BestFishing

Saltwater flats, blue-water grounds and trout and salmon rivers — the places worth building a trip around, and what each one actually holds. Almost every fishery here is a season rather than a destination: a marlin ground is a three-month window, a salmon river runs on the water level, and the flats that read best on a map are the ones that need a spring tide to fish at all.

The Río Chimehuín at Junín de los Andes, Neuquén
Junín de los Andes
Neuquén
Chimehuín and Malleo RiversDry-Fly Water
Details & links
A Patagonian town at the junction of the Chimehuín, Malleo and Aluminé rivers, with wadeable freestone water for rainbow and brown trout under the Lanín volcano. The dragonfly hatch in late summer is the local set piece.
Wikipedia Map
The Río Grande crossing the Tierra del Fuego steppe, Argentina
Río Grande
Tierra del Fuego
Sea-Run Brown TroutFish Over 20 lb
Details & links
A steppe river running through Tierra del Fuego sheep country and one of the world's leading fisheries for large sea-run brown trout, with double-figure fish routine and occasional twenty-pounders. The season runs from January to April and most water is on private estancias.
Wikipedia Map
Coral and clear water on the Great Barrier Reef off Cairns, Queensland
Cairns Ribbon Reefs
Queensland
Grander Black MarlinSeptember to December
Details & links
The outer Ribbon Reefs off Cairns hold the world's most consistent run of giant black marlin, and more fish over 1,000 lb have been taken here than anywhere else. The season is tight — roughly September to December — and boats work from Cairns and Lizard Island.
Wikipedia Map
The Daly River in the Northern Territory
Daly River
Northern Territory
BarramundiRun-Off Season
Details & links
A tidal Top End river where barramundi stack at the creek mouths as the wet-season floodwater drains off the floodplain between March and May. Saltwater crocodiles mean the fishing is done from the boat.
Wikipedia Map
Sand flats at the Joulter Cays off northern Andros, Bahamas
Andros
Bahamas
Largest Flats System in the CaribbeanBonefish
Details & links
The largest island in the Bahamas, fringed by hundreds of square kilometres of hard sand flats and mangrove creeks that hold bonefish in large numbers. The West Side is wilderness fishing reached by skiff from the settlements on the east.
Wikipedia Bahamas guide Map
The lighthouse and shoreline at Turneffe Atoll, Belize
Turneffe Atoll
Belize
Grand Slam WaterPermit, Tarpon and Bonefish
Details & links
A coral atoll 40 kilometres off Belize City whose flats, lagoons and channels hold permit, tarpon and bonefish within a single tide. It is one of the few places where a grand slam is a realistic day's target rather than a career achievement.
Wikipedia Map
The Tijamuchi River in the Bolivian Beni lowlands
Tsimane
Beni
Golden DoradoSight Fishing in Clear Jungle Rivers
Details & links
Headwater rivers running off the Andes into the Bolivian Amazon, clear enough to sight-fish golden dorado hunting shoals of sábalo. Access is by light aircraft into Tsimane indigenous territory and rod numbers are capped.
Wikipedia Map
The Okavango River in the Panhandle above the delta
Okavango Delta
North-West District
TigerfishCatch-and-Release Season
Details & links
The Panhandle and main channels of the Okavango hold tigerfish that feed hardest during the September barbel run, when catfish drive baitfish against the papyrus. Fishing is closed each January and February for the spawning season.
Wikipedia Map
Aerial view of the blackwater Rio Negro in Amazonas, Brazil
Rio Negro
Amazonas
Peacock BassLow-Water Season
Details & links
A blackwater Amazon tributary whose lagoons and flooded forest hold three-barred and speckled peacock bass, fished from mothership operations in the low-water months from September to March. Water level, not the calendar, decides whether a week fishes well.
Wikipedia Map
Sheltered water and forest shoreline in Haida Gwaii, British Columbia
Haida Gwaii
British Columbia
Chinook SalmonHalibut Grounds
Details & links
An archipelago off the northern British Columbia coast where migrating chinook and coho salmon pass close to the headlands through the summer, with halibut on the banks below. Lodges are floating or fly-in and the season runs June to August.
Wikipedia Map
The Atlantic shoreline of Cape Verde
Sal and São Vicente
Cape Verde
Blue MarlinApril to July
Details & links
Atlantic islands 600 kilometres off Senegal where blue marlin concentrate from April to July, with multiple-fish days common at the peak. The drop-off sits close to shore, so run times are short.
Wikipedia Map
River valley and hills around Coyhaique in Chilean Patagonia
Coyhaique and the Aysén Rivers
Aysén
Brown and Rainbow TroutSpring Creeks and Freestone
Details & links
The Simpson, Ñireguao and Baker rivers around Coyhaique hold wild brown and rainbow trout in water ranging from meadow spring creek to big glacial freestone. The season runs from November to April.
Wikipedia Map
The Pacific coast at Manuel Antonio beside Quepos, Costa Rica
Quepos
Puntarenas
Pacific SailfishMultiple Raises a Day
Details & links
A Pacific port with a short run to the offshore seamounts, where sailfish raise in numbers from December to April and marlin follow through the green season. Marina Pez Vela is the base for most of the fleet.
Wikipedia Manuel Antonio guide Map
Satellite view of the cays of Jardines de la Reina off southern Cuba
Jardines de la Reina
Ciego de Ávila
Marine Park Since 1996Permit and Tarpon
Details & links
An archipelago 80 kilometres off Cuba's southern coast, protected as a marine park since 1996 and fished by a limited number of licensed operations. Permit, tarpon and bonefish share flats that see little recreational traffic.
Wikipedia Map
Mangrove canal on the Pacific coast at Monterrico near Iztapa, Guatemala
Iztapa
Escuintla
High Sailfish Raise Rates
Details & links
A Pacific port where the continental shelf and a permanent countercurrent hold sailfish year-round, producing notably high daily raise counts. Peak season runs from November to May.
Wikipedia Map
Rapids on the Laxá where it leaves Lake Mývatn, northern Iceland
Laxá í Aðaldal
Northeast Iceland
Atlantic SalmonFly-Only Water
Details & links
A spring-fed river in northern Iceland known for large, hard-fighting Atlantic salmon in fly-only water, with a season from late June to September. Beats are rotated and rod numbers are strictly limited.
Wikipedia Map
Elephants at the Ramganga River on the edge of Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand
Ramganga River
Uttarakhand
Golden MahseerCatch and Release Only
Details & links
A Himalayan foothill river along the edge of Corbett National Park holding golden mahseer, fished on a strict catch-and-release basis in the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon windows. Permits are issued through the forest department.
Wikipedia Map
The footbridge over the Ridge Pool on the River Moy at Ballina, County Mayo
River Moy
County Mayo
Largest Salmon Rod Catch in Ireland
Details & links
A County Mayo river that produces the highest rod catch of Atlantic salmon in Ireland, with the Ridge Pool running through the middle of Ballina town. Grilse arrive from June and the season closes at the end of September.
Wikipedia Map
Shallow lagoon shore on Kiritimati, Kiribati
Christmas Island
Line Islands
Largest Coral Atoll in the WorldWading Flats
Details & links
The world's largest coral atoll by land area, ringed by hard sand flats that can be walked for kilometres in ankle-deep water. Bonefish are abundant and giant trevally patrol the outer edges.
Wikipedia Map
Mangrove and shallow water inside the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, Quintana Roo
Ascension Bay
Quintana Roo
Permit on the FlatsSian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve
Details & links
A shallow bay inside the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve south of Tulum, holding one of the densest permit populations in the Caribbean along with bonefish, tarpon and snook. Punta Allen is the base and the flats are wadeable.
Wikipedia Map
El Arco at the tip of the Baja peninsula, Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas
Baja California Sur
Striped MarlinYear-Round Fleet
Details & links
The tip of the Baja peninsula, where the Pacific and the Sea of Cortez meet over deep water within sight of land. Striped marlin are present most of the year and the Bisbee's tournament each October is the richest in the sport.
Wikipedia Los Cabos guide Map
Lake Khövsgöl, the source of the Eg River in northern Mongolia
Eg and Ur Rivers
Khövsgöl
TaimenStrict Rod Quota
Details & links
Northern Mongolian rivers holding taimen, among the world's largest salmonids, fished on the surface with mouse patterns in September and October. Rod numbers on the protected water are capped by agreement with local communities.
Wikipedia Map
Dune islands and sand banks of the Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique
Bazaruto Archipelago
Inhambane
Black MarlinSailfish and Giant Trevally
Details & links
A chain of dune islands off the Mozambique coast where the shelf drops sharply into the channel, holding black marlin and sailfish within a short run. The flats between the islands add giant trevally and kingfish.
Wikipedia Map
The Tongariro River near the National Trout Centre, above Lake Taupō
Lake Taupō
Waikato
Rainbow Trout RunsTongariro River
Details & links
A caldera lake whose feeder rivers, above all the Tongariro, carry rainbow trout upstream to spawn through the winter, giving reliable fishing from May to October. The lake itself is fished by harling and jigging year-round.
Wikipedia Map
The Clutha River near Albert Town in Otago
Otago and Southland Rivers
Otago and Southland
Sight Fishing to Brown TroutVery Clear Water
Details & links
Clear South Island rivers — the Clutha, Mataura, Oreti and their tributaries — where large brown trout are spotted individually and cast to one at a time rather than fished blind. The season runs from October to April and most water needs a guide who knows the fish.
Wikipedia Queenstown guide Map
Fishing village and drying racks at Hamnøy in the Lofoten islands
Lofoten
Nordland
Skrei Cod SeasonJanuary to April
Details & links
An archipelago inside the Arctic Circle where the migrating skrei cod arrive to spawn between January and April, in the fishery that built the islands' drying racks. Halibut and coalfish are fished through the summer instead.
Wikipedia Map
The island of Sørøya in Finnmark, northern Norway
Sørøya
Finnmark
Atlantic HalibutCod and Coalfish
Details & links
An Arctic island off Finnmark with deep water close inshore, holding Atlantic halibut over 100 kilos along with cod and coalfish. The midnight sun makes the summer fishing effectively round the clock.
Wikipedia Map
The Pacific Darién coast of Panama near Piñas Bay
Piñas Bay
Darién
Zane Grey ReefBlack Marlin Records
Details & links
A bay on Panama's Pacific Darién coast whose offshore seamount, Zane Grey Reef, has produced numerous IGFA world records. Black marlin, cubera snapper and roosterfish all sit within a short run.
Wikipedia Map
A tidal jungle river in West New Britain, Papua New Guinea
New Britain
West New Britain
Papuan Black BassTidal Jungle Rivers
Details & links
Tidal river systems draining rainforest into the Bismarck Sea, holding Papuan black bass — a powerful snapper adapted to fresh and brackish water. Access is by mothership from Kimbe or Kavieng.
Wikipedia Map
The rocky Atlantic coast of Faial in the Azores
Azores
Azores
Blue MarlinCondor Bank
Details & links
Mid-Atlantic islands whose offshore seamounts — Condor, Princess Alice and Azores Bank — concentrate blue marlin from July to October, with several fish over 1,000 lb recorded. Horta and Faial are the main bases.
Wikipedia Azores guide Map
The bay at Câmara de Lobos on the south coast of Madeira
Madeira
Madeira
Grander Blue MarlinDeep Water Off the Cliffs
Details & links
Deep water sits within a couple of kilometres of the Madeira cliffs, and the island produced a run of blue marlin over 1,000 lb through the 1990s that made its name. The season runs from June to September out of Funchal.
Wikipedia Madeira guide Map
Aerial view of Alphonse Atoll in the outer Seychelles
Alphonse and St François
Outer Islands
Giant TrevallyMilkfish and Triggerfish
Details & links
An outer-island atoll with a 40-square-kilometre lagoon fished on foot at low water for giant trevally, bonefish, milkfish and triggerfish. Rod numbers are capped and the season splits either side of the monsoon.
Wikipedia Seychelles guide Map
Satellite view of Astove Atoll in the southern Seychelles
Astove Atoll
Outer Islands
Wall Drops to 1,000 mGiant Trevally
Details & links
A remote atoll in the far south of the Seychelles whose reef wall falls away almost vertically a few metres from the flat, so blue-water fish feed within casting range of dry sand. Access is by liveaboard and the rod quota is small.
Wikipedia Seychelles guide Map
The turquoise Soča near Tolmin, Slovenia
Soča River
Primorska
Marble TroutCatch and Release
Details & links
A turquoise alpine river holding the endemic marble trout, protected by a strict catch-and-release regime and a limited daily permit. The upper Soča and the Idrijca are the classic beats.
Wikipedia Map
The Mequinenza reservoir on the Ebro, known locally as the Mar de Aragón
River Ebro
Catalonia and Aragon
Wels Catfish Over 200 lb
Details & links
The Mequinenza and Riba-roja reservoirs on the Ebro hold giant wels catfish, with fish above 200 lb recorded, along with carp and zander. The fishery runs year-round and is worked from boats and from the bank.
Wikipedia Map
Beach and channel water at Mafia Island, Tanzania
Mafia Island
Pwani
Broadbill SwordfishMarine Park
Details & links
An island south of Zanzibar with a marine park at its southern end and a channel that holds broadbill swordfish, sailfish and giant trevally. The main billfish season runs from September to March.
Wikipedia Map
The River Spey running through Moray, Scotland
River Spey
Moray, Scotland
Spey Casting Named For ItSpring Salmon
Details & links
A fast Highland river that gave its name to the two-handed casting style developed on it in the nineteenth century. Spring salmon run from February and the river fishes through to the end of September.
Wikipedia Map
The River Tweed above Kelso in the Scottish Borders
River Tweed
Scottish Borders
Autumn Salmon RunLargest Rod Catch in Scotland
Details & links
A Borders river that produces Scotland's largest annual rod catch of Atlantic salmon, with the run peaking in October and November. Beats are let by the week and most are fished from the bank and by boat.
Wikipedia Map
Brown bears feeding on sockeye salmon in the Bristol Bay watershed, Alaska
Bristol Bay
Alaska
Largest Sockeye Run on EarthRainbow Trout Follow the Salmon
Details & links
The watershed feeding Bristol Bay carries the world's largest sockeye salmon run, and the rainbow trout that follow the spawning fish grow to a size found almost nowhere else. Access to most water is by float plane from Iliamna or King Salmon.
Wikipedia Alaska guide Map
Nauset Beach on the outer arm of Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Cape Cod
Massachusetts
Striped BassFall Run
Details & links
The Cape's beaches, rips and estuaries hold striped bass and bluefish from May to October, with the autumn run down the outer beach the peak of the season. Monomoy and the Cape Cod Canal are the best-known stretches.
Wikipedia Cape Cod guide Map
Flats fishing in the backcountry near Islamorada in the Florida Keys
Florida Keys
Florida
Tarpon, Permit and BonefishIslamorada and Key West
Details & links
The backcountry flats between the Keys and Florida Bay hold the tarpon migration each spring, along with resident permit and bonefish. Islamorada and Key West are the two centres and the fishery is almost entirely catch-and-release.
Wikipedia Florida Keys guide Map
The Kenai River on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
Kenai River
Alaska
World-Record King SalmonRoad-Accessible
Details & links
A glacial river south of Anchorage that produced the 97 lb sport-caught Alaska record king salmon in 1985 and also carries sockeye and coho. Both 2026 king-salmon sport runs are closed, including catch-and-release, so check current Alaska regulations before fishing.
Wikipedia Alaska guide Map
The Madison River below the Madison Landslide in Montana
Madison River
Montana
Fifty-Mile RiffleSalmonfly Hatch
Details & links
A Montana freestone river whose long unbroken riffle below Quake Lake gives continuous holding water for wild brown and rainbow trout. The salmonfly hatch in late June and early July is the busiest week of the year.
Wikipedia Yellowstone guide Map
Aerial view of the Mississippi River delta marsh below Venice, Louisiana
Venice
Louisiana
Bull RedfishYellowfin Tuna Offshore
Details & links
The last town on the Mississippi before the delta, with marsh ponds holding bull redfish inshore and the deepwater rigs holding yellowfin tuna a short run offshore. Both fisheries run through the winter.
Wikipedia New Orleans guide Map
Cayo Crasquí in the Los Roques archipelago, Venezuela
Los Roques
Federal Dependencies
National Park Since 1972Bonefish Flats
Details & links
A coral archipelago 130 kilometres north of Caracas, protected as a national park since 1972, with white sand flats holding large numbers of bonefish. Fishing is out of the single village on Gran Roque.
Wikipedia Map
Elephant on the bank of the Zambezi in Lower Zambezi National Park
Lower Zambezi
Lusaka Province
TigerfishNational Park Frontage
Details & links
The Zambezi below Kariba runs past a national park, and its channels and rock bars hold tigerfish that take a fly hard and jump repeatedly. September and October are the peak months, at the end of the dry season.
Wikipedia Map