FISHING IN 50 STATES
8/29/2007 11:53:22 AM by Robert Edens
Whether you prefer big-game saltwater catches or modest freshwater trout, we’ve got you covered with our picks for the best fishing spots in the nation regardless of your geographic location.
There are few subjects more controversial than favorite fishing holes. Outdoor sportswriters often cringe as they put words to paper, knowing they’ll be receiving plenty of letters to the editor citing “How could you mention (fill in any location here) as a great spot, when there’s (the reader’s personal favorite) nearby?!” Despite the heated debates that will always surround the subject of great fishing spots, we’ve slogged forward and provided a listing of sites that will give good value for the bait expended, provide a healthy amount of challenge and add in some good ol’ fun. In some cases, these places can yield once-in-a-lifetime angling experiences and may even result in an International Gamefish Association (IGFA) World Record. Whether it’s a charter trip to Alaska, a vacation to exotic Hawaii or a simple drive to the best bass hole in your state, the resulting catches should live up to the stories you intend to tell about them.
Alaska
Sitka by the Sea | Various
Pack up your thermal underwear and remember to bring plenty of Chapstick, it’s time to go to the great white way, way north. Even the summer months can be mighty chilly for those of us used to the temperatures of the Lower 48. The species that put the Sitka area on the world-class fishing map are, of course, the king, steelhead and coho/silver salmon as well as delicious halibut. Though there was concern about the king salmon numbers, they have rebounded in recent years. Coho are always plentiful. When you get tired of salmon, the Sitka freshwater streams hold a wide variety of impressive trout, including Dolly Varden, rainbow, steelhead and brown.
California
Southern Cali Offshore | Giant Tuna & Pacific Blue Marlin
California is the size of some countries and accordingly has plenty of excellent fishing choices both onshore and offshore. It’s hard to argue, however, that the offshore waters from Southern California down to Baja California provide a sublime angling experience. This part of the Pacific is home to 200-pound giant tuna and more importantly the enormous Pacific blue marlin. The latter is considered by most worldwide anglers as the peak of the sportfishing experience, not only because of its size but also because of its power, global rareness and strong fighting instincts that make it so difficult to land. Other sportfish that congregate in these fertile waters include bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna, slipjack, striped marlin, dorado and mako sharks. Seasonal coastal fish range from bonito, barracuda, yellowtail and kelp bass to the more rare white sea bass and halibut.
Florida
Florida Keys | Various
Say “The Keys” and you’re speaking of legendary waters. Where else can you follow in the metaphorical boat wake of Ernest Hemingway offshore going after giant blue marlin and Zane Grey, who opted for inshore and backcountry pleasures where he caught sailfish and giant tarpon? Yet these are a mere few of the impressive 225-plus species that live in these crystal clear seas. The Gulfstream flows just offshore luring sailfish, marlin and shark to this tropical environment. On the other side of the reef that protects the chain of islands, the ocean quickly drops to an astounding 1,500 feet. Abundant dolphin can be found just under the water’s surface underneath floating flotsam such as driftwood or Sargassum seaweed. Giant trophy blue marlin may be found following schools of dolphin when they’re ready to dine, as dolphin are a favored dinner. Backcountry flats house sizeable tarpon, redfish, snook and bonefish for light fly and spin tackle.
Fine Fish, Fine Recipes
Once you’ve caught that monster salmon or fighting mahi mahi, it’s time to give the fish a fitting end. The following are some easy recipes from celebrity chefs around the country:
Hawaii
Deep Offshore | Various
Heading out from Kona, Oahu, or from one of a dozen other ports to the waters off Hawaii’s deep Pacific surrounds is like going back to our planet’s beginnings, but with more pristine waters and the ultimate angling prize below: the Pacific Blue Marlin. He is one of the largest and most powerful fish on the planet and a must-go-after for any true sportfisherman, if only for the dazzling fight he puts up with Olympic-quality airborne acrobatics. While waiting for a blue marlin, there are plenty of other hearty gamefish to be had, including dolphin, wahoo, yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna, slipjack tuna (or aku in Hawaiian) and the feisty regional fish, kawakawa.
Maine
Cobbosseecontee Lake | Various
Smallmouth bass and trout are no great surprise in Maine waters, but largemouth bass? That’s where Cobbosseecontee Lake comes in. While the lake hosts the expected mammoth smallmouth population and a good enough selection of annually restocked brown trout, the number of largemouth bass residents is what makes these waters truly remarkable. Often deemed Maine’s best bass lake, Cobbosseecontee Lake is no slouch when it comes to other species with some hearty brook trout, redbreasted sunfish, splake, white perch and pickerel swimming around.
Michigan
Grand Traverse | Various
One might think that being named one of the Top 12 Fly-Fishing Retirement Towns by Fly Rod & Reel magazine is a hard title to live up to. But not so for Traverse City and the Grand Traverse area. While large schools of king salmon are the name of the game in this productive region, there are plenty of other options when salmon aren’t in season. These include fighting some mighty feisty lake trout on West Grand Traverse Bay or engaging in some elegant fly-casting for steelhead or trophy trout on the Boardman River. Of course, the true excitement occurs during the not-to-be-missed fall salmon run.
Missouri
Ozark Mountains | Smallmouth Bass
It’s no surprise that Missouri saw the birth of the now-nationwide chain fishing store Bass Pro Shops. Bass fishing is what this state is all about and the Ozark Mountains host some of the most spectacular bass action with 300+ miles of sparkling smallmouth streams flowing through them. Photos dating back to the 1890s show happy anglers with stringers bursting with smallmouth bass. Though the population has declined somewhat since then, careful planning and special smallmouth management areas designated by the state ensure that both local and visiting anglers will not go home disappointed when it comes to this tricky species.
New York
Montauk Point | Various
The deep and dramatic waters off Montauk Point claim to have granted more IGFA world saltwater fishing records than any other port in the world. Oceanographers believe that more fish pass by the glacial cliff at the eastern end of Long Island than any other waters on the planet. Truly giant — think an amazing 800 pounds and over — tuna and great white sharks, as well as marlin, stripers, bluefish, weakfish, mackerel and cod swim in the shadow of the historic lighthouse, which is New York’s oldest. What makes this area geographically unique is the fact that several bodies of water converge upon the site: the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf Stream, Long Island Sound, and currents flowing down from Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
Texas
Gulf Oil Rigs | Various
When it comes to unique angling experiences, fishing around an oil rig definitely fits the “mustA-do” criteria. The Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Texas is home to some of the best fishing for lively dorado, kingfish, Spanish mackerel, wahoo, snapper, challenging grouper, barracuda, tuna, shark and sailfish. The variety of fish is matched by the variety of fishing structure: in oil rigs, around oil tankers, near rip lines and off shrimp boats. The pristine waters are so clear that in many cases fish can be spotted by the light reflecting off them. If it’s true that “Everything’s bigger in Texas,” it’s safe to say this is true of the fish as well.
Washington
Puget Sound | Various
Year-round salmon is the backbone of Puget Sound fishing, but that shouldn’t overshadow the albacore tuna, halibut, flounder, cod, steelhead and cutthroat trout in the area that offer an excellent challenge as well. The Sound is formed by a deep inlet off the Pacific Ocean in western Washington that provides a sheltered area for both fish and fishing. Fly fishermen flock to the pastoral, meandering waterways to pit their special flys against the tricky salmon. In addition to chinook, chum, coho and pink salmon, fly anglers can take advantage of sea-run cutthroat trout as well as bottom-dwelling rockfish and several species of flounder and lingcod. All of these species are equally intrigued by a well-presented fly.
