Florida Fishing Spots That Are Worth Visiting, According to Locals
Florida is known by many in the fishing community as the fishing capital of the world. But why?
Well, with over 900 world records and seemingly endless places to fish, including thousands of lakes, miles, and miles of tidal shore and rivers, it’s no surprise that tons of people flock to the state to fish each year.
However, with all of these options, it’s hard to know where the best spots are. That’s where we come in!
1 – Tampa Bay
We’re starting this list off with a bang right in Tampa. Tampa is an absolute fishing delight. With over 400 square miles of the open-water estuary, making it the largest in the world, it is the perfect fishing spot for people of all skill levels.
You can expect to catch the likes of redfish, snook, spotted seatrout, and even a trophy size tarpon if you’re up for the challenge. It offers inshore and offshore opportunities. Inshore is known as one of the best places to fly fish.
It offers something for weight fly fishers, as well as something for those who prefer a lighter rod. Regardless of your preferred style, there’s almost a guarantee that something will bite.
If you’re looking for a more challenging fish, offshore is where it’s at. This will take you along the Gulf of Mexico where you’ll find your more aggressive and challenging predatory fish.
Be sure that you have a permit and that you check with authorities before fishing, as there is a limit of which species can be fished when and how many can be taken from the Gulf.
2 – Lake Okeechobee
If you’re a bass man or woman, Lake Okeechobee is the place for you. Lake Okeechobee offers its visitors 730 square miles of pristine saltwater bass fishing. Oh, and did we mention that it’s also home to some of the most impressive trophy-winning saltwater bass?
If you’re looking to take home an impressive story as well as pictures to accompany your catch, this is the place. All of this excitement is wrapped up in picturesque views that leave you feeling calm—just what you want from a fishing trip.
It also offers great shoreline fishing if you’d rather sit in your comfy camping chair along the edge. The lake is dotted with a variety of resorts and campsites, so you can choose your level of comfort to suit your budget as well as your needs and desires.
Don’t have a boat of your own? Don’t worry. You can rent one from a vendor on the lake.
3 – Stuart
If you know anything about Stuart, you’ll know that it’s been dubbed the “Sailfish Capital Of The World” and for good reason. It is great if you’re looking for a variety of options.
The Gulf Stream is only a short way offshore, which means that it is a great place for catching big fish. You can easily charter a boat for a day, or half a day (both options are available), with some captains even offering night fishing.
If the deep dark sea is not for you, don’t worry. There is plenty of variety close to shore and even inland. Many people choose to go further inland within the area known as “Sailfish Alley” where you could land yourself up to 15 sailfish in a good day!
4 – Cocoa Beach
Cocoa Beach has everything you might expect from a quintessential beach town. It is also THE best place to fish in Orlando.
For a rewarding offshore experience, you can book a full-day trip that will take you about 20-40 miles out to sea. These trips are long, so you won’t spend a great amount of time fishing, but you will be rewarded for your wait.
Inshore offers a variety of options, too. Enjoy a few hours of kayak fishing along the river, or even go on a shark fishing experience! The beach town is surrounded by shallow waters that are protected, which makes it a great place for beginners.
5 – Destin
While Cocoa Beach might be known as the best place to fish in Orlando, Destin is known as the world’s luckiest fishing village. This once tiny coastal town is now booming with visitors.
This town is overrun with anglers in October, with over 30,000 visitors competing in the Destin Fishing Rodeo each year. Destin is another town located close to the Gulf of Mexico.
The offshore seabed, packed with its artificial reefs and shipwrecks is a haven for amazing catches. Oh, and did you know that it offers the best deep-sea fishing in Florida?
Taking the time to go that extra mile out really pays off. Heading inshore will not disappoint you either. Many claim that the inshore catches easily rival those offshore, making it a place that welcomes people from any fishing background.