Fishing reports
19295 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
NorCal salmon bite surges as cool coastal water pushes out the bonita
Water temps have dipped to 52°F per NOAA buoy 46026 — and that cooling is exactly what NorCal salmon anglers needed. Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady, working out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing, reports via Western Outdoor News — Saltwater that a four-degree drop from 58°F near Pigeon Point back to 54°F has produced "vastly improved salmon conditions." Davis noted the warmer water in early April had bonita in the mix — an unusual early showing for a warm-water species — but the cooldown has pushed them off and brought chinook onto better holding structure. NOAA buoy 46013 is logging winds around 8 m/s with air temps near 52°F, so expect a brisk offshore ride this week. In SF Bay and along the Bodega corridor, May is classically the shoulder of the striped bass season with fish staging on rip lines and channel structure; no breaking captain intel this week, but seasonal conditions align. Halibut and nearshore rockfish round out typical spring targets along this stretch with no breaking intel at press time.
Bluefin in 1-Day Range as Warm Water Jumpstarts the SoCal Season
Water temps of 61–63°F registered across NOAA buoys 46025 and 46221 are running significantly above the seasonal norm, and pelagics are responding. Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reports that bluefin and yellowfin tuna have already pushed into grounds southwest of San Diego, with the first San Diego fleet albacore in years gaff'd April 30 aboard the Tribute out of Mission Bay — well ahead of any recent schedule. Two- and three-day trips running south are also turning up yellowtail and early dorado. Western Outdoor News — Saltwater notes these waters have been running more than 10 degrees above normal for early May, raising speculation about El Niño-like conditions driving the early push. Inshore, Surf Fishing in So Cal flags corbina and leopard shark as prime surf targets as the season builds across sandy beaches from the South Bay to Orange County. With a waning crescent moon, calm winds, and a manageable 3-foot swell at buoy 46221, conditions favor both offshore runs and surf sessions this week.
UP streams running big as snowmelt peaks — trout hold tight in deep eddies
USGS gauge 04059500 logged 445 cfs on the Ontonagon River early this morning, marking elevated spring flows consistent with Great Lakes Now's reporting on record-high rainfall and above-average March snowmelt that drove historic flooding across northern Michigan last week. High, likely off-color water pushes brook trout and brown trout off shallow feeding lies and into sheltered eddies, deep pool tailouts, and undercut banks — heavier nymphs, weighted streamers, and slow swings through current seams are the go-to adjustments when discharge is this elevated. On Lake Superior's western reach, WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing has documented a growing lake whitefish fishery in the Chequamegon Bay area now drawing dedicated open-water boat anglers — a trend that typically mirrors conditions across the broader western Superior basin into Michigan waters. Michigan Sportsman Forum weekend threads mentioned prespawn smallmouth appearing in shallow cover around Mother's Day, consistent with mid-May UP timing, though no agency source has corroborated that specific report this cycle. The best trout windows are likely just days away as flows recede.
Walleye on harness rigs in Saginaw Bay as smallmouth approach the spawn
Anglers fishing Saginaw Bay over Mother's Day weekend reported walleye on crawler harness rigs in 16 to 22 feet of water, per Michigan Sportsman Forum trip reports. Boat control in the wind was a noted challenge, but those who pushed through it filled out their boxes. On the Lake Huron nearshore side, fat prespawn smallmouth bass in the 19-inch range are showing up in just 9 feet of water — squarely on schedule for the mid-May spawn approach. No live USGS gauge or NOAA buoy readings are available this cycle, so precise water temperature and flow data are absent. Regionally, Jason Mitchell Outdoors highlights a strong walleye bite currently in force across Midwest open water, consistent with conditions on the Bay. Tactical Bassin notes bass across Great Lakes fisheries are straddling the spawn-to-post-spawn transition right now. The waning crescent moon favors low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk through midweek.
Grand River walleye in swing as spring flows run high near Grand Haven
The Grand River is running at 4,530 cfs as of early May 11 (USGS gauge 04119000), reflecting peak spring conditions at the Grand Haven mouth. Walleye are the clearest story this week: Michigan Sportsman Forum anglers reporting from the Mother's Day weekend connected on harness rigs at 16 and 22 feet of depth, with a second trip also producing walleye through jigging in breezy conditions. Jason Mitchell Outdoors (YT) independently notes that the shore walleye bite is on across the Great Lakes region right now, lending weight to those forum accounts. Forum chatter also surfaced prespawn smallmouth bass in 9 feet of water — two anglers described 19-inch fish on shallow structure — though that report lacks a second-source confirmation. No water temperature is available from the gauge this period; mid-May on Lake Michigan typically runs low-to-mid 50s°F, with conditions shifting daily as spring flows recede.
Wild Browns Rising on Penns Creek as Prime Limestone Mayfly Season Unfolds
USGS gauge 01546500 logged a flow of 89.7 cfs at dawn on May 11 — moderate, wadeable conditions across central Pennsylvania's limestone trout belt. Field & Stream this week invokes Penns Creek directly, referencing anglers who time their visits around Hendrickson mayfly hatches that pull wild brown trout to the surface, and pairs it alongside Spring Creek as a destination limestoner defined by green drake hatches and "big, slurping browns." Water temperature data wasn't available from the gauge this reading cycle, but spring-fed limestone streams in this corridor typically hold in the mid-50s to low 60s°F through May — prime dry-fly territory once afternoon air temperatures climb. The characteristically high clarity of both streams demands long leaders, fine tippets, and careful approach angles. A Waning Crescent moon this week suppresses nocturnal light, which typically concentrates surface feeding activity into the best afternoon hatch windows rather than spreading it across the day.
Allegheny running high — fish concentrate below dam structures
USGS gauge 03036500 clocked 40,100 cfs at 5:00 a.m. on May 11 — well-elevated spring flow that compresses productive water into current seams, eddy pockets, and the slack zones immediately below the Allegheny's lock-and-dam chain. No water temperature was returned from the gauge; mid-May in western PA typically brings river readings in the upper 50s to low 60s°F, enough to sustain active post-spawn feeding across smallmouth bass, walleye, and catfish. No Pittsburgh-area charter or tackle-shop intel appeared in the current data feeds, so this report leans on seasonal signals and adjacent reporting: Tactical Bassin notes the bluegill spawn is in full swing across the mid-Atlantic and Midwest right now — a reliable proxy that smallmouth have moved through spawning and are transitioning to aggressive post-spawn feeding. Walleye in these tailwaters typically hold near dam aprons and deeper current breaks at this point in the season. Consult PA Fish & Boat biologist reports for the latest stocking schedules and local conditions before heading out.
Presque Isle walleye and bass shifting into May patterns as spring peaks
USGS gauge 04213000 recorded 608 cfs on the morning of May 11, with no water temperature reading available from this check — tributaries running at a moderate mid-spring pace. Direct Presque Isle on-water intel is limited in this update. Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is now in full swing regionally, a reliable seasonal benchmark that draws bass into accessible shallow cover and opens the door for early-morning topwater bites. Fishing the Midwest highlights jigs and live-bait rigs as the workhorses for walleye fishing through the spring-to-summer transition, consistent with Lake Erie's typical mid-May patterns. Yellow perch remain seasonally active near bay structure and breakwalls. Steelhead runs are winding down for the year at this point. Anglers should check PA Fish & Boat Commission biologist reports directly for Erie-specific stocking schedules, current conditions, and any applicable regulation updates before heading out.
Catskills streams fishable as mid-May hatch transition takes hold
USGS gauge 01413500 logged 373 cfs on Catskills trout water early on May 11, with gauge 01415000 recording 97.9 cfs — both reads placing area streams at elevated but fishable spring levels. No water temperature data was available from this morning's sensor pull. MidCurrent's current Tying Tuesday roundups describe hatches beginning to fire across Northeastern trout fisheries, flagging a full water-column lineup from buoyant deer-hair attractors riding fast surface water to beaded nymphs built for overcast, low-contrast conditions — a pattern spread directly applicable to Catskills and Adirondacks stream fishing through mid-May. Field & Stream's recent coverage of Hendrickson hatches on Northeastern trout streams provides a useful seasonal anchor: the Catskills traditionally see Hendricksons taper in early May before March Browns and early caddis carry the calendar forward. Trout Unlimited is circulating nymph-casting tips via the Orvis Learning Center, timely technique grounding for fishing the deeper seams that elevated spring flows push trout into.
Puget Sound Chinook and Pacific Halibut Season Open as May Calm Settles In
Light winds of 4 to 6 m/s recorded at NOAA buoy 46087 and buoy 46041 off the Washington coast point to manageable marine conditions for the May 11 window. Water temperature data was unavailable at both stations this morning, though air readings near 52–55°F fit typical mid-spring patterns for the region. Angler-specific catch intel for Puget Sound and the Pacific Coast is limited in this update: WA WDFW Fishing Reports confirms the department tracks regional creel data statewide, but no targeted catch summaries were available in today's feed. Seasonally, mid-May represents a productive stretch for spring Chinook blackmouth inside the Sound, with fish historically responding to mooching and jigging on deep structure. Pacific halibut season — subject to quota rules; verify current regs before heading offshore — draws anglers toward the continental shelf. Lingcod and bottomfish provide reliable alternatives along rocky Pacific-side structure. The waning crescent moon reduces overnight tidal swing, making early morning incoming tides the priority window this week.
Spring Chinook in the zone as Columbia rivers hit mid-May stride
USGS gauge 14113000 logged 55°F and 1,370 cfs early on May 11 — placing Columbia drainage water squarely in the productive temperature band for spring Chinook salmon and resident trout. WA WDFW Fishing Reports tracks statewide stocking and creel activity, though specific bite reports for this drainage were limited in available feeds this cycle. What the temperature signal confirms: at 55°F, fish are metabolically switched on, and the waning crescent moon this week reduces overnight light pressure, favoring improved dawn-and-dusk bite windows. Tactical Bassin's mid-May coverage of post-spawn bass transitions maps well onto Columbia smallmouth, which are likely completing spawning or entering that early post-spawn drift. Hatch Magazine's current feature on caddis emergences aligns squarely with Pacific Northwest river calendars for this period — caddis activity is typically well underway by the second week of May. Overall, conditions are conducive, though anglers should consult WA WDFW Fishing Reports directly for real-time run counts and any emergency closures before heading out.
Post-Spawn Stripers Pouring Out of the Chesapeake as Spring Run Peaks
Water at nearby NOAA buoy 44009 is reading 56°F with light winds at 3 m/s — favorable conditions for a run to the lower Bay. Per On The Water's May 8 striper migration map, the 2026 spring run is "hitting full speed" with post-spawn bass pouring out of the Chesapeake and spreading northeast toward New Jersey and Rhode Island. That makes this a prime transitional window at the Bay mouth: fish that have finished their tributary spawn are now staging and funneling seaward. The Fisherman's May 7 regional forecast confirmed large fish — including 40-plus-pound-class bass — already well north of the Bay, signaling that the biggest post-spawn migrants are fully committed to the run. Summer flounder are seasonally on cue; The Fisherman noted New Jersey's summer flounder season opened May 4, a useful mid-Atlantic bellwether. No direct charter or shop reports from this specific subregion were available this week, but migration timing and water temperature put conditions squarely in the productive zone.
Post-spawn stripers pushing into tidal Potomac as May bass transition peaks
On The Water's May 8 striper migration map confirms post-spawn rockfish are pouring out of the Chesapeake into tidal Potomac reaches, with big fish and fast action spreading through the mid-Atlantic corridor. The Potomac at Little Falls (USGS gauge 01646500) registered 2,850 cfs on the morning of May 11 — a moderate, fishable level across both tidal and upper river sections. Further upstream in the Shenandoah valley, smallmouth bass are well into their post-spawn transition; Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is in full swing right now, holding big bass near shallow heavy cover and making topwater presentations productive. Blue catfish remain a strong option along Virginia waterways: Wired 2 Fish details guide Zakk Royce of Blues Brothers Guide Service running cut bait on Santee Rigs along channel ledges at Lake Gaston — a mid-depth drift technique that works wherever channel breaks concentrate fish. Conditions across both drainages look favorable heading into the mid-May weekend.
Eagle Mountain blue catfish in peak form as lake fills and fresh water flows
Water at 82°F and a nearly full Eagle Mountain Lake are combining for what North Texas Catfish Guide calls one of the best stretches of the year for Fort Worth-area anglers. The charter reports that fresh water flowing into the system has fish "moving and feeding" right now — and when conditions stack up this way, the guide says, "it happens fast." Blue catfish are the marquee target, with recent guide trips producing easy limits and multiple fish over 30 pounds. Channel catfish are active alongside them on the main lake. For bass anglers, Tactical Bassin reports the classic post-spawn transition is underway: fish are splitting between shallow cover and early-summer open water, and multiple presentations — topwater frogs, finesse rigs, and swimbaits — are all connecting. The waning crescent moon supports low-light feeding windows at first light and dusk. This is one of the stronger mid-May setups Texas freshwater has seen in recent seasons.
Bull Reds Running as Expanded Snapper Season Opens for Charleston
Water temps reached 76°F at NOAA buoy 41004 off Charleston on May 11 — solidly in the range that triggers the spring red drum push inshore anglers count on each year. Fisherman's Post — Carolinas saltwater confirms bull red drum are making a strong move along the Carolina coast, with schools reported working nearshore shoals around the Cape Lookout area; that same seasonal momentum typically reaches Charleston Harbor structure by mid-May. Offshore, the 2026 season just got far more attractive: Saltwater Sportsman and Sport Fishing Mag both report that federal approval of exempted fishing permits has unlocked a greatly expanded South Atlantic red snapper season for South Carolina anglers — a sharp reversal from last year's two-day allotment. Light breezes and 2-foot swells at the buoy are keeping conditions comfortable for both harbor runs and the short offshore haul this week.
Lake Murray largemouth peaking as Elite Series anglers crack 90-lb bags
Paul Marks' dominant four-day, 90-pound, 14-ounce victory at the Tedy's Team Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray is the strongest on-water signal of the week: largemouth bass are firing on this system, per B.A.S.S. News. Marks, known for cracking herring-lake patterns, executed a mid-round adjustment late in the tournament that separated him from a deep field, indicating fish are actively tracking shad and threadfin herring in the water column. USGS gauge 02160390 is logging a stable 198 cfs, consistent with good water clarity typical of late-spring runoff on SC tributaries. Water temperature was not available from the gauge at time of writing; typical mid-May readings on Lake Murray run the upper 60s to low 70s°F. The waning crescent moon eases overnight spawning pressure and daytime reaction bites should remain consistent. Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is in full swing across the Southeast — a reliable cue for shallow topwater strikes on post-spawn bass through mid-May.
Big stripers invade Narragansett Bay as spring migration hits full stride
Water temps holding at 51°F (NOAA buoys 44097 and 44085) haven't slowed the bay's best striper action of the year. Per The Saltwater Edge (RI), bass fishing "really took off this past week" with fresh migratory fish flooding Narragansett Bay alongside schools of bunker — a push of fish eclipsing the 30-pound mark hit on Saturday and "everyone is fired up." The Fisherman (Northeast) clocks stripers to 47 inches from the bay this week, with 40-pound-class bulls expected to follow the bunker in. Anglers are finding success on live bunker, flutter spoons, and topwater offerings, with the bite running sharpest in the early morning. Tautog are slowly improving: the Frances Fleet (per The Fisherman — Rhode Island) reports slightly better tog results, and Booked Off Charters is targeting them around Block Island. Squid haven't arrived in local numbers yet — the Frances Fleet is holding off squid trips for at least another week.
Susquehanna trout in prime hatch window; smallmouth staging ahead of spawn
USGS gauge 01540500 recorded 56°F water and 20,700 cfs on the Susquehanna at 4:30 a.m. Monday — conditions that place trout squarely in their feeding window even as elevated flows push fish off mainstem riffles. Field & Stream's recent Pennsylvania feature highlights active stocked rainbow fishing on Loyalsock Creek, while Penns Creek and its limestone peers are seeing Hendrickson hatches pull wild brown trout to the surface. With the main stem running fast and elevated, the most productive water right now is tributary mouths, back eddies, and smaller feeders where flows are clearing. On the bass front, Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is in full swing — a reliable trigger that pulls large bass shallow around wood and weed-edge cover. At 56°F, Susquehanna smallmouth are staging just ahead of their own spawn; that bite should sharpen markedly as temperatures push toward 60°F in the coming days. Waning crescent moon tonight favors daytime bite windows over low-light periods.
Spring Chinook Prime on Oregon's Coast; Swell Shapes Offshore Access
Water temperatures of 56–57°F logged by NOAA buoys 46029 and 46002 put Oregon's coast squarely in prime spring Chinook territory this week. Saltwater Sportsman spotlighted the action at Buoy 10, where the Columbia meets the Pacific near Astoria and Warrenton — Chinook and coho staging just offshore before entering the river draw fleet-sized turnouts of river sleds each season, and conditions are shaping up for another strong showing. Offshore swell is running 5.2–7.5 ft across the three monitoring stations, with buoy 46050 recording 9 m/s winds — enough to make bar crossings a judgment call for smaller vessels. Halibut and nearshore rockfish round out the May target list for boats that can find a calmer window. Direct charter and tackle-shop intel for the Oregon Coast was limited this cycle; check local conditions before trailering.
Spring Chinook prime time arrives on Oregon's Columbia and Rogue
USGS gauge 14211720 logged 64°F water and 2,490 cfs flow on the morning of May 11 — a reading that places both the Columbia and Rogue squarely within their peak spring Chinook window. At 64°F, mainstem temperatures are on the warm side of what Chinook prefer, typically pushing fish to travel faster through exposed lower-river stretches and concentrate in deeper, shaded holding water. No Oregon-specific bite reports appeared in our monitored sources this week, so conditions are read from gauge data and the calendar. Mid-May is historically the heart of the spring Chinook run on both rivers, with shad typically beginning their upstream push in the Columbia around the same time. Smallmouth bass in Columbia gorge reaches are firmly in post-spawn mode at these temperatures — aggressive and covering structure. A waning crescent moon this week favors low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk for most target species.
Hatteras Surf Comes Alive as Red Drum Stage Their May Push
Ryan, of Hatteras Jack, reports that the surf action has come alive at Hatteras/Ocracoke, with red drum making a strong push onto the beaches and anglers catching good numbers along the stretch, per Fisherman's Post (NC). Water at NOAA buoy 41025 is holding at 76°F with 2.6-foot seas — conditions that favor exactly this kind of nearshore drum run. Further down the coast, Steve of Chasin' Tails (via Fisherman's Post — Carolinas saltwater) confirms schools of bull red drum working the Cape Lookout shoals, with plenty of good-sized bluefish in the mix, signaling the bite is on up and down the NC coastline. Surf anglers targeting the OBX beaches should find drum accessible on incoming tides with cut bait or fresh mullet. The Waning Crescent moon keeps tidal swings modest, but the resulting surf troughs concentrate fish effectively during dawn and dusk feeding windows. This is a prime stretch for serious surf fishing on the Banks.
Blue cats firing on Lake Gaston as NC post-spawn bass transition begins
Wired 2 Fish recently reported a standout session on Lake Gaston, a 20,000-acre Roanoke-drainage reservoir on the Virginia/North Carolina line, where guide Zakk Royce of Blues Brothers Guide Service pulled nearly 300 pounds of blue catfish in roughly two hours — including a 45-pounder taken on cut bait fished on a Santee Rig along a channel ledge in 10 to 20 feet of water. That kind of deep-ledge bite signals blue cats are staging actively ahead of summer heat. Meanwhile, USGS gauge 02142900 recorded just 6.1 cfs in the Catawba basin as of early May 11 — lean for mid-spring, pointing to tighter fish concentrations in deeper pools and channel structure. Largemouth bass across both drainages are in the post-spawn dispersal; per Tactical Bassin (blog), this transition is among the most predictable windows of the year, with shallow topwater still connecting and deeper swimbait presentations picking up steam as fish migrate toward early-summer holding areas.
Hudson stripers surging as walleye season opens on the Finger Lakes
Water at 56°F on the upper Hudson (USGS gauge 01357500) puts the region squarely in prime spring territory. Per On The Water's May 8 striper migration map, post-spawn bass are pouring out of the Chesapeake in force and spreading across the Northeast — the Hudson River's legendary spring striper run should be in full stride right now. NY DEC's April 24 Fishing Line confirmed hatchery crews completed spring deliveries of brook, brown, and rainbow trout to streams statewide, giving anglers plenty of freshly stocked water to work. Critically, the coolwater sportfish season — covering walleye, northern pike, and tiger muskellunge — opened statewide on May 1 per DEC, unlocking the Finger Lakes walleye fishery for the first time this season. Flows are elevated on the Hudson (18,900 cfs at the lower tidal gauge per USGS 01358000), but with temps in the mid-50s the region is firing across multiple fronts. This week's waning crescent moon favors low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk.
Spring Striper Surge Delivers Best Jersey Shore Bass Run in Years
Striped bass to 48 inches are stacking from Sandy Hook to Cape May in what multiple sources are calling one of the best spring runs in memory. The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf says it plainly: 'old heads are calling it one of the best spring bass runs in a long time,' with fish from 24 to 45 inches blanketing all surf zones and clams the dominant bait. Per The Fisherman — Southern NJ, Higbee's Bait and Tackle confirms stripers to 48 inches at Fortescue Beach on bloodworms, and Big Dave's Tackle reports fish to 46 inches from Cape May to Salem County. Hook House, per The Fisherman — Central NJ, describes 'tons' of fish in the wash. NOAA buoys 44065 and 44091 put nearshore water temps at 53–55°F. Summer flounder season opened May 4 to a slow start, but keepers are already turning up in rivers and inlets per OTW Northern New Jersey. Black drum to 20 pounds are also showing along the Delaware Bay shore, per The Fisherman — Southern NJ.