ignites Shallow Bass
Field & Stream reported a new Florida state record blue catfish — 73.6 pounds, caught on a live hand-sized bream — fell earlier this year, surpassing the previous mark by more than 4 pounds. That trophy catch underscores the live-bait potential across Florida's major freshwater systems heading into late May. On the bass front, Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is in full swing, with big largemouth stacking in shallow heavy cover and responding aggressively to topwater frogs. The USGS gauge on the St. Johns River (site 02232000) logged 155 cfs as of May 18 — a moderate, fishable flow. Water temperature data was unavailable from the gauge this period. With a waxing crescent moon, low-light windows at dawn and dusk offer the best topwater timing. Anglers targeting Lake Okeechobee and the St. Johns should focus on grass-edge ambush points where spawning bluegill are concentrated.
Snook, Tarpon, and Blackfin Tuna Fire Along Florida's Atlantic Coast
Snook Nook's May 2026 report from Stuart calls this 'one of the best months for inshore fishing on the Treasure Coast,' with snook heating up ahead of the pre-spawn push and excellent action across the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers. Offshore, Sport Fishing Mag reports blackfin tuna flooding South Florida's Atlantic waters from the Keys north through Palm Beach — peak season for kite-fishing, trolling, and live-bait drifting over structure. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) confirms big tarpon action running across Florida this week. On the regulatory front, CCA Florida and Saltwater Sportsman report that federally approved exempted fishing permits will deliver extended South Atlantic red snapper seasons for Florida anglers in 2026. NOAA buoys 41008 and 41009 recorded winds of 5–8 m/s overnight, with air temps in the upper 70s — comfortable late-spring conditions. A waxing crescent moon keeps overnight tidal swings modest heading into the week.
Tarpon Migration in Full Swing Along the Florida Gulf Coast
Water at 79°F (NOAA buoy 42036) has the southwest Florida Gulf Coast fishing at its late-spring best. Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports the tarpon migration is fully underway, with captains intercepting quality fish each morning as they push through staging areas. The classic double-header is in play: mornings on the silver kings, afternoons pivoting to sight-fishing large Permit on the flats — a pattern Naples Offshore describes as "exactly how it should be" for this time of year. King mackerel are adding to the mix with steady action on plugs and flies offshore. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) echoes the headlines with a report of big tarpon action across Florida. Structure anglers after gag grouper and scamp have a clear directive from Coastal Angler Magazine: find the cigar minnows and sardines stacked on ledges, wrecks, and rock outcrops, and the fish will be right there. Offshore swells of 2.6–4.3 ft (NOAA buoys 42036 and 42039) call for smart weather-window selection.
May New Moon Ignites Long Island Sound Striper Bite
Water temps across Long Island Sound are reading 56–57°F per NOAA buoys 44025 and 44065, and the fishery is fully awake. The Fisherman — Connecticut's Aaron Swanson reports that the May new moon "supercharged" striped bass activity throughout the Sound and its tributaries, with a massive bait influx — squid, bunker, mackerel, herring, silversides, and rain bait — pulling fish onto every type of structure from deep reefs to shallow flats. Fisherman's World Connecticut called it simply "bass, bass, bass," with customers connecting on virtually every technique. Bobby J's Connecticut notes inshore action is currently outpacing the deep-water bite, though an outgoing tide can flip the script on the reefs. Captain Morgan's Bait and Tackle adds that artificials and flies are easily keeping pace with bait. On The Water confirmed the spring striper migration has fully extended through the Northeast, with 40-pound-class fish now entering New England waters.
Salmon River trout on tap as CT bass slide into spawn mode
The Salmon River TMA and TTA received fresh stockings on May 13, and The Fisherman — New England Freshwater reports that one angler hit the river and caught 'as many trout as they wanted.' With USGS gauge 01184000 reading 59°F on the Connecticut River corridor, water temps are in a prime window for trout while nudging largemouth bass firmly into spawn mode. Fishin' Factory 3 in Middletown, per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, notes largies are 'now spawning and proving trickier to entice than they were in prespawn,' while area reservoir bass action is 'steadily improving' with shiners leading over soft-plastic swim baits. Interest in Connecticut River shad and carp is building this week, with anglers gravitating toward the main stem alongside the traditional trout fisheries. Spring flows remain elevated — the CT River corridor is pushing 34,100 cfs per USGS gauge 01184000 — so reservoir and tributary fishing will offer the most comfortable conditions right now.
Central Coast Salmon Heat Up as Spring Upwelling Takes Hold
Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady, working out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing, calls conditions below Pigeon Point 'vastly improved' — a meaningful turnaround since the April 11 salmon opener, per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater. The catalyst is a temperature drop: water near Half Moon Bay has fallen from 58°F to 54°F, which Davis says pushed bonita off the grounds while pulling salmon back into productive form. NOAA buoy 46042 confirms the Central Coast chill at 52°F, with 7.9-ft seas running at the same station. Buoy 46028 to the south reads 59°F with similar swell heights, indicating a 7-degree north-to-south gradient that typically concentrates baitfish along transition zones. Rough surf will sideline smaller private boats this week, but sportfishing operations reaching the grounds south of Pigeon Point are finding the salmon bite. Rockfish offer an accessible fallback for anglers who can work calmer inshore structure.
Late-spring Delta warmup sets up striper and largemouth windows
The USGS gauge at site 11447650 recorded 67°F water and 15,300 cfs on the Sacramento River on the afternoon of May 18 — a temperature that falls squarely in the productive band for both striped bass and largemouth. No Sacramento-Delta-specific reports appeared in this week's regional angler-intel feeds; NorCal Fish Reports was present in the source rotation but returned only site navigation rather than current conditions. With that caveat noted, the seasonal picture is encouraging: at 67°F, striped bass remain active throughout the tidal channels and tributary confluences of the Delta complex, and largemouth are making the post-spawn transition to early-summer structure along tule edges and dock pilings. Flows near 15,300 cfs represent a moderate late-spring level on the Sacramento — enough current to concentrate baitfish on downstream seams without blowing fish off structure. The waxing crescent moon provides low overnight light, which typically sharpens the pre-dawn bite window for topwater presentations.
Gulf of Alaska halibut season hits stride amid May swell
NOAA buoy 46080 is showing 43°F water temperatures and 5.9-foot seas with light 4 m/s winds — the most workable inshore window across the Gulf of Alaska this week. Further offshore, buoy 46001 logs 7.9-foot swells at 43°F while buoy 46066 registers 9.5-foot seas with 41°F water and sustained 10 m/s winds, underscoring an active spring weather pattern keeping open-ocean runs difficult. May is the prime early-season window for Pacific halibut in this region, when fish push from deep winter haunts onto shallower feeding banks — anglers who can find the weather windows should be working those grounds. AK Sea Grant's recent coverage of the ComFish competition in Kodiak signals the local fleet is engaged and tuned up heading into the season's peak weeks. No charter or shop intel is available this cycle; conditions on the water can shift fast, so verify locally before departing and check current state regulations before harvesting any species.
Kenai Kings Stirring as Early-Season Flow Sets Up
USGS gauge 15266300 recorded the Kenai system at 44°F and 2,740 cfs on May 18 — water conditions that put the early-run king salmon window squarely in play. No Kenai-specific charter or shop reports came through this cycle; AK Sea Grant's recent feeds covered the ComFish skills competition in Kodiak and coastal community programs rather than interior river conditions. Based on the gauge reading and typical mid-May patterns for this region, early king salmon are likely beginning their push into the lower Kenai corridor. Rainbow trout are feeding actively ahead of the peak snowmelt runoff that typically arrives later in May. On interior drainages, Arctic grayling are a classic mid-May target as surface temps begin climbing from winter lows. Water at 44°F responds well to slow, deliberate presentations. Verify current emergency order status before launching — early Kenai king runs are subject to in-season openings and closures.