Top fishing trips and charter fishing destinations

Top fishing trips and charter fishing destinations

The best fishing trips are the ones where you get to combine your favorite hobby with a rejuvenating vacation somewhere beautiful. There’s a perfect fishing holiday out there for everyone, whether you’re looking for a laid-back weekend ice fishing with the family, a guided trophy hunt on a remote wilderness lake, or an adrenaline-fueled deep-sea fishing charter in pursuit of something truly huge. If you’re an enthusiastic angler, here are a few locations that you might want to put on your bucket list.

Colorado fishing trips

Colorado makes a great spot for a fishing trip, with more than 8,000 miles of rivers, and literally thousands of lakes and reservoirs. Trout—rainbow, brown, and lake—are at the top of the list for most visiting anglers, but there are lots of other species around, too, including walleye, smallmouth bass, and northern pike. With its reputation as one of the best states for outdoor adventures, you’ll find a wide choice of vacation rentals in Colorado. Many of the lakes and rivers are stocked with fish for you to catch, and there are often other attractions within easy reach of the water, making it a great choice for a family fishing trip.

Fishing trips in Wisconsin

A fly fishing rod on a wood dock

They call neighboring Minnesota “The Land of 10,000 Lakes,” but Wisconsin has more than 15,000. It’s no surprise that the fishing scene here is pretty big, and there’s fishy fun to be had all year round, with plenty of great ice fishing locations for the winter months. One area you could look for a vacation rental for your fishing trip is Vilas County, on Wisconsin’s northern border. Known for its beautiful forests and lakes, more muskies are caught here than just about anywhere else on Earth, and the town of Boulder Junction is known as the “Musky Capital of the World”.

Fishing trips in Tennessee

Tennessee’s another great destination for a fishing trip. As well as the Cumberland and Tennessee River systems, it’s also got a wealth of natural and man-made lakes where you can catch everything from bass to catfish. Reelfoot Lake is the state’s largest natural lake, while Kentucky Lake is the biggest man-made body of water east of the Mississippi. One of the perks about fishing trips in Tennessee is that there are some good fishing spots within easy reach of major cities, so you can rent a vacation home in Knoxville or Nashville and still get out with your rod and line.

Fishing trips in Florida

Colorful fishing boats lined up along a jetty

It’s no coincidence that the man who wrote one of the most famous novels about fishing spent 10 years living in Key West. The idyllic Florida Keys are famous for their associations with writer Ernest Hemingway, but they’re even better known for their fantastic fishing opportunities. There are scores of charter fishing operators, with many offering deep sea fishing charters in pursuit of big game like blue marlin, sailfish, and tuna. What’s more, in the unlikely event that you don’t catch your own dinner, there will no doubt be some excellent seafood restaurants right near your vacation rental.

Hawaii fishing trips

Hawaii’s got spectacular volcanic landscapes, ancient historic sites, and some of the best beaches going. And since it’s also an excellent sport fishing destination, there’s yet another reason to visit the Aloha State. While you could take it easy and go after the small quarry, for many visiting anglers it’s all about the big game. If you’re wondering where to look for a suitable vacation rental, Kailua-Kona is the main hub for fishing charters, and there are plenty of outfits offering deep-sea fishing trips in search of tuna, marlin, and mahi-mahi.

Fishing trips in Mexico

Mexico is blessed with some truly special ocean fishing locations, and one of the most legendary spots is Cabo San Lucas. Set on the Baja peninsula, the steepness of the underwater geography and the prevailing currents have made this place a top destination for deep-sea fishing charters. You won’t have to venture far from the shore before you’re hitting monster fish like marlin and yellowfin tuna. Another great location for a vacation rental is Puerto Vallarta, on the Pacific coast. This lively, sun-soaked resort city is also home to a large deep-sea charter fleet that goes out most days on marlin and tuna fishing trips.

Nova Scotia fishing trips

Fishing boats and cottages in a sheltered cove in Nova Scotia

The Canadian province of Nova Scotia is the ideal vacation destination for avid anglers. It’s got thousands of lakes and around 100 rivers, where you can catch species from striped bass to salmon and trout, all in a gorgeous natural setting. With its extensive coastline, Nova Scotia vacation rentals are also great for saltwater fishing. Of course, there’s one fish above all others that brings the most experienced sport fishermen in the world to Nova Scotia—the gargantuan bluefin tuna. Deep-sea fishing trips mainly go from the Northumberland Shore, and tuna season runs from June through October.