Fishing reports
19295 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Shad stacking and stripers pushing upriver on the Delaware
Shad hauls of 30 to 65-plus fish at the Lewis Shad Fishery are headlining this week's Delaware River freshwater action, per The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater. Spawning stripers have pushed past Trenton and into the non-tidal river — a 35-inch bass was netted near Lambertville — while the shad count itself jumped after mid-week rains. Crappies and trout round out the freshwater picture: solid crappie catches are coming from river and lake structure, and the Delaware & Raritan Canal is fishing well for stocked trout. NJ Fish & Wildlife News confirmed the state placed over 180,000 rainbow trout statewide when the season opened April 11. Pine Barrens streams are in fishable shape; USGS gauge 01408000 on the Metedeconk registered 39.4 cfs early this morning. Recent rains also activated northerns, smallmouth bass, and catfish in the upper Passaic drainage, per The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater.
Walleye and prespawn smallmouth heating up across Michigan waters
Michigan Sportsman Forum reports walleyes coming to hand on harness rigs fished 16 to 22 feet deep over Mother's Day weekend, with that same outing also producing two fat prespawn smallmouth — both around 19 inches — in just 9 feet of water. Jason Mitchell Outdoors (YT) reinforces the walleye outlook, noting the shore walleye bite is on right now. The Grand River (USGS gauge 04119000) is running at 4,560 cfs as of May 11, reflecting elevated spring volume that continues to concentrate fish along current seams and deeper channel drop-offs. MI DNR Weekly Fishing Reports tracked the seasonal progression through April, noting severe flooding in mid-April that is now abating. Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is in full swing — a reliable cue that largemouth are pushing into the shallows to intercept bluegill beds. A waning crescent moon this week favors low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk.
Canal stripers arrive as Cape Cod Bay flounder and tautog bite surges
NOAA buoy 44020 reads 54°F at 07:40 this morning — and the fish are responding. The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands reports the season's first migratory stripers showed up at the Cape Cod Canal herring run last Friday, with over-slot fish caught and released alongside schoolies, and fresh bass confirmed in Plymouth Harbor. Red Top Sporting Goods (via The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands) echoes the enthusiasm: 'It's game on' at the Canal, with bass actively breaking off the run. For anglers eyeing other species, The Fisherman (Northeast) flagged the winter flounder bite as 'really good in Cape Cod Bay' in its May 7 forecast. Tautog in Buzzards Bay are building toward a spring peak with green crabs the go-to offering, per The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands. Black sea bass season is expected to open imminently, poised to add a fourth target to an already active roster. The spring push is on.
Lunker largemouth and panfish light up Central MA as post-spawn transition peaks
Jeff Sullivan's 7.25-lb largemouth at Cook Pond, Massachusetts last week is the clearest signal yet that the post-spawn feeding window is open across Central MA. Per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, Sullivan paired that trophy with steady white perch and crappie action at the same venue, with a nighttime bladed-jig approach proving most effective. Tactical Bassin confirms the regional driver: the bluegill spawn is now in full swing, drawing largemouth bass into shallow cover and triggering topwater and frog bites during low-light periods. Spring stocking continues across Massachusetts waterways according to The Fisherman's Rod Teehan, keeping put-and-take trout fisheries productive as a secondary option. Two USGS gauges capturing Central MA drainage show stable, moderate flows — 22.8 cfs at site 01105500 and 120 cfs at site 01111500 — favoring finesse presentations in slower pools and river eddies. No water temperature readings were recorded at either station this morning.
Fresh Stripers Pushing North Toward Maine as Spring Migration Builds
A 35-inch striper landed at the mouth of the Merrimack River on a paddletail shad — reported through The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME — marks the leading edge of the 2026 migration arriving at the southern gateway of the Gulf of Maine. Water temperatures read 48°F inshore (NOAA buoy 44007) and a cold 43°F offshore (NOAA buoy 44027), both on the chilly side but well within the range migrating bass will push through. Dave Anderson writing in The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME confirms fresh migratory stripers have reached the South Shore and will be "migrating further north with each passing day." The Fisherman (Northeast) placed fish to the low 40-pound class at the Cape Cod Canal as of May 7, and On The Water's May 8 migration map describes the 2026 push as "hitting full speed" from New Jersey to Rhode Island. Maine anglers should expect the vanguard to arrive within the coming week.
Post-spawn bass heating up along Kansas-Arkansas Rivers as bluegill spawn peaks
USGS gauge 06892350 put water temperature at 65°F on the Arkansas River system early Monday morning — right where bass metabolism shifts into high gear. The timing aligns with a dominant performance at Beaver Lake in northwest Arkansas, where Cole Floyd assembled 56 pounds on 24 scorable bass to win a Major League Fishing event this past weekend, per Wired 2 Fish. While Beaver Lake is a highland reservoir rather than a river channel, that kind of weight signals Arkansas-region bass are feeding aggressively. Tactical Bassin confirms the bluegill spawn is in full swing across the Midwest, with big largemouth pushing into heavy cover and hammering topwater — frogs and poppers near shallow structure are the call. Flow on the river sits at 4,150 cfs, a moderate spring level that concentrates fish along current seams and inside bends. Channel catfish should also be staging actively near deep holes and channel ledges at these temperatures. A waning crescent moon favors early morning and late evening windows for both species.
Spring Chinook push up the Salmon as Idaho rivers run high and cool
USGS gauge 13340000 recorded 24,300 cfs and 50°F at midnight on May 11 — high, cold snowmelt conditions that shape nearly every decision on Idaho's Snake and Salmon systems this time of year. This reporting cycle produced no Idaho-specific on-the-water angler intel, so this update grounds primarily in gauge data and regional Pacific Northwest context. Caddis Fly (OR) noted in their late-April valley report that flows across similar PNW drainages are 'stabilizing, insects are hatching, and trout are rising once again' — a pulse that typically arrives a few weeks later in Idaho's higher-elevation interior systems. At 50°F, the Salmon River sits squarely in its spring Chinook migration window; fish are moving upriver and holding in deeper seams behind large structure. Trout are working slower edge water and eddies away from the main push. High, off-color flows favor heavier nymph rigs, egg patterns, and big attractor streamers over finesse presentations.
Bass bite strong on Georgia rivers as post-spawn transition kicks in
Georgia bass fishing has been strong heading into mid-May, with GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News reporting on May 9 that 'the bass bite has also been good this week' across south Georgia waters. Earlier this season, the Georgia Wildlife Blog — Fishing documented Morgan County angler Max Collins landing an 8-pound, 11-ounce largemouth on a spinner bait during post-rain conditions — a reminder that Georgia bass respond aggressively to weather transitions. The Savannah River near Clyo read 3.3 feet and falling as of May 7, consistent with USGS gauge 02197000 recording 4,360 cfs. Dropping river levels typically push bass off flooded timber and onto main-channel structure. Spring crappie remain accessible, per the Georgia Wildlife Blog — Fishing, which notes fish stacked in 3–8 feet around brush piles, docks, and fallen timber. The waning crescent moon favors low-light feeding windows — early mornings and late afternoons are the primary windows to target.
Big stripers and black drum rolling along Delaware Bay shorelines
Stripers to 48 inches are lighting up Fortescue Beach along the Delaware Bay shoreline, according to Higbee's Bait and Tackle, with slot keepers and oversized fish all in the mix. Smith's Bait Shop corroborates the bite at Collins Beach, Greens Beach, and Woodland Beach — fish above, below, and within the 28-to-31-inch slot — most taking bloodworms and cut bunker. Black drum are making an increasingly strong showing: Big Dave's Tackle reports fish to 45 pounds along bay-facing beaches, with fresh shucked surf clams and bloodworms doing the damage, and the drum numbers are growing by the day. Hands Too Bait and Tackle confirms stripers to 40 inches off Cape May's beaches and the Delaware Bay shoreline, with early morning tides delivering the best action. Old Inlet Bait and Tackle drew over 200 anglers to its surf fishing tournament this week, tallying impressive striped bass alongside a few tautog taken on sand fleas and green crab from the Inlet.
Cooler upwelling fires up Chinook salmon below Pigeon Point
Water temps off Pigeon Point have cooled to 54°F, and per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater, that drop is delivering vastly improved salmon conditions for Half Moon Bay boats. Captain Jared Davis aboard the Salty Lady out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing reports the temperature slide — from 58°F at the April 11 season opener to 54°F now — has pushed bonito offshore ('the bonita took a hike,' he noted) while drawing Chinook into productive range. Offshore buoys 46042 and 46028 are registering northwest winds of 8–10 m/s with air temps near 55°F, consistent with an active upwelling pattern that typically brings cold, nutrient-rich water to the Central Coast shelf. Today's waning crescent moon keeps light low around dawn and dusk — historically the most productive windows for Chinook along this coast. Check current state regulations for daily bag limits before heading out.
Gulf of Alaska spring season opens: halibut and kings in cold mid-May seas
NOAA buoy 46080 logged water temperatures at 43°F on the morning of May 11, with winds running 9 m/s (roughly 18 knots) — characteristic of the Gulf of Alaska's brisk late-spring conditions. Buoys 46001 and 46066 confirmed winds of 7 m/s and 3 m/s respectively, with air temperature near 42°F at the outer Gulf station. Direct on-water angler reports from charter captains and tackle shops in this corridor are not available in this update, limiting our ability to confirm exactly what's biting and where. Mid-May in the Gulf of Alaska typically marks the ramp-up of the halibut charter season alongside early Chinook salmon opportunities in nearshore feedlines. AK Sea Grant's recent coverage highlights mariculture development and traditional fishing practices across Alaskan coastal communities, reflecting deep regional investment in marine resources, but no sport-fishing conditions update is available from that feed this cycle. Anglers should contact local charter operators directly for the most current deck reports before booking trips.
Mobile Bay Spring Inshore: Reds, Trout, and Spanish Mackerel on the Move
NOAA buoy 42040 is registering 1.6-foot seas with light offshore winds around 6 mph, while buoy 42012 shows air temps near 73°F and nearly calm conditions inshore — a solid window for Mobile Bay and nearshore Gulf fishing. Anglers on the Pensacola Fishing Forum buzzed this week about strong inshore action in adjacent Blackwater Bay, with one session on 5/6 logging 26- and 30-inch redfish alongside 15–16-inch speckled trout on a Megabass 110 Vision jerkbait. That same thread noted snapper, Spanish mackerel, and mangrove snapper active in bay waters. Those reports cross the state line and lack independent shop or charter corroboration, but the species mix and timing track closely with Mobile Bay's typical early-May profile: redfish active on warming grass flats, speckled trout working channel edges, and Spanish mackerel pushing through the nearshore passes as Gulf water temperatures climb through spring.
Toledo Bend bass locked onto bluegill beds for prime May bite
Louisiana Sportsman reports it's 'game on for bass fishing' at Louisiana lake systems as May opens — guide Brad Romero says the pattern has fired up at Chicot Lake, signaling the seasonal shift is underway across the region. At Toledo Bend, conditions back that signal: the Sabine River is running at just 124 cfs (USGS gauge 08025500), indicating stable, low-turbidity reservoir conditions that favor shallow cover work. Tactical Bassin confirms the bluegill spawn is in full swing, positioning largemouth in heavy cover and lighting up topwater frogs and poppers at first light. Post-spawn females are beginning their transition toward deeper structure, opening up swimbait and finesse patterns around creek channels and timber edges simultaneously. For a change of pace, Field & Stream's alligator gar guide highlights the Sabine corridor as prime territory — drifting cut freshwater drum is the classic local approach for these trophy fish. The Last Quarter moon on May 11 favors dawn and dusk feeding windows over midday.
Delta largemouth and stripers hunker down as high spring flows reshape the bite
USGS gauge 11455420 clocked the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta corridor at 73,900 cfs on May 10 — well above typical late-spring readings — signaling that snowmelt-driven currents are still running strong through the system. No water temperature data was available from the gauge. While direct Delta-specific tackle shop or charter reports were absent from this cycle's intel feeds, national bass tracking from Tactical Bassin points to the bluegill spawn moving into full swing in early May, with big largemouth actively targeting beds in heavy shallow cover. That pattern translates naturally to tule banks and dock lines throughout the Delta. For striper anglers, elevated flows typically push fish to the downstream sides of bridge pilings and protected slough mouths where baitfish concentrate. The Last Quarter moon phase this week supports pre-dawn and dusk feeding windows. Check NorCal Fish Reports — which maintains a dedicated Delta section — for guide and tackle-shop intel before heading out.
Shore walleye bite kicks in on Lake of the Woods as spring flows run high
The USGS gauge on the Rainy River (site 05133500) clocked 24,500 cfs and 43°F on the evening of May 10 — elevated spring flows with water temps squarely in walleye spawn range. Jason Mitchell Outdoors (YT) is calling it: the shore walleye bite is on across the region, and at 43°F fish are either finishing their spawn push or entering the aggressive early post-spawn feed. High Rainy River flows tend to concentrate walleye and sauger in current breaks — inside bends, eddy pockets, and the slower water downstream of structure. Fishing the Midwest highlights jigs and slip-sinker live-bait rigs as the go-to walleye presentation this time of year, and those presentations are well-suited to the high-flow conditions defining the Rainy River right now. The Last Quarter moon overhead reduces overnight light pressure — historically a condition that keeps walleye in a feeding posture well into the morning hours.
Cutthroat and browns active ahead of peak runoff on Yellowstone and upper Snake
Water temperature at 55°F and flows running at 6,400 cfs (USGS gauge 06192500) mark a textbook pre-runoff window across the Yellowstone and upper Snake drainages. At 55°F, cutthroat and brown trout are feeding actively ahead of the snowmelt surge that typically pushes flows higher through late May. Hatch Magazine's fly fishing caddis emergence feature — built on John Juracek's Yellowstone hatch research — points to early caddis and stonefly activity beginning to build on these rivers right now, making subsurface nymph presentations the primary approach with attractor dries worth testing during calm midday windows. MidCurrent's recent tying roundup covering patterns from the subsurface film to open water offers a useful fly-box checklist: midge clusters, BWOs, and emerging caddis pupae in sizes 16–18 are the building blocks for the weeks ahead. At 6,400 cfs, wade access is demanding on main channels — a drift boat opens significantly more productive water, particularly the slower edge seams where fish stack in elevated flows.
Spring runoff peaks on the Bitterroot; Flathead Lake mackinaw the smart play
USGS gauge 12372000 logged 25,100 cfs and 54°F on the Flathead River system on May 10, a volume typical of high snowmelt season and one that makes most river wading on the Bitterroot and lower Flathead reaches a serious challenge. At these flows, trout are pushed off main-channel feeding lanes and tucked into slower pockets and eddies — tough going for wade anglers. None of the angler-intel feeds this cycle carry direct on-the-water reports from this drainage, so conditions here are drawn from gauge data and regional seasonal patterns rather than guide or shop testimony. Flathead Lake, however, remains largely insulated from river turbidity: mackinaw (lake trout) typically hold at depth through May and respond well to vertical jigging presentations. Flylords Mag has flagged recent PFAS contamination reporting covering multiple Montana fisheries — check current state harvest advisories before retaining any catch.
Bass on the Prowl as Bluegill Spawn Peaks at Guntersville and Wheeler
The bluegill spawn is reportedly in full swing across Alabama's Tennessee River impoundments, and largemouth bass are actively feeding around heavy cover. Tactical Bassin documented the pattern this week, with big fish responding to topwater lures and frogs fished over shallow vegetation and flooded timber — and giant bass on the prowl targeting bream activity in the shallows. Post-spawn fish are splitting between patterns: some still guarding fry near beds, others already staging on adjacent channel edges, creating a scenario where both shallow and offshore presentations can produce on the same outing. USGS gauge 03575100 logged 462 cfs as of the evening of May 10, pointing to stable tributary inflows and moderate clarity in backwater coves. No water temperature reading was available from monitoring stations this week; check local dock boards or a surface thermometer before committing to specific depths. With the Last Quarter moon overnight, expect diminished low-light feeding pressure and viable midday windows through the weekend.
Post-spawn bass firing and crappie staged at Lanier and Allatoona this week
USGS gauge 02334430 on the Chattahoochee below Buford Dam is clocking 660 cfs at a cold 47°F — tailwater trout conditions are prime for the reach immediately downstream of Lake Lanier. On the main impoundments, GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News reports 'the bass bite has also been good this week' across north Georgia (May 9), corroborating Georgia Wildlife Blog — Fishing's late-April documentation of largemouth activity in Morgan County, where an angler landed an 8-lb, 11-oz bass on a spinnerbait just after post-rain skies cleared. Both Lanier and Allatoona are squarely in the post-spawn-to-early-summer transition: Tactical Bassin (blog) notes the bluegill spawn is in full swing right now, pulling largemouth into shallow heavy cover where topwater lures and frogs are drawing explosive strikes. Crappie remain reliable in 3–8 feet around brush piles, docks, and fallen timber, per Georgia Wildlife Blog — Fishing's mid-April report. Live minnows and small jigs are the proven presentation.
Smokies trout dial in as mid-May temps hit the sweet spot
Water temperature of 65°F at USGS gauge 03512000 puts Smokies streams right at the upper edge of the ideal trout feeding window as of May 10 — historically one of the best weeks of the year to fish Great Smoky Mountains streams. Flow of 245 cfs indicates moderate, wadeable conditions throughout most mainstem access points. No region-specific shop or captain reports landed this cycle, but the broader fly-fishing press is running wall-to-wall hatch coverage that tracks closely with what Smokies anglers encounter in mid-May: Hatch Magazine's caddis emergence breakdown is squarely relevant here, as caddis are typically the dominant surface food source on Smokies streams this week. MidCurrent's recent tying coverage spans the full water column — from buoyant attractor dries to sub-surface soft hackles — exactly the toolkit when afternoon caddis clouds start rising off freestone runs. Wild brook trout in GSMNP headwaters and stocked rainbows on put-and-take sections are both reachable. Work early mornings while temperatures remain coolest.
Bull reds surge through Pamlico Sound and Cape Lookout shoals
Schools of bull red drum are putting on a show around the Cape Lookout shoals, with Steve of Chasin' Tails in Morehead/Atlantic Beach reporting solid action off the beach and good-sized bluefish in the mix, per Fisherman's Post (NC). That drum push extends deep into the sound: Donald of Custom Marine Fabrication notes slot-sized reds covering nearly the full Neuse River corridor. Ryan of Hatteras Jack confirms the surf bite has come alive at Hatteras and Ocracoke, with good numbers of drum along those beaches. Over at Swansboro and Emerald Isle, Morgan of The Reel Outdoors reports sea mullet, black drum, and early pompano in the surf. NOAA buoy 41037 recorded winds near 15 knots and an air temperature of 73°F on the morning of May 11. Separately, South Atlantic red snapper seasons expand significantly in 2026 under new exempted fishing permits covering North Carolina, per Saltwater Sportsman — a meaningful offshore bonus alongside the strong inshore bite.
Black Drum and Post-Spawn Stripers Prime the Eastern Shore
Water temps have climbed to 62°F (NOAA buoy 44014, overnight May 10), putting the Eastern Shore right in the sweet spot for the species that define early May here. Sport Fishing Mag reports that big black drum are transitioning from the mouth of Chesapeake Bay and along the barrier islands through April into May — a pattern that places Chincoteague's inlet channels and back-bay structure firmly in range. These goliath-class fish are drawn in to gorge on crabs, clams, and mussels as the water warms. On The Water's May 8 striper migration map adds that post-spawn bass are pouring out of the Chesapeake and spreading up the coast, with Chincoteague sitting squarely in the transit corridor. Ocean-side access is complicated: buoy 44014 is logging 4.6-foot seas, enough to keep smaller boats sheltered. Back bays, inlet edges, and channel drops are the safer play while the swell settles.
Sandy Hook stripers on fire as spring migration peaks
Water at 54°F per NOAA buoy 44065, and striped bass are making the most of it. The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf's Nick Honachefsky called this one of the best spring bass runs in memory, with fish from 24 to 45 inches stacked from Sandy Hook down to Cape May. The Tackle Box report in The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf has Sandy Hook's Parking Lot areas firing on bunker chunks, and anglers hiking to the Rip scoring on wooden swimmers. Blue Chip Sportfishing describes every recent charter as "crushing" stripers. Grumpys Tackle confirms the bay bite is also solid — clams and bunker lead in the surf, while jointed glide baits are the hottest artificials in the lineup. Fluke season opened May 4 but OTW Northern New Jersey rates the start slow; keepers are trickling in through rivers and inlet areas. Black sea bass opens May 15, and several Northern NJ party boats are already gearing up for the switch.
Stripers and Black Drum Running Hot Along the Delaware Bay Shore
Higbee's Bait and Tackle reports a parade of striped bass at Fortescue Beach this week, with fish ranging from slot keepers all the way to 48 inches — bloodworms have been the standout bait. The Delaware Bay shore is delivering one of the better spring bass runs in recent memory. Hands Too Bait and Tackle confirms the pattern, with stripers to 40 inches along the Delaware Bay shoreline hitting bloodworms and clams, best on early-morning moving tides. Black drum are becoming an increasingly prominent part of the picture: Big Dave's Tackle notes drumfish have grown "even more prevalent" from Cape May to Salem County, and Hands Too reports fish to 20 pounds on fresh-shucked surf clams. On The Water's May 8 striper migration map places post-spawn bass spreading hard out of the Chesapeake right into this corridor — timing and water temperature at 56°F per NOAA buoy 44009 are squarely in the strike zone for both species. Fluke season opened May 4 with early keepers already showing.