Fishing reports
7384 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Rockfish and Halibut Anchor the Central Coast as New Shore Rules Take Effect
A California Fish and Game Commission emergency regulation — banning wire leader and hooks over 1.5 inches within 1,000 yards of shore from Pigeon Point south — is the week's biggest news for Central Coast anglers, per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater. The June 17 vote was unanimous; verify current terminal tackle requirements before heading out. Offshore, the picture is more encouraging: Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reports adjacent NorCal waters delivering rockfish and lingcod limits over nearshore structure, plus an "incredible halibut bite" around Bodega Bay. Those patterns typically carry south along the coast at this time of year. No NOAA buoy data is available this cycle, leaving sea surface temperatures unconfirmed, but late-June upwelling typically brings cooled, bait-rich water to Central Coast reefs. Tonight's full moon drives strong tidal exchange — plan around tidal transitions for the sharpest bite windows on both structure and sandy flats.
Chinook, halibut, and rockfish headline Oregon Coast's summer peak
Western Outdoor News — Saltwater is reporting limits of rockfish and lingcod at the Farallon Islands and an 'incredible halibut bite at Bodega Bay' out of Northern California ports this week — the clearest regional proxy signal available for the Oregon Coast as of June 30. No NOAA buoy readings or USGS gauge data were returned for the Oregon Coast today, leaving water temperature and wave height unconfirmed. Under tonight's Full Moon, bait typically rises toward the surface and peak feeding tends to compress into low-light hours at dawn and dusk. Late June is classically prime season on the Oregon Coast for ocean chinook salmon on the offshore grounds, with rockfish and Pacific halibut rounding out the bottom-fishing picture at nearshore reefs. Lingcod are a reliable summer bonus wherever rocky structure is present. Albacore tuna remains early for these latitudes, but the NorCal bluefin showing reported by Western Outdoor News — Saltwater suggests warmer offshore water is already pushing north — worth watching closely in coming weeks.
East End stripers feeding heavy as full moon peaks off Montauk
Big stripers are stacked up feeding on a buffet of bait off Long Island's East End, with Montauk delivering an excellent bass bite on squid and sand eels, per On The Water's June 25 Long Island report. Keeper fluke are showing better in the Sound and from the South Shore to the Peconics, while sea bass continue to fire on rigs and jigs across the South Shore reefs. In a story that grabbed attention this past weekend, a father and his two sons live-lining bunker for stripers off Moriches Inlet on June 28 ended up battling a hammerhead shark instead (On The Water). Today's full moon brings the month's strongest tidal push to the East End rips and inlets. Per NY DEC, summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass seasons are all open, and bluefish carry no size limit with a 5-fish daily bag — a deep lineup heading into July.
Chesapeake Bay Stripers Shift to Deep Channels as Summer Arrives
Glide baits are the striper tool of the moment heading into summer, per On The Water, and Chesapeake Bay anglers have every reason to stock up before the July holiday rush. No live buoy readings are available for the Bay at press time, but regional signals from Northeast fisheries paint a clear picture of the seasonal shift underway: Saltwater Edge Blog notes that stripers have been abandoning shallow nearshore water for deeper, cooler zones as summer heat sets in, a pattern that mirrors the Bay's own annual deep-channel migration. Tonight's full moon delivers the strongest tidal push of the month, making outgoing-tide windows around Bay bridges and channel edges the priority target for the next two mornings. Spanish mackerel and bluefish, absent from these waters all spring, typically make their Bay entrance in earnest during the final days of June.
Summer Chinook Push Underway on Olympic Peninsula Rivers
A full moon on June 30 lands precisely as Olympic Peninsula salmon rivers enter the prime late-June chinook window, setting up strong overnight movement conditions in tidal reaches. No gauge data or current creel reports landed in this update — water temps and flow levels should be verified with WA WDFW Fishing Reports before heading out. Based on typical seasonal patterns for the region, summer chinook are the primary target this week, with fish pushing into lower-river holding water and tidal pools. Overnight and pre-dawn sessions offer the best shot at moving fish under the moon's influence. Summer steelhead present a secondary option in select drainages. Coho are generally not in fishable numbers until August on most Peninsula systems. Confirm current regulations with WDFW before launching, as retention rules and open-section designations can change mid-season.
CT Inland Bass Surge into Summer Mode for the Full Moon Weekend
Tactical Bassin's July bass breakdown lands right on time for Connecticut's inland waters: as summer temperatures push lake and pond surfaces into the low-to-mid 70s°F range, largemouth and smallmouth bass grow "very predictable," concentrating along deep weedline edges during midday heat and moving shallow at dawn and dusk. No USGS gauge or water-temperature readings are available for CT today, so conditions here are assessed against seasonal norms. Fishing the Midwest reinforces the weedline focus and flags hook sharpness as a key efficiency gain during the summer transition. Tonight's Full Moon tends to push peak feeding to the hour before sunrise and after sunset. Panfish: bluegill, pumpkinseed, and yellow perch remain active near dock pilings and submerged vegetation. Stocked trout have retreated to deeper, colder refugia and are generally slow on most bodies of water. Check local gauges before targeting smaller rivers and streams for low-flow conditions.
Chicago's Lake Michigan Fleet Eyes Deep Salmon as Full Moon Rolls In
The WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report logged a record coho salmon harvest in 2024 — over 210,000 fish — alongside 160,000-plus Chinook, the strongest tally since 2012. Those robust year-classes are working through the southern Lake Michigan system and form the backbone of what Chicago-area salmon trollers are chasing this season. Current NOAA buoy readings and USGS gauge data for the immediate Chicago nearshore were unavailable in today's data pull, so precise surface temperatures cannot be confirmed — anglers should verify conditions before launching. Typical late-June patterns on southern Lake Michigan push Chinook and coho into the thermocline at 60–100 feet as surface water warms. Yellow perch near pier heads, breakwalls, and rocky structure remain a reliable inshore option. Tonight's full moon offers extended feeding windows into dusk and early morning, a timing edge trollers and pier anglers alike should plan around.
Indiana's Lake Michigan summer run heats up as salmon season hits stride
The WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report documented a banner 2024 harvest, including record coho salmon numbers exceeding 210,000 and more than 160,000 Chinook, the lake's strongest Chinook showing since 2012, driven by robust alewife forage. That backdrop carries into summer 2026 on Indiana's southern Lake Michigan shoreline. No NOAA buoy readings were available for this report; IL/IN Sea Grant operates three nearshore buoys in southern Lake Michigan and anglers should pull current conditions before launching. Full Moon on June 30 can concentrate baitfish near piers and structure, opening productive early-morning and dusk windows. Yellow perch remain a reliable nearshore and pier target this time of year. Chinook and coho salmon are the primary draw for offshore trollers working the thermocline. Fishing the Midwest notes the 2026 open-water season is in full swing across the region as fish settle into established summer holding patterns.
Stripers Rolling on Glide Baits as Full Moon Tides Charge Long Island Sound
Per On The Water, anglers across the Northeast are swapping topwaters for glide baits as the breakout striper presentation of 2026, with large profiles and slow waking action now outperforming classic surface plugs up and down the coast. Striped bass remain the centerpiece fishery in Long Island Sound as the calendar hits late June on a Full Moon tide. Saltwater Edge Blog (RI) reports striper fishing has been "fantastic" through mid-June with "no signs of slowing down," while noting that rising water temperatures in the second half of June typically push larger fish toward deeper, cooler oceanfront edges. On June 28, On The Water reported a hammerhead shark hooked off Moriches Inlet, Long Island, on striper gear while anglers live-lined bunker — a signal that dense baitfish schools are pulling big predators close to the inlets. Fluke, scup, and black sea bass should also be settling into their summer stations across the Sound, per Saltwater Edge's seasonal outlook. No NOAA buoy data was available for this report; verify current water temperatures before heading out.
Rangeley salmonids seek cold depth as drought pressure builds on headwaters
The Fly Fishing Forum flagged an emerging drought this month with a thread titled 'Drought: And so it begins, in June no less!', a signal corroborated by Trout Unlimited, whose contributors have published back-to-back pieces on fishing responsibly through low, warm conditions. No live USGS gauge readings are available for the Androscoggin headwaters today, so check gauges at waterdata.usgs.gov before committing to wading. Late June on the Rangeley chain puts landlocked salmon, brook trout, and lake trout in classic early-summer retreat, dropping toward thermoclines as surface temps climb. Mainely Fly Fishing (ME) documented a clean spring startup after ice-out on Dundee Pond on April 4, suggesting a normal hatch calendar got rolling, but the drought signal now emerging points to tightening flows in the small tributaries. Tonight's Full Moon adds another layer: expect fish to feed actively after dark and turn quiet through midday. Prioritize early morning and evening windows on the lakes, and consider giving pressured river fish a rest.
Full Moon Opens Prime Striper Window Across Cape Cod Bay
Striped bass fishing across southern New England has been "fantastic" through late June, per Saltwater Edge Blog (RI), with squid action adding to the mix in regional waters. Today's Full Moon marks the strongest tidal pull of the month — a prime timing window for Cape Cod Bay's current edges and rip lines where bass concentrate to feed. Saltwater Edge's June Full Moon forecast warns that as water temperatures rise toward midsummer, stripers are beginning their transition to deeper, cooler oceanfront water, making the next few days a key window to work the shallows before fish disperse. On The Water reports that glide baits have emerged as "the hottest striper bait of 2026," their large profiles and deliberate action outpacing topwater plugs for both numbers and size this season. OTW Surfcasting also notes a resurgence of rigged Slug-Gos for surf casters targeting bass staging on open sandy beaches without obvious structure. No NOAA buoy data was available for this period; verify local water temperatures and conditions before launching.
Ozark trout parks enter summer's hardest stretch — spring seeps and dawn windows are the play
Trout Unlimited's recent writing on drought and warm-water trout stress captures the mood along the Current and Niangua as June closes. No real-time gauge or temperature readings are available for this report, but late June is historically the most thermally demanding stretch of the year for Missouri's Ozark trout parks — air temperatures regularly push into the 90s and river temperatures in slower pools can brush against the 68°F threshold that puts rainbow trout under serious heat stress. The spring-fed inputs that define both rivers become the focal points: cold groundwater upwellings keep isolated pockets measurably cooler and concentrate fish through midday. Tonight's full moon shifts productive windows firmly toward first light and the hour before dark. MidCurrent's tying coverage highlights sparse midge and tailrace nymph patterns well suited to clear, pressured cold-water pockets; Caddis Fly (OR) points to small scud imitations for spring-creek and tailwater situations that mirror these spring seeps closely. Smallmouth bass in the Current's warmer shoal sections may offer the most consistent daytime action this week.
Redfish and Specks Active as Full Moon Tides Sweep Mississippi Sound
Sport Fishing Mag's regional coverage of Gulf Coast bull redfish highlights the corridor running from Louisiana east into Mississippi Sound as a reliable summer destination, and late June is squarely in that window. No live NOAA buoy readings reached this cycle, so water temperatures and tidal data should be confirmed locally before heading out. Salt Strong notes that summer high tides push redfish tight into shoreline cover and marsh edges, a pattern well-suited to Mississippi Sound's extensive estuarine fringe. The full moon tonight (June 30) will drive the strongest tidal swings of the month, concentrating baitfish on drain mouths and current seams. MS DMR's continued coastal permitting activity along the Jackson County shoreline, including a new pier application near Pointe Aux Chenes Road in Ocean Springs, reflects an active working waterfront, though direct on-water fishing reports from Sound captains or shops were not available in this cycle.
Full Moon Tides Fire Up Striper Action on Maine's Rocky Coast
No buoy readings are available for the Gulf of Maine today, so we're reading the bite through regional angler intel. OTW Surfcasting reports that surfcasters from New York to Maine have been finding schools of striped bass staging on shallow beaches, with rigged Slug-Gos drawing strikes where current meets structure. Saltwater Edge Blog (RI) notes that cooler-than-average water temperatures have defined this late-June window across southern New England, keeping the striper bite active well into the month with no signs of slowing down. On The Water identifies glide baits as the standout striper presentation of 2026, with their large profiles and swimming action drawing strikes that topwaters used to own. Today's Full Moon is pushing tidal rips to their seasonal peak. Dawn and dusk windows along ledges and rocky points should offer the strongest action. Mackerel and bluefish are typical Gulf of Maine companions at this stage of the season, though no direct local reports are available today.
Cobia Season Peaks and Stripers Run Deep at the Chesapeake Mouth
On The Water's 2026 headline — "Anglers are Trading Topwaters for the Hottest Striper Bait of 2026" — captures a season-wide technique shift toward deeper, larger presentations, and that same transition is underway at the Chesapeake mouth as June closes out. No buoy readings are available this cycle, so conditions are interpreted from the seasonal calendar and regional signals. Late June is historically the core window for cobia at the Bay mouth, with fish staging on inlet channel edges as menhaden schools push north from the Atlantic shelf. Striped bass are completing their post-spawn migration and settling into deeper, cooler water — On The Water has also raised broader concern about striper spawning success this cycle, adding seasonal caution to summer expectations. Spanish mackerel and summer flounder round out the typical late-June menu. Tonight's full moon will drive strong tidal currents through the inlet, the classic cue for early-morning cobia sightings along the surface.
Stripers shifting to the oceanfront as Narragansett Bay enters full summer
Per Saltwater Edge Blog (RI), both striped bass and squid fishing have been 'fantastic' through the June new moon, with cooler-than-expected water temperatures extending the late-spring bite well into late June. Now at the full moon, Saltwater Edge's June forecast notes that bass are making their seasonal push toward deeper, cooler oceanfront water: the Bay's familiar mid-summer transition. Scup, black sea bass, and fluke are settling into their summer structure. On The Water reports glide baits have emerged as the dominant striper presentation of 2026, with large-profile swimmers drawing strikes where topwaters have slowed. Squid, which was still producing strong at the new moon, is expected to taper as surface temperatures climb, a shift Saltwater Edge had anticipated for this two-week window. Tonight's full moon is driving aggressive tidal movement through Bay channels; dusk and dawn rip transitions are the prime windows to target before summer doldrums take hold.
Chincoteague Enters Prime Cobia Window Under the Full Moon
Coastal Angler Magazine is reporting active cobia on North Carolina's coast, a strong signal that fish are pushing north through Virginia's Eastern Shore and into Chincoteague's nearshore channels on schedule for late June. No NOAA buoy data was available at press time, so water temperatures are unconfirmed for this subregion. On The Water documents a region-wide shift: Mid-Atlantic striper anglers have abandoned topwaters in favor of glide baits as the hottest presentation of 2026, consistent with warming water pushing fish off the surface and deeper into the column. Tonight's full moon drives the month's largest tidal exchanges through Chincoteague Inlet, concentrating bait and predators on the rip lines. Late June marks the traditional peak of the cobia push and the heart of summer flounder season on the barrier flats. The combination of peak tide swings and prime species windows makes this week worth prioritizing. Plan tides carefully; two hours either side of peak incoming is typically the most productive slot.
Spanish Mackerel Pack the Crystal Coast as Big Blues Rule the Hatteras Surf
Jumbo bluefish to 30"+ are crashing the Hatteras surf, per Tom of Hatteras Jack, who reports casting metals and cut baits both producing in late-June conditions. Spanish mackerel are equally hot: Morgan of The Reel Outdoors (Swansboro/Emerald Isle) says the fish have moved into nearshore areas and along the beachfront in good numbers, a report echoed by Rich of Chasin' Tails at Morehead/Atlantic Beach, where mackerel join bluefish and bonito for consistent pier and surf catches. Inshore, red drum are present but scattered, tucking into deeper holes near Morehead City. Sea mullet action has been holding steady along the Hatteras beaches. The full moon tonight brings amplified tidal exchange that should concentrate bait and predators around structure, inlet cuts, and channel edges over the next several days. Multiple Fisherman's Post reports from across the Crystal Coast and Outer Banks paint a consistent picture of strong late-June action for nearshore and surf anglers.
Keys Mutton Spawn Peaks as Full Moon Drives Red-Hot Snapper Bite
ALL IN Key West captain reports summer snapper fishing is "as good as I've seen in my 16 years here in Key West," with mutton snappers and yellowtails firing on all cylinders through May and June. Today's Full Moon lands squarely on the peak mutton spawn window, when fish stage on reef ledges and offshore humps in concentrations that are difficult to match at any other time of year. Per ALL IN Key West, yellowtails are "practically jumping in the boat," and Gulf-side trips have been producing grouper, cobia, barracuda, and kingfish alongside the snappers. Live bait is the dominant technique across species, with captains finding consistent success on reef edges and Gulf structure alike. Offshore, mahi-mahi round out the summer picture as blue water pushes close to the reef line. With July on the doorstep and no sign of the bite slowing, the Florida Keys are delivering one of their strongest early-summer performances in recent memory. Confirm current FWC regulations before harvesting any species.
Summer Chinook and Halibut Take Center Stage Across Puget Sound
WA Sea Grant confirmed the first-ever detection of invasive European green crab on Orcas Island this May, a notable ecological signal for the Salish Sea that does not directly curtail current fishing opportunity. Specific catch reports from WA WDFW were not available in this update cycle; anglers should check the agency's fishing report hub for current creel data by marine area. What is clear: late June under a full moon is one of the stronger windows of the summer season. Peak tidal exchanges push baitfish onto structure and current seams, concentrating chinook near bluff walls and river-mouth rip zones. Pacific halibut season is active along the outer coast, and lingcod remain reliable year-round on rocky reef structure throughout the Sound. WA Sea Grant's third annual Salish Sea-wide Molt Blitz also ran June 26, designed to produce the largest single-day invasive crab molt count in state history. Verify current slot limits and closures with WA WDFW before heading out; summer regulations shift frequently.
Gulf of Alaska Halibut and Salmon Season Hits Midsummer Stride
AK Sea Grant's 34th Lowell Wakefield Fisheries Symposium, convened at Kodiak Island, recently brought scientists, stakeholders, and policymakers together around a pressing Gulf topic: marine heatwaves in high-latitude Alaska waters and their effects on baitfish and salmon distribution. No buoy readings or direct angler reports are available for this period, so the species outlook below reflects seasonal norms for late June rather than confirmed on-the-water intel. That said, late June is historically one of the Gulf's strongest windows: Pacific halibut fishing peaks on nearshore flats and mid-depth structure, sockeye salmon begin staging at tidal river mouths, and lingcod hold well on rocky reef structure. King salmon returns are in a late-June phase in many drainages, though regulations vary sharply by location and can change mid-season, so confirm current state orders before targeting kings. Tonight's Full Moon drives the month's largest tidal swings. Plan around the tide turns at narrows and passes for the sharpest feeding windows.
Spanish mackerel surge nearshore as redfish push into Charleston Harbor cover
Spanish mackerel are moving into nearshore waters in good numbers along the Carolinas coast, with Fisherman's Post reporting strong mackerel showing along beachfronts from Swansboro to Emerald Isle, bluefish biting well alongside them. The same migration front reaches Charleston Harbor's nearshore grounds this time of year. Inshore, red drum are holding scattered across deeper structure holes, per Fisherman's Post accounts from Morehead/Atlantic Beach. Salt Strong notes that summer high tides push reds into shoreline marsh cover, making backwater creek edges productive during the peak of tonight's full-moon swing. Sheepshead are staging on hard structure as well; Fisherman's Post reports the first push moving onto pilings and bridge rubble along the Cape Fear corridor to the north. No buoy data is available for the harbor this cycle, so exact water temperatures remain unconfirmed. Check local conditions before heading out.
Great Lakes bass and walleye converge on summer weedlines
The MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report (June 24) confirms Michigan's 2026 open-water season is in full swing statewide, with the Great Lakes and Grand River corridor shifting firmly into summer patterns. Saginaw Bay anglers are watching southwest winds running 15 to 20 knots with 1- to 3-foot waves this week, per the marine forecast discussed on the Michigan Sportsman Forum, making launch timing the critical variable for bay trips. Fishing the Midwest identifies weedline presentations as the dominant summer technique across the Great Lakes region, with bass and walleye keying on mature vegetation edges as temperatures climb. Wired 2 Fish notes that northern bass country is seeing spring "quickly dissipating into summer," with fish moving to predictable deep structure and feeding aggressively given elevated metabolic rates. The June 30 full moon typically triggers enhanced low-light feeding along the Grand River corridor. No buoy or gauge readings were available at press time — verify water temps and Grand River flow conditions before heading out.
Lake Michigan Salmon Season in Full Swing as Kings and Coho Stock Up Offshore
No buoy or gauge readings were returned for this report cycle, so current water temperatures and Grand River mouth flow are unconfirmed — anglers should verify conditions directly before launching. The most relevant regional signal comes from the WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report, which documented a record coho salmon harvest exceeding 210,000 fish and over 160,000 Chinook in 2024 — the strongest Chinook year since 2012 — driven by exceptional alewife survival that lifted stocked-fish returns across the lake. Those year-classes are now maturing into the 2026 open-water fishery. Late June on Lake Michigan traditionally marks the heart of the summer salmon season, with kings holding near the thermocline offshore and coho roaming mid-depths. At the Grand River mouth, walleye are a reliable late-June target in current seams where river and lake water intersect. Fishing the Midwest confirms the 2026 open-water season is fully underway across the Great Lakes region, with weedline and current-edge presentations drawing multiple species.