Fishing reports
19291 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Post-spawn bass school up as shellcrackers pack Florida's freshwater shallows
Shellcrackers are moving into the shallows and this is one of the best redear bream bites of the year, according to Wired 2 Fish, which reports these thick, meaty fish spawning along warm freshwater flats and presenting easy pickings through May. Simultaneously, Tactical Bassin confirms the bluegill spawn is in full swing — and big largemouth bass are capitalizing, moving into heavy shallow cover and responding aggressively to topwater frogs and surface presentations. On the St. Johns River, USGS gauge 02232000 recorded a slightly negative flow of -46.8 cfs as of late May 12 evening, consistent with the river's characteristic tidal reversal during low-gradient conditions. No water temperature reading was available from the gauge. The waning crescent moon this week should favor daytime feeding windows over nocturnal activity. Post-spawn bass are mid-transition across both the Lake Okeechobee basin and the St. Johns drainage — some fish still shadowing shallow bream beds, others pushing toward adjacent points and open-water forage as early-summer patterns take hold.
Snook Bite Reaches Prime Time Along Florida's Atlantic Coast
Snook Nook's May 2026 report from Stuart declares this historically one of the best inshore months on the Treasure Coast, and the on-water evidence agrees. Per Snook Nook, snook are heating up throughout the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers as fish begin pre-spawn staging, with slot-sized and over-slot fish making regular appearances. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) confirms the spotted seatrout bite is also on fire across Florida. The month's biggest offshore news: per CCA Florida, Coastal Angler Magazine, and Saltwater Sportsman, NOAA has approved Exempted Fishing Permits giving Florida's Atlantic coast a 39-day red snapper season running May 22 through June 20 — the longest since 2010 — plus three-day weekend openers in October, with a one-fish daily bag limit; check current state regulations before harvesting. NOAA buoys 41009 and 41008 recorded moderate winds of 8–10 m/s and air temps in the low-to-mid 70s°F; no water temperature readings were transmitted from either station.
Gulf Permit Running Strong as Spring Offshore Mix Heats Up
Naples Offshore Fishing Charters is reporting spring conditions 'as good as it gets' off Florida's Gulf Coast, with anglers consistently sight-fishing large permit alongside steady king mackerel action on plugs and flies. Water temperatures are holding at 78°F as of May 13 (NOAA buoys 42036 and 42039) — squarely in the productive late-spring zone that draws a dynamic offshore mix including cobia and amberjacks. Inshore, Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) is calling the spotted seatrout bite 'ON across Florida,' a clear signal that trout have fully shifted into their warm-season feeding pattern on Gulf grass flats. Saltwater Sportsman highlights Tampa Bay's quietly growing hogfish fishery, where rod-and-reel techniques on Gulf reef structure are gaining traction among inshore anglers. Light overnight winds are keeping offshore windows open. CCA Florida has flagged a proposed cruise port development near Rattlesnake Key in South Tampa Bay that would impact pristine seagrass beds and shallow-water game fish habitat — worth monitoring for anyone who fishes that area.
Stripers firing from Norwalk to New London as spring push intensifies
Water temps checked in at 52–53°F across nearby NOAA buoys overnight, and striped bass have taken undisputed center stage on Long Island Sound. The Fisherman — Connecticut reports linesides running from Norwalk all the way to New London, with fresh migratory fish — some carrying sea lice — arriving to mix with resident bass already working the system. Bobby J's confirms fresh bunker chunks are producing fish into the 20-pound-plus class, while Captain Morgan's Bait and Tackle reports over-slot 40s have "turned some heads," with slot fish and throwbacks providing steady volume. Swimmers and plastics on jigheads are working along the shoreline; deep-water structure like reef 11B and Can 13 is holding the freshest arrivals, per Fisherman's World. OTW Saltwater's May 12 migration update places 50-pound-class bass already staging off Long Island, signaling the heaviest part of the push is within reach right now.
Spring Trout and Shad Surge Across Connecticut's Inland Waters
Saugatuck Reservoir is the headline freshwater story of the week — Fisherman's World reports two brown trout pushing 8 pounds each were taken there recently on shiners by different anglers working different sections of the impoundment. Spring stocking is firing statewide: Fishin' Factory 3 calls trout action "outstanding" across the Salmon River, Coginchaug River, Day Pond Trout Park, and Chatfield Hollow Pond, with Rod Teehan (The Fisherman — New England Freshwater) logging additional stockings on the Hammonasset, Saugatuck, Bantam, and Moosup rivers as recently as May 5–7. The Connecticut River at USGS gauge 01184000 is reading 58°F and running at 15,400 cfs — productive spring flows driving a multi-species bite in the Middletown-to-Rocky Hill stretch, where Fishin' Factory 3 reports shad, carp, and striped bass on sandworms and chunks. Saugatuck Reservoir is also kicking out largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappies, and perch alongside those trophy browns.
Spring trout fishing peaks on Colorado tailwaters as main-stem runoff climbs
The USGS gauge 09095500 clocked the Colorado River at 2,010 cfs and 68°F on the evening of May 12 — up sharply from the ~1,380 cfs Crystal Fly Shop (CO) logged near Glenwood Springs on April 23, a clear signal that spring runoff is building toward its peak. Despite those rising flows, Crystal Fly Shop described river clarity as "good" with an emerald tint in late April and called conditions "sensational." That window is narrowing as the main stem continues to climb. Tailwater sections shielded from direct snowmelt are holding far better: Pat Dorsey Fly Fishing (CO) reports an unusually warm spring has pushed the hatch calendar ahead of schedule, with reliable midge activity across larvae, pupae, and adult stages now the dominant pattern. AvidMax Blog (CO) is actively highlighting Chocolate Foam Back midge emergers and Titan Tube Midges for exactly these conditions. Cutthroat Anglers (CO) note a historically low snowpack season — which should shorten the runoff window and restore prime conditions sooner than a typical big-snow year.
Chinook Conditions Surge Near Half Moon Bay as Cool Water Returns
Water temps along the Central Coast are running 53–60°F across our buoy network — and according to Western Outdoor News — Saltwater, that cool-down is exactly what the Chinook salmon bite needed. Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady, working out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing, reports "vastly improved salmon conditions" below Pigeon Point after water temps slid from 58°F back to 54°F. Davis credits the four-degree drop with transforming conditions: "It makes a huge difference on the water." The warmer early-season pulse that briefly drew bonita into the area has since passed. NOAA buoys 46042, 46028, and 46026 are reading 57°F, 60°F, and 53°F respectively — a spread consistent with the patchy coastal upwelling typical of this coast in May. Swells are building to 5–6 feet with moderate northwest winds, limiting small-boat access on exposed stretches, but the improving salmon report makes those calmer windows well worth pursuing.
Post-spawn bass and tailwater trout active on AZ's Colorado and Salt Rivers
The USGS gauge 09380000 is reading 8,210 cfs and 58°F on the Colorado River as of May 12 — temperature conditions that sit squarely in the productive window for rainbow trout on the Lee Ferry tailwater below Glen Canyon Dam. Flows at this level keep the corridor fishable by drift boat, though wading access requires close attention to current. On the Salt River chain of lakes, largemouth and smallmouth bass have pushed through the spawn and are entering what Tactical Bassin (blog) calls one of the most predictable stretches of the year: schooling fish, multiple simultaneous patterns, and the bluegill spawn pulling big bass into heavy shallow cover. MidCurrent's current tying coverage highlights midge and caddis imitations built for clear, pressured tailrace water — patterns that translate directly to the Lee Ferry corridor. The waning crescent moon this week favors first-light and last-light feeding windows across both systems.
Gulf of Alaska Halibut Bite Builds as Spring Kings Begin Arriving
NOAA buoy 46080 is logging 43°F water temperatures in the central Gulf of Alaska — the warmest reading among three active stations and a signal that spring warming is beginning to register offshore. Buoys 46001 and 46066 record 42°F and 41°F respectively, placing the Gulf in the low-40s range typical of mid-May. Direct rod-and-reel bite reports for the Gulf are sparse in current intel feeds; however, Alaska Sea Grant's ComFish event in Kodiak recently brought local fishermen together for a harbor skills competition, underscoring that the community is fully engaged heading into the productive spring window. Based on seasonal patterns and current water temperatures, Pacific halibut on deep-bottom structure and early-arriving king salmon in nearshore corridors are the primary targets this week. Both species are catchable in the low-40s range, though halibut feed more deliberately in cold water. Anglers should verify current state emergency orders before targeting Chinook, as area-specific openings and closures can shift on short notice.
First-run kings approaching as Kenai spring snowmelt builds
USGS gauge 15266300 is reading 42°F and 2,630 cfs as of May 12—classic mid-May conditions for the Kenai drainage as Interior snowpack releases into the river system. Flows this high and this cold are typical for the window just before the Kenai's first-run king salmon push arrives in earnest. Despite chilly water, Chinook don't shy away from cold temperatures: first-run kings historically enter the lower Kenai in mid-May and work upriver through early June. Arctic grayling in interior drainages are generally accessible now as ice-out progresses on smaller tributaries. Dolly Varden and rainbow trout are present through the high-water period, though reduced clarity favors weighted attractor patterns and egg imitations drifted close to the bottom. No direct on-the-water reports from monitored feeds were available for this drainage cycle; conditions are synthesized from gauge data and well-established mid-May Alaska seasonal patterns. Verify current state regulations before targeting any salmon species.
Toledo Bend shellcrackers peak as post-spawn bass and crappie shift patterns
Shellcrackers (redear sunfish) are the headline bite at Toledo Bend right now. Wired 2 Fish, writing directly from Louisiana, calls May the best bream bite of the entire year as shellcrackers push into the shallows to spawn — characterizing them as easy pickings and noting the timing is perfect for loading a cooler with thick, meaty fish. Largemouth bass are deep in their post-spawn transition: Tactical Bassin reports that early May fish respond to a mix of topwater presentations, swimbaits skipped around trees, and finesse setups as schools begin staging toward early summer patterns. LakeForkGuy, covering nearby East Texas waters, calls this the most aggressive crappie bite of the year during the immediate post-spawn window. The Sabine River is delivering just 51.2 cfs into the reservoir per USGS gauge 08025500 — well below typical May volumes — suggesting stable pool levels and improving clarity in the upper lake arms. The waning crescent moon favors first-light windows for surface-feeding fish.
Post-spawn bass and crappie on the move on the Savannah chain
The Georgia Wildlife Blog's spring reports make clear that late April and early May mark the turn of the tide on Georgia's highland reservoirs: crappie have been staging in 3–8 feet around structure — brush piles, fallen timber, and docks — through the spawn, and largemouth are entering the post-spawn transition. A vivid illustration came April 24, when Georgia Wildlife Blog documented a Morgan County angler landing an 8-lb., 11-oz. largemouth on a spinnerbait immediately after rain; that post-frontal, overcast window is a classic trigger for big fish. USGS gauge 02192000 recorded Savannah River outflow from the Hartwell system at 656 cfs as of midday May 12, indicating stable, moderate flow — favorable for predictable structure fishing in the reservoir arms. No surface temperature was available from the gauge this cycle. Redear sunfish (shellcracker) are also in full spawn mode; Wired 2 Fish notes May is prime time for these meaty panfish in shallow areas across the region.
Salt River chain bass in post-spawn transition as May heat builds
USGS gauge 09498500 recorded 105 cfs on the Salt River on the morning of May 12, indicating stable inflow to Roosevelt Lake as the system moves into early-summer mode. No water temperature reading returned from the gauge this cycle; at mid-May in this desert canyon setting, surface temps across the Salt River chain typically run through the upper 70s and continue climbing fast. No Arizona-specific angler reports appeared in this week's feeds — conditions should be confirmed locally before heading out. The seasonal setup, however, is clear: Tactical Bassin notes that bass across the country are deep in the post-spawn transition right now, with fish schooling near shallow structure before sliding toward open water. Critically, Tactical Bassin flags the bluegill spawn as 'in full swing,' a trigger that pulls big largemouth into heavy cover with frog and topwater presentations — a pattern that maps directly onto Roosevelt's brush-lined coves and flooded timber.
Finger Lakes Bass on the Move as Post-Spawn Transition Opens
Water logged at 56°F by USGS gauge 04232050 puts the Finger Lakes right in the post-spawn transition window for bass — and Tactical Bassin notes this is one of the most predictable stretches of the season, with fish schooling up and multiple patterns running simultaneously. Smallmouth and largemouth bass are shifting off their beds, some pushing into shallow cover while others begin drifting toward open-water structure. Topwater, swimbaits, and finesse presentations all have a place right now, with Tactical Bassin's Tim recently dialing in a Karashi bite before following it with a topwater pattern and swimbait work in the same session. On The Water's recent feature on Onondaga Lake — a Central New York bass fishery just north of the Finger Lakes corridor — underscores the region's broader spring bass momentum. Lake trout and landlocked salmon occupy deeper, cooler columns and remain accessible through mid-column jigging. The waning crescent moon favors low-light feeding windows, so dawn and dusk outings hold the edge this week. Confirm current regulations before harvesting.
Rangeley brook trout and salmon entering prime spring window
The USGS gauge on the upper Androscoggin (site 01054200) registered 96.6 cfs on May 12 — a moderate, fishable flow through the headwaters corridor. No water temperature reading was available from this gauge. That said, the ice-out calendar is well advanced: Mainely Fly Fishing (ME) noted Dundee Pond went out on April 4th and described the 2026 season as arriving "albeit slowly." With five-plus weeks of post-ice-out warming behind the region and a waning crescent moon minimizing overnight light, the Rangeley system is typically in its prime early-season window for landlocked Atlantic salmon and brook trout. Traditional spring producers — smelt-imitation streamers, soft-hackle wet flies, and small nymphs — should be in play on lake shallows and outlet streams. Specific on-water reports for western Maine were sparse in this week's angler feeds, most of which concentrate on southern New England and coastal fisheries. Verify current conditions locally before making the drive.
Spring togue and landlocked salmon enter prime window on Moosehead
USGS gauge 01030500 on the upper Penobscot recorded 6,540 cfs at midday May 12 — a robust spring-runoff pulse signaling active snowmelt drainage across the watershed. No water temperature reading accompanied the gauge this cycle, but mid-May at this latitude typically places lake surface temps in the low-to-mid 40s°F range following recent ice-out on Moosehead and surrounding waters. None of this cycle's angler-intel feeds included firsthand reports from the Moosehead Lake or upper Penobscot drainage, so this report draws on the gauge data and established seasonal norms for the region. That said, mid-May is historically one of the most productive freshwater windows of the year here: landlocked Atlantic salmon are near peak surface activity, lake trout (togue) have moved shallower post-ice-out, and brook trout are feeding aggressively along inlet streams and lake edges. River stretches of the upper Penobscot will carry off-color, fast-moving water at current flow levels.
Caddis hatches fire on Yellowstone and Teton waters ahead of peak runoff
At 50°F water and 9,130 cfs on the Yellowstone drainage (USGS gauge 06192500, May 12), these western Wyoming rivers sit in a narrow productive window before peak snowmelt locks anglers out for weeks. Flylords Mag captures the mid-May mood across mountain trout country precisely: 'there's this frenzied energy in the air, this mad dash in trout towns all over the country — get to the rivers and fish them hard before runoff hits.' The Mother's Day Caddis hatch is at or near its peak right now, and Hatch Magazine's feature on caddis emergences references the Yellowstone hatch calendar directly — a reminder that mid-May is when caddis activity defines the bite on these waters. Cutthroat, brown, and rainbow trout are all feeding actively at 50°F. Target the softer seams and bankside slack water as main-channel flows run elevated; soft-hackle wets and emerging caddis patterns fished in the film are the technique of the moment.
Spring salmon action building along Indiana's Lake Michigan shore
The WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report's 2024 harvest recap — over 160,000 Chinook (best since 2012) and a record 210,000-plus coho — points to a well-stocked fishery entering this spring. Consistent with that, the Michigan Sportsman Forum posted a 5-for-9 early May outing on Lake Michigan kings, with fish concentrated in 40–50 feet and riggers or divers run near bottom doing most of the work; flounder pounder and glow frog color patterns scored multiple bites. That report is unverified chatter from the Michigan shore, but it aligns directionally with WI DNR's picture of a healthy forage base driving strong salmon survival. No NOAA buoy temperature data was available for the Indiana nearshore at press time — IL/IN Sea Grant maintains three Lake Michigan nearshore buoys with real-time readings, and checking those before departure is strongly recommended. With a waning crescent moon on May 12, low-light morning windows should favor active salmon behavior. Nearshore smallmouth are expected to be moving into pre-spawn staging as mid-May water temperatures climb.
Chinook and coho prime for Chicago's Lake Michigan May run
The WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report documented a record 2024 coho salmon harvest exceeding 210,000 fish — alongside more than 160,000 Chinook, the highest king count since 2012 — as stocked alewife-fed fish thrived on strong forage through last season. That backdrop sets an optimistic tone as the 2026 spring run builds near Chicago. Forum contributors on the Michigan Sportsman Forum logged early-May king action on the lake's eastern shore, finding productive depths in the 40-50 foot range; riggers and divers fished near bottom outperformed upper-column presentations while the upper water column went largely untouched. No live NOAA buoy data is currently available for the Chicago nearshore, though Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant notes its spring buoy deployment program is now underway on Lake Michigan. With mid-May timing and a waning crescent moon, early-morning launches through this week should offer the best feeding windows for offshore trollers targeting kings and coho.
High water concentrates walleye and bass on Upper Mississippi wing dams
Water temperature at USGS gauge 05420500 hit 60°F on May 12, putting the Clinton-Dubuque pools squarely in post-spawn territory for walleye and crappie. At 65,200 cfs, the river is running well above typical late-spring levels — a setup that pushes fish off the main channel and onto current breaks, wing dams, and flooded timber seams. Crappie, which spawn aggressively in the 58–65°F range, should be concentrated in sheltered backwaters wherever current slackens. Fishing the Midwest notes that jig-and-minnow presentations on spinning gear have been a top walleye producer across the Midwest this spring, a tactic that translates directly to the current-break bite on a high, pushing river. Outdoor Hub reports the 2026 Midwest Walleye Challenge is now running across six states, Iowa included, through June 28 — regional confirmation that walleye fishing is entering a prime window. Tactical Bassin's post-spawn bass coverage highlights topwater and swimbait opportunities near shallow heavy cover as bass finish spawning and begin their early-summer transition.
North Georgia bass transition post-spawn as bluegill beds fire
USGS gauge 02334430 recorded a water temperature of 50°F and flow of 636 cfs on May 12, likely reflecting cold tailwater from dam releases in the Chattahoochee drainage rather than open-lake surface temps — main-lake surfaces typically run considerably warmer by mid-May. The Georgia Wildlife Blog — Fishing flagged a strong post-rain largemouth bite earlier this spring, with a Morgan County angler landing an 8-lb 11-oz bass on a spinnerbait just after storms cleared. Crappie were actively stacked in 3–8 feet around brush piles, docks, and fallen timber through late April, per the same outlet. Wired 2 Fish notes shellcrackers (redear sunfish) are at peak spawn in Southern lake shallows this month, a pattern that typically extends across North Georgia impoundments. Bass have begun the post-spawn transition, and Tactical Bassin (blog) highlights topwater frogs over bluegill beds as the signature mid-May bite. The waning crescent moon favors concentrated dawn-and-dusk windows.
Smokies trout primed as mid-May temps hit the sweet spot
USGS gauge 03512000 is logging 61°F today — squarely in the prime feeding range for rainbow, brown, and brook trout across Western NC's mountain streams. At 230 cfs, flows are moderate and wadeable on most mainstem reaches. No specific Smokies-focused angler reports surfaced in this cycle's intel feeds, so conditions below are grounded in gauge data and seasonal context. That said, 61°F on a mid-May Appalachian stream typically signals the onset of some of the year's best dry-fly opportunities. MidCurrent's recent fly fishing coverage notes that hatches are beginning to "fire" and fish are pushing into the shallows — language that maps well to the caddis and sulfur activity typical of this window. Flylords Mag flags the Mother's Day Caddis Hatch as the "unofficial kickoff" of spring's peak fishing period, timing that aligns closely with current conditions. Nymph rigs, dry-dropper setups, and evening dry-fly presentations should all be in play.
Red drum flooding Pamlico Sound and Cape Lookout shoals in mid-May
Bull red drum are making a strong, widespread push across the NC coast this week. Steve of Chasin' Tails, per Fisherman's Post (NC), reports schools of bull reds actively working the Cape Lookout shoals, with good-sized bluefish in the same areas. Inside Pamlico Sound, Donald of Custom Marine Fabrication reports slot-sized red drum spread throughout the Neuse River bite zone. At Hatteras and Ocracoke, Ryan of Hatteras Jack says the surf has come alive with drum pushing hard onto the beaches. Nearshore variety is rounding out: Morgan of The Reel Outdoors at Swansboro/Emerald Isle notes sea mullet, black drum, and early big pompano showing in the surf — the pompano arrival flagged as notably early for that stretch of coast. NOAA buoy 41037 logged winds around 22 mph and air temps near 66°F on May 12. The waning crescent moon this week favors low-light morning and evening feeding windows.
Black Drum and Post-Spawn Stripers Converge on the Virginia Eastern Shore
Water temperatures along the barrier island coast have climbed to 71°F at NOAA buoy 44014, placing Chincoteague and the surrounding shallows in peak late-spring territory. Sport Fishing Mag reports that giant black drum are pressing through the Chesapeake Bay mouth and along the barrier islands right now, gorging on crabs, clams, and mussels — this is the exact corridor these fish travel from April into May. Conventional bottom rigs baited with crab over sandy or shell structure near the inlet systems are the traditional approach. Meanwhile, On The Water's May 12 striper migration update confirms post-spawn bass are actively pouring out of the Chesapeake and spreading northward, with 50-pounders reportedly staging off the mid-Atlantic ahead of the approaching new moon. Summer flounder season is in full swing as well — The Fisherman notes the fluke season kicked off region-wide in early May. With warm inshore water and multiple species on the move, the Eastern Shore is entering one of its most productive two-week windows of the year.