Fishing is one of the best ways to spend your weekend with your family. It’s fun, exciting, and full of thrills as you don’t have any idea what kinds of fish lie beneath the waves and still waters.
However, some people aren’t fond of fishing. For them, fishing reduces the native population of fish that may thrive and reproduce in the ecosystem. If this is your biggest concern that stops you from enjoying catching fish, you may consider catch and release fishing instead.
Catch and release fishing is an eco-friendly fishing practice that allows you to enjoy fishing without damaging the natural marine ecosystem. The primary purpose of this technique is to allow fish to grow, reproduce, and improve their population over time, leaving you with a more abundant fish to catch.
If you’re wondering where to fish, you’re on the right page. This article will show you the best spots in the world where you can catch and release different kinds of fish.
Contents
- 1. Lizard Island, Australia
- 2. Iztapa, Guatemala
- 3. Alphonse Island, Seychelles
- 4. Boulder Creek, Colorado
- 5. Fontenelle Creek, Wyoming
- 6. Umba River, Russia
- 7. Martha’s Vineyard
- 8. Ocracoke Island, North Carolina
- 9. East Cape-Baja, Mexico
- 10. Lake Alen Henry, Texas
- 11. Ascension Bay, Mexico
- 12. Cairns, Australia
- 13. Montauk, New York
- 14. Mississippi River Delta, Louisiana
- 15. Pi-As Bay, Panama
- 16. Jerome Lake, Alaska
- 17. Chalks Stream, England
- 18. Hatteras, North Carolina
- 19. Kona, Hawaii
- 20. Rio Colorado, Costa Rica
- 21. Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, Canada
- 22. Amazon River, Brazil
- 23. Turneffe Atoll, Belize
- 24. Malindi, Kenya
- 25. Key West, Florida
1. Lizard Island, Australia
Lizard Island is located on the Great Barrier Reef, where millions of fish live and thrive, making it one of the best fishing spots you can explore. It offers a wide variety of fish, including trevally, mackerel, queenfish, and giant black marlin.
If you want to catch and release a black marlin, visiting the island from September to December is recommended, especially during the first week of October.
2. Iztapa, Guatemala
Also known as the world capital of sailfish, Iztapa is located on the Pacific Coast, and it’s one of the best spots to catch and release fishing, especially between December to April.
Aside from sailfish, other species of fish that thrive in the area include wahoo, mahi-mahi, and yellowfin tuna. If you fish around the shorelines, you’ll get to catch other kinds of fish, including cero mackerel, roosterfish, and snook.
Furthermore, don’t forget to visit the relaxing and beautiful Blue Bayou Lodge while in the area.
3. Alphonse Island, Seychelles
If you’re looking for an unforgettable fishing experience, then you should head onto Alphonse Island in Seychelles. It’s a remote location, but the place is scenic and absolutely promising. And, prepare your sunblock because it’s always sunny here.
On this island, some fish you may catch include dorado, yellowfin tuna, dogtooth tuna, and wahoo. Aside from catch and release fishing, you may also try fly fishing here, which most anglers love and enjoy.
4. Boulder Creek, Colorado
Aside from brown trout, other species of fish you may find include black crappie, yellow perch, catfish, rainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegill, etc.
Furthermore, the best thing about Boulder Creek is that you can fish here all year round. No seasons are needed.
5. Fontenelle Creek, Wyoming
If you’re up for a challenge and adventure, Fontenelle Creek in Wyoming is the place to go. It’s famous for its wild, rocky, and remote location, which many anglers find pleasing.
In this area, you’ll find brook trout, cutthroat trout, and stonefly nymph. The best time to catch and release fish in Fontenelle Creek is June to September.
Furthermore, it’s the best fishing spot to consider if you’re looking for a non-crowded place.
6. Umba River, Russia
If salmon is one of your favorite fish, then you should visit the Umba River in Russia. Also, it’s the first fishing spot in Russia to open for foreign tourists and offers plenty of accommodation around the area. Therefore, a room where you can stay shall never be an issue.
Aside from the famous Atlantic salmon, other species of fish you can find include brown trout and Arctic grayling.
7. Martha’s Vineyard
Martha’s Vineyard isn’t only known for its exhilarating and unspoiled charm, but also for its abundant marine ecosystem, making it one of the best fishing spots in the world.
On this island, you can find varieties of fish, including bonito, striped bass, albacore tuna, and bluefish. If you want to catch and release striped bass and bluefish, it’s best to visit between May and October.
On the other hand, visit the Vineyard during mid-August for bonito and between August to September for albacore tuna.
8. Ocracoke Island, North Carolina
Ocracoke Island is located near the Gulf Stream, where locals enjoy surf fishing because of the beautiful waves and tides. In addition, the best time to visit the place is during fall and spring. And, it’s the best spot for catching and releasing red drum fish.
Since the red drum is hard to catch, you may consider looking for other fish varieties, such as pompano, Spanish mackerel, sea mullets, bluefish, and flounder.
9. East Cape-Baja, Mexico
East Cape-Baja in Mexico is another great fishing destination you might want to explore. It provides shelter for a wide range of fish, including striped, blue, black marlin, dorado, and wahoo.
In addition, it’s one of the best spots for anglers who want to capture big fish. Its peak fishing season is between May to November, but these blue waters offer all-year-round fishing opportunities.
Furthermore, other fish you may find near the shoreline include roosterfish and rockstar fish.
10. Lake Alen Henry, Texas
Lake Alen Henry in Texas is well-known for its abundant marine ecosystem, particularly largemouth bass. You may also find other species of fish in this lake, such as white crappie and spotted bass. In addition, most fish in the area are huge and may weigh up to five pounds.
Because of its stunning and jaw-dropping beauty, many anglers find this lake interesting and a good spot to catch and release fish. However, make sure to study fishing regulations that may change over time to avoid penalties.
11. Ascension Bay, Mexico
Ascension Bay in Mexico is one of the best destinations for fly fishing. Also, it has a protected snook sanctuary, making it a great place to catch and release fish.
The peak season is from February to June, which will help you catch different kinds of fish, including bonefish, permit fish, and tarpon.
But, before you head onto the waters, don’t forget to grab all the gear and equipment ready. These include fishing reels and rods, fishing hooks, live bait and lures, fishing lines, and, most importantly, your boat.
12. Cairns, Australia
Cairns is the perfect place to try multiple fishing techniques, such as reef fishing, game fishing, fly fishing, and estuary fishing.
If you’re looking for some adventures, it’s advisable to experience sports fishing, where you can catch and release mahi-mahi and sailfish.
In addition, you may find other species of fish on this island, such as salmon, cod, barramundi, coral trout, and mangrove jack.
13. Montauk, New York
Montauk is one of the best fishing spots on the East Coast. From here, you can catch and release a wide variety of fish, including striped bass, porgy, blackfish, flounder, and bluefish.
For offshore fishing, other fish species you can find include tuna, mahi-mahi, and marlin. For the best fishing results, it’s advisable to visit the area during the fall or migratory season.
14. Mississippi River Delta, Louisiana
Embarking on a fishing trip to the Mississippi River Delta is like entering another world. This place isn’t ruled by humans but by fish. Such great kings of the river are gator speckled trout and bull redfish. Both are known to be giant but manageable for catch and release fishing.
Aside from the kings of the river, other fish species you may find are salmon and tarpon.
15. Pi-As Bay, Panama
If you’re looking for a reason to leave for winter, consider this a sign and visit Pi-As Bay in Panama for a great fishing experience.
On this island, you can find fish of different sizes. Small-sized fish can be found on the inshore, while large fish, like sailfish and blue marlin, can be found in deep waters.
Furthermore, the area has a lot of bars and accommodation you can enjoy after fishing.
16. Jerome Lake, Alaska
Now, it’s time to visit the 50th state of the United States. Jerome Lake is just a few miles away from Bear Creek. And, in this location, you’ll find plenty of rainbow trout, which you can catch and release as long as you want.
In addition, other fish varieties in the area include Arctic grayling and salmon. For the best fishing results, kindly visit during the migration period or the late fall season.
17. Chalks Stream, England
Chalks Stream in England is another great destination where you can enjoy fly fishing in the relaxing and scenic countryside. In this location, wild brown trout is one of the fish species you may find.
Aside from trout, other varieties of fish include salmon and sea trout. The best season to visit Chalks Stream is during the springtime.
On top of that, it’s low-cost and a perfect place to enjoy family time together.
18. Hatteras, North Carolina
If you’re looking for a place where you can relax and take the vacation you need, Hatteras is the place to go. Also, don’t forget to visit the inlets, perfect for inshore and offshore fishing experiences.
This spot in the Atlantic is known for different kinds of fish, including mahi-mahi, red drum, king mackerel, yellowfin tuna, and blue marlin.
Furthermore, don’t forget to communicate with locals about fishing guidelines and regulations to enjoy your fishing vacation even better.
19. Kona, Hawaii
If you’re dreaming of catching and taking a picture with a giant blue marlin, then you should leave for Kona in Hawaii. After all, Hawaii is among the world’s top fishing destinations due to its deep waters.
On this island, surrounded by marvelous sights and volcanoes, you may find tons of fish species, some of which include tuna, mahi-mahi, wahoo, and marlin.
Aside from that, you may encounter a pacific bluefish that could weigh up to 300 pounds, but that’s impossible for catch and release fishing. So, you might want to avoid that instead.
20. Rio Colorado, Costa Rica
Rio Colorado is one of the best fishing destinations in South America. It’s popularly known for having a vast tarpon and snook fish population.
Also, the location is all too perfect during the summer season when you can fight against the fish like a tug-of-war.
Furthermore, Rio Colorado offers a wide variety of fish, including sailfish, barracuda, wahoo, and even rare fish species, like machete fish.
21. Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, Canada
Prince Edward Island is famous for giant fish types, such as the bluefin tuna, which may go as heavy as 1,000 pounds. Since that’s too heavy for catch and release fishing, you may go for smaller-sized tuna instead.
The best season to visit the place is from August to October. Just make sure to avoid the winter season, when the blizzard could bury you in a thick blanket of snow.
22. Amazon River, Brazil
The Amazon River is one of the most unexplored sights in the world. So, you better be careful when visiting this place for fishing. It’s home to thousands of undiscovered species, but it’ll be a great experience if you become one of its first discoverers.
This extreme location is home to peacock bass, piranha, payara, and arapaima. As you go further, you’ll discover more strange creatures unfamiliar to everyone.
23. Turneffe Atoll, Belize
Turneffe Atoll is known for being one of the bone fisheries in the world. This is because of the dense population of bonefish in the area, which is perfect for honing your skills and catching your first fish.
Aside from bonefish, you may also find permit and tarpon, both of which are known to be populous as well in the area.
24. Malindi, Kenya
Malindi is the perfect example of a dream fishing destination on the planet where anglers can hope for a great catch.
In this scenic location, you may catch striped marlin, swordfish, blue marlin, sailfish, black marlin, and spearfish. If luck is at your side, you may even catch all six kinds in one day.
The best season to visit Malindi is during January and February, which is when your fishing fantasies may all come true.
25. Key West, Florida
The location of Key West is strategic as far as fishing is concerned. It’s an entrance to the Dry Tortugas, where blue waters and reefs exist, a sign of abundant marine life.
Key West is known for its wide variety of fish species, including porgy, snapper, lizard fish, triggerfish, lionfish, wahoo, and African pompano. The fishing season in this location is all year round. However, try to avoid fishing during the winter, which can be extremely challenging.
Furthermore, don’t forget to enjoy party life after fishing in Key West’s famous bars and seafood restaurants.
Final Words
Catch and release fishing is an eco-friendly and conservation fishing practice that promotes abundant marine ecology by allowing the fish to increase their population.
Before you start your journey fishing across the world, keep in mind the best seasons that’ll allow you to experience vast marine life. Also, make sure everything’s complete, especially your fishing gear and equipment, to have a successful adventure in the deep and shallow waters.
