Do you love fishing? Are you looking for the best fishing locations to add to your bucket list?

From Florida to Alaska to Hawaii, we have you covered. Whether you love deep-sea fishing or flyfishing, want to catch a certain type of fish, or are just looking for the best fishing spot. Some places just have to be seen. And some fish just have to be caught to be believed.

So, without further ado, here’s a list of 15 of the best fishing destinations that should be on your bucket list!

1. Blue Marlin in Kona, Hawaii

Many people consider Kona, Hawaii, to be the best place to fish for Blue Marlin. The higher-than-average ocean temperatures are conducive for year-round fishing. Summer months are peak season for blue marlins (June through September), but they are found in this area all year round. You’ll also find yellowfin tuna, spearfish, and striped marlins here.

The town of Kona is located on the Big Island of Hawaii. Only a few hundred yards from the harbour entrance, you’ll find extremely deep water, so you’ll find good fishing spots quickly. The water is usually quite calm because it’s so close to shore.

2. Virginia and Washington D.C. Fishing Locations

Washington D.C. isn’t the first place you think about when you’re planning a fishing expedition, but you’ll find spectacular fishing destinations all around Virginia. Some of the biggest blue catfish are found in Virginia and D.C. It’s common to find 50+ pounders in the Potomac and James Rivers. The world record 143-pound blue catfish was caught at Buggs Island near the Kerr Reservoir.

You can find blue cats here year-round, but the best fishing months are in the spring, from March to May. Nighttime or low light conditions are the best conditions for catching blue catfish.

3. Ice Fishing in Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota

Mille Lacs Lake in Minnesota is one of the most famous wintertime ice fishing destinations in the country. Most years, the ice freezes between 2 and 4 feet deep. Such a deep freeze makes the ice safe to walk and drive on. People even build ice fishing cabins on top of the ice to settle in for their day of fishing.

Winter isn’t the only time you can fish here, of course. The lake is popular all year round. Walleye is the most popular fish caught here, but you’ll also find plenty of perch, loudmouth bass, and northern pike.

4. Key West, Florida

One of the most legendary fish locations around is found in Key West! The warm water and mild climate make fishing a year-round possibility.

There’s a vast diversity of fish and types of fishing you can do here. Here you’ll find marlin, sailfish, tuna, wahoo, kingfish, and amberjack. You can even find the exotic Peacock Bass in these waters.

The limestone islands between the Gulf of Mexico and the Florida Straight are the perfect spot for deep-sea fishing. You can fish in the open waters, reefs, mangroves or experience the fabled Key West flats fishing.

5. Snake River Flyfishing

The Snake River is one of the most scenic flyfishing rivers in the country. It winds its way across Wyoming, Idaho, and Washington. It meanders through Yellowstone National Park, alongside the Grand Tetons and Jackson Hole.

Hike into a remote area and cast in waters completely surrounded by nature. This is one of the few river systems where you can still find native cutthroat trout thriving. You’ll also find whitefish and brown trout here.

6. Fishing Spots in Outer Banks, North Carolina

Some of the best and biggest angling happens in North Carolina’s Outer Banks. You’ll find red drum, marlin, yellowfin, and king mackerel here. But it’s the Giant Bluefin Tuna that gets everyone excited. Calling them giant is no exaggeration. They range in size from 300- to 800+ pounds!

The Giant Bluefin season starts in November, but the best fishing happens between February and April. You may have to travel a bit to find them – sometimes as much as 50 miles offshore – in the late season. But getting your hook into one of these giants will be an experience you’ll always remember!

7. Family Fishing in McCloud River

The McCloud River is the perfect destination for trout. Sitting below Mt. Shasta and the Cascade Mountains in Northern California, the McCloud offers two different fishing experiences.

Above the McCloud Reservoir, the water is shallow, making it easier to wade into. Lined with several campgrounds, it’s a great spot for new fisherman or a family fishing adventure. There are three beautiful waterfalls nearby to hike to, and the river is regularly stocked with an abundance of trout all summer long.

In the lower area, the water is deeper, which attracts the fish looking to avoid direct sun. You can use bait, lures, and flies in your fishing here.

8. California Delta

Only a short way away is the California Delta, an International Flyfishing Destination. Also located in Northern California, this area is filled with fresh tidewaters that are popular for largemouth bass, striped bass, steelhead, salmon, and sturgeon. You’ll also find plenty of crustaceans here, namely crawfish.

The beautiful riverbanks are exquisite to look at while you fish. And the perfect weather makes fishing possible all year round.

9. Fishing in Cape Cod

You’ll find some of the best saltwater fishing in scenic Cape Cod. You can find a good mix of bluefish, fluke, black sea bass, scup, and tautog here. However, most people come to Cape Cod in search of the striped bass.

Some of the more popular fishing areas include the Bass and Herring Rivers, Cape Cod Canal, and Cape Cod Bay. Mashpee, Popponesset Bay, Sandy Neck, and Nauset Beaches are also good places to find fish.

10. Lake of the Ozarks Fishing Spots

With over 1,000 miles of shoreline, Lake of the Ozarks is one of the largest human-made lakes in the world. You’ll find a diverse variety of fish here, including bass (largemouth, white, and spotted), catfish (blue, channel, and flathead), stripers, paddlefish, walleye, and bluegill.

Springtime is perfect for catching paddlefish. Because of regulations, you can only fish for them between March 15 and April 30. Late May and June are the best months for bass and catfish. Starting in fall and throughout winter, you can catch almost anything (except paddlefish) as the fish are more active in the cooler weather.

11. Puget Sound Locations

Located between Tacoma and Seattle, the Puget Sound offers amazing fishing. While gazing at the beauty of Mount Rainier, you can fish for chinook, coho, and salmon. You’ll also find areas with cutthroat trout, sturgeon, steelhead, and halibut.

There are a variety of river basins here, including the Green River, White River, Sammamish and Duwamish, Cedar River and Lake Washington, and the Snoqualmie and Skykomish watershed. For chinook and some of the best king salmon, look no further than Jeff Head in the Central Puget Sound area.

12. Legendary Salmon Fishing in Kodiak Island

If you’re looking for an adventure, pack up your boat and head to Kodiak Island in Alaska. It’s a must for every fishing bucket list.

Kodiak Island is part of an archipelago of islands. You’ll find amazing opportunities here to fish for halibut, rockfish, and rainbow trout. But the highlight is there are five different species of salmon!

You can start your fishing adventure in May with King Salmon. Throughout the summer, you’ll also find Red, Chum, and Pink. Silver salmon is usually available through the end of September.

13. Lake Havasu Fishing

Bassmaster Magazine ranks Lake Havasu as one of the 10 Best Bass Lakes in the Western U.S. You can find largemouth, smallmouth, and striped bass all year-round. There’s also plenty of sunfish, crappies, and catfish.

Don’t let its popularity for spring break houseboat parties keep you away. The scenic views and large fish make it a worthy fishing spot to include on your bucket list.

14. Grand Traverse Bay

You’ll find some of the best smallmouth bass fishing in Grand Traverse Bay. Sharing a coastline with Lake Charlevoix, Grand Traverse Bay is one of the best deep water spots in the country. At 32 miles long and 10 wide, the Bay can be as much as 620 feet wide in some spots.

Spring to fall is the best time to take your boat out to Grand Traverse. Open water season starts in April with Perch and Lake Trout. Cisco is best through the latter end of the season between August and October.

15. Toledo Bend Reservoir

Toledo Bend is the largest manmade body of water in the Texas/Louisiana territory. It’s most popular for fishing largemouth bass all year long. You’ll also find crappie and catfish, striped bass, and bluegill sunfish here.

There have been numerous Bassmaster tournaments here over the years. Fall to spring is most conducive for largemouth bass. They like the cooler water temperatures and will be most active in the shallow waters during these months.

Your Bucket List Fishing Adventures

There are so many different fishing adventures possible! This list is just the start of the many different places you can explore and the variety of fish you can catch. Be sure to try them all for the ultimate fishing experience.

And, when you’re ready to buy a boat, be sure to contact us to start your fishing bucket list adventures!