Fishing reports
19295 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Stripers arrive at the Canal as Buzzards Bay tautog peak builds
First striped bass showed at the Cape Cod Canal herring run Friday, with over-slot fish caught and released and fresh reports from Plymouth Harbor, per The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands. Water remains cold — NOAA buoy 44085 reads 51°F in Buzzards Bay, 54°F at buoy 44020 in Vineyard Sound — but migrants aren't waiting. The tautog bite throughout Buzzards Bay is heading for a peak, and green crabs are a hot item at area shops, per The Fisherman — Cape Cod & Islands. On The Water's May 8 striper migration map confirms the broader push is in full swing, with post-spawn bass spreading north from the Chesapeake. The Saltwater Edge Blog (RI) notes reports of fresh bass have shifted from a trickle to a steady flow across the region. Black sea bass season is approaching — check Massachusetts regulations before targeting them. Conditions are active and improving daily.
Olympic Peninsula rivers at fishable flows as spring Chinook window opens
Flow at USGS gauge 12041200 on the Hoh River registered 1,090 cfs on the afternoon of May 10, with a second Olympic Peninsula watershed (USGS gauge 12035000) running at 697 cfs — both within fishable range heading into the weekend. No water temperature readings were available at either station. Targeted Olympic Peninsula salmon angler reports were absent from this week's feeds; WA WDFW Fishing Reports provided a general landing page but no river-specific conditions update. With that gap clearly noted, May is historically the core spring Chinook window across the Peninsula's coastal drainages, and current flow readings suggest access should be viable at standard launch points. Late-season winter steelhead may still be present in modest numbers as early summer-run fish begin their arrival. Anglers planning a trip this weekend should verify current retention rules with WDFW directly, as Olympic Peninsula salmon fisheries operate under regulations that vary by river and can shift mid-season.
Blackwater Bay reds and specks on fire in early May Panhandle window
Water temps at NOAA buoy 42039 have reached 78°F, signaling a prime mid-May inshore window along the Panhandle. Anglers working Blackwater Bay on May 6 reported an exceptional session — several redfish to 26" and 30" alongside speckled trout in the 15–16" range, all landed on a Megabass 110 Vision jerkbait, per Pensacola Fishing Forum. That trout bite is corroborated by Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) (YT), whose latest Florida Insider report calls the trout bite on across the state right now. Bay-side action has also turned up Spanish mackerel and mangrove snapper, per additional Pensacola Fishing Forum reports. Light winds at 2–3 m/s are keeping bay surfaces calm and slick — ideal for jerkbaits and topwater presentations on shallow flats. This is a window worth acting on before rising summer temps begin pushing fish off the flats and into deeper water.
Jack Crevalle Schooling as Reds and Trout Hit Peak Form in Sarasota Bay
Water temps running 78–80°F across the Gulf (NOAA buoys 42036 and 42013) have Tampa Bay and Sarasota's inshore fishery in full stride. Capt. Brandon Naeve of CB's Saltwater Outfitters reports Jack Crevalle actively schooling in Sarasota Bay this month, targeting baitfish near oyster bars, seawalls, and inlets — early-morning topwater, poppers, and fast-retrieved jigs are drawing the most aggressive strikes. Capt. Chuck Cress, also at CB's Saltwater Outfitters, put his clients on multiple upper-slot Redfish alongside solid Trout in recent sessions, including 20–25-inch Reds on catch-and-release. Captain Rick Murphy (FL Insider) confirms the trout bite is on statewide right now. Light winds near 4 knots are keeping sea conditions calm and sight-fishing viable. Snook are entering their pre-spawn staging phase — a seasonal transition typical of mid-May in Southwest Florida — putting this week squarely inside one of the better inshore windows of the year.
Salmon bite sharpens as cool upwelling grips the NorCal coast
Water temperatures along the Northern California coast have slipped into the low-to-mid 50s, and salmon are responding. NOAA buoy 46026 logged 53°F off San Francisco this week, consistent with what Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reports from the Half Moon Bay fleet: Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady noted the water cooled from 58°F at the April season opener to 54°F below Pigeon Point, calling conditions 'vastly improved.' The colder, greener upwelling water pushed bonito out of range — but it is precisely the thermal break where Chinook concentrate. Winds are running 7–10 m/s across both coastal buoys, so exposed grounds will carry chop, especially by afternoon. With the Last Quarter moon generating moderate tidal pull, early-morning outgoing tides near headlands and bait schools are the prime windows. Striped bass remain seasonally active in the Bay as spring movement concentrates baitfish on tidal flats and current seams.
Bluefin tuna charge into range early as SoCal waters run hot
Water temperatures of 62–65°F across the LA Bight — NOAA buoy 46025 clocking 62°F offshore and inshore buoy 46221 at 65°F — are running well above normal for mid-May, and SoCal anglers are cashing in early. Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reports bluefin tuna and yellowfin already within 1-day range southwest of San Diego, with a rare albacore gaff'd April 30 aboard the Tribute marking the first San Diego fleet albacore in years. Yellowtail and early dorado are also showing on longer offshore runs. The warm-water surge is accelerating the inshore calendar too: Surf Fishing in So Cal's April season preview notes corbina beginning to push onto sandy beaches as water temps climb, with leopard sharks a reliable shore target in this temperature window. Seas of 2.3–2.6 ft and light winds keep both offshore and surf access in good shape heading into the weekend.
UP Trout Streams Elevated; Lake Superior Whitefish Season Builds
USGS gauge 04059500 logged 459 cfs on the evening of May 10, reflecting the elevated flows that have characterized UP river systems this spring. Great Lakes Now reports that northern Michigan endured record-high rainfall compounded by above-average snowmelt, pushing many drainages well above seasonal norms. On Lake Superior, WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing notes that lake whitefish have emerged as a popular and growing fishery along the southern Lake Superior shoreline — a pattern that typically extends to the MI UP side of the lake as nearshore temperatures slowly climb from winter lows. The MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report feed returned no current bite data this cycle. With flows elevated but likely nearing their crest, stream brook trout and brown trout should become increasingly accessible as levels begin to drop and water clarity returns over the coming days. The Last Quarter moon on May 11 favors low-light early-morning and evening presentations for stream species.
Saginaw Bay Walleye Bite Aligns With Prime Mid-May Window
Jason Mitchell Outdoors is calling the shore walleye bite on across the Midwest right now — a pattern fully consistent with Saginaw Bay's historically productive mid-May window. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings were returned for this reporting period, so water temperature cannot be independently confirmed. Great Lakes Now reports that northern Michigan recently absorbed record-high rainfall on top of above-average March snowmelt, raising regional water levels and pushing turbidity through tributary mouths; anglers targeting Saginaw Bay's river inflows should expect elevated and stained water this week. Yellow perch remain a reliable secondary target on the bay's shallower flats, and smallmouth bass are entering what Tactical Bassin describes as "one of the most predictable times of year" — the post-spawn transition that brings fish to consistent mid-depth structure. The MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report was not accessible this reporting cycle; check it directly before heading out for the latest in-water conditions.
Grand River running strong as Lake Michigan's late-spring bass window opens
The Grand River is pushing 4,620 cfs at USGS gauge 04119000 as of the evening of May 10 — a firm spring flow that favors current-seam presentations and slower eddy pockets over open-water drifts. No water temperature data was available from the gauge this cycle. Bite-specific intel for the Grand River mouth was limited this week; the MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report's full content was inaccessible online. Regional signals, however, are encouraging: Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is fully underway across the Great Lakes region, with post-spawn bass actively hunting shallow cover on topwater frogs and swimbaits — a pattern that translates directly to Grand River mouth structure. The WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report offers a positive historical backdrop: 2024 delivered a record coho harvest of 210,000-plus fish and over 160,000 Chinook on Lake Michigan — strong alewife forage years that bode well for stocked-fish survival heading into 2026. Steelhead are likely finishing their spring run; walleye and smallmouth are the primary targets right now.
Penns Creek Sulphurs and Green Drakes loom as May hatches build
Field & Stream recently invoked both Penns Creek and Spring Creek by name, calling their green drake hatches and "big, slurping browns the stuff of legend" and citing the Hendrickson season as the benchmark pursuit on Penns. USGS gauge 01546500 logged 95 cfs on the evening of May 10—a fishable, manageable flow for wading these central Pennsylvania limestoners. Water temperature data was not available at this reading. Mid-May sits squarely in the transition from the tail end of Hendrickson season into the arrival of Sulphurs, a hatch that typically fires on central PA limestone streams in the second and third weeks of May. Evening rises are the prime window; look for fish working flats and slower pools as spinner falls concentrate activity. The Last Quarter moon suggests darker overnight conditions that can push larger browns into feeding lanes earlier. The Penns Creek Green Drake hatch—the region's marquee event—is now just weeks away.
Allegheny running high as bass and walleye retreat to slack-water edges
USGS gauge 03036500 clocked the Allegheny at 40,100 cfs on the evening of May 10 — a sharply elevated reading that shifts the entire fishing equation across the Pittsburgh corridor. No water temperature was recorded at the gauge this cycle. Angler intel specific to this stretch is sparse in the current feed; most regional coverage this week tracks coastal striper migrations and general post-spawn bass transitions. Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is in full swing — a window that normally pulls smallmouth and largemouth into shallow cover — but at current flows, most bank-structure presentations are overwhelmed by current. Fish that would ordinarily hold on wing dams and rip-rap are displaced into tributary mouths, deep channel eddies, and the downstream faces of bridge abutments. Hatch Magazine's feature on caddis emergence tactics in tailrace environments is a useful frame for fly anglers; the regulated sections below dam faces offer more predictable, fishable flows when the open main stem is blown out.
Post-spawn walleye and smallmouth active across Lake Erie's PA waters
USGS gauge 04213000 clocked 546 cfs on the evening of May 10th — moderate late-spring tributary flow that should keep Presque Isle Bay and the nearshore zone accessible for weekend anglers. With the Last Quarter moon and mid-May calendar, Lake Erie's walleye are completing their post-spawn scatter from late-April rocky reefs, pushing toward mid-depth contours in the 25–40 foot range. Tactical Bassin (blog) confirms the bluegill spawn is in full swing across Great Lakes-region waters this week, a consistent timing marker signaling that Erie's smallmouth bass are at or just past peak bedding on the gravel flats around Presque Isle's north shore — fish are beginning to pull off beds and stage in adjacent structure. Fishing the Midwest highlights jigs and spinning-gear live-bait presentations as top producers for walleye in the upper Midwest this spring. PA Sea Grant has flagged Round Goby expansion in Northwestern Pennsylvania waters as a growing invasive presence in the region's forage base; yellow perch are also on track for mid-May, expected on mid-depth sandy flats as the season progresses.
Lake Erie walleye and smallmouth heating up as Western NY hits mid-May
USGS gauge 04231600 logged water at 56°F on May 10, landing squarely in the temperature band that historically triggers active post-spawn walleye feeding and prespawn smallmouth bass activity across the Lake Erie system. No charter or tackle-shop reports are in our current feed for the Lake Erie and Niagara corridor this week, so specific bite details from the open lake and river remain unconfirmed from on-the-water sources. Tactical Bassin notes that in early May, bass are split between late-spawn holdouts and post-spawn fish moving to transition areas — a pattern consistent with what Western NY smallmouth typically show at this water temperature. The gauge records 7,820 cfs, elevated spring flow that tends to concentrate predators near tributary mouths and slack-water eddies where bait stacks up. Last Quarter moon sets up decent low-light windows at dawn and dusk for walleye jigging and trolling presentations.
North Platte tailwaters offer the best window as Wind River snowmelt ramps
MidCurrent's nymph tying roundup this week identified midge and jig-nymph patterns as the go-to for clear, pressured tailrace water — language that maps directly onto Wyoming's North Platte tailwater fisheries, where subsurface techniques are the reliable early-May play while freestone Wind River drainages manage their annual snowmelt surge. USGS gauge 06259000 returned no reading at this report's publication, so current North Platte flow and temperature remain unconfirmed; pull the latest figures before heading out. Hatch Magazine's recent deep-dive on caddis emergences is a timely prompt: once water temps climb into the mid-50s°F range on Wyoming tailwaters, the first caddis flights typically begin, and May is historically when they arrive. That emergence window — running alongside lingering midge and BWO activity — is the signal to watch for right now. Until it fires consistently, smaller nymphs fished through the seams and slower tailouts offer the most dependable action. Verify access and open seasons through state resources before heading out.
Chinook and Halibut Season Ramps Up for Puget Sound and Pacific Anglers
NOAA buoys 46041 and 46087 recorded 5.2-foot wave heights offshore Washington Sunday evening, with air temperatures near 54°F and light winds of 3–4 m/s — manageable conditions for trailered vessels on calmer interior waters. Specific on-the-water reports from Puget Sound and Pacific coast charter fleets were not captured in this data pull, making precise "what's biting" attribution limited this cycle. WA WDFW Fishing Reports confirms the department actively monitors angler activity statewide as fish stocking and sportfishing ramp into the late-spring push. WA Sea Grant's Crab Team noted incidental Pacific tomcod at Grays Harbor monitoring sites in September 2025 — a reminder that Washington's coastal estuaries support the diverse forage base that Chinook and other predators depend on entering spring. Species statuses below reflect seasonal norms rather than direct charter or shop testimony; no source in this cycle reported specific current catches. With Last Quarter moon this week, dawn and dusk windows along tidal seams are historically the most productive timing for Puget Sound salmon.
Columbia warms into prime Chinook range as post-spawn bass transition begins
USGS gauge 14113000 measured 1,390 cfs and 57°F at 4:00 p.m. on May 10, placing Columbia River tributary conditions squarely in the temperature window that historically activates spring Chinook salmon and early summer steelhead. WA WDFW's statewide creel monitoring covers Columbia and Puget Sound drainages continuously, though no system-specific catch breakdowns surfaced in this reporting cycle. For Columbia River smallmouth bass, Tactical Bassin's early-May coverage identifies the post-spawn transition as the key event right now: fish are peeling off redds and moving toward early-summer structure, with topwater poppers and soft-plastic swimbaits drawing strikes as water temperatures cross into the mid-to-upper 50s — matching the reading recorded today. WA Sea Grant's research teams remain active monitoring Puget Sound estuary health across Grays Harbor and the greater Salish Sea, providing broader ecosystem context for the freshwater tributaries feeding those systems. Verify all Columbia salmon and steelhead retention rules with WDFW before any harvest — run-specific regulations shift frequently through May.
Redfish and trout firing across Galveston-Corpus as summer season opens
Water temps holding steady at 77°F across the Texas Gulf Coast corridor — confirmed by NOAA buoys 42020 and 42035 — and the inshore bite is matching those warm conditions. The Galveston Daily News — Reel Report documented a productive stretch heading into early May, with anglers spread across the Galveston Bay complex reporting solid catches. The Spectacular Series Texas Redfish Rumble, headquartered out of Pier 6 in San Leon on May 2, offered the first indication that redfish are distributed and catchable bay-wide, kicking off the summer tournament circuit. Charter captain reports filed between May 1 and May 7 from Baffin Bay, Laguna Madre, Aransas Pass, Rockport-Copano, Mesquite Bay, and Port Aransas — per TexasFishingTips (YT) — confirm broad inshore activity the length of the Galveston-Corpus corridor. Texas Fish & Game Magazine highlighted electronics-assisted fishing in ship channels as a productive method for locating speckled trout staging on structure as water warms.
Eagle Mountain Blue Cats Running Hot as Texas Bass Hit Post-Spawn Stride
At 86°F on USGS gauge 08211200, Texas freshwater is firmly in summer mode — and North Texas Catfish Guide reports the bite at Eagle Mountain Lake near Fort Worth is reflecting it. The lake is running nearly full with significant fresh-water inflows, a combination the guide describes as triggering active, aggressive fish: recent trips have produced easy limits of big blue catfish and multiple fish exceeding 30 pounds, with channel catfish and white bass also in the mix. Tactical Bassin confirms the bluegill spawn is in full swing across Texas lakes, pulling big largemouth into shallow heavy cover — frogging mats and topwater presentations near laydowns and timber are producing giant fish right now. With water already in the upper 80s, early mornings and the hours around sunset are becoming the prime windows for surface-active species. Inflow points and channel ledges are the key structure for catfish seekers.
Big Stripers Push Into Narragansett Bay as Spring Migration Hits Full Speed
A push of striped bass eclipsing 30 pounds hit Narragansett Bay last Saturday, with anglers scoring on live bunker, flutter spoons, and topwater offerings, per The Saltwater Edge reporting in The Fisherman — Rhode Island. Schools of bunker are accompanying the surge, and the early morning has been the most consistent window. The Fisherman (Northeast) confirms stripers to 47 inches came out of the Bay this week, with the first 40-pound-class fish expected to follow as the migration builds. Booked Off Charters notes fresh migratory bass moving along the south shore and pushing up inside the bay. Tautog action is quietly improving in parallel — Frances Fleet reported slightly better tog results this past week, and The Fisherman (Northeast) called the shallow tog bite solid across Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Squid trips remain on hold locally; Frances Fleet is watching for concentrations to arrive before adding nighttime trips to the schedule. Water temperatures sit at 51–52°F across nearby offshore buoys — cool but trending in the right direction.
Red drum surge onto Outer Banks surf as the May run ignites
Water at 77°F off Cape Hatteras (NOAA buoy 41025) is pulling red drum onto Outer Banks beaches in force. Ryan of Hatteras Jack, per Fisherman's Post — Carolinas saltwater, reports the surf has come alive with reds making a strong push onto the beaches and anglers catching good numbers along the stretch. The action extends broadly: Steve of Chasin' Tails notes bull red drum schooling around Cape Lookout Shoals alongside solid bluefish, while Donald of Custom Marine Fabrication reports slot-sized reds blanketing nearly the entire Neuse River, per Fisherman's Post (NC). Early pompano are showing in the surf at Swansboro and Emerald Isle per Morgan of The Reel Outdoors, reported through Fisherman's Post (NC). In regulatory news, Fisherman's Post — Carolinas saltwater notes the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission adopted a temporary rule affecting sheepshead harvest in Joint Fishing Waters — confirm current creel limits before keeping any sheepshead. Expanded red snapper access under a South Atlantic pilot program is also on the horizon for offshore anglers this season.
Big Stripers Blanketing Long Island as Fluke Season Gets Rolling
Water temps of 53–54°F at NOAA buoys 44025 and 44065 provide a cool but productive backdrop as Long Island enters a strong stretch for spring bass. Per On The Water's May 7 report, a wave of big bass has hit the South Shore surf while fish topping 25 pounds are chasing bunker east along the North Shore. Cow Harbor Bait and Tackle in Northport confirms mixed-size stripers from 30 to 44 inches inside Huntington Bay and Cold Spring Harbor, with trolled Mojo rigs and popper plugs producing. On the East End, Star Island Yacht Club reports slot-size bass near the Montauk lighthouse on diamond jigs and bucktails fished on moving tides. The season's second headline: New York's fluke season opened May 4, and Sea Rogue Charters out of Freeport returned from early exploratory runs with keepers to 5 pounds. Porgies are slow but WeGo Bait and Tackle on the North Fork reports fish beginning to trickle in at Cedar Beach in Southold.
Spring trout stocking peaks as walleye opens and stripers push north
Water temperature at 59°F (USGS gauge 01357500, May 10) puts Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes waters squarely in prime spring territory. NY DEC's April 24 Fishing Line reports hatchery crews have been actively stocking brook, brown, and rainbow trout across the region — stream trout fishing is at its seasonal peak. The statewide coolwater season opened May 1, unlocking walleye and northern pike across eligible waters. On the striper front, On The Water's May 8 migration map shows post-spawn bass pushing hard out of the Chesapeake and spreading from New Jersey to Rhode Island — the Hudson River's annual spring push typically tracks closely behind this coastal surge. Bass are transitioning out of the spawn, with bluegill beds drawing fish into shallow cover, per Tactical Bassin's early-May reports. Flows are elevated with spring runoff — 4,340 cfs at gauge 01357500 and 15,700 cfs downstream at gauge 01358000 — but conditions remain fishable.
Jersey Shore Striper Run Called One of the Best in Years
Water temperatures of 53–57°F across NOAA buoys 44065 and 44091 are anchoring an exceptional spring striper run that veteran sources describe as the strongest in recent memory. The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf reports 'old heads are calling it one of the best spring bass runs in a long time,' with fish from 24 to 45 inches stacked from Sandy Hook to Cape May. Fishermans HQ LBI confirms the surf bite is firing north to south, fresh clam leading the charge alongside lures and frozen bunker. Grumpy's Tackle notes jointed glide baits have been the hottest artificials of the spring. The fluke season opened May 4, but OTW Northern New Jersey reports a slow start, with scattered keepers turning up in rivers and near inlets. Black drum are adding to the excitement — Creekside Outfitters is tracking fish near Tuckerton, and The Fisherman — Southern NJ sources report drum to 20 pounds along the Delaware Bay on fresh shucked surf clams. The black sea bass opener arrives May 15.
Nebraska Spring Hits Its Stride: Post-Spawn Bass and Saugeye on the Move
Nebraska Game & Parks confirmed the Phillips Canyon Boat Ramp is now open, adding fresh river access just as mid-May conditions prime the Platte and Missouri drainage for action. USGS gauge 06796000 shows the Platte running at 2,410 cfs as of May 10 — a moderate spring flow that concentrates baitfish along channel edges and inside bends, historically a solid setup for channel catfish and walleye. Nebraska's first state-record submission of 2026 was a saugeye pulled through the ice last winter, per Nebraska Game & Parks, confirming the species is active in state waters as conditions warm toward open-water season. Meanwhile, Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is in full swing across the Midwest, with largemouth bass locked into shallow heavy cover and responding to topwater frogs and swimbaits — a pattern that translates well to Nebraska backwaters and slower Missouri River oxbows during this transition window.