What's biting in May

Species whose season windows include May, drawn from the season field of every profile in our database — plus the fisheries that shine this month. Seasons shift by region; always check local regulations.

Freshwater targets in May

• Alligator Gar — Spring–Fall (early/late low light best)
• American Shad — Spring–Fall (early/late low light best)
• Arctic Char — Spring–Fall; summer deep bite; winter in tailwaters
• Bigmouth Buffalo — Spring–Fall (early/late low light best)
• Black Bullhead — Late Spring–Early Fall; night bite windows
• Black Crappie — Spring–Fall (early/late low light best)
• Blue Catfish — Late Spring–Early Fall; night bite windows
• Bluegill — Spring–Fall (early/late low light best)
• Bowfin — Spring–Fall (early/late low light best)
• Brook Trout — Spring–Fall; summer deep bite; winter in tailwaters
• Brown Trout — Spring–Fall; summer deep bite; winter in tailwaters
• Bull Trout — Spring–Fall (where open)
• Chain Pickerel — Spring post-spawn & Fall prime; low-light best
• Channel Catfish — Late Spring–Early Fall; night bite windows
• Common Carp — Spring–Fall (early/late low light best)
• Cutthroat Trout — Spring–Fall; summer deep bite; winter in tailwaters
• Dolly Varden — Spring–Fall; summer deep bite; winter in tailwaters
• European Chub — Year-round; low-clear water sight fishing
• European Perch — Year-round; best spring/fall
• Flathead Catfish — Late Spring–Early Fall; night bite windows
• Freshwater Drum — Spring–Fall (early/late low light best)
• Golden Trout — Spring–Fall; summer deep bite; winter in tailwaters
• Grass Carp — Spring–Fall (early/late low light best)
• Green Sturgeon — Spring–Fall (early/late low light best)
• Green Sunfish — Spring–Fall (early/late low light best)
• Kokanee Salmon — Spring–Fall; summer deep bite; winter in tailwaters
• Lake Sturgeon — Spring–Fall (early/late low light best)
• Lake Trout — Spring–Fall; summer deep bite; winter in tailwaters
• Lake Whitefish — Spring–Fall; summer deep bite; winter in tailwaters
• Largemouth Bass — Spring–Fall (early/late low light best)
• Longnose Gar — Spring–Fall (early/late low light best)
• Mountain Whitefish — Spring–Fall; summer deep bite; winter in tailwaters
• Murray Cod — Closed in spring (AU); prime summer/fall
• Muskellunge — Spring post-spawn & Fall prime; low-light best
• Northern Pike — Spring post-spawn & Fall prime; low-light best
• Pumpkinseed — Spring–Fall (early/late low light best)
• Rainbow Trout — Spring–Fall; summer deep bite; winter in tailwaters
• Redear Sunfish — Spring–Fall (early/late low light best)
• Rock Bass — Spring–Fall (early/late low light best)
• Sauger — Spring–Fall (early/late low light best)

…and 15 more in the species database.

Saltwater targets in May

• Atlantic Croaker — Year-round in many areas; spring–fall peaks; dawn/dusk
• Atlantic Mackerel — Spring–Early summer
• Barred Sand Bass — Year-round in many areas; spring–fall peaks; dawn/dusk
• Barred Surfperch — Year-round in many areas; spring–fall peaks; dawn/dusk
• Black Drum — Year-round in many areas; spring–fall peaks; dawn/dusk
• Black Sea Bass — Year-round in many areas; spring–fall peaks; dawn/dusk
• Bluefish — Year-round in many areas; spring–fall peaks; dawn/dusk
• Bonefish — Year-round tropics; tides + sun angle key
• California Corbina — Year-round in many areas; spring–fall peaks; dawn/dusk
• California Halibut — Year-round in many areas; spring–fall peaks; dawn/dusk
• California Sheephead — Year-round (best summer/fall)
• Dusky Flathead — Spring–autumn
• European Seabass — Late spring–autumn
• Gag Grouper — Fall–Winter nearshore (cool fronts); offshore year-round
• Galjoen — Winter–spring (cooler water)
• Kelp Bass — Year-round in many areas; spring–fall peaks; dawn/dusk
• King Mackerel — Year-round in many areas; spring–fall peaks; dawn/dusk
• Permit — Spring–autumn (tide windows)
• Pollack — Spring–autumn
• Pompano — Year-round in many areas; spring–fall peaks; dawn/dusk
• Red Drum — Year-round in many areas; spring–fall peaks; dawn/dusk
• Redtail Surfperch — Year-round in many areas; spring–fall peaks; dawn/dusk
• Scup — Year-round in many areas; spring–fall peaks; dawn/dusk
• Sheepshead — Year-round in many areas; spring–fall peaks; dawn/dusk
• Snapper — Spring spawn; autumn workups
• Snook — Summer nights; spring/fall transitions
• Southern Flounder — Year-round in many areas; spring–fall peaks; dawn/dusk
• Spanish Mackerel — Year-round in many areas; spring–fall peaks; dawn/dusk
• Spot — Year-round in many areas; spring–fall peaks; dawn/dusk
• Spotted Bay Bass — Year-round in many areas; spring–fall peaks; dawn/dusk
• Spotted Seatrout — Year-round in many areas; spring–fall peaks; dawn/dusk
• Striped Bass — Year-round in many areas; spring–fall peaks; dawn/dusk
• Summer Flounder — Year-round in many areas; spring–fall peaks; dawn/dusk
• Tarpon — Spring–Summer migrations; fall juveniles in creeks
• Tautog — Year-round in many areas; spring–fall peaks; dawn/dusk
• Turbot — Spring–summer
• Weakfish — Year-round in many areas; spring–fall peaks; dawn/dusk
• White Seabass — Year-round in many areas; spring–fall peaks; dawn/dusk
• Yellowtail — Year-round in many areas; spring–fall peaks; dawn/dusk
• Yellowtail Amberjack — Late Spring–Fall (warm water pushes)