Fishing reports
19291 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Susquehanna smallmouth approach spawn window as high water reshapes the bite
USGS gauge 01540500 logged 56°F water and 21,900 cfs on the West Branch Susquehanna at midday May 12 — elevated spring runoff that is pushing main-channel fish off exposed rock structure and into the softer edges of inside bends, tributary mouths, and flooded shoreline cover. At 56°F, Susquehanna smallmouth bass are in classic pre-spawn staging territory, typically 4–9 degrees below the 60–65°F threshold that triggers bedding; concentrated fish should be feeding hard ahead of that window. With no shop or charter reports available this cycle, the gauge reading is the primary field signal. Wired 2 Fish and Tactical Bassin both note that early May marks a strong bass transition window — topwater and swimbaits around heavy cover are producing across the Mid-Atlantic region, and that presentation logic translates directly to the high-water shoreline structure now accessible on the Susquehanna. Trout in the system's limestone tributaries remain active at these temperatures, with caddis and mayfly emergences building through mid-month.
Spring Chinook Running Hot at Oregon's Columbia River Mouth
Water temps are holding at 56–57°F along the Oregon Coast per NOAA buoys 46029 and 46002, with spring chinook and coho salmon pushing toward the Columbia River mouth. Saltwater Sportsman highlights the Buoy 10 fishery near Astoria and Warrenton, where Capt. Hugh Harris describes pre-dawn armadas of river sleds targeting fish that have survived orcas, pinnipeds, and commercial gear — setting up close-quartered battles at the lower Columbia. Offshore, seas are running 5–6 feet (NOAA buoys 46002 and 46050), which will keep many smaller boats in protected water for now. Halibut and rockfish remain seasonal targets along the nearshore banks when seas allow, though no current charter or tackle-shop intel arrived this cycle to sharpen the bite picture. Confirm current retention windows and area rules with Oregon regulations before heading out — halibut and salmon dates can shift with little notice in May.
Red drum surge onto Hatteras beaches as Outer Banks season heats up
Water readings at NOAA buoy 41025 show 76°F along the Diamond Shoals corridor, warm enough to trigger a strong red drum push along the Hatteras surf. Ryan of Hatteras Jack, per Fisherman's Post — Carolinas saltwater, reports the surf has come alive with red drum making a strong push onto the beaches and anglers catching good numbers along the stretch. South toward the Cape Lookout shoals, Steve of Chasin' Tails (Fisherman's Post — Carolinas saltwater) confirms schools of bull red drum working those waters alongside plenty of good-sized bluefish. Slot-sized drum are also pushing up the Pamlico and Neuse rivers, per Fisherman's Post (NC). Winds are running at a moderate 16–22 mph off both NOAA buoys this week. Spanish mackerel, typical when water temps reach this level, should be working nearshore rips as well. The waning crescent moon means quieter tidal swings — concentrate on incoming-tide windows along the Hatteras beach troughs for the most consistent drum contact.
Roanoke striper run closing out as post-spawn bass and bream hit prime form
USGS gauge 02142900 logged just 1.56 cfs at midday May 12 — a very low reading pointing to clear, thin conditions across the monitored drainage. No water temperature was returned from any gauge or buoy this cycle, and no region-specific shop or charter intel came through for the Catawba and Roanoke freshwater systems. The seasonal picture still coheres: Wired 2 Fish's current coverage calls May peak timing for redear sunfish moving onto spawning beds, noting it as one of the best bream bites of the year — a pattern that applies squarely to Catawba-area lakes and ponds. Tactical Bassin's post-spawn transition reporting confirms largemouth bass are schooling and accessible right now, with topwater poppers and swimbaits among the go-to presentations when fish bunch up. On the Roanoke, the celebrated spring striped bass run typically winds down through mid-May; the calendar says the window is narrowing and anglers targeting stripers should prioritize the next several days before this season closes out.
Spring striper run peaks along the Jersey Shore as black drum crash the party
Water temps holding at 53°F across both NOAA buoys 44065 and 44091 have done nothing to slow the striper bite on the Jersey Shore. Fishermans HQ LBI called the spring fishery "as good as it gets for surfcasters," with cuts, bowls, and gutters along Long Beach Island loaded with fish as of May 11. The Fisherman — Central NJ contacts at Yakitty Yaks Kayaks describe Barnegat and Raritan bays as shaping up to be "one of the best spring bass seasons they've seen in years." Fresh clam leads as the top bait coast-wide, with glide baits and bunker chunks also producing quality fish. Boulevard Bait & Tackle in Southern NJ, per The Fisherman — Southern NJ, reported a surf-caught 51-inch striper this week. Adding to the excitement, a strong push of black drum has surprised anglers along the oceanfront wash, with fish to 38 inches on clam baits. Summer flounder opened May 4 but remains slow at current water temps, and the sea bass opener lands May 15.
Cedar waters fire for pickerel as Delaware River stripers push to Trenton
Cedar waters across the Pine Barrens are producing quality chain pickerel this week, with Creekside Outfitters reporting good action on killies, swimming plugs, and spinners — per The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater. Allen's Dock on Bass River confirms that bass and pickerel are active in local ponds and campground waters, with the shop noting they're selling more killies to freshwater anglers than to fluke fishermen — a reliable gauge of where the inland bite stands. Hands Too Bait and Tackle adds trout, bass, and pickerel to the weekly mix, citing area cedar ponds and Ponderlodge Lake for consistent catches. On the Delaware River, Dave's Sport Shop reports mixed-size striped bass being caught at Trenton, with a few fish pushing as far north as Lambertville. Trout action appears to be tapering in the aftermath of the season's heavy April stocking, per NJ Fish & Wildlife News, with only scattered reports filtering in from the Tohickon and Unami drainages. USGS gauge 01408000 shows a moderate 32.8 cfs flow as of midday Tuesday.
Spring Stripers Pushing onto the NH Coast as Migration Surges North
Water is running at 49°F per NOAA buoy 44007, and the spring striper migration pressing up the Northeast coastline is beginning to reach NH waters. The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME reports overwintered stripers already exiting the Merrimack River and actively feeding, while quality fish approaching 20 pounds have been confirmed as far north as Boston Harbor — roughly 60 miles southwest of the NH seacoast. On The Water's May 8 striper migration map characterizes the 2026 push as exceptionally strong, with post-spawn bass spreading from New Jersey through Rhode Island and trending north fast. The Fisherman (Northeast) reinforced that picture, logging fish to 47 inches in Narragansett Bay as of May 7. NH coast anglers should find early arrivals working jetty ends, river mouths, and rocky structure now, with the main wave likely just days away. Seas are running at a manageable 2.6 feet and winds are light, making most access points fishable.
Phillips Canyon ramp opens as Platte & Missouri walleye window builds
The Platte River is running at 1,650 cfs as of May 12 (USGS gauge 06796000), a workable spring flow that keeps most access points fishable heading into one of the region's most productive multi-species windows. Nebraska Game & Parks recently opened the Phillips Canyon boat ramp — a new addition with road, parking, vault toilet, and launch surface now fully in place, expanding river access for anglers targeting walleye, catfish, and sauger along that corridor. On the bass front, Tactical Bassin confirms the post-spawn transition is underway across the Midwest, with largemouth schooling up and responding to topwater, finesse rigs, and swimbaits as the bluegill spawn pulls fish back shallow. Walleye anglers have added incentive this month: the 2026 Midwest Walleye Challenge is running through June 28 across six states including Nebraska, per Outdoor Hub, making every outing count toward both data collection and cash prizes. Nebraska Game & Parks also notes that the only state record submitted in 2026's first third was a saugeye taken through the ice — a quiet signal that the saugeye fishery in Nebraska's lakes and reservoirs remains quietly strong.
Walleye and bass on the move as Grand River levels begin to ease
The Grand River is flowing at 4,240 cfs as of May 12 (USGS gauge 04119000) — elevated spring levels that have kept water color turbid across much of the lower Grand corridor since the flooding the MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report flagged in mid-April. Despite off-color conditions, post-spawn patterns are developing across Michigan's waters: walleye are transitioning into feeding mode on river and Great Lakes systems, with the 2026 Midwest Walleye Challenge now underway through June 28 across Michigan, per Outdoor Hub. On the bass front, Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is fully underway across the Midwest, pulling largemouth into the shallows and triggering reliable topwater strikes on frogs and poppers over sand-and-gravel flats in 2–5 feet of water. Michigan Sea Grant is actively tracking smallmouth bass seasonal movements in Saginaw Bay this season. With the waning crescent moon limiting overnight feeding light, dawn and dusk windows are shaping up as the tightest, most predictable bite periods across all three species groups.
Big Stripers at the Canal as Cape Cod Bay Spring Bite Breaks Open
Water temps of 50–54°F logged by NOAA buoys 44013 and 44020 on May 12 are cool but no obstacle to the striper surge pushing into Cape Cod Bay. Per The Fisherman (Northeast), the flounder bite has been "really good" in Cape Cod Bay this week, and the Canal is already producing fish to the low 40-pound class. The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands reports Charley Soares describing schools of stripers — very few below 37 inches — breaking on bait in a topwater bite sweeping from Fairhaven east to the Canal. Red Top Sporting Goods is calling the tautog fishing "very good and getting better" around the Canal openings, West Falmouth shoreline, and Cleveland Light. The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands also notes the scup bite just kicked off on the rock piles. Farther north, Belsan's Bait and Tackle (per The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME) is tracking fish approaching 20 pounds into Boston Harbor and Hull — the full Cape Cod Bay surge appears days away.
Slab crappie and post-spawn bass light up Central MA ponds
Jeff Sullivan landed giants at Cook Pond in Massachusetts last week — crappie in the 18-to-19-inch bracket on NLBN 3- and 3.75-inch shads and a Strike King spinnerbait, per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater. That crappie bite headlines a busy mid-May freshwater window: Red Top Sporting Goods noted that "big trout and largemouth have been providing plenty of action" in Massachusetts freshwater (The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands), and Rod Teehan at The Fisherman — New England Freshwater confirmed spring stocking continues across the state. USGS gauge 01105500 is logging a low 19 cfs as of midday May 12, indicating clear, skinny conditions on smaller rivers favorable for visual presentations targeting bass still working spawning areas. USGS gauge 01111500 sits at a moderate 103 cfs. With the bluegill spawn ramping up regionally, Tactical Bassin reports that big largemouth are hitting topwater frogs and poppers aggressively around shallow heavy cover — a pattern worth testing on Central MA ponds this week.
Striper Vanguard Closes In on Maine as Migration Hits Full Speed
Water temperatures at NOAA buoy 44007 registered 49°F on May 12 in the western Gulf of Maine, with the more remote eastern station (buoy 44027) sitting at a brisk 43°F — a familiar spring gradient for this coast. The fishing story is developing just south of the border: The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME reports stripers are actively exiting the Merrimack River and early migratory arrivals are making landfall along the Massachusetts–New Hampshire coast, with fish near 20 pounds confirmed as far north as Boston Harbor. On The Water's striper migration map from May 8 describes the 2026 push as hitting "full speed," with post-spawn fish fanning out from the Chesapeake through Rhode Island. The Fisherman (Northeast)'s New England forecast from May 7 placed 47-inch stripers in Narragansett Bay and 40-pound-class fish at the Cape Cod Canal. All signals point toward Maine's southern coast getting its turn imminently.
Kennebec & Penobscot landlocked salmon season builds as spring runoff peaks
The USGS gauge on the Kennebec at Bingham (site 01046500) registered 7,190 cfs at 11:15 a.m. on May 12 — elevated spring runoff typical of Maine's snowmelt season but manageable for anglers who know where to find slack water. Water temperature was not reported at the gauge; mid-May flows at this level typically hold river temperatures in the upper 40s to low 50s°F, a sweet spot for landlocked Atlantic salmon and native brook trout. No direct charter or tackle-shop reports from the Kennebec or Penobscot watershed were available in this update cycle. On the coastal migration front, On The Water's May 8 striper migration map shows post-spawn stripers spreading rapidly across the Northeast; The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME notes fish reaching Boston Harbor with bigger fish leading the charge this season, suggesting the anadromous run could reach Maine's lower tidal Kennebec within days.
Record Gar in the Atchafalaya Delta as Gulf Coast Bite Heats Up
Louisiana Sportsman reported May 12 that 16-year-old Nathan Boquet landed the state's new No. 2 alligator gar while fishing the Atchafalaya Delta WMA with friends — a sign that delta predators are in full late-spring feeding mode. Out in the open Gulf, NOAA buoy 42001 recorded water at 80°F, placing both near-shore and inshore systems in the warm-water window that typically activates speckled trout and redfish across Louisiana's marsh flats and shell-bottom passes. Winds are running light at roughly 11 knots and swells at NOAA buoy 42067 sit near 2.6 feet, keeping near-shore runs accessible for most center-console skiffs. Per Salt Strong's recent inshore guides, this is the heart of the spring topwater season on Gulf Coast marsh systems — early-morning walk-the-dog presentations and popping-cork rigs over grass edges tend to produce the sharpest action when surface temps are in this range. Cobia also typically move through Louisiana coastal waters through late spring; check current state regulations before targeting them.
Atchafalaya Gar Record Falls as Shellcrackers Hit Peak Spawn
A 16-year-old angler fishing the Atchafalaya Delta WMA notched the state's No. 2 alligator gar on May 12, per Louisiana Sportsman — putting trophy gar squarely in focus across the delta's flooded backwaters. USGS gauge 07374000 recorded the Mississippi at 603,000 cfs and 68°F this morning, a robust spring flow that has pushed fish deep into flooded timber and oxbow margins on both the Atchafalaya and main-stem drainages. Meanwhile, Wired 2 Fish's Louisiana-sourced shellcracker coverage confirms that redear sunfish have moved into the shallows to spawn, calling this "the best bream bite of the entire year" for anglers who know where to find them. Water in the upper 60s is squarely in the sweet spot for active bedding, and Wired 2 Fish notes these thick, meaty fish are concentrated and cooperative right now. Post-spawn largemouth are also in full transition mode, per Tactical Bassin's early-May coverage of fish pushing off beds and into early-summer patterns across heavy cover.
Kansas River Bass in Post-Spawn Transition — Topwater and Frogs Leading
Water temps at 66°F per USGS gauge 06892350 confirm the Kansas River bass spawn is closing out and the post-spawn transition is now fully underway. Tactical Bassin's early-May coverage nails this moment: bass are schooling in heavy cover, the bluegill spawn is drawing big largemouth shallow, and topwater frogs plus swimbaits skipped around timber are the go-to presentations. Wired 2 Fish independently confirms May as the peak window for bluegill and redear sunfish moving onto shallow spawning beds — any riprap, brush, or submerged structure in 2–4 feet deserves a look. Flow on the Kansas River is running at 2,810 cfs, a moderate and fishable pace that keeps current seams, eddy pockets, and inside bends productive for catfish and white bass staging before summer sets in. Multiple patterns are available simultaneously this week, making it one of the more versatile windows of the year for Kansas River anglers.
Wabash running high as post-spawn bass and walleye window opens
The Wabash River is carrying elevated spring flows — 8,060 cfs at USGS gauge 03335500 as of the morning of May 12 — pushing fish tight to slower inside bends, eddy seams, and any current break they can find. Despite off-color conditions, walleye remain a viable target: Indiana is one of six states included in the 2026 Midwest Walleye Challenge running through June 28, per Outdoor Hub. Meanwhile, Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is in full swing across the Midwest right now, a trigger that moves big largemouth into shallow heavy cover for topwater and frog action. Smallmouth on the Wabash are wrapping up their own spawn, with post-spawn fish beginning to disperse toward summer structure as flows stabilize. On the Lake Michigan side, no nearshore buoy readings are available today, but mid-May typically brings warming water and improving conditions for perch and bass along the Indiana shoreline.
Blue marlin and ahi build as Hawaiian offshore temp break signals summer push
NOAA buoy 51002 is logging 79°F and buoy 51004 at 78°F across the main Hawaiian Island chain — water temperatures that bracket the productive range for Hawaii's blue-water pelagic season. The outer buoy (51001) checks in at a cooler 74°F, signaling an offshore temperature break of the kind blue marlin, yellowfin tuna (ahi), and mahi-mahi tend to patrol when baitfish stack along the gradient edge. Hawaii Fishing News — the state's official fish-record keeper — emphasizes the importance of moon and tide timing this month; today's waning crescent phase favors low-light feeding windows at first light and dusk. No charter captain or tackle-shop dispatches for the islands were captured in this update, so current bite quality cannot be confirmed at the species level. What the environmental data does establish is that surface temperatures are warm enough to support active feeding across all major target species as mid-May positions Hawaii's offshore fishery for its summer push.
Bull Reds Showing at Saint Simons as Georgia's Saltwater Bite Builds
A bull redfish landed by Tonya Guthrie in the Saint Simons area Wednesday anchors what GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News is calling an improving saltwater bite along the Georgia coast. The May 9 Southern Waters Fishing Report from GON confirms anglers have also been connecting on spotted seatrout, with the inshore picture trending upward heading into mid-May. NOAA buoy 41008 recorded winds running near 25 knots alongside a 69°F air temperature Tuesday afternoon, so boat anglers will want to pick calmer weather windows before venturing onto exposed sound waters. On the regulatory front, Saltwater Sportsman and Sport Fishing Mag both report that the South Atlantic's expanded red snapper exempted fishing permit program has been approved for 2026, setting up an extended offshore snapper season that includes Georgia — a substantial shift from the abbreviated seasons of recent years. The overall picture points upward: inshore redfish and trout are active in the Golden Isles marsh system, and a significant offshore opportunity is taking shape for this summer.
Bass bite rolling on Georgia rivers as Savannah drops into shape
The bass bite has been good across Georgia freshwater this week, according to GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News in their May 9 Southern Waters report. The Savannah River at Clyo was reading 3.3 feet and falling as of May 7, with USGS gauge 02197000 confirming flow at 4,050 cfs on May 12 — falling conditions that typically sharpen water clarity and concentrate bass along current seams. Georgia Wildlife Blog — Fishing reported an 8-lb, 11-oz largemouth caught in Morgan County on a spinner bait just after rain stopped in late April, signaling that bass were responding strongly to active presentations near the height of the spawn window. Crappie remain a reliable secondary target, with Georgia Wildlife Blog — Fishing noting through the spring that warming water pushes fish into shallow structure — brush piles, fallen timber, and docks — in 3–8 feet. With mid-May now arrived, bass are transitioning out of the spawn across much of the state, setting up one of the more predictable bite windows of the year.
Shellcrackers peak as post-spawn bass spread across Okeechobee & St. Johns
Wired 2 Fish declares May the best bream bite of the year, with redear sunfish — shellcrackers — pushing into the shallows to spawn across southern freshwater systems. That pattern holds true for both Lake Okeechobee's vast vegetated flats and the St. Johns River backwaters, where USGS gauge 02232000 logged a stable 60.4 cfs this morning — clean, low-flow conditions that tend to concentrate fish along grass edges and hard structure. Largemouth bass are deep in the post-spawn transition: Tactical Bassin reports fish schooling up after spawning, with topwater, frogs over heavy cover, and swimbaits all in play as the early-summer shift takes hold. The waning crescent moon this week reduces ambient nightlight, which can push the most reliable shallow bite windows into midday. Florida Sea Grant's active invasive species monitoring across South Florida canals and Everglades-adjacent water is a timely reminder for Okeechobee fringe anglers — report unusual catches to help protect the fishery.
Large permit and kingfish headline a dynamic FL Gulf Coast spring offshore bite
Water temps of 77–78°F logged by NOAA buoys 42036 and 42039 have the Florida Gulf Coast spring fishery firing on all cylinders. Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports consistently sight fishing large permit right now, alongside steady kingfish action on plugs and flies, with cobia and amberjacks rounding out an offshore mix the captain describes as "very dynamic." Inshore, Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) flags the trout bite as on across Florida — giving anglers a viable shallower option on windier days. The waning crescent moon this week limits overnight feeding activity, making dawn low-light windows the priority timing for both permit flats and trout patterns. CCA Florida is also raising an alert about a proposed cruise port development near Rattlesnake Key in South Tampa Bay that would require dredging through seagrass and mangrove habitat currently holding game fish — a situation worth monitoring for anyone who fishes that stretch of the bay.
Stripers Push Norwalk to New London as Spring Migration Peaks
Water temperature has settled at 52°F along the Connecticut shoreline—confirmed by NOAA buoys 44025 and 44065—and the striper action is running hot with it. Captain Morgan's Bait and Tackle reports over-slot fish in the 40-inch class have turned heads this week, with most daily action on slot and throwback-sized linesides running 24–29 inches on swimmers and plugs along the surf and tidal rivers. Bobby J's confirms fresh migrants carrying sea lice are mixing with resident bass, and bunker chunks are converting 20-pound-plus class fish at anchor and on the troll. Fisherman's World's Tyler notes the freshest fish are likely holding on deep-water structure—reefs 11B, Can 13, and the OB Buoy—as these schools shift locations daily. Per Aaron Swanson in The Fisherman — Connecticut, linesides have made their presence known from Norwalk to New London, with inshore harbors, bays, and tributaries all producing. Topwater is building, and plastics on jigheads remain a reliable backup.
Giant Browns at Saugatuck Headline CT's Active Spring Inland Season
Two brown trout pushing 8 pounds — each taken on a shiner by different anglers fishing separate sections of Saugatuck Reservoir — set the week's high mark for CT inland fishing, per Rich at Fisherman's World via The Fisherman — New England Freshwater. USGS gauge 01184000 is logging 56°F water, a prime late-spring temperature for trout and transitioning bass alike. Spring stocking continues at pace: Rod Teehan's column in The Fisherman — New England Freshwater lists trout drops into the Hammonasset River, Saugatuck River, Coginchaug River, Bantam River, Moosup River TMA, and Salmon River TMA between May 4 and 7. Colin at Fishin' Factory 3 confirms action remains outstanding at the Salmon River, Coginchaug River, Day Pond Trout Park, and Chatfield Hollow, with angler numbers well down from opening-week peaks. The Connecticut River's Middletown-to-Rocky Hill corridor is also producing shad, carp, and striped bass on sandworms and chunks, per the same report.