Ranking The 11 Best Saltwater Fishing Destinations On Earth For The Trip Of A Lifetime

If you are reading this we can assume you love to fish or someone in your life does. Here we won’t get too into the weeds on why the species listed below are the most highly sought after fish on earth, they just are. Instead, we are ranking the 11 best saltwater fishing destinations on the planet so when it comes time to plan your next fishing adventure you know when and where to go in order to catch your next trophy fish.

There are a handful of fishing meccas that did not make the cut here but I mention them throughout the list and the reasons why they were cut. At the end of the day, these are the absolute best of the best saltwater fishing destinations for serious anglers and you will soon see why.

Ranking The 11 Best Saltwater Fishing Destinations On Earth

From Panama to Costa Rica, Hawaii to New Zealand, and all throughout the Gulf region, we take a look at the top global destinations for the most prized fish around. Whether you are in search of a trophy pelagic species like a Blue Marlin or Swordfish, or want to chase Bonefish, Permit, and Tarpon in skinny water, we cover it all on this list. First up is the fishing destination with the most fishing world records around.

1. Panama: Chasing Records

First up with we have the country of Panama. More specifically, the Zane Grey Reef and the Tropic Star Lodge which is located in the remote and pristine Darien portion of Panama.

The Tropic Star Lodge has produced over 300 IGFA fishing world records throughout the years. It is undeniably one of the best fishing destinations on the planet and offers year-round chances at record-breaking fish.

Depending on the season, anglers can chase trophy Yellowfin Tuna, Dorado (Mahi Mahi), and Roosterfish. But the BIG fish is where it’s at. Guy Harvey himself is a regular at the lodge where anglers catch record-setting Black Marlin, Blue Marlin, Pacific Sailfish, and Yellowfin tuna… To be clear, it is not cheap. I looked into going here two years ago for a milestone birthday and it was out of my price range for now… But one day I’ll get there!

2. Islamorada: Offshore and Back Country Fishing Year-Round

Less than a two hour drive from Miami, Islamorada in the upper Florida Keys is a sportsman’s paradise. On one side you have the Atlantic Ocean the Gulf Streaming bringing warm water and abundant life past the island and on the other side are the Florida Everglades with every back country species imaginable.

When I caught a 10-pound Bonefish in Islamorada about 10 years ago we were in a flats boat parked on the edge of a flat with two lines out back for Tarpon as they kept rolling by and on the front of the boat we had nonstop shots at Bonefish. After that spot we ran a short distance to catch Permit. From there we stopped to catch a few snapper for fun, some speckled trout, and a few sharks throughout the day. That was all inshore though!

Offshore it is THE daytime swordfish fishing capital of the world. Captain Nick Stanczyk has won the award for the most swordfish caught worldwide all out of Islamorada. In the Winter, the Sailfish fishing cannot be topped. Sure the Atlantic Sailfish are smaller than their Pacific cousins but catching 25-50 Sailfish in a day is a fisherman’s dream.

3. Venice, Louisiana: Off the Radar Trip of a Lifetime

Venice, Louisiana sits at the Southern tip of the state and marks the mouth of the mighty Mississippi River. The unfathomable amount of water funneled from the Mississippi River into the Gulf makes it a year-round fishing mecca because the river keeps the region somewhat climate controlled. So while the rest of the Gulf can get scorching hot in the Summer, Venice waters stay fishable.

Fishing up in the river offers shots at some of the biggest bull Redfish found anywhere in America. Anglers can also load up on slot sized Redfish, Flounder, Speckled Trout, Black Drum, and other inshore species during a day that’s more ‘catching’ than fishing. Tripletail is also a massive draw in this region and the restaurants at the two marinas will cook them for you right there on the spot. But offshore is where Venice, Louisiana really shines!

A run out to the oil rigs will produce some of the best Swordfish and Yellowfin Tuna fishing found in America. These species can be reliably caught year-round though the bigger Yellowfin Tuna are caught in the colder months. Anglers will also have shots at Blackfin Tuna, Bonito, Wahoo, and countless Snapper and Grouper species. Outside of fishing, there is virtually nothing to do in Venice so it is a destination for serious fishermen.

4. Hawaii: Bucket List Destination for Every Angler

Kona, Hawaii attracts anglers from all around the world because anglers can chase ‘Grander’ Blue and Black Marlin but also have shots at Shortbill Spearfish. Anglers seeking to catch the ‘Royal Slam’ which is all 9 eligible billfish species, caught over the span of a lifetime, will typically find the most difficulty checking the Spearfish off their list.

Hawaii is the perfect place to start for this species because anglers can also target two Marlin subspecies there as well.

In addition to the Spearfish and Marlin, fishermen can go after massive Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo, Mahi Mahi, Bigeye Tuna, Striped Marlin, and trophy Mahi Mahi. Inshore there are bonefish but they are certainly harder to catch than in the Bahamas or Florida. Hawaii also offers an array of inshore tropical species that most mainland anglers could only ever dream of.

5. The Florida Everglades: Fishing in ‘The Real’ Florida

Fishing in the Florida Everglades (Flamingo, Everglades City, etc) can feel like you have stepped back in time a thousand years. The land feel prehistoric and the fish are abundant. I have never, ever, not once, had a bad day of fishing out of Everglades City or Chokoloskee.

Targeting trophy Snook, Redfish, and juvenile Tarpon can fill up the morning. A quick run offshore for Cobia and other reef fish is a fun way to split up the day. Back country anglers can have shots at Peacock Bass as well. Check out Capt. Jimmy at Everglades Fishing Co. in Everglades City for the experience of a lifetime!

6. Alaska: The Last Frontier

Of course, ‘Alaska’ is not a monolith. Homer, Alaska is said to be the unofficial ‘Fishing Capital of Alaska’ but there are so many unique fishing destinations in The Last Frontier that I have opted to leave it open ended here so you can do your own research on where to go for your perfect fishing trip.

Once there, you will have chances to catch Chinook, Coho, Sockeye, and Pink Salmon. Chasing Halibut so large they wouldn’t fit in your boat back home is a must. A 515-pound Halibut was caught near Dutch Harbor, Alaska back in 1996 and those fish still get massive.

I have yet to catch an Arctic Grayling, a fish that’s near the top of my fishing bucket list these days, and Alaska offers countless places to chase that species as well as Steelhead / Rainbow Trout. All of this is done with the backdrop of mountains so large they are hard to fathom, bears galore, moose, and the midnight Sun in the Summers.

7. Three Kings Islands, New Zealand: Massive Marlin

If you are chasing trophy fish *and* want to knock multiple billfish species off your lifetime list then Three Kings Islands in New Zealand needs to be at the top of your list. The Striped Marlin in New Zealand dwarf the fish caught off Cabo. The IGFA fishing world record for Striped Marlin was caught by angler Bill Boniface in Tutukaka, New Zealand back in 1986 and weighed in at 494 pounds!!

In addition to Striped Marlin, anglers in NZ have shots at once-in-a-lifetime sized Black Marlin and Blues as well. This is also a global destination for Yellowtail / Kingfish. We just call them ‘Yellowtail’ here in the states and they can be caught off California and are among the most delicious fish in the ocean.

8. Punta Gorda, Belize: Permit and Bonefish Galore

Belize has named itself the ‘Permit Capital of the World’ and within the country, Punta Gorda calls itself the Permit Capital. Nearby ‘Permit Alley’ offers up the best Permit fishing found anywhere, in crystal clear water, with fly fishing anglers living out their dreams every day.

In addition to Permit, anglers can chase Bonefish, Tarpon, and Snook. Catching all four species in one day earns an angler the ‘Inshore Grand Slam’ which every diehard saltwater fly fisherman hopes to achieve one day. While there are other places to catch these species, Belize truly does offer the best Permit fishing around.

9. Cabo San Lucas: A Pelagic Party

Geographically, Cabo san Lucas is easily accessible for American anglers near the West Coast. Even here in Florida I can catch flights to Cabo with ease. Once there, Cabo offers up some of the best Striped Marlin fishing in the Western Hemisphere but anglers also have shots at Blue Marlin, Black Marlin, Yellowfin Tuna, Mahi Mahi, Wahoo, and the elusive Roosterfish.

Going further South in Central America the Roosterfish fishing might get better but Cabo offers the chance to catch all of these species, inshore and offshore, in the span of a day. What really sets Cabo apart from other fishing destinations, in my humble opinion, are the resorts. Cabo offers up some of the best all inclusive resorts on planet earth where adventurous anglers can eat and sleep like kings between fishing sessions.

10. Costa Rica: Best in the Pacific?

It is far from controversial to suggest that Costa Rica might be the best fishing destination in the Pacific Ocean because it is renowned worldwide but it lacks the world records of Panama and the ‘granders’ of Hawaii. So why Costa Rica? So, so many reasons.

Depending on the season, Costa Rica might have the best Yellowfin Tuna fishing on the planet. Anglers can catch Black and Blue Marlin at will. The Pacific Sailfish fishery in Costa Rica isn’t quite as hot as Guatemala but it is not far off. In fact, one boat (Vaquero) caught and released 164 sailfish in a single day back on March 12, 2021. How did they even have time to reel in 164 sailfish in a day?!

The resorts in Costa Rica, specifically Los Sueños, are also phenomenal. Compared to Panama, it is more accessible (less remote) as fisherman can fly into San Jose and take a quick transfer to the resort and be fishing in no time. The region also offers endless outdoor activities outside of fishing so it makes for an incredible all-around trip. On top of that, the Roosterfish fishing in Costa Rica is as good as it gets,

11. Prince Edward Island: Grander Tuna

For this last spot I considered including Guatemala for Sailfish, Iceland or Norway for an array of cold water species, Andros Island in The Bahamas for Bonefish, but I settled on Prince Edward Island in Canada because nowhere else on Earth can compete withe Bluefin Tuna fishery in PEI. If you want to try and catch a 1,000+ pound Bluefin Tuna then Prince Edward Island is where you need to go.

Chasing after Bluefin Tuna is not the most exciting type of fishing compared to the skinny water fishing for Bonefish or Permit. But there is nothing like the thrill of hooking up to a 1,000-pound Bluefin Tuna. It is the ultimate goal of every deep water angler.