FS Digest

Hi guys,

I'll be graduating from college in about 6 months and would like to (eventually) move to an area where I can spend my time fishing when I'm not working. I'm currently living in Michigan, where the fishing isn't all that bad. However, I think I'd like to live somewhere with more species to offer. I'd like to end up somewhere that I can choose between fishing in freshwater and saltwater.

I was thinking somewhere on the east coast like Virginia would be pretty ideal for me. What states are the best for fishing for a variety of species?

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by TheBigPicture4

FS Digest

Georgia has some pretty good lakes with a lot of species. We also have some of the best trout streams in the country. Being on the coast is also a plus for saltwater fishing.

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by PackLipsSlapTits

FS Digest

South Florida by a mile. A ton of saltwater options and amazing bass fishing inland. Plus you have the canals and all the invasives in them.

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by 5uper5kunk

FS Digest

Gators, other deadly things, I'll stay North.

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by BretBeermann

FS Digest

Gators arnt much of a threat...it’s the snakes you have to worry about.

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by plastictank

FS Digest

The Carolina coastal areas are very nice for fishing, I have rented in North and South along the water and had a blast. Not sure about North near the coast, but South there are some nice freshwater lakes as well. North GA has a ton of nice lakes, but they're hard to get to during the week if you're working in Atlanta, traffic within 100 miles of Atlanta is a nightmare every morning and evening. South GA has some legendary bass lakes, and the coastal areas are great for fishing on the South side, Savannah area and the coast in general down there for salt, and tons of fresh water fishing as well. Florida is where I want to retire, at least from the places I've seen so far... the heat is an issue for some people, but depending on where you live, you may have access to two different coasts, and a ton of freshwater fishing in between. I don't know Alabama all that well, but what I've seen from vacationing near the state line over in Florida was about the same, lots of great coast and marsh fishing, and I've seen some nice lakes/rivers driving through the NE side of the state as well... One thing to keep in mind with GA/AL, there are plenty of spots where you're 6+ hours from the coast if salt water is your thing.


Texas I have not fished, but the little of the coastal region I have seen in promising, and they have some nice reservoirs like other Southern states do. Louisiana is the state I want to visit for fishing next... I can't speak from personal experience yet, but it seems like it may be the place in the SE from everything I've seen if you're a hardcore fisherman.


If I were to move today (I like my wife more than fishing and she likes the city we live in, so I drive 30-60 minutes on the weekends to fish freshwater when I can) I would head to Florida, choosing a spot to live outside a larger city with an airport for work/travel considerations, near good freshwater fishing, since the beach areas are more expensive. Pensacola, Tampa, or Jacksonville greater areas most likely. If I had FU money, the keys would be my go to... Everglades to the North, some of the best saltwater fishing in the US all over the place. If I were more heat sensitive, I'd be more interested in coastal Carolina's.

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by aRushinTroll

FS Digest

Hawaii.

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by BretBeermann

FS Digest

I'd argue trout are the most popular fish to catch, and they are in Hawaii.

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by BretBeermann

FS Digest

Bass are native to North America. There are some stocked lakes in select other places in the world. Salmonids are available over most of the globe. If you really did a good survey, I bet catfish are one of the most popular fish globally. Hard to say. The bass fishing culture is local, much like NASCAR is a U.S. thing.

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by BretBeermann

FS Digest

I'm just countering your comment of "most popular fish to catch in the world". Also, your bias is showing.

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by BretBeermann

FS Digest

If you want to go by data, then 1 in 3 residents of Minnesota (approximately) have a license to fish whereas 1 in 8 have a license in Florida.

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by BretBeermann

FS Digest

I agree 100%. We have endless waterways, regardless of where you are in teh state, you are within 2 hours of a beach. We also have some major lakes and obviously, the mighty St. Johns river which is coined "Bass Capital of the World"

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by TomDogg213

FS Digest

Fishing capital of the world. I sometimes forget how spoiled I am.. Like I can go to the SAME beach and take a few minutes to think about what to fish for today..

Whiting, pompano, blues, reds, blk drum, shark? Trout? Snook? Throw bait, or lures? And like a dozen other species I've not mentioned.


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by hilboggins

FS Digest

Not gonna lie you have it pretty good in MI. I moved from there to Alabama last year and, while the bass are bigger and you can fish more easily throughout the year, I wish I was still in Michigan because there's just so much more variety.

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by Beatminerz

FS Digest

Can’t really stress this enough. When it comes to variety of species and availability of water Great Lake States are really hard to beat. I can honestly say I miss Michigan fishing and the opportunities I never took when I lived there.

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by Awlcer