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The US has some of the world’s best fishing spots. Marlin, Tarpon, Bass… The United States has got it all, right on our doorstep! Whether fishing is a sport or hobby, or whether you’re picking a spot for your first or seven-thousandth fishing trip, you’re probably always looking for the best areas in the country.
Seeing how vast and diverse our country is, both winter and summer are equally great seasons to try new fishing spots, especially when having the opportunity to discover varied water-loving species. It doesn’t matter if you’re a novice in the world of fishing, a seasoned senior in the fishing game, or a young, talented fisherman (or fisherwoman).
Fishing trips are a one-way street that everyone can tread upon. So where to go? We’ve searched and found 11 of the most amazing fishing spots in the US, some of which may be extremely close to your home.
Click “Next” and find out where they are!
Where? Washington, DC
Why? Due to Potomac passing four states, there are lots of fishing spots along the way. But one that stands out is in Washington, DC, which offers some of the best urban fishing in the country, besides the stunning views of the capital. Flowing through West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., George Washington named it the “Nation’s River.”
Best for: Urban fishing
Skill level: Beginner to advanced
Type of fish to catch: Striped bass, muskellunge, pike, walleye, American shad, white perch, sunfish; invasive: blue catfish, northern snakehead
Best time of year: All year round
Places of interest: Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Great Falls Park, Marina, boat rentals, boat launch ramps, fishing charters, lodging, bait & tackle shops, restaurants.
Where? Massachusetts
Why? One of New England’s most prosperous and scenic seaside destinations also happens to be a fantastic island for catching fish. This is a great chance to go fishing among one of the most beautiful backdrops you could ever encounter. With over 100 miles of shoreline and lots of places to launch boats, you can do both shore and boat fishing. You can even join the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby, a 75-year-old tournament where you can catch albacore, bass, bluefish, and bonito from boat or shore.
Best for: Shore, fly, and boat fishing
Skill level: Beginner to advanced
Type of fish to catch: Striped bass, bluefish, bonito, bunker, false albacore, mackerel, tuna, white marlin, fluke.
Best time of year: May to November
Places of interest: Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge, Edgartown Lighthouse, Martha’s Vineyard Museum, Ocean Park, Marinas, boat rentals, boat launch ramps, fishing charters, lodging, bait & tackle shops, restaurants.
Where? Florida
Why? The southernmost part of the Florida Keys has a rich fishing history, along with the most spectacular sunsets you’ll ever see. Kayak fishing with the sunset in your view is probably the most beautiful, memorable experiences you can have here.
Best for: kayak, fly, shore, flats, and reef fishing
Skill level: Beginner to advanced
Type of fish to catch: Tarpon, permit, bonefish, snapper, grouper, tuna, dolphin, sailfish, marlin, shark, hogfish, mackerel
Best time of year: All year-round, but there are tournaments held every January and July.
Places of interest: Key West National Wildlife Refuge, Southernmost Point Buoy, Dry Tortugas National Park, Mallory Square, the Marina, boat rentals, boat launch ramp, fishing charters, campgrounds, RV parks, hotels, bait & tackle shops, restaurants.
Where? Alaska
Why? Here you’ll find the easternmost arm of the Bering Sea, home to various birds, terrestrial animals, and fish, notably salmon. However, climate change has begun to affect this area. Rising temperatures threaten the survival of salmon eggs and fry and cause higher sea levels that threaten to flood the surrounding land.
Best for: Fly, spin, and small boat fishing
Skill level: Beginner to advanced
Type of fish to catch: Sockeye salmon, Chinook salmon, coho salmon, chum salmon, rainbow trout, herring, arctic grayling, northern pike.
Best time of year: June to August for salmon. August to October for trout
Places of interest: Togiak National Wildlife Refuge, Wood-Tikchik State Park, Fishing charters, campgrounds, fishing lodges, hotels, bait & tackle shops, restaurants.
Where? Florida
Why? It has a reputation for being the “Sport Fishing Capital of the World” for good reason. And it’s well-deserved, considering backcountry sport fishing and saltwater fly-fishing started right here. You’ll also find yourself in good company. There are more professional offshore charter boats and recreational fishermen in Islamorada than anywhere else in the Florida Keys.
Best for: Offshore and fly fishing and deep-sea trolling
Skill level: Beginner to advanced
Type of fish to catch: Tarpon, bonefish, permit, tarpon, snook, sailfish, snappers, groupers, seatrout, redfish, mahi-mahi, tuna, billfish, swordfish, marlin
Best time of year: All year-round. But there are tournaments in January, February, June, September, and December.
Places of interest: The Rain Barrel Village, Robbie’s Marina, Theater of the Sea, Keys History & Discovery Center, History of Diving Museum, Marinas, boat rentals, boat launch ramp, fishing charters, campgrounds, RV parks, hotels, bait & tackle shops, restaurants.
Where? Tennessee
Why? This one is known for having one of the best fishing lakes in the country for bass. This lake is a reservoir along the Tennessee River, created when the Chickamauga Dam was built. The current record for largest largemouth bass, which was 15 pounds, 2 ounces, was caught in Chickamauga Lake. It’s got over 800 miles of shoreline, and fly fishing from the banks is famous in these parts. There are also lots of boat launch ramps, so anyone from beginners to advanced fishers can catch bass on pontoons, kayaks, and larger bass boats.
Best for: Boat, shore, fly, jump, and flat fishing
Skill level: Beginner to advanced
Type of fish to catch: Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, redear sunfish, blue catfish, striped bass, Channel catfish, black crappie, white crappie, sauger, paddlefish, bowfin.
Best time of year: Late winter to early spring for bass, and there are tournaments in February and June
Places of interest: Harrison Bay State Park, Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park, Tennessee Aquarium, Moccasin Bend National Archeological District, Booker T Washington State Park, Marinas, boat rentals, boat launch ramps, fishing charters, campgrounds, RV parks, lodging, bait & tackle shops, restaurants.
Where? Hawaii
Why? Fishing is predictably instilled in the Hawaiian people’s culture. You can find Kona on the west side of the Island, historically known as a fishing village. Many fishing techniques used worldwide today originated right here. The water here is calm, and the water drops quickly just a short distance from the shore, making it perfect for going deep-sea trolling for tuna, mahi-mahi, and even sharks.
Best for: Deep-sea trolling. And pier and surf fishing.
Skill level: Beginner to advanced
Type of fish to catch: Tuna, mahi-mahi, ono, sharks, blue marlin, butterfly peacock bass, rainbow trout, striped marlin.
Best time of year: All year round; tournaments kick off in June
Places of interest: Hulihee Palace, Keauhou, Kailua-Kona, Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park, Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park, Marinas, boat rentals, boat launch ramps, fishing charters, campgrounds, RV parks, lodging, bait & tackle shops, restaurants.
Where? Maryland and Virginia
Why? In Chesapeake is a massive bay where water from more than 150 streams and rivers flows and eventually goes into the Atlantic Ocean. What’s interesting about the Chesapeake is that you get the chance to fish in freshwater, brackish, and saltwater in the same area. And with a whopping 11,000 miles of shoreline, you’ll never run out of spots to fish.
Best for: Inshore, fly, kayak, canoe, jig fishing
Skill level: Beginner to advanced
Type of fish to catch: Striped bass, Spanish mackerel, redfish, cobia, black drum, tautog, flounder, spotted seatrout, bluefish, rainbow trout
Best time of year: All year round! Different fish for different seasons.
Places of interest: Great Chesapeake Bay Loop, Smith Island, Chestertown, Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Captain John Smith National Historic Trail, Marinas, boat rentals, boat launch ramps, fishing charters, campgrounds, RV parks, lodging, bait & tackle, restaurants.
Where? North Carolina
Why? This area is well known for its many shipwrecks but also for being a popular tourist stop. Cape Point is where you’ll find the best surf fishing spot in the Outer Banks because this is where the Gulf Stream and Labrador Current meet. Pier fishing is also very popular in this region. Some of the piers along the Outer Banks include Surf City Pier, Jolly Roger Fishing Pier, Nags Head Fishing Pier, and Jennette’s Pier.
Best for: Surf, pier, fly, kayak, head boat, inshore, and offshore fishing.
Skill level: Advanced
Type of fish to catch: Striped bass, trout, sea bass, flounder, huge red drum, striped bass, bluefish, cobia, tuna, mahi-mahi, pompano, Spanish mackerel.
Best time of year: All year round with tournaments in May, June, July, and August
Places of interest: Carolina Beach State Park, Karen Beasley Sea Turtle & Rehabilitation Center, Missiles and More, Emerald Isle Woods Park, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Jockey’s Ridge State Park, North Carolina Aquarium, Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, Marinas, boat rental, boat launch ramp, fishing charters, lodging, bait & tackle, restaurant.
Where? Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan
Why? Lake Michigan is the second-largest of the Five Great Lakes and the only one entirely located in the US. The safest way to go on an ice fishing expedition on this lake is with a professional guide. The northernmost bays of Lake Michigan are the first to freeze with thick ice, so it’s recommended to start there.
Best for: Ice fishing in winter and fly fishing in other seasons.
Skill level: Advanced
Type of fish to catch: Walleye, whitefish, catfish, brown trout, coho salmon, Chinook salmon, Northern pike, and steelhead.
Best time of year: Ice fishing: mid-December till mid-March
Places of interest: Mitchell State Park, Interlochen State Park, Charles Mears State Park, Keith J Charters Traverse City State Park, Marinas, boat rentals, boat launch ramps, ice fishing charters, lodging, bait & tackle shops, restaurants.
Where? North Dakota
Why? If given a chance to visit Devils Lake, you should take it! It’s a fantastic spot for not only fishing but tourism in general! This lake is also known as the ‘Perch Capital’ of the US and offers enthusiasts a wide range of fish species, from northern pike to white bass and walleye, not to mention crappie.
Also, this lake happens to be one of the few salty lakes in the world, and with the steady rise of the water, it has become home to the common carp, a rough fish that negatively affects every ecosystem. With a low population density, North Dakota not only has phenomenal scenic fishing but more fish than people!
Best for: Ice, boat, and pier fishing
Skill level: Beginner to advanced
Type of fish to catch: northern pike and walleye are the most popular, but you’ll also find many others.
Best time of year: Spring is the ideal time.
Places of interest: Fort Totten Historic Site, White Horse Hill, Creel Bay Golf Course, Spirit lake Casino, Hiking, Birdwatching, skiing, Graham’s Island State Park.
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