This is America’s Top Fishing Destination

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Fishing is one of the most popular sports in the United States, and participation rates have climbed substantially in recent years. According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, nearly 40 million Americans -- or about 1 in every 7 residents age 16 or older -- went fishing at least once in 2022, more than double the 14.4 million Americans who hunted that year. Additionally, the number of licensed anglers in the U.S. increased by 11%, or more than 3 million, over the last two decades. (Here is a look at the states with the most hunters .)

Fishing's popularity as a pastime is partially attributable to its accessibility. The United States has more than 95,000 miles of shoreline along oceans and the Great Lakes, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration -- and with over 3.5 million miles of rivers and tributaries nationwide, most of the population lives within a mile of a river or stream.

With easy access to fishing opportunities, most Americans do not need to travel far to cast a line. Of the nearly 42 million fishing licenses, tags, permits, and stamps that were issued in 2022, over 75% were issued to in-state residents. Still, in a country as large and ecologically diverse as the United States, anglers who are willing to travel have many more options. Whether for their fishing laws, the variety and abundance of species, or specific bodies of water, certain states stand out as especially popular fishing destinations.

Using data from the U.S. FWS , 24/7 Wall St. identified the most popular fishing destinations in America. We ranked all 50 states on the number of paid fishing licenses, tags, permits, and stamps issued to visitors from out-of-state in 2022.

Depending on the state, the number of fishing authorizations granted to out-of-staters in 2022 ranges from fewer than 900 to over 900,000. Freshwater fishing is far more common in the U.S. than saltwater fishing, and many of the lowest ranking states on this list are located along the Atlantic or Pacific Coasts. These places include several New England and Mid-Atlantic States, as well as Hawaii, where fishing is not as strictly regulated, and in many cases, licenses and permits are not required.

Meanwhile, some of the highest ranking states on this list have hundreds, if not thousands, of miles of coastline along an ocean or Great Lake, in addition to thousands of square miles of inland freshwater. Notably, several landlocked Western states where freshwater accounts for less than 2% of the total surface area rank highly on this list. Despite relatively limited access to fishing opportunities, states like Colorado and Montana have some of the best fly-fishing in the country, and sell hundreds of thousands of non-resident fishing licenses each year. (Here is a look at some of the biggest fish ever caught by state .)

Why It Matters

Not only a popular pastime, fishing is also big business in the United States. According to the FWS, the 50 states reported a combined $898 million in fishing license, tag, permit, and stamp sales in 2022 -- and over 30% of that revenue came from out-of-state residents. All told, Americans spent a reported $99.4 billion on fishing in 2022, including $36.6 billion in trip related expenditures.

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