Best Fishing Trips in the USA: 7 Worth Booking

1.Drift Fishing Trip off the Coast of Fort Lauderdale

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 644 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $85Our pick

Fish about a mile off Fort Lauderdale on a four-hour reef trip with Captain Mike, John, Josh, Christina, or Will and their crew. Choose morning, afternoon, or evening departure. Rods, bait, tackle, licenses, coolers, ice, and fish cleaning are included. The boat can carry up to 30 people, and the crew helps beginners handle the gear.

“The boat was way too crowded, so few passengers caught anything the whole day, and our lines kept getting tangled. This would have been far better if they had not over packed the boat. The staff was great, and the on-shore staff was especially friendly.”

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2.Half-Day Fishing Trip in Fort Lauderdale

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 607 reviews · from $73Best value

Meet at 5400 N Ocean Dr for a four-hour fishing trip with rods, bait, tackle, ice, licenses, a captain, and a mate included. You may catch snapper, grouper, trigger fish, grunts, or amberjack. The crew helps beginners, children are welcome, and the boat returns to the same meeting point.

“I booked a drifting fishing on Viator website. On the day Jan 6th, my last tour is running late so I missed the tour by 15 minutes. When we arrived, people working there (one man and one woman) told me one option is that they can put a note and hold the credit for one year. Read more”

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3.Fairbanks Ice Fishing Expedition in a Heated Cabin with Fish Cookout

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 461 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $169Top rated

Meet at 3956 Laurance Road near North Pole for a four-hour ice fishing trip at Chena Lake Recreation Area. Guides such as Noah, Trevor, Cody, Mike, and Riley drill the holes, bait the lines, teach beginners, and cook your catch. Fish inside a heated cabin, and outside when conditions allow.

“I participated in an ice fishing tour, which was an interesting way to experience a classic Alaskan winter activity. The group stayed inside a wooden cabin on the ice, which was warm and comfortable throughout the three to four hours. The activity is quite slow-paced, so those without a particular interest in fishing may find it somewhat long and quiet. The captain offered limited guidance when fish weren’t biting, which could leave beginners uncertain about what to do. On the positive side, he did grill the fish that were caught and shared them with everyone, creating a pleasant communal moment. Overall, it’s worth trying once for the experience, but for…”

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4.Key West Half-Day Fishing Charter

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 408 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $95

Fish the Key West reef aboard the 64-foot FishMonster Max, a custom catamaran with room for up to 49 people. The crew provides gear, bait, licenses, and help for beginners. Chase and Donte are among the crew praised for their friendly assistance. Bring a small cooler, buy drinks aboard, and have your catch filleted at no charge.

“Great staff Great fishing awesome deals put this on your bucket list. Best deal available. Will use again my 1st time to Key West and using this web site Great”

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5.Private Fishing Charter in Ketchikan

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 367 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $900

Spend about five hours on a private boat from Ketchikan, fishing for salmon or halibut with guides such as Joey and Alex. The calm, island-protected water suits families and beginners, while included tackle, snacks, water, and sodas keep the day simple. Bring money for your fishing license, king salmon stamp, and tip.

“We felt good about our trip because Captain Mike had 5 Stars, but when we got to the dock it wasn’t Captain Mike it was someone else. Our Captain that day was very kind with great manners but he did not know where the fish was located that day. We did try three different places he thought maybe they were located. For the money we paid this wasn’t good. I’m thinking, maybe Captain Mike didn’t care enough about us catching to share this information with the captain who took us out that day. Just not sure to be honest. But for sure, their excuse of TIDE issues just wasn’t the…”

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6.4-Hour Day or Night-Time Reef Bottom Fishing Charter in Fort Lauderdale

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 365 reviews · 4 hours (approx.)

Fish Fort Lauderdale’s reefs, wrecks, and changing depths aboard an air-conditioned boat with a licensed captain and helpful mates. Bait, tackle, licenses, coolers, and ice are included. Choose morning, afternoon, or night departures, then have your catch cleaned at the dock.

“a lot of people on the boat ,53 (average is 20-30) no drift fishing as announced on web site , anchored fishing. bad fishing day but that is not the captains fault. Locals fishing on back on boat with different lure and own material, supported by "private deckhand" catching more fish. Thanks to our hard working deck hand.”

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7.Ketchikan salmon and halibut fishing charter

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 363 reviews · 4 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $700

Meet your captain at the Ketchikan cruise dock, board a private fishing boat, and spend 4 to 6 hours pursuing salmon and halibut. Gear, bait, soft drinks, and dock pickup are provided. Captains such as Reggie, Mike, Kevin, Jeremiah, and William have been praised for hands-on help, while rough seas can affect the day.

“This trip was a disaster from the beginning. Captain Tim was expecting 3 not 4 people in our confirmed reservation. He was prepared to take us on a 6 hour halibut trip instead of the 4 hour salmon trip we had booked. Tim attempted to take us 4-5 miles off shore, but the seas were VERY rough and he kept saying, "I've never seen it like this before". Our boat was being tossed around to the point that I feared if it got much worse Tim would not be able to get us back safely. I asked to turn around and stay closer to the bay. With four lines in…”

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