Fishing reports
19291 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Bluegill Spawn Pulls Big Bass Shallow at Smith Mountain and Buggs Island
Tactical Bassin (blog) reports the bluegill spawn in full swing this week, drawing big largemouth bass into shallow, heavy-cover zones where they ambush panfish on beds — a pattern well-suited to the timber-rich coves of Smith Mountain Lake and Buggs Island. Topwater frogs and hollow-body swimbaits around woody structure have been dialing in multiple fish per area when schools are located, per Tactical Bassin's early-May boat footage. Wired 2 Fish notes that redear sunfish are moving shallow to spawn across the mid-Atlantic region right now, adding another forage cue for both bass and panfish hunters. USGS gauge 02075045 recorded inflow at 578 cfs as of midday May 12, a moderate late-spring reading consistent with stable reservoir conditions at Buggs Island. Water temperature was unavailable from the gauge this cycle. No specific on-the-water dispatches from these lakes appeared in this report cycle, but seasonal alignment — post-spawn bass, active panfish beds, and warming late-spring conditions — points toward one of the more productive windows of the Virginia year.
Stripers and Black Drum Lead Delaware Bay's Spring Charge
Water temps at 54°F (NOAA buoy 44009) haven't slowed the Delaware Bay NJ surf bite. Boulevard Bait & Tackle, writing in The Fisherman — Southern NJ, reported a 51-inch striped bass pulled from the surf on fresh clams this week — part of a broad wave of slot-to-overslot fish that has The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf columnist Nick Honachefsky calling it "another phenomenal week." The same stretch of oceanfront is delivering black drum to 38 inches alongside the stripers, with shucked clams working best for both. Summer flounder season opened May 4, and back-bay action has been inconsistent in the cold water, though Ray Scott's Dock reports the Captain Robin is still putting customers on fish to 22 inches per trip. Boat anglers in Cape May County should note Spicers Creek Boat Ramp is closed May 11–14 for dock renovations per NJ Fish & Wildlife News, with reopening expected May 15.
Quabbin & Wachusett hit their May stride as trout and bass both fire
Spring trout stocking is still rolling through Massachusetts — Rod Teehan's NE Freshwater column in The Fisherman confirms stockings continuing statewide — and both Quabbin and Wachusett are entering their prime May transition window. USGS gauge 01174500 on the Swift River below Quabbin logged a moderate 63 cfs on May 12, indicating stable regulated outflow and settled reservoir conditions. Red Top Sporting Goods (The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands) noted this week that freshwater fishing "has not missed a beat," with big trout and largemouth providing solid action across regional Massachusetts waters. On the bass front, Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is in full swing, pulling big largemouth shallow and into topwater range. Jeff Sullivan's column in The Fisherman — New England Freshwater documented slab crappie at Massachusetts ponds this past week. No water temperature reading is available from our gauge, but mid-May at these central MA reservoirs typically brings surface temps into the mid-50s to low 60s°F — prime range for both coldwater and transitioning warmwater species.
Big stripers breaking topwater in upper Buzzards Bay
Schools of stripers—very few below 37 inches—are breaking on bait in a topwater bite across upper Buzzards Bay from Fairhaven west toward the Canal, per Charley Soares in The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands. NOAA buoy 44020 reads water at 54°F with calm 1-foot seas. AJ from Red Top Sporting Goods, reporting to The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands, fished mid-to-upper Buzzards Bay over the weekend and found stripers from slot to jumbo busting bait in open water. Westport River Outfitters' Capt. Carl reports bass coming over the rail in very good numbers—his only challenge is finding slot-sized fish among all the oversize class. Tautog are fishing well around the Canal openings, West Falmouth shoreline, and Cleveland Light. The scup bite just kicked off on rock piles from West Island to Wareham, where Soares reports huge schools already stacking on structure.
Yakima-area flows running high as Eastern WA trout and bass season heats up
Flow at USGS gauge 12484500 is clocking 2,040 cfs as of May 12 — elevated spring levels driven by snowmelt that push regional rivers turbid and fast. WA WDFW Fishing Reports confirms active stocking operations continuing statewide, making planted-trout lakes in the Spokane and Yakima corridors a productive alternative while rivers run off-color. No water temperature reading is available from current gauge instrumentation. River anglers should work slack pockets and eddy seams rather than mid-current, where high velocity makes presentation difficult. Tactical Bassin's early-May content identifies this week as the critical post-spawn transition for bass — fish are staging predictably between shallow spawning flats and first deeper breaks, making it one of the more consistent windows of the year for largemouth and smallmouth. Walleye in regional impoundments typically remain active through this stretch as surface temperatures climb toward summer.
Olympic Peninsula Rivers in Fishable Shape as Steelhead Transition Begins
USGS gauge 12041200 recorded 1,090 cfs and USGS gauge 12035000 read 691 cfs on the morning of May 12, putting Olympic Peninsula salmon rivers at moderate, fishable spring levels. No water temperature data was available from either gauge. The WA WDFW Fishing Reports portal covers statewide conditions, though no specific Olympic Peninsula river updates were included in the current data pull. At these flow levels — elevated by late-spring snowmelt but not blown out — holding water in deep pools and seam edges typically produces the best opportunities for summer steelhead, which begin entering some Peninsula rivers in May ahead of peak season. Sea-run cutthroat and bull trout remain resident options year-round. Angler intel specific to these rivers was limited in this cycle; conditions described here reflect gauge data and typical mid-May patterns for the region. Check WA WDFW Fishing Reports and local tackle shops before heading out for the most current on-water intelligence.
Warm Gulf waters fire Panhandle trout; cobia and kingfish season open
NOAA buoy 42039 clocks Gulf water at 79°F on May 12 — well into the sweet spot for the Panhandle's spring pattern. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) confirms the trout bite is 'on across Florida,' and speckled trout on Panhandle grass flats between Pensacola and Destin are likely responding. Wave heights of 3.6 feet at buoy 42039 with light to moderate winds near shore mean nearshore and mid-range offshore runs are feasible, though conditions should be confirmed before heading out. Mid-May is historically peak cobia season along this stretch of coast, with fish moving nearshore on structure and following cownose rays — no source in today's feeds confirms current cobia activity specifically, but the temperature and calendar align squarely with that run. Angler chatter is circulating around yellowfin tuna at offshore rigs, though sea state will be the deciding factor for longer runs. The waning crescent moon supports early-morning low-light windows for inshore action.
Snook Prime Time at Boca Grande as Jack Crevalle Light Up Sarasota Bay
Water temps of 77–79°F (NOAA buoys 42036 and 42013) are fueling a textbook May transition along Florida's Gulf Coast. Capt. Brandon Naeve out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters (Sarasota) landed a 34-pound, 4-ounce snook at Boca Grande on May 9th — a new boat record — as fish move from back bays to beaches and passes ahead of the spawn. May is prime time for this migration, with slot-and-over-slot fish increasingly active at the passes. Jack crevalle are schooling hard in Sarasota Bay right now per CB's Outfitters, feeding on baitfish near oyster bars, seawalls, and inlets; early-morning topwater on poppers and fast-retrieved jigs is the play. Capt. Chuck Cress (CB's) is also reporting upper-slot redfish and trout action, with clients catching and releasing multiple fish per session. Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider confirms the trout bite is on across Florida.
Mutton Snapper Spawn Peaks as the Keys Summer Run Takes Shape
ALL IN Key West reports mutton snapper are 'chewing like crazy' as the species hits peak spawning-aggregation mode in the days following the full moon, with yellowtail 'practically jumping in the boat.' NOAA buoys SMKF1 and SANF1 logged light winds of 4–5 knots and air temps near 84°F on May 12, pointing to favorable offshore conditions. On the Gulf of America side, ALL IN Key West recently tallied a mixed-bag charter loaded with grouper, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish. The most recent offshore water-temperature reading — 78°F at buoy 41114 on April 26 — likely understates current temps, with mid-May typically pushing Keys surface water into the low 80s. Mahi-mahi, sailfish, and kingfish are all in the rotation per ALL IN Key West, with live bait doing the heavy lifting on reef edges and offshore structure. Conditions across both the flats and the offshore grounds are as good as they get.
Salmon Bite Sharpens Along NorCal Coast as Cooler Upwelling Water Returns
Water at NOAA buoy 46026 is running 52°F off the SF Bay approach — a meaningful cooldown from the early-season warm anomaly. The headline intel comes from Western Outdoor News — Saltwater: Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady, working out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing, reports vastly improved salmon conditions below Pigeon Point, with temperatures settling near 54°F after opening-day readings of 58°F on April 11. Davis notes the bonita that had been crashing the early bite have "taken a hike" with the cooling trend, leaving cleaner conditions for Chinook. Upwelling continues to push cooler, productive water along the NorCal shelf — a favorable setup for salmon and rockfish alike. Striped bass are in their typical mid-May Bay push, though no captain reports directly addressed that bite this cycle. Rockfish anglers should verify current 2026 bag limits and area closures before heading offshore, as regulations have seen updates heading into this season.
SoCal Tuna Season Ignites Early as Warm Water Pushes Bluefin Into Range
Water temps of 62–63°F at NOAA buoys 46025 and 46221 — already well above seasonal norms — are fueling one of the most unusual early-season setups Southern California anglers have seen in years. Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reports bluefin and yellowfin tuna have already surged into 1-day range southwest of San Diego, with 2- and 3-day trips also picking up yellowtail and early dorado. Most striking: the first albacore in years hit the deck on April 30 aboard the Tribute out of Mission Bay, per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater — a species not reliably expected until midsummer. Surf anglers aren't being left out: Surf Fishing in So Cal highlights leopard sharks as a prime inshore target from the beach right now, with corbina beginning their annual push into the surf zone. Swell is modest at 2.6 ft per buoy 46221 and winds are nearly flat at 1 m/s, giving boaters favorable offshore conditions heading into the week.
UP rivers running strong as Lake Superior whitefish and walleye patterns build
The Ontonagon River (USGS gauge 04059500) is carrying 411 cfs as of May 12 — strong spring flow from snowmelt that keeps UP trout streams charged and wading anglers reading current carefully. No Lake Superior surface temperatures are available from buoys this period. On the Wisconsin side of the big lake, the WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing program has documented a popular and growing fishery for lake whitefish in the Chequamegon Bay region, with angler interest strong enough to prompt a formal management review and a public questionnaire. AnglingBuzz is running content on "Shallow Water Walleyes, Sturgeon & Lake Superior Tactics," pointing to those species as the current focus for Lake Superior anglers. With a waning crescent moon overhead and mid-May's warming trend underway, Upper Peninsula stream trout — brook, brown, and rainbow — are entering one of their most productive stretches of the year as spring insect hatches begin to emerge on inland rivers.
Walleye Scattering Post-Spawn in Saginaw Bay as North Winds Test the Fleet
Angler chatter on the Michigan Sportsman Forum from May 11–12 puts walleye in play across the Lake Huron corridor, though conditions have been demanding. Forum members fishing the St. Clair River mouth near Algonac described north winds as "a bear" for boat control — one angler reported a single 18-inch walleye off Russel Island, while others at the Algonac ramp reportedly came in with limits, the kind of split result that signals fish are present but tightly localized. No USGS gauge or NOAA buoy data returned for this cycle, so water temperatures are unconfirmed; mid-May Saginaw Bay surface temps historically climb through the upper 50s into the low 60s°F, placing the fishery squarely in the post-spawn walleye scatter phase as fish move off spawning shallows toward mid-depth flats. Yellow perch activity in the bay typically builds alongside this walleye movement. The Midwest Walleye Challenge, per Outdoor Hub, is running across six states including Michigan through June 28 — a fitting backdrop for the region's most-anticipated spring window.
Spring salmon staging and bass on the move at Grand River mouth
The USGS gauge on the Grand River (site 04119000) recorded 4,240 cfs at 9 a.m. on May 12 — a moderately elevated spring flow pushing a turbid plume into Lake Michigan at Grand Haven and concentrating baitfish along the color line for walleye and staging salmon. No water temperature reading was available from today's sensors, and direct on-the-water reports from the Grand River corridor are thin in this update. The WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report provides strong system context: 2024 delivered a record coho salmon harvest of more than 210,000 fish from Lake Michigan, alongside more than 160,000 Chinook — the highest since 2012 — driven by strong alewife classes improving stocked-fish survival. On the bass front, Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is pushing big largemouth into heavy shallow cover, with topwater frogs and swimbaits the leading post-spawn presentations. A waning crescent moon this week means dark skies that extend active feeding windows into morning for walleye and salmon.
Sulphur season peaks on PA limestone trout creeks as May flows hold
USGS gauge 01546500 logged 87.9 cfs at midday May 12—a moderate spring reading that should keep Spring Creek and Penns Creek in clear, wadeable condition. No water temperature was recorded at the gauge, though Pennsylvania limestone streams run characteristically cool and stable, typically holding in the high 50s to low 60s°F by mid-May. Specific on-the-water reports from this corridor were limited in this intel cycle; PA Fish & Boat — Biologist Reports returned navigation content only without a current conditions update. Broader fly fishing media points to active hatch conditions regionally: Flylords Mag flags the Mother's Day Caddis as the "unofficial kickoff" of prime pre-runoff fishing, and MidCurrent's tying coverage highlights surface-film and dry-fly patterns for "when hatches begin to fire." Mid-May is historically the heart of the Sulphur (Ephemerella dorothea) season on Pennsylvania limestone streams, with evening rises drawing technical anglers to both creeks. Wild brown trout are the primary quarry; check PA Fish & Boat — Biologist Reports for the most current access and stocking information.
Allegheny Tailwaters Running High as Bass Hit Post-Spawn Transition
The Allegheny and Pittsburgh tailwaters are running well above normal this week, with USGS gauge 03036500 recording 31,900 cfs as of midday May 12 — a push that displaces fish off main-channel structure and into slack-water eddies, wing dam pockets, and tributary mouths. No water temperature reading was available from the gauge. For bass anglers, Tactical Bassin notes that early May is the heart of the post-spawn transition: smallmouth and largemouth are leaving shallow spawning flats and scattering toward deeper current breaks and heavy cover, with finesse rigs — drop-shots and compact swimbaits — the reliable call during this adjustment, though topwater and frog patterns remain productive in low-light windows over shallow heavy cover. Walleye and sauger, which typically stack in predictable current seams during high-water events, are a strong secondary target for tailwater anglers this week. Specific local shop or charter intel for Pittsburgh-area tailwaters was not available in this reporting cycle; conditions here are inferred from gauge data and regional seasonal patterns.
Walleye Hit Structure as Smallmouth Spawn Begins at Presque Isle
USGS gauge 04213000 recorded 275 cfs on May 12, reflecting moderate tributary flow along Erie's PA shoreline with no water temperature data available this window. Mid-May is the classic point when Lake Erie walleye complete their post-spawn move from tributary mouths and shoals toward open-water structure and basin edges. Michigan Sportsman Forum chatter from May 11 described anglers trolling 19–20 feet of water on the western Lake Erie basin and landing 18 walleye before 7:30 a.m. — the open-water troll pattern that typically holds on the PA side of the lake in this window as well. Smallmouth bass are pressing into rock points and boulder fields around Presque Isle Bay. PA Sea Grant's continued outreach on Round Goby in Northwestern PA waters underscores that this invasive species has reshaped Erie's forage base; goby-pattern plastics and bottom-bouncing jigs remain go-to presentations for walleye and smallmouth through May.
Spring Chinook and halibut season heats up on WA's Pacific coast
NOAA buoys 46041 and 46087 off the Washington coast logged light to moderate winds — 2 and 6 m/s respectively — on May 12, with air temps in the cool 54–56°F range typical of a Pacific Northwest spring. Water temperature and wave height data were unavailable from today's sensor reads. For salmon context, Saltwater Sportsman recently featured a captain's report from Buoy 10 at the Columbia River mouth — just south of the Washington line — where chinook and coho were described as prime ocean-conditioned fish putting up powerful fights. WA WDFW continues its statewide angler-interview monitoring program. With no WA-specific charter or shop reports arriving in today's feeds, assessments for Puget Sound and the Pacific coast lean on seasonal norms: mid-May is historically the heart of spring Chinook troll season and a strong window for Pacific halibut on offshore banks. Confirm open areas and emergency rules with WDFW before launching.
Spring Chinook window opens on the Columbia as May flows run clear
USGS gauge 14113000 logged the Columbia drainage at 52°F and 1,330 cfs on the morning of May 12 — mid-spring conditions that historically align with active spring Chinook migration through Washington's Columbia system. WA WDFW Fishing Reports monitors statewide angler activity, but no current-cycle catch data was available in this feed; the picture below is anchored to gauge readings and established regional seasonal benchmarks. At 52°F, water temperatures sit squarely in the range that keeps spring Chinook moving through defined current seams and tailouts. Moderate flows suggest fish are not scattered by high, off-color conditions — a positive sign for presentation-oriented techniques like back-trolled plugs and drift-fished bait. Puget Sound tributary anglers targeting cutthroat and resident trout are entering the late-spring transition, with fish likely beginning to shift toward shaded lies and deeper summer haunts as surface temps edge through the mid-50s.
Post-spawn stripers pouring out of the Chesapeake as spring migration peaks
With water temperatures reading 54°F near the Mid-Atlantic coast (NOAA buoy 44009) and post-spawn striped bass actively evacuating the Chesapeake system, mid-May 2026 is shaping up as a prime window at Virginia's Bay mouth. On The Water's May 8 striper migration map confirms fish are 'pouring out of the Chesapeake and spreading across the Northeast,' meaning concentrations at the mouth right now are exactly what anglers wait all winter for. Northward-migrating bass are staging along main-channel edges and oceanfront structure before pushing up the coast, with Cape Henry and the Bay mouth transition zone historically holding the best numbers at this stage. OTW Saltwater echoes the same migration picture from the same date. The Saltwater Edge Blog (RI) adds that fresh bass arrivals along the entire corridor went 'from a trickle to a pretty steady flow' just this past week, corroborating an active, broad-front push. Light winds around 2 m/s and a waning crescent moon favor finesse presentations over the tidal rips.
Post-spawn stripers push the Potomac as smallmouth peak on the Shenandoah
On The Water's May 8 striper migration map reported that post-spawn striped bass are moving out of the Chesapeake at full speed, with fish spreading into coastal tributaries — putting the tidal Potomac squarely in play right now. USGS gauge 01646500 logged the Potomac at 2,700 cfs at midday May 12, a moderate reading that signals cleaner water and more wadeable conditions than typical high-runoff weeks. No water temperature data was available from the gauge. For smallmouth bass anglers, Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is in full swing, drawing big fish into heavy shallow cover and making topwater — frogs, poppers, hollow-body wake baits — the method of the moment on rocky shoals and Potomac backwaters. Hatch Magazine's caddis emergence coverage highlights mid-May as a defining window for freestone hatches, a pattern that applies directly to the Shenandoah's riffled limestone runs. A waning crescent moon this week favors low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk across both river systems.
Charleston Harbor drum push builds as SC snapper season expands in 2026
NOAA buoy 41004 clocked water temperature at 76°F on May 12 — solidly in the range that gets Charleston Harbor anglers excited about the late-spring inshore pattern. The week's clearest signal comes from Fisherman's Post — Carolinas saltwater, which reports red drum making a "strong push onto the beaches" along the North Carolina coast at Hatteras and Ocracoke; that same drum migration typically tracks the SC shoreline and harbor inlets on a similar calendar. Fisherman's Post also notes black drum mixing into the surf mix at Swansboro and Emerald Isle, a pattern that tends to mirror conditions along the Grand Strand and into Charleston Harbor structure. On the offshore front, Saltwater Sportsman and Sport Fishing Mag both confirmed this week that South Carolina recreational anglers are in line for a greatly expanded Atlantic red snapper season in 2026 through newly approved exempted fishing permits. Rough 7.5-foot offshore swells are keeping blue-water boats at the dock for now, making harbor and nearshore structure the smart near-term play.
Post-spawn bass and shellcracker beds peak at Santee and Lake Murray
B.A.S.S. News spotlights Santee as a key shallow-water tournament venue this month, noting that forward-facing sonar is not permitted at the event — putting the edge firmly with anglers who know their wood, grass, and coves. Bass are deep into the post-spawn transition: Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is in full swing, drawing big largemouth into heavy cover where frogs and topwater presentations are the standout patterns. Meanwhile, Wired 2 Fish describes May as peak season for shellcrackers, with redear sunfish moving en masse to the shallows to spawn and offering what the outlet calls 'the best bream bite of the entire year.' USGS gauge 02160390 logged 171 cfs at midday on May 12, indicating stable, moderate inflow with no sign of disruptive runoff. Water temperature data was unavailable from our gauge, but mid-May conditions across the Santee-Cooper system and Lake Murray typically push surface temps into the low-to-mid 70s — ideal for spawning panfish and opportunistic largemouth. A waning crescent moon phases feeding activity squarely into daylight hours.
Stripers Charging the Bay as Squid and Bunker Arrive Together
Water temperatures sit at 52°F across Narragansett Bay (NOAA buoys 44097 and 44085), and the spring bite has clearly arrived. The Fisherman (Northeast) reported striped bass to 47 inches from Narragansett Bay this week, with On The Water's May 8 striper migration map confirming Rhode Island is squarely in the action zone as post-spawn fish push north. Per The Fisherman — Rhode Island, The Saltwater Edge shop heard reports of quality bass landed inside the bay by both boat and surf anglers; a south wind pushed bunker and herring within range of surfcasters, with larger soft plastics and topwater plugs producing well on fish feeding on adult bait. Squid have arrived in force: the Frances Fleet (per The Fisherman — Rhode Island) had customers filling buckets on Friday squid trips and is adding regular departures to the calendar. Booked Off Charters (per The Fisherman — Rhode Island) confirms squid are starting to show locally. Tautog are described as getting better in the bay and around the islands, and fluke are starting to heat up near Block Island.