Fishing

Danny Naugle of Cassville set Missouri's new yellow bass state record with a 2-pound, 7-ounce catch from Table Rock Lake on May 13, breaking the previous 1995 record. Naugle used his tried-and-true crappie fishing method with an ultra-light rod and lights to attract the 16.5-inch fish.

Maryland DNR offers license-free fishing on June 6, June 13, and July 4, allowing residents and visitors to fish without licenses in tidal and nontidal waters. These days provide opportunities for experienced anglers to introduce friends to fishing and for all anglers to catch invasive species like Chesapeake Channa and blue catfish.

Author Noel Vick explores how hatchery-stocked trout transition from passive feeders to educated predators once stocking ends, requiring anglers to employ technical spinning techniques and specialized equipment like DAIWA's PRESSO spoon system to successfully target holdover fish.

Delaware's Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control increased bluefish daily possession limits for 2026-2027, raising the limit from three to five fish for private vessel and shore anglers, and from five to seven for for-hire vessel anglers. The change aligns with management measures approved by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.

TPWD offers resources and guidance for Free Fishing Day on Saturday, June 6, including access to over 150 lakes, rivers, Neighborhood Fishin' locations, kayak trails, and state parks. The agency provides tips for beginners and encourages anglers of all skill levels to participate in this free fishing opportunity.

The Missouri Department of Conservation, Kellogg Lake Boards, and Carthage Community Partners will host Kids Free Fishing Day on June 6 from 8 a.m. to noon at Kellogg Lake in Carthage. Children 15 and under can fish for free with no registration required.

Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources announces the annual rainbow trout season at Kōke'e Public Fishing Area on Kaua'i opens June 20, 2026. Anglers may fish daily through September 30 with a seven-fish daily bag limit. The Pu'u Lua Reservoir, where over 95% of catches occur, was stocked with approximately 30,000 young trout in January.

Washington's Free Fishing Weekend returns June 6–7, allowing residents to fish for many species without a license. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will stock 15.5 million trout and kokanee in over 500 lowland lakes, with opportunities for rainbow trout, bass, rockfish, and other game fish across the state.

Wisconsin's Free Fishing Weekend on June 6-7 allows residents and nonresidents to fish without licenses or stamps. The Wisconsin DNR events calendar lists fishing clinics and community events, with nearly 60 tackle loaner sites available statewide for those needing gear.

Seventeen-year-old Jeared Barnett set an Arkansas state record by catching an 18¼-inch skipjack herring in the Ozark Pool on April 9. The fish, weighing 2 pounds, 14 ounces, was officially verified by Chelsea Gilliland, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's Large Rivers Biologist, surpassing the previous record held by Gary Brandon Miller.

Vermont's Summer Free Fishing Day on June 13 offers resident and nonresident anglers free fishing without a license. The Grand Isle Family Fishing Festival at the Ed Weed Fish Culture Station runs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring instruction, fish biology, and trout fishing in a hatchery pond. Vermont's regular bass season also opens June 13.

The Missouri Department of Conservation invites anglers to a two-day catfishing clinic on June 6-7 in Blue Springs. Participants will learn alternative fishing methods including trotlines, jug lines, and limb lines for targeting blue, flathead, and channel catfish on the Missouri River.

Recreational fishing advocates are achieving significant victories in federal fisheries management, with President Trump approving South Atlantic states' Exempted Fishing Permits for 2026 red snapper season and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announcing extended Atlantic and Gulf red snapper seasons. These developments represent a major shift toward state-led management, improved data collection, and expanded angler access.

Oregon and Washington fishery managers added six additional fishing days downstream and five upstream of Bonneville Dam for recreational spring Chinook following an in-season assessment. The U.S. v. Oregon Technical Advisory Committee now expects 126,200 upriver-origin adult spring Chinook to return, with 72,591 already passing Bonneville Dam as of May 12.

Abu Garcia and Berkley pro Carter Nutt won the MLF Pro Circuit event at Douglas Lake, claiming his first career pro-level victory and the $100,000 grand prize. His twin brother Dylan finished second, just 6 ounces behind, continuing the Nutt brothers' breakout 2026 season in professional bass fishing.

This guide highlights premier access points along Virginia's tidal James River from Richmond to the Chesapeake Bay, including Ancarrows Landing, Osborne Landing, Deep Bottom Boat Landing, and Chickahominy Riverfront Park. Each location offers unique fishing opportunities for species like largemouth bass, blue catfish, striped bass, and shad, with detailed information on amenities and seasonal patterns provided by DWR.

The Missouri Department of Conservation invites the public to participate in Free Fishing Days on June 6 and 7, when anyone can fish without purchasing permits. MDC offers resources including the Discover Nature – Fishing Program, Rod and Reel Loaner Program, and the free MO Fishing app to help anglers get started.

The California Fish and Game Commission reopened Chinook salmon fishing on the Klamath River Basin and Sacramento River after three years of closure, with full seasons on the Feather, American, and Mokelumne rivers. CDFW Director Meghan Hertel credited hatchery production increases, habitat restoration, dam removals, and good water years for the population recovery.

Lookingglass Creek, a Grande Ronde River tributary, opens May 15 for hatchery spring Chinook fishing through June 14 or until quotas are met. ODFW Assistant District Fish Biologist Mike Lance notes this marks the fifth consecutive year of the fishery. Anglers may retain two adipose fin-clipped adult Chinook and five jacks daily, with new regulations allowing bait use.

Sedrick Neinhuis from Lowell, Michigan caught a new state-record gizzard shad weighing 4.45 pounds on April 22 in the Grand River. The fish surpassed the previous record of 4.12 pounds set in 1996 on Lake St. Clair. DNR fisheries biologist Matt Diana verified the record-breaking catch.