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Whether you’re looking to polish your fly fishing skills on America’s rivers or head offshore in search of your next big catch, these 10 fishing charters and outfitters – voted as the best in North America – are sure to increase your chances of success.
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Angling Unlimited Sitka visitors hoping to catch salmon or halibut can charter a boat from Angling Unlimited. The waters near Sitka offer some of the best saltwater salmon fishing in the world, and depending on the season, it’s possible to catch king salmon, halibut and rockfish in the same day.
Photo courtesy of iStock / filo
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Big Hole Lodge Established in 1984, Big Hole Lodge specializes in wild trout fly fishing in the rivers of Southwestern Montana. Guests of the lodge might spend a day floating on the Big Hole River or wading in a private spring creek, with helpful casting advice from lodge guides.
Photo courtesy of Wade Fellin / Big Hole Lodge
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Three Forks Ranch The owner of Three Forks Ranch funded one of the most extensive river restoration projects in the U.S., so conservation is key at this luxury lodge. Thanks to these conservation efforts, guests enjoy world class trout fishing in the upper 16 miles of the Little Snake River (as well as winter ice fishing).
Photo courtesy of Three Forks Ranch
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Three Rivers Ranch Anglers from around the globe come to Idaho’s Three Rivers Ranch to fish the waters of the Madison, Yellowstone, Henry’s Fork and Snake Rivers. Guided fly fishing tours are available throughout the year and include expert fly fishing instruction for float or wade fishing.
Photo courtesy of iStock / KevinCass
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Alaska King Fishing Charter Alaska King Fishing Charter offers 26- and 32-foot boats for salmon and halibut fishing, crabbing and wildlife watching. Large and small groups are welcome, and the company even offers shorter packages for cruise ship passengers visiting Ketchikan.
Photo courtesy of iStock / jahall4
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Humdinger Sportfishing Passengers aboard Humdinger Sportfishing charters often catch mahi mahi, wahoo and yellowfin tuna, and the crew are happy to filet your catch. The 37-foot Rybovich Sportfisherman serves as a base for these Kona Coast fishing excursions.
Photo courtesy of Captain Kevin Hibbard / Humdinger Sportfishing
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Cajun Fishing Adventures Established in 1980, Cajun Fishing Adventures specializes in Louisiana saltwater fishing in the Mississippi River Delta. It’s one of the best areas in the country for redfish, as well as spotted sea trout, black drum and gulf flounder.
Photo courtesy of Ricky Tauceda / Cajun Fishing Adventures
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Lucky Bear Fishing Charters Lucky Bear Fishing Charters unlocks the waters of California’s Big Bear Lake, located some 7,000 feet above sea level. Tours are flexible, and it’s possible to snag rainbow trout even in the middle of the day.
Photo courtesy of iStock / Ron_Thomas
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Ohana Sportfishing Adventures “Ohana” means family in Hawaiian, and Ohana Sportfishing Adventures is a family owned and family friendly company specializing in trips along the calm waters of the Kona coast. Options include trophy fishing for blue marlin or yellowfish tuna, offshore fishing for billfish or angling for smaller species like mahi mahi and wahoo.
Photo courtesy of iStock / campbellphotostudio
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Gulf Island Charters Gulf Island Charters specializes in family friendly tours in the Gulf of Mexico, including inshore fishing trips for kids, 4-hour trolling trips and 5-hour trolling and bottom fishing excursions to nearby artificial reefs and oil rigs. Targeted species include red snapper, Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, cobia, trigger fish and amberjack.
Photo courtesy of iStock / Michael Warren
The top 10 winners in the category Best Fishing Tour are as follows:
- Angling Unlimited
- Big Hole Lodge
- Three Forks Ranch
- Three Rivers Ranch
- Alaska King Fishing Charter
- Humdinger Sportfishing
- Cajun Fishing Adventures
- Lucky Bear Fishing Charters
- Ohana Sportfishing Adventures
- Gulf Island Charters
A panel of experts (listed below) partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.
Congratulations to all these winning fishing companies!
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About 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Jeremy Clement
Jeremy Clement is a full time co-founder at Read More
Jeremy Clement is a full time co-founder at Project Expedition, a curated travel platform that offers access to more than 20,000 tours and excursions in destinations around the world. Based in New York City, Jeremy and his team have helped Project Expedition earn a reputation as one of the leading providers of tours and activities among travel advisors. Prior to co-founding Project Expedition, Jeremy spent seven years working in financial data and technology at Bloomberg, with long-term assignments in their New York, London, and Tokyo offices.
Jeremy Clement
Jeremy Clement is a full time co-founder at Project Expedition, a curated travel platform that offers access to more than 20,000 tours and excursions in destinations around the world. Based in New York City, Jeremy and his team have helped Project Expedition earn a reputation as one of the leading providers of tours and activities among travel advisors. Prior to co-founding Project Expedition, Jeremy spent seven years working in financial data and technology at Bloomberg, with long-term assignments in their New York, London, and Tokyo offices.
Mollie Fitzgerald
Mollie Fitzgerald grew up in the travel business… Read More
Mollie Fitzgerald grew up in the travel business and has experienced a wide range of sporting destinations including trout fishing in New Zealand, Argentina and Alaska; saltwater fishing in Los Roques, the Bahamas and the Seychelles; but Atlantic salmon fishing is her favorite. Mollie is also Frontiers co-owner and heads up the Elegant Journeys Department.
Mollie Fitzgerald
Mollie Fitzgerald grew up in the travel business and has experienced a wide range of sporting destinations including trout fishing in New Zealand, Argentina and Alaska; saltwater fishing in Los Roques, the Bahamas and the Seychelles; but Atlantic salmon fishing is her favorite. Mollie is also Frontiers co-owner and heads up the Elegant Journeys Department.
Tom Marchant
Tom Marchant is an entrepreneurial traveler and… Read More
Tom Marchant is an entrepreneurial traveler and co-founder of The Black Tomato Group, parent company of the award-winning bespoke, luxury travel operator Black Tomato, strategic creative agency Studio Black Tomato and luxury corporate incentive agency Black Tomato Agency. Black Tomato, a Virtuoso member, has been recognized as an innovative authority in global luxury travel by leading industry voices including Bloomberg, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Vogue. Marchant is a member Travel + Leisure’s A List of Top Travel Agents, Conde Nast Traveler’s 2019 World’s Best Travel Specialists and was recently named by Conde Nast Traveler as ‘one of the 50 people in the world changing the way we travel’. Tom’s passion for hitting the road came to a peak when he, his pregnant wife and their Goldendoodle packed up their entire home and drove all of their belongings for a cross-country move from Los Angeles to NYC. Follow Black Tomato on Instagram or Twitter.
Tom Marchant
Tom Marchant is an entrepreneurial traveler and co-founder of The Black Tomato Group, parent company of the award-winning bespoke, luxury travel operator Black Tomato, strategic creative agency Studio Black Tomato and luxury corporate incentive agency Black Tomato Agency. Black Tomato, a Virtuoso member, has been recognized as an innovative authority in global luxury travel by leading industry voices including Bloomberg, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Vogue. Marchant is a member Travel + Leisure’s A List of Top Travel Agents, Conde Nast Traveler’s 2019 World’s Best Travel Specialists and was recently named by Conde Nast Traveler as ‘one of the 50 people in the world changing the way we travel’. Tom’s passion for hitting the road came to a peak when he, his pregnant wife and their Goldendoodle packed up their entire home and drove all of their belongings for a cross-country move from Los Angeles to NYC. Follow Black Tomato on Instagram or Twitter.
Lisa Niver
Lisa Ellen Niver is an award-winning travel expert… Read More
Lisa Ellen Niver is an award-winning travel expert who has explored 101 countries and six continents. Her website, We Said Go Travel, was read in 212 countries in 2018. Find her talking travel on KTLA TV and her YouTube videos with over 900,000 views. Lisa has contributed to AARP, American Airways, Jewish Journal, Ms. Magazine, Smithsonian, USA Today 10best and Wharton Magazine. She is writing a book, “Brave Rebel: 50 Scary Challenges Before 50,” about her most recent travels and challenges. Look for her underwater SCUBA diving, in her art studio making ceramics or helping people find their next dream trip.
Lisa Niver
Lisa Ellen Niver is an award-winning travel expert who has explored 101 countries and six continents. Her website, We Said Go Travel, was read in 212 countries in 2018. Find her talking travel on KTLA TV and her YouTube videos with over 900,000 views. Lisa has contributed to AARP, American Airways, Jewish Journal, Ms. Magazine, Smithsonian, USA Today 10best and Wharton Magazine. She is writing a book, “Brave Rebel: 50 Scary Challenges Before 50,” about her most recent travels and challenges. Look for her underwater SCUBA diving, in her art studio making ceramics or helping people find their next dream trip.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,… Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.