Weekly Fishing Report: October 23–29, 2026

Fall fishing is bringing plenty of action across the US, and this week's reports have some catches worth talking about. From a 26.5-inch speckled trout in Alabama and more than 25 rainbow trout in a two-hour outing on Lake Taneycomo to mixed catches of cobia, redfish, and flounder in Florida, anglers have had plenty to keep them busy.

Redfish and speckled trout continue to feature heavily along the Gulf Coast, while Spanish mackerel and kingfish are keeping North Carolina's nearshore waters interesting. Freshwater anglers aren't missing out either, with improving bass action at Lake Fork and more.

Here's a look at what's biting, where the bigger catches are happening, and what local guides are seeing as October draws to a close.

Fishing Highlights October 23-29

Florida: Redfish, Trout, Cobia, and a Trophy Catch

Florida's had a good fishing week, consisting of a good mix of inshore species, with Steinhatchee and the Saint Johns River producing some interesting catches.

Steinhatchee

Steinhatchee delivered a diverse mix of inshore catches this week, with anglers bringing in cobia, redfish, trout, seabass, and flounder. One outing produced an especially varied catch, including some impressive flounder.

Frank Taylor Jr. of Rocky Creek Charters also reported steady fishing during a separate four-hour trip with visiting anglers from North Carolina and Georgia. Despite windy conditions, the group continued to find fish throughout the outing.

The variety of species caught makes Steinhatchee worth watching as fall fishing continues along Florida's Gulf Coast. However, anglers should check current Florida regulations before targeting or keeping flounder, as the season was closed to harvest at the time of the outing.

Saint Johns River: Notable Fall Redfish

Fall redfish are another highlight from Florida. An October 23 update from Roland Bell of Bell & Anchor Fishing Charters featured an angler with a particularly impressive redfish, which they described as a personal-best contender.

With redfish, cobia, and trout all featuring in this week's catches, Florida's inshore fishing reports offered plenty of variety. Weather conditions were also worth watching, particularly around northeast Florida.

Texas: Mixed Inshore Catches and an Improving Bass Bite

Texas anglers had plenty to work with this week, from redfish and speckled trout around Matagorda Bay to amberjack offshore near Port O'Connor. Further inland, Lake Fork's bass bite is beginning to pick up as the lake moves out of its turnover period.

Matagorda Bay: Redfish, Speckled Trout, and Drum

Matagorda Bay saw consistent mixed-species action, with multiple outings producing redfish, speckled trout, and drum.

On October 27, Chad Kraft of Shallowrun Guide Service shared updates from two productive trips.

One morning brought plenty of action, with anglers catching all three species. A separate family outing also produced a mixed catch of speckled trout, drum, and redfish.

The repeated catches make these three species the main highlights from Matagorda Bay this week.

Port O'Connor: Amberjack

Offshore fishing near Port O'Connor also delivered some good amberjack action. Robert Peel of Texas Fins and Feathers reported a productive outing with three anglers targeting amberjack, describing the fishery as particularly good this season.

Lake Fork: Largemouth Bass

Lake Fork's bass bite is showing signs of improvement as the lake gradually moves out of its turnover period. Eddie Garrett of Bass Fishing With Eddie noted that although the bite had been somewhat slow, activity was beginning to pick up on October 26.

North Carolina: Spanish Mackerel and Red Drum Lead the Coastal Action

North Carolina's coastal fishing brought a mix of Spanish mackerel and red drum action this week, with reports from Topsail Island and Morehead City highlighting the fall bite.

Topsail Island: Spanish Mackerel and King Mackerel

Spanish mackerel continued to provide good nearshore action around Topsail Island. Phillip Loughlin of Katfish Kayak and Fishing Adventures found Spanish mackerel on a three-hour family trip, with the fish actively taking the bait.

Another half-day outing also produced Spanish mackerel, including some good-sized fish, although the bite had slowed slightly compared with previous trips.

King mackerel are also moving through the area. Nearshore fishing is expected to remain productive for Spanish mackerel for a few more weeks, while anglers may need to head into deeper water as the season progresses to target kings.

Morehead City: Red Drum and Nearshore Species

Morehead City saw strong red drum action over the previous week, according to Jeffrey Gaskill of Swan Point Charters. As the fall season progresses, anglers can also keep an eye out for Spanish mackerel, and bluefish along the beaches and nearshore waters.

Across North Carolina, Spanish mackerel and red drum stood out in this week's updates, while king mackerel added to the variety of seasonal fishing opportunities along the coast.

Alabama: A 26.5-Inch Speckled Trout at Dauphin Island

Dauphin Island delivered one of the week's standout inshore catches, with Eddie Permenter of Sea Dawg Charter landing a 26.5-inch speckled trout. The fish was released, making it a memorable catch-and-release moment from the outing.

The catch came on a challenging day on the bay, with 2–2.5-foot chop making conditions tough for the group. Despite the rougher water, the anglers came away with an impressive trout and a successful inshore fishing trip.

Missouri: Rainbow Trout Lead the Action at Lake Taneycomo

Lake Taneycomo delivered a productive trout outing this week.

Ronnie Lawson of Fish On Guide Service reported boating more than 25 rainbow trout and a 4-pound sucker during a two-hour trip.

An earlier outing during the same reporting period also produced a 19-inch rainbow trout, which was released.

These catches made rainbow trout the main highlight from Lake Taneycomo this week.

Ohio: Walleye and Yellow Perch Close Out the Lake Erie Season

Lake Erie wrapped up another charter season with familiar catches. Rick Phillips of Crazy Eyes Charters reported catching walleye one day and yellow perch the next, bringing his season to a close.

With the season winding down, the update also marks the transition toward winter, while spring bookings are already underway for anglers planning ahead.

Michigan: Lake Trout and Steelhead Fishing

Michigan's freshwater fishing reports featured lake trout action on Lake Superior and steelhead activity on the Muskegon River, offering two different highlights from the state's fisheries this week.

Lake Superior

Not every catch comes in easily. A young angler found that out on Lake Superior during an outing with Nick Hagadone of Waypoint Charters. It took 15 minutes to bring the lake trout in, making the catch one of the memorable moments from the trip.

Muskegon River

The Muskegon River steelhead update also made the week's highlights, with Zach George of Reel Down Outfitters from the Muskegon River. His post spotlighted an angler with an impressive knack for finding and landing steelhead, adding another glimpse into the river's fall fishing activity.

Georgia: Strong Fishing Activity Around Saint Simons Island

Fishing activity remained strong around Saint Simons Island this week. Drew Jones of Unreel Charters GA described the bite as hot, with good action keeping both younger and experienced anglers engaged.

New York: Active Fishing on the Oswego Canal

The New York State Barge Canal near Oswego saw an active outing from Silas Amlaw of Ah Shore Thing Fishing Charters. Amlaw described the fishing action as hot during a morning trip, adding another autumn fishing update from the region.

United States: National Weather Outlook for November 1 to 8

The National Weather Service expects an active weather pattern across the United States as November begins.

A progressive storm system is forecast to bring precipitation across the central states through the middle of next week before moving into the eastern United States by mid-to-late week.

Additional showers and thunderstorms could affect parts of the Mississippi Valley, Southeast, and Ohio Valley. Looking further ahead, NOAA's Climate Prediction Center favors above-normal precipitation across much of the eastern United States and parts of the central and northern West Coast for November 4-8. Warmer-than-normal temperatures are also favored across much of the northern tier and parts of the East.

For anglers, changing weather could affect boating conditions and local water levels in areas receiving significant rainfall. Checking regional marine and lake forecasts before planning a trip will be particularly important during this unsettled period.