Fishing reports
19295 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Florida Atlantic Coast Snook Hit Peak Form as Sea Trout Pack Fort Pierce Waters
Snook Nook's May 2026 report out of Stuart declares this 'one of the best times of the year for Snook fishing' as fish begin staging for their pre-spawn run in the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers. Slot-sized and over-slot fish are appearing with increasing regularity, per Snook Nook, as warming spring water drives inshore predators into full feeding mode. Coastal Angler Magazine confirms the trout story independently: Fort Pierce is 'full of quality trout right now,' signaling excellent spotted sea trout action across the mid-coast inshore zone. A 31-inch redfish out of Mosquito Lagoon — reported by Coastal Angler Magazine — shows that quality reds remain accessible to kayak and canoe anglers working the lagoon corridors. Offshore, Saltwater Sportsman and Sport Fishing Mag both report that Florida's South Atlantic anglers will see significantly expanded red snapper seasons this summer under newly approved exempted fishing permits. NOAA buoys 41009 and 41008 recorded moderate winds of 12–16 knots and comfortable air temperatures in the mid-to-upper 70s°F as of early May 7.
Naples Offshore Firing on All Cylinders: Permit, Kings, and Cobia
Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports spring conditions have settled in beautifully, calling this bite "as good as it gets for this time of year." Captains out of Naples are consistently sight-fishing large Permit offshore while racking up steady kingfish on plugs and flies — two marquee species firing simultaneously. Cobia and amberjacks have rounded out the spread, making for what the same charter describes as "a very dynamic fishery." NOAA buoys 42036 and 42039 clocked light winds of 3 and 6 m/s respectively with air temperatures near 75–77°F as of 5:00 AM May 7; no water-temperature readings were available from either station. The waning gibbous moon is generating strong tidal movement that should activate pelagic feeding windows around tidal peaks. Inshore, the seasonal shift from wintertime shrimp presentations to live pilchards is underway, per Naples Offshore Fishing Charters, opening the door to additional nearshore opportunities.
Delaware Bay striper run firing — 48-inch fish on bloodworms, drum building
Higbee's Bait and Tackle was flooded with photos from Fortescue Beach all week — stripers from slot-size keepers up to 48 inches, with bloodworms the clear top producer. Hands Too Bait and Tackle confirms the same pattern on the Delaware Bay shoreline near Cape May, reporting stripers to 40 inches on bloodworms and clam baits, with early morning tides delivering the best windows. Smith's Bait Shop (per The Fisherman — DE/MD/Chesapeake) corroborates the spread, noting bass above, below, and within the 28-to-31-inch slot at Collins Beach, Greens Beach, and Woodland Beach on bloodworms and cut bunker. Black drum have joined the party as well: Hands Too Bait reports fish to 20 pounds on fresh shucked surf clams along the Delaware Bay shoreline, and Big Dave's Tackle notes drumfish are growing increasingly prominent in the daily catch. NOAA buoy 44009 recorded light winds around 10 knots and air temperatures near 58°F early this morning; water temperature data was unavailable.
Crappie Lead Delaware Freshwater as Spring Flows Recede
Crappie are running hot across Delaware's interior ponds this week — The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater reports Horsey's Pond, Massey Mills, and Garrisons Lake all producing solid action on small minnows and jig combos fished under floats during early evenings. Largemouth bass are also showing at those same venues, with livelined minnows the go-to presentation. In the tidal reaches of the Nanticoke drainage, The Fisherman — DE/MD/Chesapeake reports white perch and catfish working the creeks and spillways on bloodworms and minnows. USGS gauge 01493500 recorded just 3.27 cfs overnight — a very lean flow that points to clear, low-water conditions across the watershed. No temperature reading was available from the gauge, but mid-spring warming trends suggest Delaware's shallows are advancing toward the crappie-to-bass transition window. With water running clear and thin, finesse presentations and low-light timing will reward patient anglers far more than midday runs.
Over-Slot Stripers Break Into Long Island Sound as Spring Temps Climb
Water readings of 49–52°F across the outer Sound (NOAA buoys 44065 and 44025) aren't dampening what is shaping up to be an encouraging early-May striper push in Connecticut. Per The Fisherman — Connecticut, Captain Morgan's Bait and Tackle reported that "over-the-slot striped bass broke through the Sound barrier this past week," with fish from 30 to 36 inches slamming topwaters and swimmers through the bays and lower tidal rivers timed to the full-moon tides. Bobby J's Connecticut report adds that schoolie action in river mouths and harbors has been consistent for most customers. Aaron Swanson's Connecticut roundup notes migratory fish are already creeping into the far western Sound, with trolling and topwater reports picking up. A secondary opportunity is building on the CT River, where The Fisherman — Connecticut reports the shad run kicked into gear over the past 10 days with improving numbers daily. Wave heights of 5.2 feet at buoy 44025 favor inside-water approaches for smaller boats.
CT River Shad Run Hits Full Stride
The Connecticut River is reading 59°F at USGS gauge 01184000, and the shad run has hit its stride. Per The Fisherman — Connecticut (Aaron Swanson), the migration kicked into gear over the last 10 days with some very good fishing along the river. Fishin' Factory 3 (via The Fisherman — New England Freshwater) reports shad numbers climbing daily, with Steaves Leaves willow-leaf rigs on ¾- to 1-ounce casting sinkers so popular that a reorder of 200 units was needed. Trout action remains strong statewide: The Fisherman — New England Freshwater confirms late-April stocking on the Farmington River West Branch, Moosup River TMA, Norwalk River WTMA, and several ponds. Anglers near Norwalk are taking stocked fish on worms, Roostertails, and PowerBait (Fisherman's World, via The Fisherman — New England Freshwater). A nighttime largemouth bite is emerging — angler Jeff Sullivan reported a 7.25-lb bass on a bladed jig last week, per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater. Panfish including white perch and crappie are active at multiple sites.
Tailwater Window Narrowing as Colorado River Climbs Toward Runoff
USGS gauge 09095500 recorded the Colorado River at 1,940 CFS and 60°F as of May 6 — a water temperature squarely in the prime trout feeding zone. Crystal Fly Shop (CO) reported 1,380 CFS near Glenwood Springs on April 23 and described the Colorado from Glenwood to Rifle as "sensational," with water temperatures climbing and fish actively working through a BWO and caddis transition. Flows have risen since that report as runoff builds across the Western Slope. Midges remain productive, and nymphing through faster seams continues to generate strikes. On the Arkansas River tailwater below Pueblo Reservoir, reservoir-regulated releases typically hold clear water longer than freestone reaches during the runoff season — making it a reliable pivot when mainstem clarity deteriorates. Cutthroat Anglers (CO) flagged this winter's snowpack as "historically bad," suggesting the runoff window may arrive early and run shorter than usual, compressing the prime pre-runoff bite into the weeks ahead.
Salmon bite picks up below Pigeon Point as Central Coast warms
NOAA buoys 46042 and 46026 are reading 57–58°F off the Central California coast as of early May 7, with buoy 46028 slightly warmer at 60°F farther offshore. That temperature picture is translating directly to fishing: per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater, Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing reports 'vastly improved' salmon conditions below Pigeon Point, where nearshore water that had been running 58°F at the April 11 season opener has since cooled roughly four degrees — enough to push bonita out and change the surface character. Davis's nearshore figures are cooler than the offshore buoy readings, consistent with coastal upwelling building strength. Rockfish and California halibut are classic mid-May staples along this stretch and should be holding on structure in the current temperature band. Central Coast anglers should note the California Fish and Game Commission recently held a public hearing in Goleta on potential MPA expansion, per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater — confirm local access rules before launching.
Delta runoff peaks as May striper migration window opens
The USGS gauge at site 11447650 clocked the Sacramento River at 64°F and 12,000 cfs as of the evening of May 6 — conditions that fall squarely in the prime spring striper window for the Delta. Water in this temperature range draws striped bass into tidal channel confluences and current seams, where topwater and swimbait presentations can be especially effective at first light. No specific Delta captain or tackle-shop reports surfaced in this update cycle; NorCal Fish Reports maintains a dedicated Delta section but no conditions update was available at publication time. For post-spawn largemouth, Tactical Bassin's early-May coverage notes that fish at this transition stage split between shallow cover and open water structure — tule edges and dock pilings are classic holding zones worth cycling through before committing to a single depth. Catfish action is consistent with these warming-water conditions. Flows are moderate and unlikely to produce clarity issues in the near term. Check NorCal Fish Reports directly for the latest on-the-water intel before your trip.
Arkansas River Bass Peak Post-Spawn: Topwater Bite Opens in Early May
The Arkansas River just wrapped a Bassmaster Elite Series stop, and the timing confirms what Tactical Bassin is calling one of the most productive transitions of the year. Wired 2 Fish reported this week that Elite Series pro Matt Arey returned home from the Arkansas River event in late April — placing tournament-level bass activity squarely in the peak post-spawn window. Tactical Bassin's early-May coverage describes bass now split between shallow cover and open water, with topwater poppers, Karashi jigs, and swimbaits all simultaneously productive. No readings are available from USGS gauge 07263620 this cycle, so specific flow and temperature data are unavailable. On the White River, the tailwater below Bull Shoals Dam typically offers consistent trout action in May as aquatic insect activity builds; MidCurrent's current tying coverage highlights midge and nymph patterns well-suited to pressured tailrace water. Check AGFC regulations and Army Corps release schedules before launching.
Lees Ferry: Trout Active, Bass in Post-Spawn Shift
USGS gauge 09380000 clocked the Colorado River at Lees Ferry at 55°F and 8,420 cfs on the evening of May 6 — conditions that rule out comfortable wade fishing on most of the Lees Ferry reach but keep drift-boat and anchored presentations fully in play below Glen Canyon Dam. At 55°F, rainbow and brown trout are squarely in their prime feeding window; nymph drifts and small streamers worked through current seams are the go-to approach at this flow. On the Salt River chain — Canyon, Saguaro, and Roosevelt lakes — largemouth and smallmouth bass are in the middle of their post-spawn transition. Tactical Bassin (blog) covers this early-May window specifically, noting fish split between shallow cover and open water as the spawn concludes, with topwater, finesse rigs, and swimbaits all productive depending on depth preference. No striper or catfish intel is available from current feeds; typical May patterns for this corridor suggest striped bass on the lower Colorado become increasingly active as the month progresses. Confirm current state regulations before keeping any fish.
Spring Halibut and Salmon Seasons Open in the Gulf of Alaska
NOAA buoys 46001 and 46066 both recorded 40°F surface temps in the Gulf of Alaska early on May 7, with buoy 46080 coming in slightly warmer at 44°F—right in line with typical North Pacific readings for this time of year. Winds across all three stations were light, ranging from 2 to 5 m/s, pointing to a manageable offshore window for charter and private-boat anglers. No Alaska-specific angler-intel reports appeared in our current source feeds this cycle, so the outlook below leans on established seasonal patterns for the Gulf. In early May, Pacific halibut charter fleets traditionally ramp up as water temperatures push above the 40°F threshold; nearshore rockfish and lingcod remain accessible on structure year-round regardless of thermal swings. King salmon returns vary by drainage—check current state regulations and local charter boards for open-area specifics before trailering the boat.
Kenai River King Season Just Weeks Away
USGS gauge 15266300 logged the Kenai River at 43°F and 2,550 CFS on the evening of May 6 — snowmelt-elevated flows and cold water typical of early May in southcentral Alaska. No angler-intel feeds in this cycle carried Kenai or interior-river reports, so conditions here are drawn from the gauge and seasonal norms. At 2,550 CFS the river is running full; anglers should expect off-color water, particularly near tributary mouths still draining active snowmelt. With temperatures in the low 40s, rainbow trout and Dolly Varden metabolism is sluggish — both tend to stack in slower, deeper water and won't chase fast presentations aggressively. Field & Stream's early-spring guide confirms the pattern: cold, high-water windows reward slow, bottom-hugging drifts over fast retrieves. The early king salmon run on the Kenai is typically still weeks out; check current state emergency orders before targeting kings, as season openings can shift with run-strength forecasts.
Mobile Bay Warms as Gulf Coast Spring Bite Peaks
Water temperature at NOAA buoy 42012 is reading 73°F this morning — prime range for Mobile Bay's late-spring inshore fishery. Seas are running 3 feet with winds near 8 m/s per NOAA buoy 42040, putting a ceiling on comfortable offshore runs today. Direct on-the-water reports from charter captains or tackle shops in this region are limited in this cycle, but Coastal Angler Magazine's coverage of Mobile Bay underscores the bay's unique productivity, noting that the Jubilee phenomenon — where fish and shellfish crowd the eastern shoreline in large numbers — is found in only two places on earth: Mobile Bay and Tokyo. At 73°F with the waning gibbous moon overhead, inshore targets including speckled trout, redfish, and cobia are expected to be active based on typical May patterns for this stretch of the Gulf Coast. Check local reports and confirm federal Gulf red snapper season dates before heading offshore.
Post-Spawn Bass on the Move on the Coosa & Tennessee
USGS gauge 02339500 registered 1,090 cfs flow on the morning of May 7 — moderate spring conditions for the Tennessee and Coosa drainages. No water temperature reading was captured in this cycle, and local shop or charter reports were not available in the current data pull. The regional bass picture is drawn from Tactical Bassin's early-May coverage, which describes exactly what anglers on these river systems should expect right now: a post-spawn transition with largemouth moving between shallow cover and open water. That outlet specifically highlights topwater poppers, swimbaits skipped around flooded timber (the Magdraft earns a mention), and finesse Karashi rigs as the go-to arsenal for dialing in scattered fish. The waning gibbous moon may sharpen feeding windows toward low-light hours. Crappie typically remain productive on both rivers well into May, and hybrid striped bass — a staple of the Coosa system — are seasonally active in current-washed main-channel structure. Check Alabama state regulations before harvesting.
Crappie Beds and Post-Spawn Walleye Fire Up at Mosquito and Pymatuning
USGS gauge 03110000 logged 111 cfs on May 6 — moderate tributary inflow into the Pymatuning watershed — with no in-reservoir water temperature available in today's data. No region-specific shop, charter, or agency reports appear in our intel feeds this week, so conditions here reflect seasonal expectations rather than direct on-the-water testimony. That said, early May is historically one of the strongest windows on both Mosquito Lake and Pymatuning: crappie push into brushy coves and shallow cover as spawning temperatures approach the upper 50s°F, while walleye shift from post-spawn recovery into aggressive feeding along rocky transitions and weed edges. Field & Stream's early-season primer cautions that cold, dirty water after rain events can stall shallow-water action, so monitoring tributary clarity before committing to cove presentations is worthwhile. Bass at both reservoirs are typically in pre-spawn or early-spawn transition by this date, staging along sandy and gravel shorelines in two to five feet of water.
109 cfs Flow: Spring and Penns Creeks Primed for May Hatch Season
Flow at USGS gauge 01546500 registered 109 cfs on the evening of May 6 — a moderate, wadeable reading that puts Spring Creek and Penns Creek in solid shape as peak hatch season approaches. No gauge water-temperature reading was available, but both streams draw from deep limestone aquifers that characteristically hold temps in the 52–56°F band through early May, a zone well-suited to active brown and rainbow trout feeding. No tackle-shop or charter intel reached us directly from these waters this cycle. Hatch Magazine's current feature on caddis emergences is directly relevant to the limestone-stream calendar: Grannom caddis (Brachycentrus) runs are a signature of this exact window, often triggering midday surface activity before evening spinner falls. MidCurrent's recent tying coverage notes that hatches are "beginning to fire" across the mid-Atlantic region — a strong cue for anglers to stock dry-fly and emerger boxes. Evening risers on these notoriously selective waters should be the primary target this week.
Lake Erie at 2,210 cfs: Spring Walleye and Perch Window Now Open
USGS gauge 04213000 logged 2,210 cfs on the evening of May 6, reflecting a seasonably elevated tributary discharge that typically stirs feeding activity along stream mouths and nearshore drop-offs at Presque Isle. No water temperature was returned from the gauge today; mid-40s to low-50s°F surface readings are the norm for Lake Erie by early May, a range that puts walleye and yellow perch squarely in their most active pre-summer feeding window. Direct charter, shop, or state agency reports for the PA side of Erie were not captured in today's intel feeds, so specific bite details here draw on seasonal pattern rather than fresh testimony. Great Lakes Now flagged ongoing strain on Great Lakes fish populations this week, noting a proposed Michigan legislative push to rescue lake whitefish from near-collapse — a broader indicator that Great Lakes fisheries managers are watching the ecosystem closely as the warm-weather season approaches.
Lake Erie Hits 53°F: Smallmouth Pre-Spawn and Walleye Drive the May Bite
Water temperature at USGS gauge 04231600 came in at 53°F on the afternoon of May 6, with flows running at 8,910 cfs — an elevated spring reading signaling active tributary influence across the western Lake Erie corridor. At that temperature, walleye are typically in the post-spawn feeding ramp and smallmouth bass are staging on pre-spawn structure, making this one of the more productive transitional windows of the season. Elevated flows suggest some turbidity in tributary mouths, which can consolidate fish along cleaner lake-side margins. Field & Stream's spring early-season primer notes that cold, dirty water near inflows tends to push fish toward defined structure and transitional depth breaks — advice that maps well onto current conditions. No charter or tackle-shop dispatches appeared in this cycle's feed, so species timing reflects general seasonal patterns for early May on Lake Erie rather than live on-the-water intelligence; check local reports before committing to a specific area.
Catskill Gauges Show Elevated Spring Flows as Caddis Hatches Build
USGS gauges across the Catskill drainage show moderate-to-elevated spring flows — gauge 01413500 logging 397 cfs and gauge 01415000 at 191 cfs as of late afternoon on May 6. No water temperature was available at either station. MidCurrent's current fly-tying coverage observes that 'hatches begin to fire and predatory fish start pushing into the shallows' at this stage of the season, a signal consistent with early-May timing on Catskill freestone streams. Hatch Magazine's ongoing caddis-emergence coverage underscores the hatch type most associated with this northeastern trout window. The higher reading at gauge 01413500 will push brown trout toward softer water — inside bends, bankside eddies, and pool tails. Gauge 01415000's lower 191 cfs suggests comparatively cleaner, more approachable wading conditions. No direct New York guide or shop reports appeared in this cycle's feeds; the conditions picture here draws on gauge data and regionally applicable national fly-fishing coverage.
Salmon River at 622 cfs as Late Spring Steelhead Season Winds Down
USGS gauge 04250750 on the Salmon River recorded 622 cfs as of May 6, putting wading in the moderate-to-difficult range but keeping the river fishable from shore or a drift boat. Water temperature data was unavailable in today's gauge read; seasonal norms for early May in this drainage typically place tributary temps in the mid-40s to low-50s°F — a range that can still hold late-season steelhead. No charter, shop, or agency feeds covering this specific drainage were included in today's intel pull, so this report leans on gauge data and known seasonal patterns rather than confirmed on-water testimony. The spring steelhead run on Lake Ontario tributaries traditionally peaks in March and April and tapers through early May; fish still in the system tend to concentrate in deeper pools and velocity breaks rather than shallow riffles. The waning gibbous moon typically shifts peak feeding activity toward daylight hours. Anglers targeting holdover steelhead should work swing flies or beads through tailouts and deep current seams.
Wyoming Spring Runoff Stalls Brown Trout Bite on Wind River, North Platte
USGS gauge 06259000 returned no flow or temperature data as of this report — a signal that conditions in Wyoming's mountain drainages bear close watching before any launch. Early May on the Wind River and North Platte typically means peak snowmelt is underway, with both systems running high and turbid as warm afternoons push snowpack off the Absaroka and Wind River ranges. No Wyoming-specific angler reports appeared in this cycle's feeds, so the read below is built on regional seasonal patterns. Hatch Magazine's recent piece on caddis emergence timing offers useful context: Rocky Mountain freestone hatches tend to stall when turbidity climbs with spring flows, then fire quickly once clarity returns to two or three feet. That transition — from blown-out to fishable — is the window anglers in this corridor chase every spring. Brown trout and cutthroat typically retreat to slower water adjacent to main-channel seams when flows are elevated. Confirm conditions before you head out.
7-Foot Swell Cautions WA Coastal Anglers as Spring Chinook Season Arrives
NOAA buoy 46041 logged 7.2-foot wave heights and winds around 11.7 knots off the WA Pacific coast as of the evening of May 6, with air temperatures at 53°F — conditions that warrant caution for any planned coastal bar crossing or offshore halibut run. Inner-Sound buoy 46087 tells a calmer story: winds near flat at 1 m/s, air at 50°F. Neither station returned a water temperature reading this cycle, leaving the spring chinook timing harder to pin. Saltwater Sportsman's recent feature on Buoy 10 at the Columbia River mouth describes chinook and coho drawing "an armada of river sleds" to the Pacific coast corridor right now — the nearest corroborated angler intel available for this report. Local Puget Sound and WA coast–specific updates from charters, shops, or verified forums are absent this window. Given the waning gibbous moon and typical May timing, spring chinook, Pacific halibut, and lingcod are all seasonally viable here. Check WDFW for current area openings before launching.
Columbia at 59°F: Spring Chinook Window Open, Flow Holding at 1,610 cfs
Water temperature at USGS gauge 14113000 reads 59°F with flow at 1,610 cfs as of May 6 — conditions that align with the active migration window for spring Chinook on Washington's Columbia tributaries. No Washington-specific reports surfaced in this cycle's angler intel feeds; coverage from our citable sources was concentrated on East Coast striper migrations and Gulf Coast fisheries, with no Pacific Northwest dispatches in the current pull. That said, 59°F is the sweet spot where spring kings move efficiently and hold in predictable tailouts and seams without thermal stress. A waning gibbous moon shifts the reliable bite window to low-light edges at dawn and dusk. MidCurrent's Tying Tuesday this week highlighted a beaded purple nymph tied for low-light, overcast conditions — a pattern profile well-suited to swinging PNW runs under cloud cover. Confirm current hatchery retention rules and any emergency closures with state fish and wildlife before heading out; spring Chinook regulations on the Columbia typically vary by week and river section.