As of · 2026 regulation year
What's Open to Fish Right Now
A live read on which US fishing seasons are open today, which open in the next 30 days, and which are about to close — derived from our dated season windows and refreshed daily. Each entry links to that fishery's full 2026 bag, size, and gear rules. Year-round species (bass, catfish, panfish in most states) are always open and are not listed here.
- Open now
- 155
- Opening ≤ 30 days
- 3
- Closing ≤ 30 days
- 26
- States open
- 26
Opening in the next 30 days3
Seasons whose opening day lands within the next month, soonest first — the get-ready list for trip planning.
- Opens in 14 daysSaltwater
–
Gulf (Charlotte Harbor & Southwest)
Fall window opens Oct 1, one month later than the rest of the Gulf
- Opens in 14 daysAnadromous
Virginia Striped bass (rockfish)
–
Chesapeake Bay fall season
Typical VMRC fall season; confirm current notice
- Opens in 28 daysSaltwater
Massachusetts Tautog (blackfish)
–
Peak fall run
5 fish / day; 16 in min
Closing in the next 30 days26
Last-chance fisheries — open today but with a close date inside the next month. Plan the trip before the window shuts.
- Closes in 10 daysSaltwater
New Jersey Summer flounder (fluke)
–
Atlantic coast + Raritan + Sandy Hook bays
Typical NJDEP season — confirm current year
- Closes in 13 daysFreshwater
–
North Zone lakes & ponds
Open-water harvest April 1 – September 30; closed Oct – Mar except listed ice-fishing waters
- Closes in 13 daysFreshwater
–
North Zone lakes & ponds
Open-water harvest April 1 – September 30; closed Oct – Mar except listed ice-fishing waters
- Closes in 13 daysFreshwater
–
North Zone lakes & ponds
Open-water season April 1 – September 30; ice fishing on listed North Zone waters
- Closes in 13 daysFreshwater
–
Statewide togue waters — open harvest season
General law open harvest April 1 – September 30
- Closes in 13 daysFreshwater
Maine Landlocked Atlantic salmon
–
Statewide landlocked salmon lakes + rivers — open harvest season
General law open harvest April 1 – September 30
- Closes in 13 daysFreshwater
–
North Zone lakes & ponds
Open-water season April 1 – September 30
- Closes in 13 daysFreshwater
–
North Zone lakes & ponds
Open-water season April 1 – September 30
- Closes in 13 daysAnadromous
–
Type-1 streams
- Closes in 13 daysFreshwater
–
Inland lakes (summer)
- Closes in 13 daysFreshwater
New Hampshire Landlocked Atlantic salmon
–
Designated salmon lakes — open season
Salmon may not be taken Oct 1 – Mar 31, or through the ice
- Closes in 13 daysSaltwater
North Carolina Flounder (summer + southern)
–
Statewide coastal (subject to in-season change)
- Closes in 13 daysAnadromous
–
Santee Cooper (Lakes Marion + Moultrie)
CLOSED to striped bass harvest — summer thermal-stress closure
- Closes in 22 daysSaltwater
Connecticut Summer flounder (fluke)
–
Long Island Sound + Connecticut River tidal section
Typical DEEP season — confirm current year
- Closes in 22 daysSaltwater
Massachusetts Summer flounder (fluke)
–
MA ocean + bays + sounds
Typical DMF season — confirm current year
- Closes in 27 daysSaltwater
Massachusetts Tautog (blackfish)
–
Early fall
3 fish / day; 16 in min
- Closes in 28 daysAnadromous
–
Statewide drainages (typical run window)
- Closes in 28 daysFreshwater
New Hampshire Brook trout (native Eastern brook trout)
–
Standard NH trout streams + ponds
Fourth Saturday in April opener
- Closes in 28 daysFreshwater
–
Rivers + streams
Brook + brown + rainbow trout open Jan 1 – Oct 15
- Closes in 28 daysFreshwater
–
Rivers + streams
Brook + brown + rainbow trout open Jan 1 – Oct 15
- Closes in 28 daysFreshwater
–
Designated Trout Ponds
Fourth Saturday in April – October 15
- Closes in 28 daysFreshwater
–
Statewide most waters
- Closes in 28 daysFreshwater
–
Inland streams, springs & spring ponds (harvest)
- Closes in 28 daysFreshwater
–
Inland lakes & ponds (harvest)
- Closes in 30 daysFreshwater
Massachusetts Lake trout (togue)
–
Quabbin Reservoir (boat season)
DCR-set boat-access season; shore fishing continues to Dec 31; Quabbin Boat Permit required to launch
- Closes in 30 daysFreshwater
Massachusetts Landlocked Atlantic salmon
–
Quabbin Reservoir (boat season)
DCR-set boat-access season; Quabbin Boat Permit required; ~10,000 salmon stocked annually
Open now — plenty of season left129
Seasonal fisheries open today that do not close for more than a month, listed by state.
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Bristol Bay drainages (typical open window post-spawn)
- Open nowFreshwater
California Trout (rainbow, brown, brook)
–
Sierra district streams
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Statewide standard waters
Open harvest year-round
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Statewide standard waters
Open harvest year-round
- Open nowAnadromous
Connecticut Striped bass (rockfish)
–
Long Island Sound + Connecticut River tidal section
Recreational fishery — ASMFC harmonized; confirm current-year DEEP notice
- Open nowFreshwater
Connecticut Trout (rainbow + brown + brook + tiger)
–
Trout Management Areas (Housatonic, Farmington West Branch, Salmon River Comstock, Mianus Pond, others)
Year-round catch-and-release artificial-lures-only
- Open nowFreshwater
Connecticut Trout (rainbow + brown + brook + tiger)
–
Stocked reaches (Opening Day second Saturday in April)
Open harvest; pre-season 2 / day Apr 1 – mid-June on some listed reaches
- Open nowSaltwater
–
DE state + federal ocean + Delaware Bay
12.5 in min + 15 / day (DNREC 2026-27; NOAA-aligned federal rule)
- Open nowSaltwater
–
DE ocean + Delaware Bay + back bays
Year-round open; practical peak May – June + Aug – Oct fall blitz
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Statewide non-tidal ponds + slow blackwater
Open all year; prime cold-water bite Dec – Mar
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Statewide standard waters
Open harvest year-round
- Open nowAnadromous
–
Atlantic Ocean + lower Delaware Bay + Indian River Inlet + Rehoboth + Indian River Bays
Year-round open ASMFC plan — 28-31 in slot + 1 / day
- Open nowAnadromous
–
Nanticoke + Broad Creek + C&D Canal — open harvest after spring spawning closure
Harvest re-opens after spring spawning closure ends
- Open nowSaltwater
Delaware Summer flounder (fluke)
–
DE ocean + bays
17.5 in minimum size window (DNREC 2026)
- Open nowSaltwater
–
DE ocean + bays
Open segment — 16 in min + 4 / day (DNREC 2026); CLOSED May 16 – Jun 30
- Open nowSaltwater
Delaware Weakfish (sea trout / gray trout)
–
Delaware Bay + Atlantic Ocean + Rehoboth + Indian River Bays
Year-round open ASMFC plan; practical season May – June spring spawning run + occasional fall
- Open nowFreshwater
District of Columbia Largemouth bass
–
Anacostia River + DC freshwater + Rock Creek + C&O Canal
Open year-round under DC standard rule
- Open nowFreshwater
District of Columbia Largemouth bass
–
Tidal Potomac (PRFC jurisdiction)
12 in min standard PRFC rule
- Open nowFreshwater
District of Columbia Smallmouth bass
–
Non-tidal Potomac upstream of Chain Bridge + C&O Canal + Rock Creek
Open year-round under DC standard rule
- Open nowAnadromous
District of Columbia Striped bass (rockfish)
–
Tidal Potomac (DC DOEE / PRFC)
Open harvest — 19–24 in slot, 1 / day
- Open nowSaltwater
–
Atlantic
- Open nowSaltwater
–
Gulf (Panhandle–Sarasota Bay)
- Open nowSaltwater
–
Indian River Lagoon
Closed Nov 1 – Dec 31
- Open nowSaltwater
–
Big Bend, Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay, Charlotte Harbor, Southwest, Southeast, Northeast
Open year-round
- Open nowSaltwater
–
Panhandle
Reopens Mar 1 after the February closure
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Wahiawā Public Fishing Area + Nuʻuanu Reservoir No. 4 + statewide freshwater
Open year-round with Hawaiʻi Freshwater Game Fishing Licence
- Open nowSaltwater
Hawaii Moi (Pacific threadfin)
–
Statewide marine waters
Reopens September 1 after the June 1 – August 31 closure
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Lake Michigan Indiana waters
Year-round open; peak boat fishing May – September; pier + surf fishing year-round
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Trail Creek + Little Calumet + St. Joseph River tributaries
Fall chinook spawning run — typical peak September – early November
- Open nowFreshwater
Indiana Crappie (black + white)
–
Statewide
Open harvest year-round
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Statewide
Open harvest year-round
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Statewide
Open harvest year-round
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Statewide
Open harvest year-round (no statewide closed walleye season)
- Open nowFreshwater
–
South Zone lakes & ponds
Open year-round to ice + open-water fishing
- Open nowFreshwater
–
South Zone lakes & ponds
Open year-round to ice + open-water fishing
- Open nowFreshwater
–
South Zone lakes & ponds
Open year-round — chain pickerel is a premier South Zone ice-fishing target
- Open nowFreshwater
–
South Zone lakes & ponds
Open year-round (ice + open water) — most Maine largemouth waters are South Zone
- Open nowFreshwater
–
South Zone lakes & ponds
Open year-round (ice + open water)
- Open nowAnadromous
–
Atlantic coast bays + tidal Kennebec + Penobscot + Androscoggin
Year-round open ASMFC plan — 28-31 in slot + 1 / day; practical season May – October
- Open nowFreshwater
Maryland Blue catfish (invasive)
–
Statewide tidal + non-tidal waters
No closed season — invasive species
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Nontidal waters
No minimum size, 5 / day; open year-round
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Tidal / Chesapeake waters
No minimum size, NO creel limit
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Statewide standard waters
Open harvest year-round; 12 in min + 5 / day combined
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Statewide standard waters
Open harvest year-round; 12 in min + 5 / day combined
- Open nowAnadromous
Maryland Striped bass (rockfish)
–
Atlantic Ocean (Ocean City / Assateague)
ASMFC harmonized 28–31 in slot + 1 / day
- Open nowAnadromous
Maryland Striped bass (rockfish)
–
Chesapeake Bay fall recreational
19 in min, 1 / day, circle hooks required on natural bait
- Open nowSaltwater
Maryland Summer flounder (fluke)
–
Chesapeake Bay + Atlantic Ocean / Coastal Bays
Typical year-round under ASMFC plan — confirm current-year MD DNR notice for size + bag rule changes
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Statewide (nontidal + Chesapeake tidal)
15 in min, 5 / day; open year-round
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Deep Creek Lake
Open Apr 16 – Feb 28; CLOSED to walleye Mar 1 – Apr 15 (spring spawn); 15 in min + 18–21 in protected slot (release all 18–21 in), 5 / day
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Youghiogheny River downstream of the Route 42 bridge
CLOSED to walleye Mar 1 – Apr 15 (spring spawn); 15 in min, 5 / day otherwise
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Tidal waters + nontidal rivers & streams
9 in min, 5 / day (reduced from 10 effective 2026); Feb – Mar spawning run is the marquee fishery
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Nontidal lakes, ponds & reservoirs
No minimum size, 10 / day
- Open nowFreshwater
Massachusetts Lake trout (togue)
–
Wachusett Reservoir
DCR shoreline-access season; shore-only on most reaches
- Open nowFreshwater
Massachusetts Landlocked Atlantic salmon
–
Wachusett Reservoir
DCR shoreline-access season; MA state-record salmon water
- Open nowAnadromous
Massachusetts Striped bass (rockfish)
–
Atlantic coast + Cape Cod Bay + Buzzards Bay + Nantucket Sound + Vineyard Sound
Recreational fishery — ASMFC harmonized; confirm current-year DMF notice
- Open nowFreshwater
Massachusetts Trout (rainbow + brown + brook)
–
Statewide year-round stocked + wild trout waters
Year-round access on most waters
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Statewide possession season
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Lake St. Clair, St. Clair & Detroit rivers
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Statewide possession season
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Harvest window (Lake St. Clair June 20)
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Inland waters
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Statewide
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Inland angling
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Inland waters
2026–27 season runs from opener through Feb close
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Impoundments + year-round-harvest streams
Mississippi River, waters north of the Missouri River, St. Francis below Wappapello, SE bootheel streams
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Ozark + non-Ozark stream harvest season
Catch-and-release only March 1 – May 22; harvest opens May 23
- Open nowFreshwater
Missouri Trout (rainbow + brown)
–
Lake Taneycomo + Current River + Eleven Point + outside-park streams
Year-round; MDC Trout Permit required
- Open nowFreshwater
Missouri Trout (rainbow + brown)
–
Trout Parks catch-and-keep
Daily trout tag required; 4 / day limit
- Open nowFreshwater
New Hampshire Brook trout (native Eastern brook trout)
–
Trophy Stretch (Connecticut River between 1st + 2nd Connecticut Lakes)
Year-round catch-and-release artificial-lures-only fly-fishing-only
- Open nowFreshwater
New Hampshire Brook trout (native Eastern brook trout)
–
Designated year-round trout ponds (per NHF&G list)
Open year-round under standard regs
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Trophy Stretch + Trophy Trout Ponds
Year-round artificial-lures-only catch-and-release
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Statewide lake trout waters
Open harvest ice-out through end of October
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Statewide standard waters
Open harvest year-round
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Statewide standard waters
Open harvest year-round
- Open nowAnadromous
–
NH Atlantic coast + Great Bay Estuary + Piscataqua River + Isles of Shoals
Year-round open under ASMFC plan; 28-31 in slot + 1 / day
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Statewide harvest season
Open harvest after pre-spawn closure
- Open nowAnadromous
New Jersey Striped bass (rockfish)
–
Delaware River bonus tag program
Per-year limited tags; 24 in min on tag-program fish
- Open nowAnadromous
New Jersey Striped bass (rockfish)
–
Atlantic coast + Raritan Bay
Ocean recreational season; closed January – February
- Open nowFreshwater
New Jersey Trout (rainbow + brown + brook)
–
Catch-and-release reaches (Big Flat Brook Blewett + Ken Lockwood Gorge)
Year-round C&R
- Open nowFreshwater
New Jersey Trout (rainbow + brown + brook)
–
Stocked reaches (Opening Day Saturday)
Closed March 11 – March 31 pre-season; reopens first Saturday in April
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Delaware River main stem
Open year-round — no spring C&R closure (joint NJ/PA Delaware River rule)
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Statewide harvest
Open harvest season
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Harvest window statewide
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Statewide inland waters
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Niagara + St. Lawrence rivers (54 in waters)
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Statewide inland waters
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Harvest window statewide
- Open nowAnadromous
–
Hudson River (north of the George Washington Bridge; closed Dec 1 – Mar 31 above the Mario M. Cuomo / Tappan Zee Bridge)
- Open nowAnadromous
–
Marine District (NY ocean + Long Island Sound)
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Inland waters statewide
- Open nowFreshwater
Oklahoma Trout (rainbow + brown)
–
Lower Illinois River + Lower Mountain Fork year-round Trout Areas
Year-round trout stocking + harvest under a standard fishing licence (no trout permit required)
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Regular harvest season — opens mid-June (Saturday after first full week), closes April 14
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Regular harvest season — opens mid-June (Saturday after first full week), closes April 14
- Open nowAnadromous
Pennsylvania Steelhead (Lake Erie strain)
–
Lake Erie steelhead season — Walnut, Elk, Trout Run, Twentymile, Conneaut PA, open lake
- Open nowFreshwater
Pennsylvania Trout (stocked rainbow / brown / brook)
–
Regular statewide stocked-trout harvest season — opens first Saturday of April; closes last day of February
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Lake Erie + connecting waters
Open year-round on Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay, Lake Erie tributaries
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Inland
Most inland lakes + reservoirs: opens first Saturday in May, closes March 14
- Open nowSaltwater
–
Shore + private boat
Typical RIDEM open season — 3 / day; confirm current year
- Open nowSaltwater
–
For-hire (party / charter) — fall
6 / day; confirm current year
- Open nowSaltwater
–
Shore + private boat
Open year-round — 5 / day; best Aug – Oct blitz
- Open nowSaltwater
–
For-hire (party / charter)
Open year-round — 7 / day
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Statewide standard waters
Open harvest year-round
- Open nowSaltwater
–
RI designated shore-mode sites
Shore-mode open year-round on designated sites
- Open nowSaltwater
–
RI ocean + bays — primary boat season
Typical RIDEM boat season — confirm current year
- Open nowAnadromous
–
RI Atlantic coast + Narragansett Bay + Block Island Sound + Watch Hill
Year-round open under ASMFC plan; 28-31 in slot + 1 / day
- Open nowSaltwater
Rhode Island Summer flounder (fluke)
–
RI ocean + bays + sounds
Typical RIDEM season — confirm current year
- Open nowSaltwater
Rhode Island Tautog (blackfish)
–
RI ocean + bays — FALL / WINTER SEASON
Typical fall / winter open season — 5 / day; confirm current year
- Open nowSaltwater
Rhode Island Weakfish (squeteague)
–
RI bays + salt ponds + coast
Open year-round — 1 / day; best late spring through fall
- Open nowAnadromous
–
Lake Murray + most inland reservoirs
Year-round; Murray 21 in min Oct 1 – May 31, any length June 1 – Sept 30, 5 / day
- Open nowFreshwater
South Carolina Trout (rainbow + brown + brook)
–
Chattooga River Section 0 + Section I (SC/GA boundary)
Year-round catch-and-release artificial-only
- Open nowFreshwater
South Carolina Trout (rainbow + brown + brook)
–
General trout waters (Lake Keowee, Sumter NF streams, Chattooga River general reaches)
Year-round; possession 5 trout, no minimum size. Lake Jocassee is the exception — 15 in min Oct 1 – May 31 (possession 3)
- Open nowFreshwater
South Carolina Trout (rainbow + brown + brook)
–
Delayed Harvest reaches (general regs)
General regs: possession 5 trout, no minimum size — Delayed Harvest reverts after May 14
- Open nowSaltwater
Texas Southern flounder (saltwater)
–
Open season — reopens Dec 15 after the Nov 1 – Dec 14 spawning-migration closure and runs through the following Oct 31.
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Rivers + streams + general lakes/ponds — open harvest season
Open harvest 2nd Saturday of April through end of October
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Lake Champlain — open year-round
Lake Champlain open all year; combined trout 3 / day, 12 in min
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Rivers + streams + general lakes/ponds — open harvest season
Open harvest 2nd Saturday of April through end of October
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Statewide lake trout waters — open harvest season
Open harvest 2nd Saturday of April through end of October
- Open nowFreshwater
Vermont Landlocked Atlantic salmon
–
Lake Champlain — open year-round
Lake Champlain open year-round, no closed season
- Open nowFreshwater
Vermont Landlocked Atlantic salmon
–
Tributaries + other waters — open harvest season
Open harvest 2nd Saturday of April through end of October on tributaries + other waters
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Statewide open harvest season
Open harvest 2nd Saturday of June through November 30
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Connecticut River main stem — open year-round under NH/VT reciprocity
Connecticut River main stem open year-round (NH does not have a closed season for walleye)
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Statewide walleye waters — open harvest season
Open harvest 1st Saturday of May through March 15
- Open nowAnadromous
Virginia Striped bass (rockfish)
–
Inland reservoirs (Smith Mountain, Lake Anna, Buggs Island, Lake Gaston, Claytor)
Year-round open
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Northern zone harvest
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Southern zone
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Northern zone
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Southern zone harvest
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Northern zone harvest
- Open nowFreshwater
–
Inland waters statewide
How this view works
- Dates are evaluated in US Eastern time against the 2026 regulation year, and this page refreshes once a day — so the lists above reflect .
- Year-round species are not listed here. Bass, catfish, and panfish are open all year in most states; browse them on the species pages instead.
- Many openers float (“first Saturday in May”), so the exact date shifts year to year. Confirm against the official state agency before a trip.
- An emergency closure can shut an open season with little notice — watch the destination agency's emergency-order channel before you travel.
Related views
Frequently asked questions
- What fish are in season right now?
- That depends on where you fish. This page reads our dated season-window data against today's date and lists every managed fishery whose season is currently open, grouped so you can see what is closing soon versus what stays open for a while. Warmwater species like largemouth bass, catfish, and crappie are open year-round in most states, so they are not listed here — only seasonal fisheries with a real open and close date appear. Always confirm against the official state agency before a trip, because an emergency closure can shut an open season with little notice.
- How is "open now" decided?
- A fishery is shown as open when today's date falls between the season's published opening and closing date for the 2026 regulation year. The date is evaluated in US Eastern time and the page refreshes daily, so the lists stay current without you reloading anything. Multi-zone species are listed once per zone because each zone opens and closes on its own schedule — fish the entry that matches the water you are heading to.
- Why should I care which seasons close soon?
- Many of the most-targeted fisheries — inland trout, walleye, northern pike, muskellunge, and several salmon and striped-bass runs — have a hard closing date, after which keeping (and often targeting) the fish is illegal. The "closing in the next 30 days" list is a last-chance view: if a season you want is on it, plan the trip before the window shuts. After it closes, check the species page for any catch-and-release or off-season rules.
- Can I fish a season before it opens?
- Only where the regulations explicitly allow it. Some states run a catch-and-release or artificial-only window ahead of the harvest opener, but outside those defined windows, targeting a closed-season species is illegal even if you intend to release it. The deep page linked from each card spells out the gear restrictions and any pre-season rule that applies to that specific state and species.