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Best fishing destinations in North America

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Alaska
Land of superlatives and adventure
8.9
The Kenai River produced a record 97 pound king salmon in 1985. King fishing has been limited in recent years, but sockeye runs come in late June and early August. Coho salmon run in early August and again in early October. Homer, on Kachemak Bay, is a hub for halibut charters.
Highlights:
  • 🐻 See wild bears fishing for salmon in Katmai
  • 🛳️ Cruise through glacier-filled waters in Glacier Bay National Park
  • 🌌 Watch the northern lights dance above Fairbanks
Key West
Tropical charm at the end of the road
7.9
Many Key West restaurants will cook a guest's own catch, a practice called catch and cook. Charter boats work the Gulf Stream for sailfish, mahi mahi and wahoo. Shallow flats west of town hold bonefish, permit and tarpon. Ernest Hemingway lived here from 1931 to 1939 and fished the nearby waters.
Highlights:
  • 🤿 Snorkel in the coral reefs of Dry Tortugas National Park
  • 🐈 Visit Ernest Hemingway’s House and meet its six-toed cats
  • 🌅 Watch the sunset celebration at Mallory Square
Cabo San Lucas
Arches, Beaches, Nightlife and Adventure
7.6
At the southern tip of Baja California, the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez over deep water. Striped marlin, sailfish, yellowfin tuna and dorado are common offshore catches. Bisbee's Black and Blue tournament, held each October, pays out millions in prizes. Charters leave the marina at dawn and often return by early afternoon.
Highlights:
  • 🏜️ Experience thrilling ATV tours through desert landscapes
  • 🏖️ Relax on vibrant Medano Beach and swim safely
  • ⛵ Explore the iconic El Arco rock formation by boat
Florida
Sunshine State, Endless Adventure
8.6
Fishing runs all year in Florida, with a different catch in each season. Tarpon gather at Boca Grande Pass from May into July. Sailfish season off Palm Beach peaks in winter. Lake Okeechobee, nicknamed the Big O, is known for largemouth bass. Most anglers need a Florida fishing licence.
Highlights:
  • 🐊 Spot alligators on an airboat tour in the Everglades
  • 🏖️ Relax on the white sands of Miami Beach
  • 🎠 Experience the magic of Walt Disney World in Orlando
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
Pristine lakes, untouched wilderness paradise
8.4
Loons call across still lakes as canoes glide towards quiet bays. The wilderness covers about 1.1 million acres and has over 1,100 lakes. Anglers catch walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass and lake trout. Overnight visits need a permit, which must be reserved in advance from May to September.
Highlights:
  • 💧 Discover waterfalls like Devil’s Cascade and Johnson Falls
  • 🥾 Hike to Eagle Mountain, Minnesota’s highest point
  • 🛶 Go on an overnight canoe camping trip through lakes
Outer Banks
Wild horses and pristine shores
8.0
A hurricane cut Oregon Inlet through the barrier islands in 1846. Charter boats now leave the nearby harbour for trips out towards the Gulf Stream. Surf anglers cast from Cape Hatteras beaches for red drum and bluefish. Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, finished in 1870, was moved inland in 1999 to escape erosion.
Highlights:
  • 🚗 Drive along the scenic Outer Banks National Scenic Byway
  • 🛩️ Visit the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills
  • 🌊 Climb to the top of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
Belize
Tropical paradise with diverse ecosystems
7.0
The country was called British Honduras until 1973 and became independent in 1981. Shallow flats near Ambergris Caye hold bonefish, permit and tarpon. Catching all three in one day is called a grand slam. Beyond the Belize Barrier Reef, deep water holds snapper, grouper and wahoo.
Highlights:
  • ⛵ Sail between tropical cayes across the Belize Barrier Reef
  • 🏛️ Explore ancient Mayan ruins at Xunantunich and Caracol
  • 🤿 Dive or snorkel the breathtaking Great Blue Hole
Louisiana
Cajun Soul and Vibrant Culture
7.2
The state has more coastal wetland than any other state in the lower 48. Venice, at the end of Highway 23, is a launch point for tuna, cobia and redfish. The Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo draws anglers each summer. Oil and gas platforms off the coast attract tuna, snapper and cobia.
Highlights:
  • 🛶 Cruise the bayous on a guided swamp boat tour
  • 🎷 Take a jazz-filled evening stroll through the French Quarter
  • 🎭 Join the Mardi Gras festivities in New Orleans
Montana
Wild Beauty & Vast Big Skies
8.4
The Madison River near Ennis holds rainbow and brown trout. Guides float the Missouri River below Holter Dam, a famous trout stretch. The Yellowstone River has no storage dams and holds brown, rainbow and Yellowstone cutthroat trout. The salmonfly hatch, a burst of huge stoneflies, peaks in June.
Highlights:
  • 🐎 Go horseback riding through wide open Big Sky Country
  • 🦬 Spot wildlife and geysers in Yellowstone’s rugged wilderness
  • 🏞️ Drive the scenic Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park
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