Fishing is an activity that relies heavily on the location you are at. Depending on where you are fishing, there will be different possible fish to catch, as well as different levels of difficulty, and various different obstacles or comforts.
Some locations can be an absolute adventure, while others are easy and calm. And some locations are home to unique species of fish that you wouldn’t dream of catching anywhere else!
Those who have a passion for fishing usually have a bucket list of their dream fishing trips and fishing destinations. A place where they would love to cast their line, as a once in a lifetime experience. And why not, right? You only live once, after all. Take that fishing trip!
If you’re not sure of what your bucket list for fishing trips is, then why not take a look at the one we’ve created? We’ve included the 12 ultimate bucket list fishing trips, based on the most popular and sought-after fishing locations and experiences. So you’re guaranteed to fall in love with at least one of them!
To make it easier, we’ve also divided the fishing trips into categories, so that you can narrow down the options faster if need be. Let’s get right into it!
Inshore Bucket List Fishing Trips:
Bissagos Islands, Guinea-Bissau
Located on the West coast of Africa, the Bissagos Islands, in Guinea-Bissau, are a huge uninhabited archipelago. They are full of volcanic rocks, tidal flats, mangroves, and plenty of inland channels.
It is one of the most important fisheries in the world, and an incredible once in a lifetime fishing trip experience that many anglers dream of.
The main attraction of this location is the vast amount of variety in fish. From Barracuda to Cobia, to Tripletail, to giant Jacks, to Ladyfish, Needlefish, Groupers or Snappers…there are even several species of large sharks!
Oh, and there is also the world record for the biggest Tarpon ever caught, so yeah, you can get some pretty impressive catches here. A place of adventure, beauty, and plenty of fish to choose from. It’s no wonder this fishing list makes it onto almost every bucket list!
Mississippi River Delta, Louisiana
Your dream fishing trip doesn’t have to be somewhere far away, as there are some excellent fishing locations that are the ultimate goal for many anglers, such as the Mississippi River Delta, in Louisiana!
This is definitely a place for fishing, with skilled captains and experienced anglers faced with adventure and challenges, as waters are like stepping into another world.
The top fish in this location are the Bull Redfish and the Gator Speckled Trout, both of them monstrous in size and a more than impressive catch. They are world-class game fish and the reason why many aim to visit this place for a unique fishing experience.
The Andaman Islands, India
The Andaman Islands, located in India, are a sight to behold and a beautiful place to visit regardless of fishing. Here, you step out of the dense and wild jungle, to end up on smooth yellow sand, with clean warm waters that have an entire world of fish and corals of every color. As amazing as it gets!
Anglers that plan a fishing trip to this location end up on a small boat, about a mile or two off the land, aiming to catch a Giant Trevally. These are by far the kings of the reef, powerful, mean, and absolutely huge in size.
There is also the Dogtooth Tuna, the super-sized Grouper, and the Coral Trout. So there’s plenty to keep anglers with their hands full, and you could end up with a once in a lifetime catch that you will never forget!
Turneffe Atoll, Belize
Located around 20 miles off the coast of Belize City, the destination of Turneffe Atoll is one of the top Bone fisheries in the world. So if Bonefish is what you’re after, then this is your dream bucket list fishing trip. Most of the Bonefish are medium-sized, but there are also some large ones that make for an impressive catch.
This location is also very well-known for its Permit, as is the entire country of Belize really. It has a huge population of Permit, and they average at around 10 to 20 pounds. However, some of the bigger ones are around 30 pounds! Plus, they are easy to catch all year round, so you can book your trip whenever suits you best.
Deep Sea Bucket List Fishing Trips:
Cairns, Australia
Cairns, in Australia, is located in the North Queensland coast, and it is a beautiful paradise for travelers and anglers alike. The weather is amazing, and there is very easy access to the famous Great Barrier Reef.
In fact, if you time your fishing trip just right, you can even try participating in one of the best offshore fishing experiences in the world: the Black Marlin season. The waters in this area are the center of Black Marlin activity.
From September through to December anglers arrive in hordes to attempt to catch a giant Grander, and fish well over 1000 pounds in weight are caught there yearly. Definitely the catch of a lifetime!
Anglers also love this destination because the heavy tackle season has a distinct air of excitement and adventure, it is a huge event and you get to mingle with anglers from all over the world. It’s the perfect experience to relish in your passion for fishing and get to live one of the most iconic fishing events.
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Hawaii is one of the most beautiful travel destinations in the world, full of wonder, beauty, and adventure.
But also, it’s the perfect fishing trip destination for anglers that want to find fish that they won’t get anywhere else in the world. With the beautiful waters and coastal areas of Hawaii, it is no wonder you get some unique fish, and some once in a lifetime catches!
Kailua-Kona has a wide variety of species to catch, however, it is mostly known for behemoth Blues. Billfish show up very close to the beach front, as the seafloor drops around 1000 feet within just half a mile off the shore, so you get to the deep waters very very fast!
There are also Striped and Black Marlin, as well as Tuna, Swordfish, Spearfish, Wahoo, Mahi Mahi, and the famous Hawaii Deep Seven reef species. And as we said, you get to these rich deep waters without ever losing sight of the shore!
Prince Edward Island, Canada
If you want to find two extremes in one single location, then Prince Edward Island, situated in Canada, is the fishing trip destination of your dreams.
In the winter the island gets hit by storms, wind, and blizzards, with everything covered by a thick layer of snow. In the summer, however, the island becomes a place of hot weather, where life thrives.
Most anglers choose to go to this destination during the summer, in order to attempt catching a Bluefin Tuna. These fish are very big, tough, and incredibly delicious. From August to October, you can find Bluefin Tuna that weigh over 800 pounds too, so it’s definitely an impressive and valuable catch!
However, as this Tuna is so delicious, it has become endangered, and the global fish stocks are low. This is why PEI encourages tag and release in this location.
So you will get the challenge of a lifetime trying to reel in this enormous tuna, get the satisfaction of succeeding in an impressive catch, but you will likely not get to taste the win. Still worth it though!
Watamu, Kenya
Kenya is a very well known destination for its wildlife safaris and large open grasslands, full of animals you would otherwise only ever see at a zoo.
However, it turns out that the Kenyan coast is also one of the best deep sea fishing grounds on earth, and it is becoming increasingly popular amongst anglers that plan destination fishing trips!
In Watamu, you can find an insane amount of Billfish: Blue Marlin, Black Marlin, Striped Marlin, Sailfish, Swordfish, Shortbill Spearfish, and many more. You can even fish for several different species, all within a day’s work!
It is basically a gold mine of Billfish, and the angler’s dream is to catch every single one in a single day! The best thing? As this destination has only recently been placed on the radar, you could plan your fishing trip before it becomes too crowded, and maybe you’ll be the first to complete the Billfish Slam!
Freshwater Bucket List Fishing Trips:
Amazon River, Brazil
The Amazon River is a bucket list destination for most regardless of fishing or not, as it is the largest and most unexplored river in the world. Going there is an adventure in itself!
What makes it even better is that it is the home of some impressive game fish, such as the Peacock Bass, the Piranha, the Payara, the Piraiba, and more! A fishing trip out in this area is a trip full of exploration and discovery, and you might even find something that nobody has ever seen before!
There is one fish in particular that makes the fishing trip to the Amazon River especially appealing: the Arapaima. This is a huge and colorful fish, known for its aggression. They are very hard to catch, and a worthy challenge for any experienced angler. So catching one definitely puts you on the radar!
Ebro River, Spain
The Ebro River is the most important river in Spain, making its way from the northern border, all the way down to the mediterranean sea. Upon first glance, it’s a calm river, great for following along like a road trip through Spain, and not much more.
However, this river is actually home to one of the largest and heaviest of all freshwater fish: the Wels Catfish.
The Wels Catfish are so big they can swallow you whole. They love all around Europe, but the Ebro River is where you will find the biggest and toughest specimens, must be something in the Spanish water!
There are also plenty of other fish to find in this river, not to mention that you then get to enjoy the surrounding areas within the Spanish country. It’s an easy fishing trip that can offer a great reward, and definitely worth putting on your angler bucket list.
Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
Alaska is a place of untamed beauty and wilderness, and an adventure no matter the aim of the trip. If you’re an angler, then you will want to visit the Kenai River, in Kenai Peninsula, as it is the mecca of freshwater fishing.
Every single summer, anglers from all over the world come to this location, in an attempt to tackle the Kenai King Salmon.
The name is accurate, as these fish are big, and the kings of the river. It can be a struggle to reel them in, as they are very strong, but that is what makes the fishing trip a worthy adventure!
There are also plenty of other fish in this area, all of them huge in size, and all of them a challenge. If you want a fishing trip full of the unknown, with some of the most beautiful nature around you, then this is the place to go.
Mongolian Highlands, Mongolia
The Mongolian Highlands, in Mongolia, is a remote land full of harsh yet beautiful wilderness. Even for the locals, the highlands are a place not often ventured into!
Near the Siberian border, the grassy plains give way to tall mountains and cold rivers, and this is the place to go if you want to experience a once in a lifetime freshwater fishing experience.
Anglers that make the trip to this location usually go for one main reason: the Taimen. This fish has caused an entire tourist industry to build around the area, as many anglers make the journey to this destination in order to attempt to catch a Taimen. Why? Well, because the Taimen is the ultimate salmonid!
They are a 4-foot trout that can weigh close to 100 pounds, an absolute monster. Plus, they are hard to find, and harder still to catch, making them a difficult challenge even for experienced anglers. Definitely, something for the bucket list if you want an epic tale under your belt!
In Conclusion:
There are plenty of wonderful locations around the world, perfect for a memorable and exciting fishing trip. Depending on what your preferences and goals are, you can look for specific types of destinations that will offer you the kind of fishing adventure that you are craving.
Some are more remote than others, some a little more accessible and easy to get to. But the main conclusion we would like to draw out is that life is too short to postpone a fishing trip. Get out there and challenge yourself with a new species of fish!
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