Fishing reports
19295 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
White River Tailwaters: 62°F and Crystal-Clear at 9.92 cfs
USGS gauge 07060710 logged 9.92 cfs and 62°F on the morning of May 6 — a textbook tailwater setup for active trout. At that temperature, rainbow and brown trout hit peak metabolic efficiency; the ultralow flow compresses current seams, pushing fish into predictable holding lies and making careful wading essential. MidCurrent's recent fly-tying roundup calls out midge-style patterns as the standard for "clear, pressured tailrace" conditions, and Hatch Magazine's ongoing caddis-emergence coverage signals that early-May hatches are beginning to build across trophy tailwaters. Midday dry-fly and emerger sessions should be productive when hatches are firing; early-morning nymphing with small midges and soft hackles is the consistent producer when the surface stays quiet. No generator discharge is running at this reading, so plan accordingly — flows can jump dramatically when turbines kick on, so monitor dam release schedules before wading out.
Buford Dam Tailrace Locked at 47°F — Lanier Stripers in Cold-Water Hold
The USGS gauge below Buford Dam logged 652 cfs at 47°F just after 3 a.m. on May 6 — the most concrete water reading available for the Lake Lanier drainage right now. That sustained cold discharge keeps striped bass concentrated in the Chattahoochee tailrace below the dam face, where temps stay low even as Georgia's air begins its late-spring climb. Field & Stream's 2026 spring fishing primer cautions that "cold, dirty water and sluggish targets" define the early-season challenge, advising anglers to slow down presentations and work depth — advice that applies directly here. None of this week's regional angler intel feeds carried direct shop or charter reports from Lanier or Allatoona specifically, so conditions beyond the gauge reading are based on seasonal patterns for North Georgia reservoirs. On Allatoona, the main-lake body runs warmer than the tailwater, putting post-spawn largemouth and crappie in transition mode. The waning gibbous moon still supports early-morning low-light feeding windows on both lakes.
South Atlantic Red Snapper Opens Big; Pamlico Sound Primed for May
NOAA buoy 41037 logged winds at 8 m/s (roughly 15 knots) and air temps near 73°F early Wednesday, setting a mild but breezy tone for the Pamlico Sound and Cape Lookout zone. The biggest regulatory news of the season: both Saltwater Sportsman and Sport Fishing Mag confirm that North Carolina is participating in a federally approved exempted fishing permit (EFP) pilot program, bringing greatly expanded red snapper seasons to the South Atlantic for 2026. For inshore anglers, early May is historically when the Spanish mackerel push begins along the Outer Banks and through the Sound's inlet areas, though no charter-level confirmation has surfaced this week. Sport Fishing Mag also reports black drum pushing hard through Chesapeake Bay right now — that same spring migration typically touches NC coastal structure by late April into May. Speckled trout and flounder remain steady Pamlico staples; expect rising activity as water temps climb toward their late-spring plateau.
Giant black drum on barrier islands, stripers migrating north at 54°F
Water off the Virginia coast is reading 54°F per NOAA buoy 44014 this morning — cool but squarely in the productive window for early-May action on the Eastern Shore. The marquee bite right now is giant black drum: Sport Fishing Mag reports these fish are transitioning from the mouth of Chesapeake Bay along the barrier islands through May, targeting crabs, clams, and mussels on nearshore structure. That corridor runs directly through Chincoteague Inlet and the shoal edges off Assateague. Meanwhile, On The Water's May 1 striper migration map notes the run is 'snowballing' as large post-spawn females exit the Chesapeake and follow the barrier island chain north — expect a mix of slot fish and bigger cows working inlets and nearshore rip lines. Summer flounder are seasonally present in the channels and inlet troughs at this water temp, though direct Eastern Shore reports remain sparse this week.
Gulf Panhandle at 76°F: Blue Water Close In as Snapper Season Expands for 2026
NOAA buoy 42039 recorded 76°F water temperatures off the Gulf Panhandle this morning, with companion buoy 42012 showing 73°F further south — readings that confirm early May's offshore season is fully underway. On May 4, anglers posting on the Pensacola Fishing Forum noted blue, clean water pushing close to the Oriskany area, with several amberjack and smaller red snappers to the boat on what they described as a slow day overall. The bigger story for Panhandle boats is regulatory: both Saltwater Sportsman and Sport Fishing Mag confirm that federal exempted fishing permits have unlocked expanded recreational red snapper seasons across Florida for 2026, giving vessels running out of Destin and Pensacola significantly more days than in recent years. With 2-foot seas and winds under 12 knots, offshore access is comfortable. Verify exact season dates and bag limits with federal regulations before launching.
Tampa Bay Passes Light Up at 75°F: Snook Stack as Tarpon Season Peaks
NOAA buoy 42036 clocked 74°F water and 1-foot seas at first light today, with buoy 42013 confirming 76°F closer to the coast — near-perfect conditions for southwest Florida's most sought-after inshore targets. Coastal Angler Magazine's Capt. Dave Stephens, reporting on Boca Grande Pass and Charlotte Harbor's flats this week, calls May 'without a doubt, one of my favorite months to fish Charlotte Harbor,' and the mid-70s readings back him up. Snook are pushing into tidal passes ahead of the summer spawn, and Salt Strong's coverage of big-snook tactics highlights why structure-oriented live-bait presentations are producing at dawn and dusk. Tarpon are arriving on schedule — this is prime timing for rolling fish in Bay channels and along Sarasota's barrier island passes, though no source-confirmed blitz has been reported yet. Coastal Angler Magazine also highlights the seasonal shift toward second-shift angling as daytime heat climbs toward summer, making late-afternoon and overnight sessions increasingly worthwhile.
Keys at 78°F: Tarpon Migration and Expanded Red Snapper Season Arrive
Water temps are holding at 78°F per NOAA buoy 41114 (observed April 26), placing the Florida Keys firmly in prime late-spring territory. The biggest offshore news: South Atlantic red snapper seasons are expanding dramatically for 2026 after federal approval of exempted fishing permits — per both Saltwater Sportsman and Sport Fishing Mag, Florida anglers will see a 39-day Atlantic recreational season divided into two segments, as reported by Anglers Journal following the state's push for expanded access. That opens more legitimate snapper time on nearshore ledges and wrecks. On the flats, no specific charter reports are in hand this cycle, but 78°F water is textbook for the annual tarpon migration that typically peaks through the Keys from late April into June. Permit are in prime feeding mode along sandy edges and bonefish remain a reliable target on turtle grass flats. Waves running at 2.3 feet offshore per NOAA buoy 41114 keep conditions manageable for boats running to the reef line and beyond.
Water Hits 76°F at South Padre as Winds Ease After Midweek Blow
NOAA buoy 42043 logged 76°F water and light 5 m/s (~10-knot) winds at South Padre early on May 6 — a sharp improvement from the 11.5-foot seas and 12 m/s winds NOAA buoy 42020 recorded on May 2. That midweek blow likely pushed sediment and disrupted shallow-flat structure temporarily, but the quick wind drop is encouraging. Water temps in the mid-70s are textbook early-May territory for the Lower Laguna Madre: spotted seatrout are in the middle of their spring spawn push, and redfish should be riding the warming flats. Direct local charter or tackle-shop reports were not captured in this cycle's feeds, so species outlooks are drawn from the buoy data and established seasonal patterns for this stretch of Texas coast. Coastal Angler Magazine notes that as afternoon air temps climb toward summer levels, a late-afternoon-to-dark "second shift" increasingly outperforms midday fishing — worth keeping in mind as conditions settle.
Post-Spawn Transition Underway on Travis, LBJ, Buchanan — System at 583 CFS
USGS gauge 08158000 on the Colorado River at Austin recorded 583 CFS on May 6 — the clearest system-wide signal available as Lakes Travis, LBJ, and Buchanan move through the late-spring post-spawn window. No water temperature was logged at the gauge, but Central Texas surface temps typically reach the low-to-mid 70s°F by early May, meaning most largemouth bass have concluded spawning and are beginning the scatter phase — moving off shallow flats toward main-lake structure. No charter captains, local tackle shops, or state agency reports specific to these three lakes appeared in this cycle's intel feeds. Field & Stream's spring-transition coverage applies broadly: rocky points, submerged timber, and channel edges are the first stops for recovering post-spawn bass. Crappie may still be lingering near dock pilings and brush in the 8–15 foot range, and a waning gibbous moon supports low-light feeding sessions at first light and dusk.
3.6–3.9 ft Swells at Bay Entrance as NorCal Coast Eyes May Turn-On
NOAA buoy 46026 logged 3.6 ft wave heights and light 3 m/s winds off the San Francisco bar this morning (May 6), while buoy 46013 off Bodega Bay recorded 3.9 ft swells with 4 m/s winds and a brisk 12.7°C (55°F) air temperature — conditions manageable for larger vessels but not flat-calm for smaller trailered boats. Water temperature readings were unavailable from either station this cycle. None of the angler-intel feeds in our data set specifically covered the SF Bay/Bodega corridor this report cycle, so on-the-water specifics below reflect general mid-May seasonal patterns for this stretch of coast rather than direct captain or shop reports. With that caveat noted: early May typically marks a reliable striper push into the upper estuary on incoming tides, California halibut begin staging on the sandy bay shallows, and coastal rockfish access off Bodega Bay hinges on whether northwest swells moderate. The waning gibbous moon is driving strong tidal exchange right now — worth timing your launch around if you can get out.
LA Bight at 62°F: White Seabass Prime Window Open, Yellowtail Watch Begins
NOAA buoy 46221 logged 62°F surface water off the LA Bight this morning, placing conditions squarely in the prime spring window for white seabass along Southern California's kelp edges. Buoy 46025 confirmed 61°F with light 2 m/s winds, pointing to calm, fishable offshore conditions. Swells of 3.3 feet at buoy 46221 are manageable for most charter and trailered boats making the run to the Channel Islands. This week's angler-intel feeds skew heavily toward Atlantic and Gulf coverage, with no direct reports from the LA Bight or Channel Islands in today's data pull. Drawing on the buoy readings and early-May seasonal patterns: 61–62°F sits squarely in the white seabass prime window along the kelp edges, calico bass are reliably active year-round through this transition, and yellowtail generally begin staging off the northern Channel Islands as surface water approaches the mid-60s. Consult local charter captains and tackle shops for the most current bite intel before heading out.
Caddis Season Opens on Spring Creek & Penns Creek as Flow Holds at 98.8 CFS
USGS gauge 01546500 recorded 98.8 CFS in the watershed early this morning — a workable late-spring flow that keeps these celebrated Centre County limestone streams clear and fishable without the turbidity that shuts down sight fishing. Water temperature was unavailable from the gauge, but limestone-fed systems like Spring Creek and Penns Creek typically hold in the low-to-mid 50s°F through early May, keeping brown and rainbow trout actively feeding. Hatch Magazine's current coverage of caddis emergences underscores that May is peak timing for this hatch type on cold, clear limestone systems. MidCurrent's Tying Tuesday this week features sparse midge-style emergers and surface-film patterns described as built for "clear, pressured water" — exactly the challenge these two storied Pennsylvania streams present. No local shop or guide reports were available this cycle; all species status assessments below reflect typical seasonal conditions for early May on Pennsylvania's limestone trout water.
Lake Erie Walleye Hot as Spring Tournament Confirms Stained-Water Bite
The 2026 National Walleye Tour season opener at Monroe, MI produced a career-best 48-pound, 3-ounce limit from pro Dylan Nussbaum—per Wired 2 Fish, he located fish in 'chocolate milk' water carrying just 3–6 inches of visibility, throwing Z-Man Fuzzy BugZ on 1/4-to-3/8-oz jigheads along turbidity edges. That stained-water playbook is directly relevant to the PA shoreline this week: USGS gauge 04213000 shows tributary flow at 853 cfs, likely keeping nearshore zones turbid with lingering spring runoff. On The Water's recent podcast with Captain Joe Fonzi reinforced the broader picture—Lake Erie's walleye fishery is booming, with trophy smallmouth also benefiting from a deep round-goby forage base driving impressive size-class growth across the basin. No buoy temperature data is available for the PA section this period, but early May historically puts Erie water temps approaching the 50–55°F range that kicks walleye feeding into high gear and triggers smallmouth pre-spawn staging. Conditions favor reaction presentations in colored water through the weekend.
Spring Chinook Push at the Columbia Mouth as Puget Sound Winds Stay Light
Saltwater Sportsman's report from Buoy 10 at the Columbia River mouth documents chinook and coho actively running, with Capt. Hugh Harris describing pre-dawn armadas of river sleds heading out in pursuit of fish that, as he put it, 'have never lost.' That fishery straddles the WA–Oregon line and offers the clearest current read on Pacific-coast Washington conditions heading into mid-May. NOAA buoys 46041 and 46087 are logging calm seas — winds of just 2 and 4 m/s, respectively — with air temperatures near 52°F. Water temperature data is unavailable from both buoys this cycle. No additional Puget Sound-specific tackle-shop or charter intel appeared in this reporting window. Spring chinook remain the regional headline while seasonal patterns point toward lingcod and halibut activity building on structure as the month progresses. The waning gibbous moon suggests dawn and dusk windows will outperform midday through the rest of the week.
Green River Surges to 8,860 cfs at 42°F — High Flows Compress May Window
USGS gauge 09234500 logged 8,860 cfs on the Green River near Greendale, UT early this morning — roughly four to ten times typical tailwater fishing flows — with water temperature at a cold 42°F. At this volume, wading is hazardous; anglers should stay off the wading corridors and fish from elevated bank access or boat above the high-water line. Trout will be hugging the slowest water available: seams behind boulders, deep eddies, and flooded vegetated margins. No local shop or charter reports reached our feeds this week, so conditions are read from the gauge and seasonal norms. For the Uinta high-country lakes, early May often means partial ice cover on higher-elevation basins, with ice-out at mid-elevation lakes just getting underway. MidCurrent flagged midge-style patterns this week as productive for "clear, pressured water of stillwaters and tailraces" — a technique to keep ready when Green River flows recede. Check current conditions before any outing.
Gulf Calms to 3-Ft Seas at 77°F: Cobia Window Opens, Reds Active
NOAA buoy 42035 logged 77°F water off the Texas Gulf Coast this morning alongside 3.3-foot seas and winds near 10 knots — a significant improvement from the 11.5-foot swells buoy 42020 recorded on May 2. That rough stretch likely kept most boats dockside for the better part of the week, but conditions have reset. Water temperatures in the upper 70s are prime for the annual cobia migration that tracks beachfront structure and nearshore rigs from Galveston south through Corpus Christi in May. Redfish and speckled trout remain reliable back-bay targets as the flats warm into their most productive spring range. Flounder are opportunistic ambush feeders this time of year — Salt Strong's recent flounder footage, shot in 25 feet of water, demonstrates how aggressively these fish attack bucktail jigs worked near the bottom. With a waning gibbous moon overhead, early-morning tidal windows should deliver the sharpest feeding activity of the day. Coastal Angler Magazine flags late-afternoon 'second shift' departures as an increasingly smart play as Gulf heat ramps up.
Charleston Harbor at 76°F: Red Drum Push Signals Warm Season Arrival
NOAA buoy 41004 logged 76°F water off the SC coast this morning — a warm early-May reading that is compressing the spring transition and pushing several species into early-summer patterns ahead of schedule. Fisherman's Post Carolinas saltwater coverage reports red drum making a strong push onto beaches and around nearshore shoals across the region, with bull reds active around prominent cape-area structure — a regional pattern that typically extends south into the Charleston Harbor approaches and inlet systems. Just north of the SC line, bonito fishing is described as excellent from nearshore shelf waters out to the 5-mile range per Fisherman's Post, conditions that often mirror along Charleston's nearshore grounds when water temps hold in the mid-70s. The major permit-season development: federally approved exempted fishing permits dramatically expand South Atlantic red snapper access for SC recreational anglers in 2026, per Saltwater Sportsman and Sport Fishing Mag. Inshore, the waning gibbous moon extends low-light windows at dusk and dawn — prime timing for flounder and red drum working harbor flats and grass edges.
Spring Chinook Stirring as Oregon Coast Waters Reach 54–55°F
NOAA buoy 46029, positioned near the Columbia River bar, recorded 55°F water temperatures early this morning — a benchmark that typically marks the start of productive spring Chinook fishing on the Oregon Coast. Saltwater Sportsman's recent coverage of the Buoy 10 fishery at the Columbia River mouth reports both chinook and coho already staging in force, with charter armadas working the lower river out of Astoria and Warrenton. Offshore conditions are rough: buoy 46002 is reporting 7.2-foot seas with winds near 8 m/s. Nearshore stations at buoys 46029 and 46050 are considerably calmer at 4.3-foot swells, making the inner grounds the more practical option for most vessels this week. A waning gibbous moon provides moderate tidal movement heading into the weekend. No Oregon-specific tackle-shop or charter feeds were available in this update cycle — conditions and species intel below are drawn from NOAA readings, the Saltwater Sportsman report, and established early-May coastal patterns.
Red River at 52°F: Post-Spawn Walleye Feed Peaks in Early May
USGS gauge 05054000 logged 52°F water and 1,560 cfs on the Red River as of early May 6 — a moderate spring flow that should hold walleye along current breaks and channel edges. At 52°F, walleye are typically wrapping post-spawn and shifting into aggressive pre-summer feeding, making this the most productive window of the season for the Red River drainage. No ND-specific shop or charter reports surfaced in this week's intel feeds, so conditions here are grounded in gauge data and regional seasonal baselines. The closest technique signal comes from Wired 2 Fish's coverage of the National Walleye Tour opener at Lake Erie, where competitor Dylan Nussbaum found walleye holding in off-color, low-clarity water and keying on buoyant, profile-driven soft plastics — a retrieval pattern that translates well to the Red's turbid spring runs. The waning gibbous moon extends low-light feeding windows into dusk and early morning, typically the strongest bite frames on this drainage.
Red Drum Surge onto Hatteras Beaches as Water Hits 75°F
Water temps at Diamond Shoals reached 75°F per NOAA buoy 41025, and the red drum are responding. Ryan, of Hatteras Jack, reports surf action has come alive along Hatteras and Ocracoke, with red drum making a strong push onto the beaches and anglers scoring good numbers across the stretch, per Fisherman's Post — Carolinas saltwater. Bluefish are also showing; per Fisherman's Post — Carolinas saltwater, adjacent Morehead/Atlantic Beach reports note plenty of good-sized fish in the nearshore zone. The waning gibbous moon provides useful low-light feeding windows through early week. Sheepshead anglers should note that the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission recently adopted a temporary creel-limit rule for sheepshead in Joint and Inland Fishing Waters — verify current regulations before keeping fish. The spring surf bite along the Banks is running strong, and May 2026 looks like a solid window for beachfront red drum action.
Walleye Season Opens as Hudson Valley Water Climbs to 58°F
Water at USGS gauge 01357500 reached 58°F on May 6 with flows at 2,600 cfs — a meaningful milestone as the statewide coolwater sportfish season, walleye included, officially opened on May 1 per NY DEC The Fishing Line. Hatchery crews have been running hard all spring, transporting and stocking brook, brown, and rainbow trout across Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes tributaries, making stocked-stream fishing one of the stronger near-term bets. The main-stem gauge (01358000) is reading a hefty 8,750 cfs, pointing to elevated but manageable conditions on larger water. On The Water's May 1 striper migration map notes post-spawn females are now pushing north out of the Chesapeake, which typically heralds improving striped bass action on the tidal Hudson in the weeks ahead. With mid-to-upper 50s water temps and a waning gibbous moon dampening overnight light, early-morning windows on DEC-stocked streams and walleye structure edges look like the best plays this week.
Platte at 1,860 CFS as White Bass Run and Channel Cat Season Heat Up
The USGS gauge on the Platte (site 06796000) recorded 1,860 cfs as of early May 6 — moderate spring flow that typically positions white bass below wing dams and at tributary mouths on both the Platte and Missouri Rivers. Water temperature data was unavailable from this gauge, but at these flow levels the early-May window for white bass is historically near its peak before runoff crests. No Nebraska-specific shop or charter reports came through this cycle. For walleye technique context, Wired 2 Fish covered the 2026 National Walleye Tour opener at Lake Erie, where anglers succeeded in turbid, low-visibility water using buoyant soft plastics on light jigheads — a tactic directly applicable to the Missouri's frequently off-color spring flows. Field & Stream's spring-season primer reinforces concentrating on current seams and warmer slack-water pockets when daytime temperatures are still variable. Tonight's waning gibbous moon will provide moderate overnight light, which can extend feeding windows for walleye and catfish along river structure.
Mild Seas on Mississippi Sound as May Cobia Migration Window Opens
Light winds around 12 knots and 1.6-foot wave heights recorded at NOAA buoy 42067 in the early hours of May 6 are translating to manageable conditions across the Mississippi Sound. Air temperatures of 74°F signal the transition from spring to early summer along the northern Gulf Coast. No water temperature reading was captured by the buoy during this window, though inshore Sound waters typically reach the mid-to-upper 70s°F by this point in the season — conditions favorable for spotted seatrout on the grass flats and active redfish. Cobia are historically the defining species of a Gulf Coast May: these strong, migratory fish move through Mississippi Sound waters en route to nearshore structures and shoals, and May typically marks the peak of that push. Coastal Angler Magazine highlights that as summer-like heat arrives, targeting the "second shift" — fishing from late afternoon into the evening — can improve success rates when midday temperatures suppress surface activity. No local captain or tackle shop reports surfaced for this cycle; species assessments below reflect seasonal baselines.
Striper Push Closing In on Cape Cod Bay; Buoy Water Temps at 47–52°F
NOAA buoy 44020 recorded 52°F surface water near Nantucket Sound on May 6, and buoy 44013 logged 47°F off Boston — temperatures that put Cape Cod Bay right at the striper feeding-activation threshold. The Fisherman (Northeast) reported April 30 that fish 25 to 40 inches — plus a few larger bass in the mix — are "abundant and aggressive" in Narragansett Bay, with cohorts pushing into surrounding bays and rivers. That same outlet noted April 23 that Buzzards Bay had already jumped from schoolies-only to mid-30-inch class fish within days, a migration marker that typically precedes Cape Cod Bay arrivals by a week or less. On The Water's May 1 migration map confirms post-spawn females are now departing the Chesapeake, which historically signals the arrival of trophy-class stripers for Cape Cod Bay within two to three weeks. Tautog are hitting their spring stride per The Fisherman — check Massachusetts regulations before targeting them. Bluefish typically show once temps push past 55°F; none reported yet in regional feeds.