Best Places to Kayak Fish in the United States

Outdoor sports have always been popular in the beautiful mountains and rivers of the US. However, kayak fishing has really seen a huge increase over the past few years. There's just something about the freedom of paddling a smooth, sleek boat for one, and being able to reach any space possible to catch that elusive fish prize.      

Kayak fishing is popular in many countries, but the United States hosts a wide variety of places to both fish and see spectacular sights all at once. From the lovely Appalachian Mountains on the East Coast, to the dusty plains of the Southwest, and all the way up to the glacier filled isles of Alaska, the United States can offer any type of kayak fishing. Classifying each area and deciding which places are the “best” is a difficult, debatable task, but here are a few of the choicest places around the US to put in a kayak and catch a fish.

• In the Northeast, probably the best place to kayak fish is the Susquehanna River, in Pennsylvania. The river twists its way through most of the state, winding up, down, back, and forth, and then crossing over into Maryland, where it ends in the Chesapeake Bay. The river, with its 444 miles of cold mountain water, hosts multiple large species of fish, such as bass, pike, walleye, muskies (which can reach over 40 pounds), catfish, carp, and many others. While kayak fishing, anglers can also enjoy the pristine mountains, bubbling rapids, and a host of wildlife, including bald eagles and red foxes. The Susquehanna river hosts multiple tournaments each year, and is a great place for a beginning kayaker all the way up to an expert.

• Picking up where the Susquehanna River left off, the next great place to kayak fish is the Chesapeake Bay, in Virginia. The bay boasts over 4500 square miles of water and inlets, nestled in the Eastern part of Virginia, and reaching into the Atlantic Ocean. The Bay is home to large striped bass, bream, perch, crappie, large-mouth bass, and other species, all large and ready to take a leap out of the water for juicy bait on a hook. Kayakers especially enjoy fishing under the famous Chesapeake Bay Bridge, which escorts motorists from one land spot to the next over the water. The fish make their homes around the gigantic beams of the bridge, and are always hungry. Fishers can choose their scenery, from forests, to boat docks, to wide open spaces. Multiple other creatures call the Bay home, too. Because of its enormous size, the Chesapeake Bay is good for any level of kayak fisherman.

• If a fisherman is really serious about his sport, what better place to go than the Indian River Lagoon in sunny Florida? The Lagoon covers over 150 miles of the Eastern coast of Florida, and is protected from ocean currents by several islands. The Indian River Lagoon is unique in that it hosts wildlife (including fish) from two different climate zones: the temperate and sub-tropical. Animals that call this place home include alligators, manatees, dolphins, herons, redfish, trout, and tarpon, and of course many more. Much of the lagoon is in clear, shallow water, making it a great place to spot large fish ready to be caught.

• When a kayak fisherman is ready for a real challenge, he (or she) heads down to Devil's River, in Texas, for a total wilderness experience. Much of the river is extremely shallow, and calls for strength and patience. The coastline of Devil's River is mostly privately owned, so a kayaker must be well connected or pack ample supplies during a fishing trip. The scenery can be enthralling, boasting rock walls, tree-covered mountains, canyons, caves, and of course lots of sand and brush. The water is home to many types of fish, such as desert small-mouth bass, bream, catfish, and carp.

• Is heat a problem while kayaking? If so, travel to the far north and fish in Alaska’s Prince William Sound. This area covers 3800 miles of coastline near the eastern edge of Alaska, and many hundred square miles of fishing water between shores. The sound is home to five different species of salmon, and also brown bears, orcas, seals, and sea lions. The views are breathtaking – glaciers, spruce trees, bald eagles, and plenty of snow and ice. Kayakers have to be dressed warmly for this trip, but it is definitely one worth taking.

The United States is full of rivers, inlets, and deep sea spots for kayakers to fish in. Trying to find the very best spots could take a lifetime, because nearly every state has at least one amazing river or coastline to fish from. This is a sport with lots of possibility.