Fishing reports
19291 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Post-spawn largemouth targeting bluegill beds on the new moon
USGS gauge 02142900 is recording a critically low 2.17 cfs on the Catawba drainage — near-drought flow territory for mid-May — a signal that reservoir creek arms and tributary shallows are running clear and tight. Regional tournament activity confirms fish are biting: MLF News reports a Phoenix Bass Fishing League event wrapped its weigh-in at High Rock Lake in Salisbury on May 16, just east of the Catawba watershed, a strong regional indicator that piedmont NC reservoirs are in the thick of the post-spawn bass fishery. Tactical Bassin's current content identifies the bluegill spawn as fully underway across the Southeast, and with the new moon arriving today those spawning flats become a concentrated feeding zone for largemouth working the perimeter. No state agency or charter reports specifically address the Catawba or Roanoke systems this week; conditions on the upper Roanoke chain are inferred from seasonal patterns and the broader regional picture.
New Moon Striper Surge Sweeps Long Island — Jamaica Bay to Montauk
Water temps of 53°F at NOAA buoy 44025 and 51°F at buoy 44065 frame a week in which Long Island's spring striper run has hit peak intensity. With the new moon arriving today, the timing aligns precisely with what OTW Saltwater flagged mid-week: 50-pound-class fish from the Chesapeake were already staged off Long Island ahead of the lunar turn. On The Water's May 14 report confirmed very big bass on the South Shore surf and the Western Sound, while The Fisherman's Long Island North Shore correspondents at Duffy's Bait and Tackle and Hi-Hook note fish to 45 inches on trolled mojos and umbrella rigs inside Huntington Bay. Fluke season has just opened, with Super Hawk in Pt. Lookout landing quality flatties to 8.5 pounds on light tackle, and the first bluefish are trickling into Shinnecock Inlet per White Water Outfitters. Porgy action is building in the Peconic, with some anglers limiting out per The Fisherman's East End reports.
Stripers up the Hudson, walleye season open, and stocked trout in prime form
Water temperatures hit 60°F on the Hudson River as of May 16 (USGS gauge 01357500), setting the table for one of the region's most productive multi-species windows of the year. On The Water's striper migration map — updated May 15 — confirms the spring striped bass push has extended fully through the Northeast, placing fish well within Hudson Valley reach. NY DEC's Fishing Line reports the statewide coolwater sportfish season opened May 1, putting walleye, northern pike, and other hard-fighting species back in play across Finger Lakes waters. DEC hatchery crews were actively stocking brook, brown, and rainbow trout through late April. Wired 2 Fish reports a landmark shift: New York State health officials have cleared some Lower Hudson River fish for limited consumption for the first time in roughly 50 years, lifting a PCB-era advisory that long kept catch-and-release as the default on the main stem. Expect stained water on open Hudson stretches with flows elevated at 14,800 cfs (USGS gauge 01358000).
San Juan and Rio Grande run lean as drought tightens grip on NM trout water
USGS gauge 08330000 logged just 6.15 cfs on the evening of May 16 — a critically low reading for mid-May, when New Mexico rivers typically carry residual snowmelt. That gauge signal fits a broader regional picture: Flylords Mag reported this week that nearly half the United States, including the Rockies, is experiencing severe drought with little precipitation relief in sight. No charter, shop, or agency intel specific to the Rio Grande or San Juan arrived in the feeds this cycle, so on-the-water specifics are limited to what the data supports. The San Juan tailwater below Navajo Dam remains buffered from drought by regulated dam releases and typically fishes well through spring regardless of free-stream conditions elsewhere. The new moon on May 17 creates the low-light feeding windows trout favor in clear, low water — plan for dawn and dusk. Midge and BWO imitations are the reliable mid-May go-to; MidCurrent's recent Tying Tuesday highlighted midge-style patterns as top producers in clear, pressured tailrace water exactly like the San Juan.
Jersey Shore Striper Run Hits Season Peak as Sea Bass Opens
Water temps of 52–54°F along the Jersey Shore — confirmed at NOAA buoys 44065 and 44091 — are fueling what may be the strongest spring striper run in years. Blue Chip Sportfishing reports "crushing" bass on every trip, calling conditions "the best Striper Fishing possible," and The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf echoes that with another phenomenal week coast-wide. Surf anglers soaking fresh clams at dawn are the consistent producers: The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf notes two bass at 50 and 46 inches released in a single Point Pleasant session, and Grumpys Tackle logged a 41-inch personal-best at Seaside Park on an SP Minnow. Black drum have pushed into the oceanfront wash alongside the bass, with The Fisherman — Southern NJ reporting fish to 38 inches on salted clam. The May 15 black sea bass opener is now active — a 12.5-inch minimum and 10-fish bag limit apply through June 21, per The Fisherman — New Jersey edition. Fluke action remains slow, with most catches running short.
Pine Barrens pickerel peak as Delaware River stripers push to Lambertville
Chain pickerel are putting on a strong mid-May showing in the Pine Barrens cedar waters, with The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater reporting active bites on killies, swimbaits, and spinners across the tannin-stained streams. Creekside Outfitters (via The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater) confirms solid trout action in lower-state lakes and ponds on meal worms, Trout Magnets, and Berkley Trout Worms, while largemouth bass are connecting on spinnerbaits in small ponds and campground water. Allen's Dock on Bass River notes they've been selling more killies to freshwater anglers than to fluke fishermen — a telling indicator of how active the inland bite has been. On the Delaware River, Dave's Sport Shop in Doylestown (via The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater) reports mixed-size stripers at Trenton, with fish as far north as Lambertville. USGS gauge 01408000 recorded 29.7 cfs on May 16 — a modest, fishable flow for Pine Barrens drainages. One notable gap this spring: white perch have been scarce in tidal streams, a pattern Allen's Dock attributes to heavy overwintering striper predation on local baitfish.
Spring striper push reaches NH coast as new moon kicks in
Water reading 49°F off the NH coast per NOAA buoy 44007, and the spring striper migration has arrived right on cue. The Fisherman's South Shore MA to ME correspondents at Surfland Bait report fish actively exiting the Merrimack River — overwintered bass now moving downriver to feed — while early migratory arrivals are simultaneously making landfall along the shoreline. On The Water's May 15 migration map confirms the push has fully extended through the Northeast, with fish now reaching Maine. The Fisherman (Northeast) calls the regional run "supercharged," with sizes averaging the upper-teens to 20 pounds and some 40-pound-class fish entering coastal waters to the south. Saltwater Edge's May new moon forecast notes that lunar tidal exchanges historically bring waves of migratory bass and bait together in force. With the migration front now squarely at NH's doorstep and the new moon hitting today, the next several days shape up as the most promising striper window of the young season.
Bass enter post-spawn stride across NH's Merrimack and Winnipesaukee
The Merrimack River is running at 285 cfs as of May 16 (USGS gauge 01073500) — a moderate, fishable level suggesting the spring flush has peaked and conditions are stabilizing. The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME's Surfland report notes that stripers which wintered in the lower Merrimack are now exiting the river and pushing toward coastal waters, clearing the stage for NH's resident freshwater fishery. On The Water's May 15 striper migration map confirms the Northeast push is fully extended, a reliable signal that spring is well underway across the region. For bass anglers, Tactical Bassin notes that post-spawn fish are actively schooling this week, with swimbaits, chatterbaits, and topwater producing well as fish transition off beds. A New Moon on May 17 tightens the best action into low-light windows at dawn and dusk. No Lake Winnipesaukee-specific reports are in hand this week, but mid-May historically puts Winnipesaukee smallmouth in an aggressive post-spawn feeding phase.
Truckee snowmelt surge pushes trout anglers toward Tahoe's open water
USGS gauge 10311000 on the Truckee River recorded 582 cfs as of Friday evening — elevated spring snowmelt flows that typically push river trout into slack-water seams and redirect fishing pressure toward Lake Tahoe's calmer margins and deeper structure. No water temperature reading was available at the gauge. With the Truckee running high, large attractor nymphs and weighted streamers worked deep in eddy pockets are the standard river play; MidCurrent's recent tying coverage highlights midge-style patterns that excel in clear, pressured stillwater and tailrace lies — techniques worth rigging in anticipation of the river dropping. None of this week's angler-intel feeds included on-the-ground reports from Truckee or Tahoe-area shops or guides, so current bite details should be confirmed locally. On the lake, kokanee trolling typically picks up momentum through May, and Mackinaw remain accessible in deep water year-round.
Spring push underway on the Platte and Missouri — walleye and catfish in focus
The Platte River logged 1,650 cfs on May 16 (USGS gauge 06796000), a moderate mid-spring reading that keeps current seams and edge structure well-defined across both river systems. Nebraska Game & Parks signals the season is firmly under way, with their recent "Springing On" dispatch noting high angler engagement across the state. Fishing the Midwest highlights that shallow-water presentations are producing well across the region right now — crappies, walleyes, and bass all responding to warming shallows, with casting approaches to inside bends, flats, and current edges delivering consistent action. The new moon on May 17 shifts prime feeding windows toward low-light periods, making dawn and dusk the moments to prioritize. Water temperature data was not available from the gauge this cycle; mid-May in Nebraska typically places river temps in the upper 50s to low 60s°F, favorable territory for walleye and channel catfish along the Missouri corridor. Anglers should check Nebraska Game & Parks for the latest statewide conditions before launching.
Paddlefish Season Active on Yellowstone as Caddis Windows Open
MT FWP Fishing News has confirmed that paddlefish season is underway on the Yellowstone drainage, with revised tagging rules requiring anglers to complete tag validation waterside — before cleaning, filleting, or moving the carcass — now mirroring the state's big-game protocols. USGS gauge 06043500 logged Yellowstone River flows at 1,640 cfs on May 16, notably below the pace typical for this point in Montana's spring runoff cycle — a pattern consistent with the severe drought Flylords Mag has flagged across the broader Rockies. No water temperature reading was available from the gauge. Access anglers should plan accordingly: the boat ramp and parking area at Grey Bear Fishing Access Site on the Yellowstone remain restricted due to construction, with MT FWP Fishing News anticipating reopening around May 21. On the hatch front, Hatch Magazine's longstanding research into Yellowstone-area stream entomology points to caddis emergences as one of the defining dry-fly events of late May — this week's window favors elk-hair caddis and soft-hackle wets swung through riffles.
Missouri bass enter post-spawn stride as Ozark waters hit prime temps
Water registering 69°F at USGS gauge 06934500 on the Missouri River signals that the post-spawn transition is fully underway across the state. Wired 2 Fish reports Missouri anglers Andrew Sell and Trevor Booth claimed the inaugural Pro-Guide Batteries HOPE Classic at Table Rock Lake with a five-bass limit, confirming quality fish are reachable for anglers dialing in mid-May patterns. Per Tactical Bassin, the bluegill spawn is now in full swing — one of the most reliable triggers for drawing large largemouth into heavy shallow cover, where frogs, topwater poppers, swimbaits, and chatterbaits are drawing strikes. The Missouri River's 64,900 cfs flow (USGS gauge 06934500) adds push to main-channel conditions and some turbidity; tributary mouths and clear Ozark stream systems offer more stable water for targeting bass and smallmouth. The new moon today sets up peak feeding windows at first and last light through the weekend.
Speckled trout and redfish on tap as Mississippi Sound calms for spring
NOAA buoy 42067 is recording calm spring conditions across the Mississippi Sound corridor this weekend: 1.3-foot seas, light winds near 10 knots, and air temperatures running near 76°F. Direct angler intel for the Sound is limited this cycle—MS DMR's latest communications center on an upcoming advisory commission meeting in D'Iberville (May 19) and coastal permitting matters rather than harvest data. With no charter or tackle-shop reports in the feed, we're drawing on seasonal context: mid-May is historically one of the stronger speckled trout windows along the Mississippi coast, with fish moving onto grass flats as Gulf water temperatures climb. Redfish and Spanish mackerel round out the typical spring inshore mix. The new moon this weekend amplifies tidal swings and concentrates bait near structure—prime timing for anglers willing to work moving water. Check current MS DMR size and creel limits before heading out.
Post-spawn bass chase bluegill into slack water as Mississippi runs high
At USGS gauge 07289000, the Mississippi River is recording 664,000 cfs — well-elevated spring flows that shunt fish out of the main channel and into backwater oxbows, flooded timber, and slough edges. Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is in full swing across mid-South freshwater fisheries, a trigger that pulls big largemouth into shallow heavy cover and ignites a topwater bite on frogs and walking baits. Post-spawn bass are regrouping and feeding aggressively; Tactical Bassin's on-water coverage notes that swimbaits, chatterbaits, and finesse presentations all produce as fish scatter into early-summer staging zones. Catfish are reliably active during high-water events, typically concentrating near current seams and submerged structure along the Mississippi corridor. On the Pearl River, no gauge data was captured this cycle, but similar high-flow dynamics likely govern fish position. Tonight's New Moon reduces ambient light, typically favoring after-dark catfish on cut bait and a late topwater bite for bass in protected pockets.
North Shore Steelhead Fading as Walleye and Crappie Take Center Stage
The MN DNR North Shore Fishing Report (May 14) confirmed steelhead are still present in North Shore streams, but the run is clearly winding down — angling pressure has dropped off, rivers are approaching low flow, and water temps have climbed to around 41°F. The smelt run, which peaked in early May, has slowed considerably. Inland, the picture brightens: with walleye and pike season now open following the second-Saturday-of-May opener, Twin Cities-area rivers are running at robust spring levels — USGS gauges recorded 14,200 cfs and 7,990 cfs as of Saturday evening. Scouting current breaks before launching is worth the extra few minutes. Jason Mitchell Outdoors has been targeting shallow walleye and highlights monofilament rigs as the seasonal go-to right now. Fishing the Midwest notes crappie, walleye, and bass are all responding in the shallows this time of year. With the new moon tonight, low-light walleye windows on flats and rocky points are the early-week priority.
Grand River Running High as Post-Spawn Walleye and Smallmouth Activate
The USGS gauge on the Grand River (site 04119000) recorded 4,010 cfs on May 16 — elevated spring flow that's keeping river clarity in check but not shutting down the bite. The MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report (May 13) reminds Great Lakes anglers to watch for commercial netting gear near busy ports, flagged with orange-topped buoys often spread a fair distance apart. With walleye past their spawn and beginning to scatter toward summer structure, transition-zone jigging near current seams and creek-mouth flats is the play right now. On The Water reports that windy conditions have been pushing big smallmouth into feed mode on Lake Erie — a pattern that translates directly to Michigan's Great Lakes shorelines as fish load up on pre-spawn calories. Tactical Bassin notes the bluegill spawn is now in full swing, pulling largemouth into the shallows and opening a surface-bite window. New Moon this weekend means darker nights and historically tighter, more aggressive feeding periods at first and last light.
Oversized stripers dominate Cape Cod Bay in a supercharged spring run
Water temps reading 52°F at NOAA buoy 44013 and 56°F near Nantucket Sound (buoy 44020), and the stripers are showing up to match. Per The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands, Charley Soares reports schools of bass in upper Buzzards Bay — very few below 37 inches — crushing a topwater bite that stretches east to the Canal entrance; Red Top Sporting Goods echoes the scene with slots to jumbos breaking on bait. Westport River Outfitters' Capt. Carl says he's struggling to find slot fish because oversized bass are dominating the counts. The Fisherman (Northeast) called it a "supercharged spring striper run," with fish averaging upper-teens to 20 pounds and 40-pound-class stripers now beginning to filter in. On The Water's May 15 migration map confirms the front has reached Maine, meaning Cape Cod Bay is squarely in the thick of it. Tautog are "very good and getting better" around the Canal openings per The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands, and scup have just kicked off their rock-pile bite.
Crappie slabs and post-spawn bass heat up Central MA waters
Giant crappies are the standout story across Central MA ponds right now. The Fisherman — New England Freshwater reports angler Jeff Sullivan pulling slabs in the 18-to-19-inch bracket from Cook Pond in Massachusetts, working NLBN 3- and 3.75-inch shads and a Strike King spinnerbait from shore during daylight hours. That caliber of fish points to calicos pushing into spawn-mode shallows — and timing through this weekend's New Moon couldn't be better. For bass anglers, the bluegill spawn is delivering a prime topwater window. Tactical Bassin has been documenting big largemouth targeting heavy cover aggressively during this phase, with topwater frogs drawing consistent strikes in the shallows. Spring trout stocking continues across Massachusetts waters per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater's regional roundup, keeping stocked ponds and streams in play. The Blackstone River is running at 107 cfs (USGS gauge 01111500) — a moderate, wade-friendly mid-May flow. No water temperature readings were available from local gauges this cycle.
Bay Region Stripers and Black Drum Arrive as Spring Bite Builds
Water temp is sitting at 56°F per NOAA buoy 44009, and wind-driven small craft advisories dominated much of the past week across the Chesapeake and Delaware Bay corridor. Eric Burnley's column in The Fisherman — DE/MD/Chesapeake confirmed open water was largely inaccessible, but anglers working protected beaches and inlets stayed in the fish. Smith's Bait Shop reports striped bass still showing at Greens Beach and the fishing pier at Woodland Beach on bloodworms and cut bunker, with most large fish caught and released. Black drum have made their seasonal entrance — Smith's Bait Shop confirms the species has arrived at the Coral Beds off Slaughter Beach, taking clams, sand fleas, and female blue crabs. Old Inlet Bait and Tackle adds tautog to the mix on sand fleas and green crab, hickory shad in Indian River Inlet on shad darts, and early-morning striper action at the South Pocket and jetties on bucktails and plugs. White perch and catfish are holding in tidal creeks and rivers on bloodworms. Today's new moon should amplify tidal swings and tighten the bite windows.
Tidal Creeks Delivering White Perch and Catfish as MD Spring Bite Builds
The Patapsco River at Hollofield is running at 54.7 cfs (USGS gauge 01589000, evening May 16) — a manageable spring flow with wading access intact on non-tidal stretches. The closest regional intelligence comes from The Fisherman — DE/MD/Chesapeake, where Smith's Bait Shop reported that tidal creeks and rivers in the Chesapeake watershed are holding white perch and catfish on bloodworms and standard catfish baits — a pattern consistent with what MD anglers typically find along the lower Patapsco and Potomac tributaries through mid-May. On the migratory front, On The Water's May 15 striper migration map confirms linesiders have spread through the full mid-Atlantic corridor, making the tidal Potomac a viable catch-and-release target. Water temperature data was unavailable from the gauge this cycle; mid-May in this region generally runs mid-50s to low-60s°F — prime for white perch and ramping catfish activity. The new moon this weekend creates favorable low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk.
Migratory Stripers Reach Maine as the Northeast Spring Run Hits Peak
Per On The Water's May 15 striper migration map, migratory fish have now reached Maine — the spring push has fully extended through the Northeast corridor. Water temperatures in the Gulf of Maine sit at 49°F nearshore (NOAA buoy 44007) and 44°F offshore (NOAA buoy 44027), cold but well within the range where actively traveling stripers feed. The Fisherman (Northeast) calls the 2026 run 'supercharged,' with average sizes in the upper-teens to 20-pound range and 40-pound-class fish already pushing north into New England. Just south of Maine, The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME reports fish exiting the Merrimack River and early coastal arrivals advancing toward Boston Harbor, with correspondents citing 'an incredible push of bigger fish' leading the charge. New Moon tides this weekend will amplify current through tidal inlets and river mouths — historically the most productive feeding window of the month for early-season Gulf of Maine stripers.
Striper Push Reaches Maine as Kennebec Runs at Peak Spring Flows
The spring striper migration has fully extended into Maine, with On The Water's May 15 migration map confirming migratory fish arriving along the state's coast and into tidal river systems including the Kennebec drainage. The Kennebec River is running at 7,240 cfs (USGS gauge 01046500) as of Saturday evening — elevated spring flows that push fish out of mid-current lanes and into slower eddies, bank seams, and pool tailouts. No water temperature reading is currently available from the gauge. Adding context to this year's wave, The Fisherman's South Shore MA to ME reports chronicle an unusually strong push of larger fish — anglers encountering fish near the 20-pound class — along the northward migration corridor. The new moon on May 17 adds a feeding-aggression edge: expect the sharpest activity at first light and the final hour before dark. Inland species — landlocked salmon, smallmouth bass, and brook trout — are all in active spring transition patterns across the Penobscot and upper Kennebec drainages.
Louisiana Gulf Coast Speckled Trout and Redfish Enter Prime Late-Spring Window
NOAA Buoy 42001 logged an 80°F surface temperature in the central Gulf early Sunday — water warm enough to push Louisiana's nearshore bite firmly into late-spring mode. Specific angler reports for the Louisiana coast are limited this cycle, but conditions are squarely in line with what typically produces strong speckled trout action on marsh grass edges and solid redfish on shell structure and sandy shoals. Louisiana Sportsman notes the LDWF Enforcement Division is blanketing coastal waters this week for National Safe Boating Week (May 16–22), a signal that recreational boat traffic is building along the coast. Seas at Buoy 42067 are a manageable 1.6 feet with light winds at 4–6 m/s, keeping inshore flats and nearshore structure accessible. The New Moon this weekend amplifies tidal swings and concentrates bait along current edges in the Delta and barrier-island passes — plan drift windows around the first three hours of each tide stage for best results.
Post-spawn bass and catfish key on flooded Louisiana backwaters
USGS gauge 07374000 clocked the lower Mississippi at 526,000 cfs and 71°F Saturday evening — well above seasonal baseline — pushing fish out of main-channel current and into flooded timber, cut-off oxbows, and shallow backwater edges. Louisiana Sportsman noted LDWF's participation in National Safe Boating Week (May 16–22), a timely reminder with the river running strong. Water temps settled in the low 70s signal the post-spawn transition for largemouth bass across south Louisiana's floodplain lakes; Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is now in full swing across the Deep South, a pattern that typically triggers topwater and frog bites in heavy cover. Blue catfish historically capitalize on high-water conditions, stacking in current breaks and eddy lines. Crappie (sac-a-lait) have likely retreated from the shallows following their spring spawn and are holding on deeper structure.