The early morning wakeup, the drive to the lake and the many hours of quietly waiting for a bite — it’s all worth it when you get your first catch. Fishing as a hobby has steadily remained a popular outdoor activity through generations.
In fact, in 2017, 49 million Americans took to the water to wait for their next catch. That’s more than those going golfing every year.
These are the best cities for fishing
If you’re looking to relocate to one of the best cities for fishing, whether it’s freshwater, saltwater or fly fishing, we found the 10 cities with the most fishing businesses per capita.
There’s one state here that’s really a catch, showing up four times in our list, but the number one spot is truly a keeper for fishermen.
10. Duluth, MN
- Fishing businesses per capita: 12.8
- Water area: 19.64 sq. miles
Duluth’s Lake Superior makes up most of the city’s fishing access. The lake offers several tributary streams with seasonal trout and surrounding lakes, bass, catfish and walleye. Not even the cold winter can stop you from fishing as ice fishing is popular in the area. Just keep an eye on the state’s strict regulations surrounding catch-and-release and possession limits for trout.
Catch a big fish and a good deal for a one-bedroom in Duluth, they go for $1,232 a month on average.
9. Lake Charles, LA
- Fishing businesses per capita: 12.8
- Water area: 2.74 sq. miles
Outfitted with your valid fishing license, Lake Charles offers excellent redfish, trout and flounder fishing. Freshwater, brackish and saltwater fishing can be accessed around Lake Charles, with not all fishing requiring a boat. There are a couple of fishing bait stores and fishing stations for your use.
The local lake also has many inland beaches with white sand and mild temperatures for the whole family to enjoy. You can rent a one-bedroom apartment for $1,045 a month on average in Lake Charles.
8. Casper, WY
- Fishing businesses per capita: 13.9
- Water area: 0.34 sq. miles
Casper’s North Platte River attracts many anglers with its abundance of rainbow and brown trout, especially when the water is clear. Many in the area fly fish and there’s plenty of support in Casper as there are many fly fishing stores and fishing tackle dealers.
Another great spot to fish close to the city? Bryan Stock Trail Pond. Stocked with a variety of fish year over year, the lake is calm as gas motorboats are not allowed.
Casper’s one-bedroom apartments rent for $649 a month on average.
7. Bonita Springs, FL
- Fishing businesses per capita: 13.9
- Water area: 7.77 sq. miles
What’s better than Florida weather and a good day of fishing? Bonita Springs offers plenty of opportunities for fishing, especially around Estero Bay. The bay is fed by more than 10 rivers and streams with sea trout, redfish, snapper and grouper available for the catch. The salty water spot can even surprise you with a barracuda or two.
There are several boat rental places and bait shops in the area to help you get on your way and outfit yourself with the right gear. On average, you can find a one-bedroom apartment for $1,371 a month in Bonita Springs.
6. Missoula, MT
- Fishing businesses per capita: 14.8
- Water area: 0.16 sq. miles
Fly fishing rules in Missoula — there’s even a movie about it, “A River Runs Through It.” The community lives and breathes fly fishing around these parts, with three rivers for anglers to choose from. Lake fishing is also available at Flathead Lake, Georgetown Lake and a few others.
Applying for a fishing license can quickly be done online, too. The views of the mountains and the fresh air will urge you to rent a one-bedroom in Missoula, which goes for $1,558 a month on average.
5. New Bedford, MA
- Fishing businesses per capita: 16.8
- Water area: 4.13 sq. miles
For 19 years straight, the New Bedford port has been named as the nation’s most valuable port, since it’s a vital part of the global seafood economy and supply chain. It’s no surprise that the city made it to the top five on our list of best cities for fishing. The area has many lakes and streams that are primed for recreational fishing.
Among the catches, keep an eye out for striped bass, tautog, halibut, pollock and cod. A fishing enthusiast can find a one-bedroom apartment for $1,445 a month on average in New Bedford.
4. Jupiter, FL
- Fishing businesses per capita: 18.3
- Water area: 1.79 sq. miles
The sleepy beach town of Jupiter is the perfect getaway as a fishing enthusiast. Here, your line is most likely to catch a blue marlin in saltwater. Other fish in the area include sailfish, tarpon and grouper. You have a few bait shops and fishing tackle dealers to choose from.
There’s plenty to do outdoors in the area, including a visit to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center and the Blowing Rocks Preserve. A one-bedroom apartment in Jupiter rents for $1,704 a month on average.
3. Pensacola, FL
- Fishing businesses per capita: 20.9
- Water area: 18.16 sq. miles
In the spring, Pensacola sees a surge of cobia, pompano and Spanish mackerel catches just went it gets hot outside. You have your pick for location in Pensacola. You can head to the Miraflores Park Pier, Pensacola Bay Fishing Bridge or Civitan Fishing Pier. It’s best to go in the evening to get a chance to grab those catches in the springtime.
Fishing is available year-round in the area, though, with spring and fall being the best times for getting lucky. Anglers that feel at home in Pensacola can rent a one-bedroom for $1,009 a month on average.
2. Sarasota, FL
- Fishing businesses per capita: 26.0
- Water area: 10.53 sq. miles
With 15 total fishing establishments, Sarasota rises to the No. 2 spot for best cities for fishing. Here, you have the usual catches, such as speckled trout, black drum, mangrove snapper and grouper. You can fish right off the beach in Sarasota, with Lido Key and Siesta Key beaches being the best.
If you choose to fish from a dock, grab live bait at one of the local bait shops for the most success. As far as rentals, a one-bedroom rent for $1,465 a month on average if you need a home base in Sarasota.
1. Galveston, TX
- Fishing businesses per capita: 39.6
- Water area: 168.12 sq. miles
With the most significant water area available (168 square miles!), Galveston takes the top spot on our list for the best cities for fishing. With 20 total fishing establishments and lots of places to drop a line, this Texas city is a fisherman’s paradise.
The city has plenty of spots for families and professionals alike, like the Galveston 61 Pier, where you can rent all of the equipment and grab frozen bait. Catches include everything from redfish to black drum.
With fishing being excellent year-round, Galveston can be especially luring to fishing enthusiasts. You can find a one-bedroom apartment in Galveston for $1,064 a month on average.
50 best cities for fishing
And now for the 50 best cities for fishing. Factors like fishing bait stores, water area, fishing lakes, repair centers and fishing clubs are all essential for a good fishing experience.
| Rank | City | State | Population | Fishing Businesses Per Capita (Per 100k People) | Water Area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Galveston | TX | 50,457 | 39.6 | 168.12 |
| 2 | Sarasota | FL | 57,738 | 26.0 | 10.53 |
| 3 | Pensacola | FL | 52,713 | 20.9 | 18.16 |
| 4 | Jupiter | FL | 65,524 | 18.3 | 1.79 |
| 5 | New Bedford | MA | 95,315 | 16.8 | 4.13 |
| 6 | Missoula | MT | 74,428 | 14.8 | 0.16 |
| 7 | Bonita Springs | FL | 57,370 | 13.9 | 7.77 |
| 8 | Casper | WY | 57,461 | 13.9 | 0.34 |
| 9 | Lake Charles | LA | 78,001 | 12.8 | 2.74 |
| 10 | Duluth | MN | 85,884 | 12.8 | 19.64 |
| 11 | Mount Pleasant | SC | 89,338 | 12.3 | 7.52 |
| 12 | Wilmington | NC | 122,607 | 12.2 | 1.51 |
| 13 | Newport Beach | CA | 85,326 | 11.7 | 29.17 |
| 14 | Coeur d’Alene | ID | 51,303 | 11.7 | 0.51 |
| 15 | Daytona Beach | FL | 68,866 | 11.6 | 5.37 |
| 16 | Chico | CA | 94,776 | 11.6 | 0.17 |
| 17 | Redding | CA | 91,772 | 10.9 | 1.53 |
| 18 | Victoria | TX | 67,015 | 10.4 | 0.15 |
| 19 | Bradenton | FL | 57,644 | 10.4 | 2.73 |
| 20 | Lafayette | LA | 126,143 | 10.3 | 0.12 |
| 21 | West Palm Beach | FL | 111,398 | 9.9 | 2.75 |
| 22 | Appleton | WI | 74,526 | 9.4 | 0.49 |
| 23 | Nampa | ID | 96,252 | 9.4 | 0.15 |
| 24 | Lake Havasu City | AZ | 55,090 | 9.1 | 0.05 |
| 25 | North Little Rock | AR | 66,127 | 9.1 | 3.27 |
| 26 | Boca Raton | FL | 99,244 | 9.1 | 1.96 |
| 27 | Reading | PA | 88,495 | 9.0 | 0.26 |
| 28 | Tinley Park | IL | 56,204 | 8.9 | 0.02 |
| 29 | Taunton | MA | 57,296 | 8.7 | 1.71 |
| 30 | Gardena | CA | 59,721 | 8.4 | 0.04 |
| 31 | Fort Lauderdale | FL | 182,595 | 8.2 | 3.81 |
| 32 | Bend | OR | 97,590 | 8.2 | 0.26 |
| 33 | Idaho Falls | ID | 61,535 | 8.1 | 0.45 |
| 34 | Springfield | MO | 168,122 | 7.7 | 0.59 |
| 35 | St. Petersburg | FL | 265,098 | 7.5 | 75.86 |
| 36 | Milford | CT | 53,120 | 7.5 | 3.95 |
| 37 | Portland | ME | 66,417 | 7.5 | 48.13 |
| 38 | Huntington Beach | CA | 200,641 | 7.5 | 5.13 |
| 39 | Miami | FL | 470,914 | 7.4 | 20.19 |
| 40 | Saint Cloud | FL | 54,115 | 7.4 | 0.01 |
| 41 | Albany | OR | 54,453 | 7.3 | 0.21 |
| 42 | West Haven | CT | 54,879 | 7.3 | 0.17 |
| 43 | Ventura | CA | 111,128 | 7.2 | 10.44 |
| 44 | Saint Charles | MO | 70,764 | 7.1 | 0.38 |
| 45 | Midwest City | OK | 57,325 | 7.0 | 0.01 |
| 46 | Santee | CA | 58,115 | 6.9 | 0.29 |
| 47 | Corvallis | OR | 58,641 | 6.8 | 0.17 |
| 48 | San Rafael | CA | 58,704 | 6.8 | 5.95 |
| 49 | Norwalk | CT | 89,047 | 6.7 | 13.49 |
| 50 | Ocala | FL | 60,429 | 6.6 | 0.00 |
Methodology
To determine the best cities for fishing, we looked at every city in the U.S. with a population of over 50,000 and at least one fishing-related business (bait stores, fishing stations, tackle dealers, tackle repair stores, public fishing lakes, fishing piers and fishing clubs).
We then divided the total number of fishing establishments by the total population and multiplied that number by 100,000 to determine the number of establishments per 100,000 people. The cities with the highest per capita rating were determined to be the best cities for fishing in our quantitative report.
Data sources:
- The population is based on 2018 estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau
- Water area is based on demographic information from the U.S. Census Bureau
- Total fishing establishment counts are from a database of 8 million commercially available business listings. These listings may not reflect recent openings or closings.
- Rent prices are based on a weighted average from Apartment Guide and Rent.’s multifamily rental property inventory from April 2020 to April 2019. We use a weighted average formula to more accurately represent price availability for each individual unit type and reduce the influence of seasonality on rent prices.
The rent information included in this article is used for illustrative purposes only. The data contained herein do not constitute financial advice or a pricing guarantee for any apartment.
