Gone Fishing: Best Fishing Spots in the World

There are two types of fishermen. One that enjoys sitting out on a familiar lake with a beverage. The other seeks adventure, new experiences, and bigger, more impressive catches. If you belong to the second category, this article is most certainly for you.

Today, we’re going to explore some of the most sought-after fishing locales the world has to offer. Unique landscapes, an abundance of catch-ready fish, literal sea-monsters — the water bodies featured here are sure to leave any angler, professional, or otherwise smiling and speechless.

So, bust out your tackle box, put on your life preserver, and get ready to explore some of the very best fishing spots that Mother Earth has to offer.

Umba River, Russia

If you’re a fan of fly fishing for Atlantic salmon and you don’t mind airplanes, consider Russia’s world-famous Umbra River. This river is easily one of the best Atlantic Salmon fishing spots available.

The Umbra River connects the Kanozero Lake to the White Sea and is often broken up into 14 fishing hotspots. Experiencing the majestic Umbra River is as simple as booking a lodge and hauling the right gear. It’s important to note that all Umbra River fishing is catch and release.

The Atlantic salmon season runs from May to October. However, it is closed to fishing during July and August.

Lizard Island, Australia

Trust me, Lizard Island has much more to offer than a super badass sounding name. That is if perfect weather and once-in-a-lifetime experiences are something that you might be interested in.

Lizard Island offers fishermen an out of this world, luxury escape from the lakes and rivers that they’re used to. The island itself offers awe-inspiring luxury accommodations and white sandy beaches as far as the eye can see. The surrounding waters give you the chance to fish along the Great Barrier Reef and maybe, just maybe, catch Black Marlin. If you’re hoping to catch one of those beasts though, you’ll want to book your trip sometime between September and December.

Betty Lake, Colorado

Some of the best trout fishing in the world requires a trek through the wilderness and mountains of Colorado. The Indian Peaks Wilderness is home to Betty Lake, a high mountain lake nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Just a two-hour drive from Denver, Betty Lake is open to fish as long as the water isn’t frozen, which is typically the summer months of June and July.

This is a fly fishing territory, so deep-sea fishermen need not apply. Having said that, it doesn’t take a fly-fishing master to make a big catch on Betty Lake. This place is loaded with trout.

River Dee, Scotland

Scotland has earned international acclaim for its top-tier whisky. Too often we forget about the region’s natural splendor.

The fisherman never forgets, but then again, how could anyone possibly forget fly fishing salmon out of the River Dee? The River Dee is 87 miles of fly-fishing paradise that begins in the picturesque Cairngorm Mountains and travels North East straight through to the east coast.

If you find yourself in Scotland anywhere between February 1 to October 15, pick up some fly-fishing gear and head on down. Though the river is 100 percent catch and release, the Dee has been known to produce salmon as large as 20 pounds.

Saint Lucia

As far as picturesque tropical locations are concerned, you’d be hard-pressed to find anything nicer than the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia. The island rests on the eastern end of the Caribbean Sea, bordering on the Atlantic Ocean. It has white sands, crystal clear water, and perfect weather. But, what about the fishing?

It’s great. Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Sailfish, Blackfin Tuna, the list goes on. While the fishing season is open year-round, your likelihood of catching a particular fish varies from season to season. If you’re hoping to catch a Wahoo, for instance, you’ll want to book your deep-sea charter between December and June.

Brainerd, Minnesota

You can be forgiven if Brainerd, Minnesota has yet to make your vacation destination bucket list. I mean, the city is far from a household name. Having said that, Brainerd is a bona fide heavy hitter in the world of ice fishing.

If you’re looking for an intimate, ice fishing experience with a few friends, you can rent a fish house and get searching for walleye, northern, and panfish. If you really want to test your mettle against the best of the best and enjoy the full Brainerd experience, I recommend saving up your vacation days and cashing out in January for the Brainerd Jaycees $150,000 Ice Fishing Extravaganza.

Halong Bay, Vietnam

If you’re looking for an altogether different experience, get yourself to Vietnam’s Halong Bay between August and December for a little bit of nighttime squid fishing. That’s right, squid fishing.

Halong Bay is full of squid, some have caught as many as 20 in a single trip. What’s more, there are a lot of companies that offer charter boats with dinner, drinks, and squid fishing for a very reasonable price. They’ll even supply the fishing gear.

All you need to do is sit back, relax, and try not to get ink all over your “I HEART VIETNAM” t-shirt.

Chalk Streams, England

Chalk streams are wide, shallow streams that flow towards the sea. They’re perfect for fly fishing. Of the 210 chalk streams that exist in the world, 160 of them are in England. So, it goes without saying that if you’re ever hoping to fly fish a chalk stream, you’ll probably have to hop the pond to the UK.

If you’re looking to bring home a couple of trout, the South of England is probably your best bet. I suggest the River Test, which is probably the most famous fly fishing river in the world. When peering into the crystal-clear waters of the River Test, you’ll see brown trout, salmon, rainbow trout, and more, depending on the season. The river is open for 11 months out of the year. If you’re fixing for a busy line, aim somewhere between early-May to early-June.

Eg-Uur River Basin, Mongolia

You can be forgiven if you’ve never heard of the exceedingly rare and especially large taimen fish. The taimen, which is a species that belongs to the salmon family, is native to Siberia and goes by the moniker “Siberian giant trout”.

These super-aggressive fish call Mongolia’s Eg-Urr River Basin home for much of the year. As such, they draw plenty of North American anglers eastward.

The Eg-Urr River Basin is one of the only remaining strongholds of healthy taimen populations. So if you’re hoping to add one to your caught list, set sails for Mongolia. The fishing season runs from June 15 through to November 1.

Colorado River, Costa Rica

Experienced anglers inquire within. The Colorado River, or Rio Colorado, in Costa Rica, is home to some of the most coveted catches in the entire world. Yes, we’re talking about tarpon. These monsters can weigh as much as 280-pounds and sometimes grow to as long as eight feet. Yes, they’re huge and intimidating. However, if you can bag a tarpon with your very own hands, enjoy the spoils and bragging rights for the rest of your life.

Forget about fishing season restrictions, Costa Rica’s Rio Colorado is open for business all year-round. Though, if you’re hoping to snag a tarpon, your luck will be at its peak between January and May.

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