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Fishing Spots

A growing directory of fishing destinations worldwide — organized by country and region, with the target species, recommended techniques, and best season for each.

Australia

1 spot

Queensland

Great Barrier Reef

Heavy-tackle black marlin country, plus explosive reef sport fishing.

Target species
Black marlin, Giant trevally (GT), Coral trout, Spanish mackerel, Dogtooth tuna
Techniques
Heavy-tackle trolling, Popping & jigging, Bottom fishing
Best time
Giant black marlin Sep–Dec; reef fishing year-round

Brazil

1 spot

Amazonas

Amazon Basin

Amazon Basin

Freshwater

Jungle blackwater rivers where peacock bass crush topwater lures.

Target species
Peacock bass (tucunaré), Payara, Arapaima, Piranha
Techniques
Topwater plugs, Jerkbaits, Fly fishing
Best time
Low-water season Aug–Mar for the clearest water

Japan

1 spot

Shiga

Lake Biwa

Lake Biwa

Freshwater

Japan's largest lake and its top trophy-bass water.

Target species
Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Biwa trout
Techniques
Finesse (drop-shot, Neko rig), Swimbaits, Crankbaits
Best time
Pre-spawn Mar–May; strong autumn bite Sep–Nov

Mexico

1 spot

Baja California Sur

Cabo San Lucas

Where the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez — a world-class billfish port.

Target species
Striped marlin, Dorado (mahi-mahi), Yellowfin tuna, Roosterfish, Wahoo
Techniques
Offshore trolling, Live bait, Inshore casting for roosterfish
Best time
Marlin & dorado Jun–Nov; tuna summer–autumn

New Zealand

1 spot

North Island

Tongariro River

Tongariro River

Freshwater

New Zealand's premier trout river, fed by Lake Taupo's spawning runs.

Target species
Rainbow trout, Brown trout
Techniques
Nymphing, Wet-fly swing, Indicator fishing
Best time
Winter spawning run Jun–Oct

Norway

1 spot

Lofoten

Norwegian Fjords

Deep, cold Arctic water holding cod, halibut and hard-fighting coalfish.

Target species
Atlantic cod (skrei), Halibut, Coalfish (saithe), Pollock
Techniques
Vertical jigging, Bait fishing, Deep-drop
Best time
Skrei cod Jan–Apr; halibut summer–autumn

Spain

1 spot

Aragón & Catalonia

Ebro River (Mequinenza)

Spain's big-fish river, famous for enormous wels catfish and hard-fighting carp.

Target species
Wels catfish, Common & mirror carp, Zander (pike-perch)
Techniques
Bottom fishing, Lure & dropshot, Boat fishing
Best time
Catfish Apr–Oct; carp spring through autumn

United Kingdom

1 spot

England (Hampshire)

River Test

River Test

Freshwater

The world's most famous chalk stream and the home of dry-fly trout fishing.

Target species
Brown trout, Grayling, Atlantic salmon
Techniques
Dry-fly (chalk stream), Upstream nymphing
Best time
Mayfly hatch late May–Jun; trout Apr–Sep; grayling in winter

United States

6 spots

Alaska

Kenai River

Kenai River

Freshwater

Glacial river famous for giant king salmon and trophy rainbow trout.

Target species
King (Chinook) salmon, Sockeye salmon, Coho salmon, Rainbow trout, Dolly Varden
Techniques
Drift fishing, Back-trolling, Fly fishing
Best time
Kings Jun–Jul; sockeye Jun–Aug; trophy rainbows Sep–Oct

Florida

Florida Keys

Florida Keys

Saltwater

Flats, reef and bluewater in one trip — America's Grand Slam capital.

Target species
Tarpon, Bonefish, Permit, Sailfish, Mahi-mahi, Snapper
Techniques
Flats sight-casting, Live-bait, Fly fishing, Offshore trolling
Best time
Tarpon Apr–Jun; sailfish Dec–Apr; mahi May–Aug
Lake Okeechobee

Lake Okeechobee

Freshwater

Vast, shallow, grassy lake — one of the best big-bass fisheries in the US.

Target species
Largemouth bass, Black crappie (speck), Bluegill
Techniques
Flipping & pitching, Live shiners, Topwater frogs
Best time
Pre-spawn and spawn Dec–Apr

Maryland & Virginia

Chesapeake Bay

The largest US estuary — the nursery and highway for East Coast striped bass.

Target species
Striped bass (rockfish), Blue catfish, Cobia, Spanish mackerel
Techniques
Trolling, Chumming, Light-tackle jigging
Best time
Trophy stripers in spring, resident fish in fall; catfish year-round

New York

Montauk

Montauk

Saltwater

"The End" of Long Island — a legendary striped-bass surfcasting mecca.

Target species
Striped bass, Bluefish, False albacore, Fluke (summer flounder)
Techniques
Surfcasting, Light-tackle jigging, Trolling
Best time
Fall run Sep–Nov

North Carolina

Outer Banks (Cape Hatteras)

Barrier-island surf and nearshore fishing where the Gulf Stream swings close.

Target species
Red drum (redfish), Bluefish, Striped bass, Cobia, Spanish mackerel
Techniques
Surf fishing, Pier fishing, Nearshore trolling
Best time
Fall red-drum run Oct–Nov; cobia in spring

Zimbabwe & Zambia

1 spot

Zambezi Valley

Zambezi River

Zambezi River

Freshwater

Africa's wild river and the home of the ferocious tigerfish.

Target species
Tigerfish, Bream (tilapia), Vundu catfish
Techniques
Spinning & lure casting, Fly fishing, Drift baiting
Best time
Dry season Jun–Oct, when the water runs clear