North America

North America fishing charters span an extraordinary range, from subtropical flats to cold sub-Arctic depths, which means the region can match almost any angler's ambition. You can sight-cast to tarpon in the Florida Keys in the morning light, battle giant bluefin tuna off North Carolina in winter, jig walleye out of a Lake Erie center-console, or fill the cooler with halibut and salmon under the Alaskan midnight sun. Few places on earth pack this much variety into a single continent.

Top fishing destinations in North America

Four flagship destinations cover the region's headline fisheries.

• Florida Keys (Islamorada and Key West) — Islamorada is the sportfishing capital of the world for a reason: tarpon, permit and bonefish on the flats, sailfish and mahi just offshore.
• Outer Banks, North Carolina — Oregon Inlet and Hatteras give up giant bluefin tuna in winter and blue marlin and yellowfin in the warm months over the Gulf Stream.
• Lake Erie — The "Walleye Capital of the World," with world-class walleye and yellow perch trolling out of ports like Port Clinton.
• Alaska — Homer, Seward and Sitka offer halibut, lingcod and five species of salmon in a short, intense summer season.

Best time to fish North America

Seasons vary sharply by latitude. The Florida Keys fish year-round, with tarpon peaking April through June and sailfish best December through March. Outer Banks bluefin run December through February; the offshore marlin bite peaks June through August. Lake Erie walleye trolling is strongest May through July and again in fall. Alaska's charter season is short and concentrated, roughly late May through early September.

What you'll catch

The species list is the widest of any region: tarpon, bonefish, sailfish and mahi-mahi in the Keys; bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna and blue marlin off the Outer Banks; walleye on Lake Erie; and halibut, salmon and lingcod in Alaska. Coastal reefs everywhere add plenty of snapper and grouper for bottom-fishing days.