Fishing conditions by location

Striped bass migration corridor. Canal fishing in summer, surf-casting on the outer beaches, and offshore trips for tuna out of Chatham.

Legendary striped bass fishing, especially on the southwest side. Clear-for-the-northeast water, boulder structure, and deep channels.

"The End." Striped bass and bluefish blitzes in fall, offshore tuna and sharks in summer. The Montauk Point rip is one of the most famous tide lines on the Atlantic.

Chesapeake Bay mouth fishing for striped bass, offshore to the Norfolk Canyon for tuna and billfish. Beach surf-casting for flounder and red drum.

"Graveyard of the Atlantic." Gulf Stream runs closer to shore here than anywhere else on the East Coast. Year-round tuna, billfish, and wreck diving.

Inshore redfish on the flats, offshore wrecks 30–60 miles out for grouper and snapper. Inlet and harbor fishing for red drum and trout year-round.

Diving capital of the US. Crystal-clear tropical water, shallow patch reefs, and deep wrecks including the Spiegel Grove and Duane. Consistently 30–80ft viz in summer, more volatile in winter.

Sportfishing capital of the world. Deep water close to shore, the edge of the Gulf Stream within a short run. Sailfish winter push, mahi summer runs.

Southernmost reef structure in the continental US. Marquesas and Dry Tortugas trips for permit, tarpon, and offshore pelagics. Shallower patch reefs inshore for snapper and grouper.

Deep ledge runs just offshore, plus the inlet drift for big snook and tarpon. Strong Gulf Stream influence — pelagics push close in when conditions align.

Shipwreck alley — dozens of intentionally sunk wrecks within 20 minutes of the inlet, plus the world's largest artificial reef project. Year-round diving, reliable sailfish in winter.

Haulover, Government Cut, and the edge of the Gulf Stream just minutes offshore. Sailfish, kingfish, and mahi runs year-round. Bonefish flats in Biscayne Bay on the back side.

Surf-fishing paradise with long stretches of accessible beach. Offshore runs to ledges for snapper, grouper, and seasonal kingfish.

Massive estuary with tarpon runs in May–July, redfish and snook year-round in the grass flats, and offshore depth for grouper within 30 miles.

"World's luckiest fishing village." Deep water closer to shore than most Gulf ports. Red snapper mecca in season, cobia push in spring, offshore tuna trips year-round.

Inshore snook and tarpon fishing, plus the run to the Middle Grounds for serious offshore trips. Easy-bottom Gulf of Mexico inside 20 miles.

Alabama has the largest artificial reef zone in the Gulf. Red snapper stronghold, plus cobia in spring and tuna out deep.

Offshore rigs hold bait, which attracts everything — red snapper, kingfish, mahi, tuna, amberjack, and occasional blue marlin farther out.

Laguna Madre hypersaline flats for big trout and redfish. Offshore into the deeper western Gulf for snapper and tuna.

Kelp forests for white seabass and halibut, plus offshore runs to the Coronado Islands and the Tanner Bank. Cool Pacific water year-round; viz improves with offshore winds.

Classic California point surf, with the famous Surfrider Beach. Halibut flats for drift fishing, local kelp reefs for calico bass.

One of the most popular spearfishing and diving islands on the US West Coast. Kelp forests on the front side, bluewater pelagic shots on the back side. Short ferry from LA/OC.

Deep canyon starts feet from shore. Cold, plankton-rich water — lower viz but world-class kelp forest ecology, lingcod, and cabezon for divers.

Northwesternmost tip of the lower 48. Salmon runs, halibut, lingcod, and bottomfish. Cold, occasionally turbid water with rapid current.

Known for bluewater spearfishing — mahi, wahoo, and yellowfin tuna off the offshore FAD buoys. North Shore surf breaks in winter are a major draw.

Kona side drops off faster than almost anywhere in the world — 1000ft contour within a mile of shore. Big blue marlin and yellowfin tuna within sight of the harbor.

Molokini Crater diving, Honolua Bay on calm days, plus bluewater trips between the islands. Winter humpback whale migration routes overlap fishing grounds.