Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks lifted hoot-owl restrictions on portions of the Madison and Beaverhead rivers due to cooling water temperatures. Drought-related closures remain in effect for the Beaverhead and Big Hole rivers. Anglers are encouraged to handle fish carefully to reduce stress year-round.
MassWildlife will stock over 70,000 trout across Massachusetts starting in late September, including brown trout and rainbow trout of various sizes. New self-guided tour signs at four MassWildlife hatcheries invite visitors to see how trout are raised from fry to stocking size.
The Gulf Council's Standing Scientific and Statistical Committee will meet September 29-30, 2026, in Tampa, Florida to review the West Florida Hogfish Stock Assessment, state creel surveys, MRIP pilot study results, and the SHELF Egg Project, while discussing regulatory streamlining and social science metrics for Gulf fisheries.
Conservation partners including NorthWestern Energy, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, the Madison River Foundation, and the Bureau of Land Management are launching two side channel restoration projects on the upper Madison River from September through November to improve trout habitat and spawning conditions.
The Black River sturgeon hatchery northwest of Onaway in Cheboygan County offers free tours on Saturday, Sept. 5, where visitors can learn about lake sturgeon conservation and help release 3- to 4-month-old hatchery-reared sturgeon into Black River and Mullet Lake.
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department reminds anglers of voluntary fishing closures on multiple waters including the Upper North Platte River, Encampment River, Bighorn River, and Green River to protect fish during warm water temperatures above 70 degrees.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is hosting free kokanee salmon viewing events at Strawberry Reservoir on September 19 and Fish Lake on September 26, where visitors can observe the bright red fish during their spawning season. Multiple other locations throughout Utah offer opportunities to see kokanee salmon from September through October, though anglers are prohibited from keeping any kokanee from September 10 to November 30.
NOAA Fisheries published updated recreational fishing effort and catch estimates for hundreds of species dating back to 1981, reflecting improvements from the Fishing Effort Survey design. The revised estimates will be integrated into stock assessments beginning in late 2026, with assessments for South Atlantic red snapper, striped bass, and Gulf of America vermillion snapper scheduled through 2028.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks lifted hoot-owl restrictions on the Gallatin, Jefferson, Ruby, and Shields rivers as water temperatures cooled. Restrictions remain on portions of the Madison, Beaverhead, and Big Hole rivers due to drought conditions.
The Gulf Council met in Biloxi, Mississippi, August 24-27, 2026, marking its 50th anniversary. The Council established electronic reporting requirements for federal for-hire vessels, advanced red snapper management discussions including delegation to Gulf States, and reviewed stock assessments for mutton and yellowtail snapper with the South Atlantic Council.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announces snook recreational harvest season opening September 1 across East Coast and most West Coast management regions. Harvest seasons vary by region, with bag limits of one fish per person per day and slot limits of 28-33 inches total length.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department urges the public to help combat illegal fish stocking, which threatens native and sport fish populations, spreads disease and invasive species, and costs millions in removal efforts. Transporting fish between Arizona waterways is illegal and subject to criminal citations, civil assessment, and loss of hunting and fishing privileges.
Hoot-owl fishing restrictions will be lifted on the Smith and Sun Rivers in FWP Region 4 effective Saturday, August 29, as water temperatures have moderated and met criteria for change. The restrictions, which prohibited fishing from 2 p.m. to midnight, were implemented to protect fish during warm water conditions.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will close a portion of the Beaverhead River between Clark Canyon Dam and Pipe Organ Fishing Access Site to fishing beginning September 1 due to drought conditions and reduced water flows in Clark Canyon Reservoir.
The Gulf Council established electronic reporting requirements for federal for-hire reef fish and coastal migratory pelagic vessels, including trip notifications, electronic logbooks, and economic data submissions. The recommendation will be transmitted to the Secretary of Commerce for implementation.
The Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division of Alabama's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will temporarily close Walker County Public Fishing Lake starting September 7, 2026, for major improvements including road and parking upgrades, new restrooms, a concession/bait shop, entry gate, and event space. The project is expected to complete in summer 2027.
Following six years of litigation, the Wake County (North Carolina) Superior Court has ruled in favor of the Coastal Conservation Association of North Carolina and 86 citizen plaintiffs, finding the State violated its legal duty to protect coastal fisheries under the public-trust doctrine.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks released the proposed 2027–2030 Statewide Fisheries Management Plan for public review. A Region 1 meeting will be held September 3 at 6 p.m. at the Kalispell FWP office. Comments are due September 14.
Montana is lifting hoot-owl restrictions on several streams in western and southwest Montana as water temperatures decrease. Affected areas include the upper Clark Fork River, lower Bitterroot River, Silver Bow Creek, Big Hole River, East Gallatin River, and portions of Shields River. Hoot-owl restrictions prohibit fishing from 2 p.m. to midnight to prevent fish mortality during warm water periods.
Idaho Fish and Game issued a salvage order for Winder Reservoir in Franklin County from August 14 through October 31, 2026. Twin Lakes Canal Company is draining the reservoir for irrigation, with water levels expected to drain by September 4, prompting the salvage order to maximize public use of fish before they perish.