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By Marni Rose McFall
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It's no secret that one of America's favorite pastimes is fishing. For some, it's a leisure activity; for others, it's a way of life.
The United States is home to some of the most productive fisheries on the planet, providing countless fantastic choices for anglers. Now, new data from FishingBooker had revealed the best fishing states in the U.S.
The research was based on 17 different criteria. Five were derived from FishingBooker's internal data from fishing trips, reviews and reports, as well as industry research. The remaining 12 came from publicly available data sources. These criteria were grouped into four categories: community, facilities, financial and geography. Each state received a score between 1 and 10 for each criterion, with some given additional weight. The maximum possible score was 210 points.
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Top 10 Fishing States in the US
1. Alaska – 117 points
Moving up from fourth place in 2023, Alaska is the top state for fishing in 2024. With the longest coastline in the country and vast freshwater resources, Alaska offers unparalleled fishing opportunities.
Nearly 60% of Alaskans hold a fishing license, highlighting the state's vibrant fishing culture. Alaska excelled in the geography category and scored highly in the community and financial areas, making it an affordable and rewarding fishing destination. Anglers can target all five species of Pacific salmon, "barndoor" halibut, and some of the largest rockfish and rainbow trout.
Newsweek spoke with Joe Felkl, acting public information officer of the Alaska Department of Fish & Game. He said: "Alaska is a world-renowned sport fishing destination. Anglers from all over the world come to Alaska for an unforgettable adventure and the experience of a lifetime.
"Alaska offers exceptional sport fishing opportunities for salmon, halibut, rockfish, grayling, rainbow trout and more. With over 12,000 rivers, 3 million lakes, and 6,640 miles of coastline, choosing where and what to fish can be a challenge. Alaska is enormous; fishing its vast expanse would require casting across a million acres of streams, lakes, and shorelines every day for a full year – truly a "so many fish, so little time" quandary."
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He also added that: "Fishing is a cornerstone of Alaska's economy and culture, supporting tens of thousands of jobs and hundreds of small businesses and local communities. Alaska's fishery resources provide for the most valuable commercial fishing industry in the nation."
2. Florida – 114 points
Last year's top state, Florida, now ranks second. Known for its supreme saltwater fishing, Florida's 8,400 miles of coastline provide diverse fishing opportunities. The state excelled in the facilities category and scored well in geography and community. Florida is renowned for its inshore species like redfish, tarpon and snook, as well as offshore giants such as king mackerel, grouper, snapper and sailfish.
3. Delaware – 108 points
Consistently ranking third, Delaware offers excellent freshwater and saltwater fishing. The state ranked first in the community category and boasts a productive shoreline and inland watersheds. Common catches include bass, crappie, muskellunge, striped bass, flounder, black sea bass, sharks and bluefin tuna.
4. Michigan – 105.5 points
Michigan, previously tied for first place, now ranks fourth. Known as the top freshwater fishing state, Michigan offers access to four of the five Great Lakes, as well as numerous inland lakes and rivers. The state excelled in the geography category, making it a haven for anglers targeting walleye, trout, salmon, bass, northern pike and muskellunge.
5. South Carolina – 102.5 points
Climbing six spots from last year, South Carolina scored high in the community category. The state's 187 miles of coastline and abundant freshwater lakes provide ample fishing opportunities. Anglers can pursue spotted seatrout, redfish and tarpon inshore, or wahoo, mahi-mahi and kingfish offshore.
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6. Maine – 102 points
Holding steady in sixth, Maine excelled in the financial category. The state offers a variety of saltwater species like striped bass, pollock, haddock and bluefin tuna, as well as freshwater species such as bass, trout, perch and pike.
7. Louisiana – 101.5 points
Louisiana moved up two spots, performing well in the geography and financial categories. The state is famous for its shallow water angling, with abundant redfish, black drum, speckled trout, and flounder. Offshore, anglers can target red snapper, yellowfin tuna, wahoo, mahi-mahi and billfish.
8. Hawaii – 101 points
Hawaii, though down three spots, remains a top fishing destination. Known for its deep-sea action, the state offers year-round billfish species and a top-notch yellowfin tuna bite. Inshore, anglers can target bonefish, trevally and barracuda.
9. Georgia – 100 points
Georgia rose two places, excelling in the community category. The state offers diverse fishing experiences, from Atlantic kingfish and red snapper to inshore redfish and freshwater bass and trout.
10. North Carolina – 99 points
North Carolina, a new entrant in the top 10, excelled in the community category. The Outer Banks is renowned for its big game and inshore fishing, while the state's lakes provide excellent freshwater fishing for bass, crappie and catfish.
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