Fishing reports
19291 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Delaware Bay spring push peaks: stripers, drum, and weakfish on deck
Water temps at 54°F per NOAA buoy 44009 are powering a strong spring run on both sides of Delaware Bay. The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf describes "another phenomenal week of surf fishing" with striped bass running the full length of the state's beaches and a notable black drum push catching clam-fishers off guard. The Fisherman — Southern NJ's Boulevard Bait & Tackle reports bass from slot keepers up to 48-inch fish on salted and fresh clams, with black drum to 38 inches joining on the same rigs. One Stop Bait and Tackle (The Fisherman — Southern NJ) notes keeper flounder to 20 inches from back bays and jetties on live minnows and strip baits — encouraging early returns from the fluke opener. OTW Saltwater's May 12 migration update places 50-pound class post-spawn fish off New Jersey, with that wave pushing into Delaware Bay. Weakfish deserve a close watch as the approaching new moon tightens tidal swings, per The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf.
Quabbin & Wachusett bass moving shallow as the bluegill spawn fires
Jeff Sullivan pulled crappie slabs to 18–19 inches from Cook Pond in Massachusetts this week — NLBN shads and a Strike King spinnerbait doing the damage, per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater — signaling that the mid-May warmwater bite is well underway across central MA impoundments. Red Top Sporting Goods confirmed the regional freshwater momentum, reporting big trout and largemouth providing steady action (The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands). Spring stocking has been rolling across Massachusetts, per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, meaning stocked trout remain accessible at area ponds and reservoirs including Wachusett. The Swift River below Quabbin registered 59.7 cfs overnight (USGS 01174500), a moderate outflow reflecting stable reservoir conditions. Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is fully active across the region — the trigger that traditionally draws trophy largemouth into heavy shallow cover and topwater range, making now a prime window for surface presentations at both Quabbin and Wachusett.
Topwater Stripers and a Hot Scup Bite Heating Up Buzzards Bay
Water temps in Buzzards Bay registered 51°F (NOAA buoy 44085) early this morning, with Vineyard Sound readings at 54°F (NOAA buoy 44020) — and the fishing has fully caught up. Per The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands, Charley Soares reports schools of stripers, very few below 37 inches, crashing bait on topwater from Fairhaven west toward the Canal's west end. Westport River Outfitters' Capt. Carl is finding fish coming over the rail in good numbers but struggling to locate slot-sized bass amid a predominantly larger class. The tautog bite is solid: Red Top Sporting Goods confirms quality catches around canal openings, the West Falmouth shoreline, and Cleveland Light, with Fish Linked Charters targeting mid-to-lower Buzzards Bay rock structure. The scup bite just erupted — Charley Soares notes huge schools massing on the rock piles between West Island and Wareham. Black sea bass season opens May 16, and structure captains are already in position.
Yakima trout action peaks as Eastern WA enters prime late-spring window
USGS gauge 12484500 recorded the Yakima River flowing at 1,990 cfs on the evening of May 12 — moderate spring flow consistent with late snowmelt conditions on the eastern slopes. WA WDFW Fishing Reports confirms the department actively monitors angling conditions and continues stocking programs across the region throughout spring. With the waning crescent moon and lengthening days, rainbow trout on the upper Yakima are typically at their most active in mid-May as water temperatures begin a sustained climb from winter lows. Nymph patterns and early dry-fly opportunities tend to open up during this transition window as hatches start firing in earnest. Smallmouth bass in Spokane-area lakes and reservoirs should be moving toward pre-spawn staging areas near rocky structure. Angler intel specific to this stretch was limited this cycle, but seasonal patterns suggest this is one of the more productive freshwater windows of the year across Eastern Washington.
Spring Chinook season peaks as Olympic Peninsula rivers drop to fishable range
Both Olympic Peninsula rivers in our monitoring network are running at moderate late-spring levels. USGS gauge 12041200 logged 1,030 cfs as of May 12, and USGS gauge 12035000 recorded 697 cfs — both within the accessible range that allows drift boats and wading anglers to work the water effectively. No water temperature readings were available from either gauge at the time of this report. WA WDFW Fishing Reports did not return specific creel or catch data for these drainages in the current pull, leaving the on-the-water bite unconfirmed by a direct source. That said, mid-May falls squarely in the traditional spring Chinook window on the Olympic Peninsula, with fresh kings typically pushing into lower river reaches as snowmelt tapers. Flows at these levels favor side-channel and back-eddy presentations. A waning crescent moon phase may soften bite windows slightly this week. Anglers should verify current openings and any emergency closures with WDFW before launching — spring Chinook regulations can shift on short notice.
Snook hit prime time in Boca Grande and Sarasota Bay
Water temperatures of 77–79°F across Gulf approaches to Tampa Bay and Sarasota — confirmed by NOAA buoys 42036 and 42013 — have set the table for one of the year's best inshore runs. Capt. Brandon Naeve out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters logged a new boat-record Snook on May 9: a 34-pound, 4-ounce fish taken on a Boca Grande charter, with CB's calling May "prime time for Snook fishing in Boca Grande" as the species stages toward pass structure pre-spawn. Alongside the Snook push, Capt. Chuck Cress (also CB's) is reporting multiple upper-slot Redfish releases — 20 to 25 inches — alongside solid Trout action on Sarasota-area flats. Jack Crevalle have also joined the party: per CB's Naeve, they're schooling near the surface in Sarasota Bay around oyster bars, seawalls, and inlets, with early-morning topwater producing the best shots. Conditions look strong heading into the heart of the May run.
Florida Keys Mutton Spawn Is On — Yellowtail, Cobia, and Pelagics Bite
Mutton snappers are in full spawn mode across the Florida Keys. ALL IN Key West charter reports the bite at an "all-time high," with muttons "chewing like crazy" and yellowtails nearly jumping into the boat — driven by the full moon now transitioning into the waning crescent phase. A recent Gulf-side run by the same charter produced groupers, snappers, cobia, barracudas, and kingfish in a single trip. Live bait is the hot setup for king mackerel, tuna, and sailfish on the reef edges. Light winds from NOAA buoys SMKF1 (2.1 m/s) and SANF1 (3.1 m/s) signal calm nearshore conditions as of early May 13, and air temperatures near 82°F make for comfortable days offshore. Water temperatures were logged at 78°F by buoy 41114 in late April — and with current light winds and warm air, flats and offshore conditions alike look favorable heading into the coming days.
Laguna Madre Specks on Ship-Channel Pattern as STAR Season Kicks Off
NOAA buoy 42043 logged 78°F water temps off South Texas on May 12, placing the Lower Laguna Madre squarely in late-spring prime-time territory for shallow-water species. Texas Fish & Game Magazine spotlights a productive current pattern: anglers running sonar electronics to identify speckled trout stacked along ship-channel structure, then working them with soft plastics or live shrimp — a technique equally applicable to the cuts and deeper potholes threading the Laguna flats. The 37th annual CCA Texas STAR Tournament kicked off this month, per Lone Star Outdoor News — Fishing, bringing heightened effort onto trout, redfish, and flounder across the coast. That same outlet notes it's shaping up to be a record year for Texas anglers statewide. Winds registered just 1 m/s at buoy 42043 by mid-week — a significant improvement over the 12 m/s blow recorded at buoy 42020 on May 2 — giving wade and kayak anglers a favorable window onto the flats.
Chinook Salmon Turn On Below Pigeon Point as Half Moon Bay Bite Improves
Water temperatures at NOAA buoy 46026 read 53°F before dawn on May 13 — matching the surface conditions Captain Jared Davis is working through below Pigeon Point. Per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater, Davis, running the Salty Lady out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing, reports "vastly improved salmon conditions" since the April 11 season opener, when surface temps ran at 58°F. That four-degree cooldown pushed bonito out of range but put Chinook firmly in their preferred temperature window. Winds across both buoys 46026 and 46013 measured 10–11 m/s at observation time — anticipate short-period chop and plan accordingly on offshore runs. No Bodega Bay captain intel was in circulation this cycle, though rockfish and halibut remain seasonally active on offshore reefs and bay structure. With the moon in waning crescent phase, tidal exchanges are modest — bay striper timing should key off peak current rather than lunar pull.
Early tuna and yellowtail arrive as SoCal waters run unseasonably warm
Water readings of 62–64°F across the LA Bight — logged this morning at NOAA buoys 46025 and 46221 — are matching the broader warm-water anomaly that Western Outdoor News — Saltwater has been tracking for weeks. That outlet reports bluefin, yellowfin, and the first fleet albacore in years (gaffed aboard the Tribute out of Mission Bay on April 30) pushing into 1-day range southwest of San Diego, with yellowtail and scattered dorado also showing on 2–3 day trips. Western Outdoor News — Saltwater has documented April temperatures running 10°F or more above historical norms, drawing explicit comparisons to the 1983 El Niño. Closer to shore, Surf Fishing in So Cal's April season preview flags corbina and leopard sharks as the primary nearshore targets as the surf warms through spring. Light winds of just 2 m/s at buoy 46025 and modest 2.6 ft swells at buoy 46221 make for comfortable conditions on both the surf and offshore runs heading into the weekend.
Lake Superior whitefish active as UP trout streams ease through spring runoff
The USGS gauge on the Sturgeon River (site 04059500) logged 411 cfs on May 12 — elevated but declining late-spring flows across Upper Peninsula drainages. Higher water has kept visibility limited on many main-stem tributaries, nudging stream-trout anglers toward smaller headwater reaches where clarity holds. On Lake Superior, the WI DNR Lake Superior Fisheries program documents a growing lake whitefish fishery in the Chequamegon Bay region — boat-accessible now that ice is off — popular enough that the agency hosted a public meeting this spring and launched an angler questionnaire to gather catch data. For Michigan UP anglers, steelhead runs in Lake Superior tributaries are winding down as mid-May arrives, while brook trout fishing in inland streams steps into the foreground. The waning crescent moon keeps first light low; that pre-dawn window and the hour before dark typically hold the most active bite on UP streams and nearshore Superior shallows.
Saginaw Bay walleye season opens under a cold, slow-warming Lake Huron
Current gauge readings for the region returned no data this cycle, and no buoy data is available for Lake Huron or Saginaw Bay. What we can draw on: the Michigan Sportsman Forum flagged brutally cold conditions near the Tawas/Oscoda stretch of Lake Huron recently — near-freezing water temps and below-freezing air with strong winds — though forum reports serve as chatter until corroborated by agency or captain sources. Seasonally, mid-May is the prime transition window for Saginaw Bay walleye, as post-spawn fish move off the flats and start feeding aggressively. The Midwest Walleye Challenge, reported by Outdoor Hub, is actively running through June 28 across six states including Michigan, reflecting broad regional angler engagement with the walleye bite. Yellow perch — Saginaw Bay's signature species — typically follow walleye into a solid spring pattern by mid-May. Without confirmed temperature data, any assessment must be calibrated against what is typical for this stretch of shoreline in the second week of May.
Post-spawn bass and salmon building on Lake Michigan as Grand River runs high
Grand River at Grand Rapids measured 4,240 cfs on May 12, per USGS gauge 04119000, a robust spring flow that keeps the lower river murky and pushes any remaining steelhead into deeper, slower holds. No nearshore Lake Michigan water temperature readings are available this cycle — verify conditions at your launch point before heading out. On the broader Lake Michigan picture, the WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report's recap of 2024 documents record coho harvest topping 210,000 fish lakewide and Chinook returns exceeding 160,000 (strongest since 2012), year classes now cycling into prime trolling range. Post-spawn smallmouth bass are transitioning along shallow rocky structure, and walleye are active along the river-mouth corridor. The Midwest Walleye Challenge, running through June 28 across six states including Michigan via the MyCatch app per Outdoor Hub, adds competitive incentive to target walleye now. Direct angler reports from the Grand River mouth and Michigan's Lake Michigan ports are limited in this cycle.
Limestone trout enter peak sulphur window on Spring and Penns Creeks
USGS gauge 01546500 recorded 86.2 cfs on the drainage as of May 12 — moderate, wading-friendly flow for Centre County's celebrated limestone tailwaters. No water temperature was captured this cycle; anglers should probe conditions on arrival. Mid-May is the traditional peak of the sulphur hatch on Spring Creek and Penns Creek, with evening dun activity and spinner falls typically running 7–9 PM under stable air temperatures. Hatch Magazine's caddis emergence coverage is seasonally relevant: grannom and cinnamon caddis typically overlap with early sulphur activity on Central Pennsylvania limestone water, broadening the dry-fly menu. MidCurrent's recent tying roundup emphasizes patterns designed for 'clear, pressured water' and covering every feeding lane from the surface film down — a prescription that fits both streams year-round. No specific guide or shop reports from this drainage appeared in this cycle's feeds; conditions below draw on gauge data, seasonal pattern, and published hatch-timing literature.
Allegheny Running Big — Slack-Water Edges Hold Key to Post-Spawn Bass
USGS gauge 03036500 logged 30,000 cfs on the Allegheny late on May 12 — elevated well above comfortable fishing range and the defining story on the river this week. No water temperature was recorded at the gauge. At this volume, the main channel is largely unfishable; productive water shifts to current breaks: wing-dam tails, tributary mouths, flooded backwater pockets, and hard structure that divides the flow. Tactical Bassin notes that bass across the region are in the early post-spawn transition right now, schooling on adjacent staging areas, which makes current edges and slack-water pockets the highest-percentage targets even in elevated conditions. Fishing the Midwest reports that walleye tend to become less cooperative when high, turbid flow disrupts normal sight lines and scent trails, pushing the better bite windows to dawn and dusk. No PA Fish & Boat biologist dispatch or local guide intel from this reach was available in today's data feed — verify conditions before making the drive.
Walleye and Perch Prime Up as Lake Erie Hits Mid-May Sweet Spot
A USGS tributary gauge in the Lake Erie watershed (site 04213000) recorded 227 cfs on May 12, pointing to moderate inflow and manageable nearshore water conditions along Pennsylvania's shoreline. No buoy temperature readings were available this cycle. This week's angler-intel feeds did not include direct charter, shop, or regional blog reports for the Erie and Presque Isle zone, so current bite detail reflects seasonal norms rather than real-time testimony. That said, mid-May is historically one of Lake Erie's most productive windows: walleye in post-spawn recovery feed aggressively, yellow perch school up across the bay shallows, and smallmouth bass push toward rocky nearshore structure ahead of their own spawn. PA Sea Grant has been engaged on Lake Erie stewardship in Northwestern PA, including recent angler outreach on Round Goby management. With a waning crescent moon limiting overnight surface light, walleye should push shallower at first light — a favorable window for jig-and-minnow rigs and crankbait trollers working Presque Isle shoals and breakwall edges.
Spring Chinook Push Builds Along WA Coast and Sound
NOAA buoys 46041 and 46087 recorded offshore swells of 3.9 ft and 3.0 ft respectively along Washington's Pacific coast early on May 13 — a moderate sea state that puts most larger vessels within working range when winds cooperate. Direct angler-specific intel for Puget Sound and Washington's outer coast is thin this reporting cycle; WA WDFW's statewide fishing portal did not return targeted saltwater condition updates for this period. The clearest regional salmon signal comes from Saltwater Sportsman, whose recent report from the Columbia River mouth at Buoy 10 documents active chinook and coho feeding in those boundary waters — a strong indicator that the broader spring migration is tracking through coastal Washington. Mid-May is historically Washington's prime window for spring Chinook in both the Sound and the ocean fishery. Verify current WDFW quotas and area-specific emergency rules before targeting salmon or halibut, as limits can shift week to week.
Spring Chinook push peaks on the Columbia as May temps climb
USGS gauge 14113000 recorded 59°F and 1,310 cfs on the evening of May 12 — water temps now squarely in the range that typically moves spring chinook through Columbia system tributaries and positions smallmouth bass on or near spawning beds. WA WDFW Fishing Reports confirms ongoing statewide stocking efforts, though no specific conditions updates for the Columbia or Puget Sound tributary systems were available in this cycle's feed. With angler-report coverage limited, we're working primarily from gauge data and seasonal patterns: spring chinook are actively moving, stocked trout are feeding well in 59°F water, and smallmouth in warmer side-channel sloughs may already be staging. The Waning Crescent moon this week compresses feeding into low-light windows — plan early sessions to catch the dawn bite. Check current WA WDFW regulations before targeting spring chinook, as retention rules vary significantly by drainage and date.
Post-Spawn Stripers Exiting the Chesapeake as Spring Migration Peaks
OTW Saltwater's May 12 striper migration report places 50-pound class fish from the Chesapeake now staged off New Jersey and Long Island ahead of the approaching new moon — a clear signal the post-spawn exodus is in full swing at the Bay's mouth. On The Water's May 8 migration map confirms post-spawn bass are pouring out of the Chesapeake and spreading northeast, delivering "big fish and fast action from New Jersey to Rhode Island." At the Chesapeake mouth, that means actively moving stripers pushing through the capes and staging along oceanfront rips. NOAA buoy 44009 logged an air temperature near 55°F with winds around 10 knots early this morning; no water temperature reading was available. Summer flounder season is underway — The Fisherman (Northeast) noted the regional opener landed May 4. Cobia scouts typically begin appearing at the CBBT in mid-to-late May, and the next two weeks could deliver the first sightings of 2026.
Post-spawn bass prime on Potomac and Shenandoah as spring flows settle
USGS gauge 01646500 logged the Potomac at 2,650 cfs on the evening of May 12 — moderate, wading-accessible levels for the freshwater corridor through Virginia's piedmont and Blue Ridge foothills. No water temperature reading was available from the gauge this period. On The Water's May 8 striper migration report notes that post-spawn fish are exiting the Chesapeake Bay system on a normal spring timeline, a sign the Bay watershed's spawn cycle is completing — context that often aligns with settling river conditions upstream. On the freshwater stretches of the Potomac and Shenandoah, Tactical Bassin notes that mid-May is squarely in the post-spawn transition window for smallmouth and largemouth bass, with fish schooling along depth changes and responding to topwater poppers, swimbaits, and frog presentations worked over shallow cover. Specific on-the-ground reports from local Virginia tackle shops or captains were not available this update period; check Virginia DWR for current regulation and access details before heading out.
Speckled Trout and Redfish Hot Across Matagorda and Galveston Bays
Water at 78°F and near-flat 1.3-foot seas, per NOAA buoy 42035 this morning, have opened a prime inshore window along the Texas Gulf Coast. The Galveston Daily News — Reel Report delivers the most actionable intel: Capt. Bink Grimes reported west Matagorda Bay producing good catches of speckled trout over shell using Gulps and live shrimp under popping corks, while the redfish bite is described as good in Oyster Lake on live shrimp and mullet. Multiple weekend dispatches from the Galveston Daily News — Reel Report confirm the pattern is not isolated — anglers across the bay complex found fish. The Texas Redfish Rumble tournament, headquartered out of Pier 6 in San Leon on May 2, drew strong results. With the 37th CCA STAR Tournament set to begin this month per Lone Star Outdoor News — Fishing, bay activity is drawing competitive attention. Flounder are typically active in Texas bays this time of year, though no specific reports landed this week.
Red Drum Surge Stirs the Carolinas as Expanded Snapper Season Approaches
NOAA buoy 41004 is logging 75°F water off Charleston this morning — a temperature that has Carolina's nearshore and inshore bite firing up and down the coast. Per Fisherman's Post (Carolinas saltwater), red drum have made a strong push along Carolinas beaches and nearshore shoals, with bull reds reported around Cape Lookout shoals and solid surf drum runs active from Swansboro to Hatteras. The warm-water advance building through the South Atlantic system is putting Charleston Harbor's creek mouths and grass flats in prime position for reds and flounder. Atlantic bonito are running well in the five-mile nearshore range along the Carolinas coast, per Fisherman's Post, pointing to solid opportunities for Charleston anglers willing to make a short offshore run. Saltwater Sportsman and Sport Fishing Mag both confirm that South Carolina anglers are included in a federally approved, greatly expanded red snapper season for summer 2026 — a major upgrade in offshore access after years of severely limited windows. Check current state regs for exact dates and bag limits before heading out.
Bassmaster Elite spotlight finds Santee Cooper bass fishing at its best
Santee Cooper Lakes is hosting Bassmaster Elite Series competition this week, and per B.A.S.S. News, the fishery is delivering. Lake Murray just wrapped a strong Elite event, and Santee — renowned for 30-lb-plus five-bass limits — is now center stage. B.A.S.S. News reports that vegetation at Santee Cooper has exploded since the Elites last visited in 2023, and the shallow-cover bite should remain on "full throttle" as bass shift through the post-spawn transition. Tactical Bassin notes the bluegill spawn is in full swing, pulling big largemouth into heavy cover where topwater frogs and swim jigs are producing. Meanwhile, Wired 2 Fish highlights May as the prime window for shellcrackers, with redear sunfish moving shallow to spawn and cooperating on light tackle. USGS gauge 02160390 shows tributary inflow at 161 cfs as of May 12. Water temperatures are unconfirmed from instrumentation, but mid-May conditions in this corridor typically run warm enough to sustain active spawning across multiple species.
Stripers surge through Narragansett Bay as squid and fluke arrive
Stripers to 47 inches were reported from Narragansett Bay this week per The Fisherman (Northeast), and the spring migration wave is running strong. Water temps at 51°F (NOAA buoys 44097 and 44085) are still a touch cool, but fish are clearly committed. The Saltwater Edge (RI) confirmed nice-sized bass showing up for both boat and surf anglers inside the bay, with larger fish keying on adult bunker and herring — topwater plugs and bigger soft plastics are the productive presentations. Squid have arrived: the Frances Fleet ran squid trips Friday with customers filling buckets, and Saltwater Edge notes squid spreading out from the islands toward the beaches. Tautog fishing is improving in the bay and around the islands per Booked Off Charters, and fluke action is starting to heat up around Block Island according to Frances Fleet. The 2026 striper migration is confirmed at full speed into Rhode Island per On The Water's May 8 migration map.