Key Takeaways
Best States for Fishing
-
1
Alaska ranks first among the best states for fishing in the 2024 data. Florida is second and Delaware third.
-
2
Florida and Michigan share the highest 2023 score at 126.5. Delaware follows at 125, then Alaska at 122.5, yet Alaska holds the top 2024 rank.
-
3
Delaware rose from 38th in 2022 to 3rd in 2024, a 35-place gain. Montana and Alabama each fell 29 places, the largest declines.
Map
Best States for Fishing 2024 Map
Fishing Rank 2024
No data
| Rank | State | Fishing Rank 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | 1 |
| 2 | Florida | 2 |
| 3 | Delaware | 3 |
| 4 | Michigan | 4 |
| 5 | South Carolina | 5 |
| 6 | Maine | 6 |
| 7 | Louisiana | 7 |
| 8 | Hawaii | 8 |
| 9 | Georgia | 9 |
| 10 | North Carolina | 10 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | 11 |
| 12 | Maryland | 12 |
| 13 | Arkansas | 13 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | 14 |
| 15 | Minnesota | 15 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | 16 |
| 17 | Ohio | 17 |
| 18 | Illinois | 18 |
| 19 | Virginia | 19 |
| 20 | Kentucky | 20 |
| 21 | New Jersey | 21 |
| 22 | Missouri | 22 |
| 23 | Colorado | 23 |
| 24 | New York | 24 |
| 25 | Oregon | 25 |
| 26 | Wyoming | 26 |
| 27 | Massachusetts | 27 |
| 28 | Texas | 28 |
| 29 | Connecticut | 29 |
| 30 | Tennessee | 30 |
| 31 | Vermont | 31 |
| 32 | Montana | 32 |
| 33 | Pennsylvania | 33 |
| 34 | Utah | 34 |
| 35 | North Dakota | 35 |
| 36 | Nebraska | 36 |
| 37 | Kansas | 37 |
| 38 | West Virginia | 38 |
| 39 | Nevada | 39 |
| 40 | New Hampshire | 40 |
| 41 | New Mexico | 41 |
| 42 | Mississippi | 42 |
| 43 | Alabama | 43 |
| 44 | California | 44 |
| 45 | Washington | 45 |
| 46 | Arizona | 46 |
| 47 | Indiana | 47 |
| 48 | Iowa | 48 |
| 49 | South Dakota | 49 |
| 50 | Idaho | 50 |
Alaska, Florida, and Delaware carry the greenest shades as the top three states. Idaho, South Dakota, and Iowa sit at the red end of the scale in 50th, 49th, and 48th.
Best States for Fishing Table
50 entries
Alaska
Fishbox Score 2023:
122.5
Fishing Rank 2022:
2
Fishing Score 2022:
41.94
Florida
Fishbox Score 2023:
126.5
Fishing Rank 2022:
1
Fishing Score 2022:
48.95
Delaware
Fishbox Score 2023:
125
Fishing Rank 2022:
38
Fishing Score 2022:
23.24
Michigan
Fishbox Score 2023:
126.5
Fishing Rank 2022:
7
Fishing Score 2022:
35.48
South Carolina
Fishbox Score 2023:
109
Fishing Rank 2022:
9
Fishing Score 2022:
34.42
Maine
Fishbox Score 2023:
116
Fishing Rank 2022:
13
Fishing Score 2022:
31.79
Louisiana
Fishbox Score 2023:
113
Fishing Rank 2022:
25
Fishing Score 2022:
26.88
Hawaii
Fishbox Score 2023:
118
Fishing Rank 2022:
36
Fishing Score 2022:
23.97
Georgia
Fishbox Score 2023:
109
Fishing Rank 2022:
11
Fishing Score 2022:
32.27
North Carolina
Fishbox Score 2023:
103.5
Fishing Rank 2022:
10
Fishing Score 2022:
33.76
Wisconsin
Fishbox Score 2023:
111.5
Fishing Rank 2022:
6
Fishing Score 2022:
36.27
Maryland
Fishbox Score 2023:
116
Fishing Rank 2022:
19
Fishing Score 2022:
29.56
Arkansas
Fishbox Score 2023:
99
Fishing Rank 2022:
15
Fishing Score 2022:
31.62
Rhode Island
Fishbox Score 2023:
114
Fishing Rank 2022:
27
Fishing Score 2022:
26.64
Minnesota
Fishbox Score 2023:
102.5
Fishing Rank 2022:
4
Fishing Score 2022:
38.17
Oklahoma
Fishbox Score 2023:
96.5
Fishing Rank 2022:
31
Fishing Score 2022:
25.53
Ohio
Fishbox Score 2023:
103
Fishing Rank 2022:
16
Fishing Score 2022:
31.11
Illinois
Fishbox Score 2023:
96
Fishing Rank 2022:
12
Fishing Score 2022:
32.1
Virginia
Fishbox Score 2023:
98.5
Fishing Rank 2022:
21
Fishing Score 2022:
28.83
Kentucky
Fishbox Score 2023:
84
Fishing Rank 2022:
30
Fishing Score 2022:
25.55
New Jersey
Fishbox Score 2023:
100
Fishing Rank 2022:
34
Fishing Score 2022:
24.67
Missouri
Fishbox Score 2023:
96
Fishing Rank 2022:
18
Fishing Score 2022:
29.73
Colorado
Fishbox Score 2023:
87.5
Fishing Rank 2022:
26
Fishing Score 2022:
26.76
New York
Fishbox Score 2023:
98
Fishing Rank 2022:
8
Fishing Score 2022:
34.8
Oregon
Fishbox Score 2023:
82.5
Fishing Rank 2022:
37
Fishing Score 2022:
23.97
Wyoming
Fishbox Score 2023:
72.5
Fishing Rank 2022:
17
Fishing Score 2022:
29.94
Massachusetts
Fishbox Score 2023:
105.5
Fishing Rank 2022:
33
Fishing Score 2022:
25
Texas
Fishbox Score 2023:
81.5
Fishing Rank 2022:
5
Fishing Score 2022:
38.04
Connecticut
Fishbox Score 2023:
93
Fishing Rank 2022:
47
Fishing Score 2022:
20.24
Tennessee
Fishbox Score 2023:
74.5
Fishing Rank 2022:
28
Fishing Score 2022:
26.53
Vermont
Fishbox Score 2023:
65
Fishing Rank 2022:
40
Fishing Score 2022:
23.03
Montana
Fishbox Score 2023:
83
Fishing Rank 2022:
3
Fishing Score 2022:
39.27
Pennsylvania
Fishbox Score 2023:
94
Fishing Rank 2022:
24
Fishing Score 2022:
27.23
Utah
Fishbox Score 2023:
69.5
Fishing Rank 2022:
48
Fishing Score 2022:
19.67
North Dakota
Fishbox Score 2023:
80
Fishing Rank 2022:
39
Fishing Score 2022:
23.14
Nebraska
Fishbox Score 2023:
71.5
Fishing Rank 2022:
42
Fishing Score 2022:
22.95
Kansas
Fishbox Score 2023:
74
Fishing Rank 2022:
44
Fishing Score 2022:
21.8
West Virginia
Fishbox Score 2023:
68
Fishing Rank 2022:
43
Fishing Score 2022:
21.91
Nevada
Fishbox Score 2023:
61.5
Fishing Rank 2022:
50
Fishing Score 2022:
14.83
New Hampshire
Fishbox Score 2023:
74.5
Fishing Rank 2022:
41
Fishing Score 2022:
22.98
New Mexico
Fishbox Score 2023:
70.5
Fishing Rank 2022:
45
Fishing Score 2022:
21.61
Mississippi
Fishbox Score 2023:
68
Fishing Rank 2022:
46
Fishing Score 2022:
21.13
Alabama
Fishbox Score 2023:
72.5
Fishing Rank 2022:
14
Fishing Score 2022:
31.64
California
Fishbox Score 2023:
69.5
Fishing Rank 2022:
20
Fishing Score 2022:
29.15
Washington
Fishbox Score 2023:
59.5
Fishing Rank 2022:
32
Fishing Score 2022:
25.33
Arizona
Fishbox Score 2023:
62.5
Fishing Rank 2022:
49
Fishing Score 2022:
18.85
Indiana
Fishbox Score 2023:
69.5
Fishing Rank 2022:
23
Fishing Score 2022:
28.08
Iowa
Fishbox Score 2023:
65
Fishing Rank 2022:
22
Fishing Score 2022:
28.41
South Dakota
Fishbox Score 2023:
68.5
Fishing Rank 2022:
35
Fishing Score 2022:
24.64
Idaho
Fishbox Score 2023:
47
Fishing Rank 2022:
29
Fishing Score 2022:
25.97
🔍
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|
Rank
|
State
|
Fishbox Score 2023
|
Fishing Rank 2022
|
Fishing Score 2022
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Alaska
|
122.5 | 2 | 41.94 |
| 2 |
Florida
|
126.5 | 1 | 48.95 |
| 3 |
Delaware
|
125 | 38 | 23.24 |
| 4 |
Michigan
|
126.5 | 7 | 35.48 |
| 5 |
South Carolina
|
109 | 9 | 34.42 |
| 6 |
Maine
|
116 | 13 | 31.79 |
| 7 |
Louisiana
|
113 | 25 | 26.88 |
| 8 |
Hawaii
|
118 | 36 | 23.97 |
| 9 |
Georgia
|
109 | 11 | 32.27 |
| 10 |
North Carolina
|
103.5 | 10 | 33.76 |
| 11 |
Wisconsin
|
111.5 | 6 | 36.27 |
| 12 |
Maryland
|
116 | 19 | 29.56 |
| 13 |
Arkansas
|
99 | 15 | 31.62 |
| 14 |
Rhode Island
|
114 | 27 | 26.64 |
| 15 |
Minnesota
|
102.5 | 4 | 38.17 |
| 16 |
Oklahoma
|
96.5 | 31 | 25.53 |
| 17 |
Ohio
|
103 | 16 | 31.11 |
| 18 |
Illinois
|
96 | 12 | 32.1 |
| 19 |
Virginia
|
98.5 | 21 | 28.83 |
| 20 |
Kentucky
|
84 | 30 | 25.55 |
| 21 |
New Jersey
|
100 | 34 | 24.67 |
| 22 |
Missouri
|
96 | 18 | 29.73 |
| 23 |
Colorado
|
87.5 | 26 | 26.76 |
| 24 |
New York
|
98 | 8 | 34.8 |
| 25 |
Oregon
|
82.5 | 37 | 23.97 |
| 26 |
Wyoming
|
72.5 | 17 | 29.94 |
| 27 |
Massachusetts
|
105.5 | 33 | 25 |
| 28 |
Texas
|
81.5 | 5 | 38.04 |
| 29 |
Connecticut
|
93 | 47 | 20.24 |
| 30 |
Tennessee
|
74.5 | 28 | 26.53 |
| 31 |
Vermont
|
65 | 40 | 23.03 |
| 32 |
Montana
|
83 | 3 | 39.27 |
| 33 |
Pennsylvania
|
94 | 24 | 27.23 |
| 34 |
Utah
|
69.5 | 48 | 19.67 |
| 35 |
North Dakota
|
80 | 39 | 23.14 |
| 36 |
Nebraska
|
71.5 | 42 | 22.95 |
| 37 |
Kansas
|
74 | 44 | 21.8 |
| 38 |
West Virginia
|
68 | 43 | 21.91 |
| 39 |
Nevada
|
61.5 | 50 | 14.83 |
| 40 |
New Hampshire
|
74.5 | 41 | 22.98 |
| 41 |
New Mexico
|
70.5 | 45 | 21.61 |
| 42 |
Mississippi
|
68 | 46 | 21.13 |
| 43 |
Alabama
|
72.5 | 14 | 31.64 |
| 44 |
California
|
69.5 | 20 | 29.15 |
| 45 |
Washington
|
59.5 | 32 | 25.33 |
| 46 |
Arizona
|
62.5 | 49 | 18.85 |
| 47 |
Indiana
|
69.5 | 23 | 28.08 |
| 48 |
Iowa
|
65 | 22 | 28.41 |
| 49 |
South Dakota
|
68.5 | 35 | 24.64 |
| 50 |
Idaho
|
47 | 29 | 25.97 |
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Best and Worst States for Fishing
Highest
1
Alaska
#1
Lowest
50
Idaho
#50
Top 10 Highest — Rank
#1
Alaska
1
Alaska
#2
Florida
2
Florida
#3
Delaware
3
Delaware
#4
Michigan
4
Michigan
#5
South Carolina
5
South Carolina
#6
Maine
6
Maine
#7
Louisiana
7
Louisiana
#8
Hawaii
8
Hawaii
#9
Georgia
9
Georgia
#10
North Carolina
10
North Carolina
Top 10 Lowest — Rank
#50
Idaho
50
Idaho
#49
South Dakota
49
South Dakota
#48
Iowa
48
Iowa
#47
Indiana
47
Indiana
#46
Arizona
46
Arizona
#45
Washington
45
Washington
#44
California
44
California
#43
Alabama
43
Alabama
#42
Mississippi
42
Mississippi
#41
New Mexico
41
New Mexico
Best States for Fishing
Alaska ranks first in the 2024 list, followed by Florida and Delaware. Michigan is 4th, South Carolina 5th, and Maine 6th.
| State | 2024 Rank |
|---|---|
| Alaska | 1st |
| Florida | 2nd |
| Delaware | 3rd |
| Michigan | 4th |
| South Carolina | 5th |
| Maine | 6th |
| Louisiana | 7th |
| Hawaii | 8th |
| Georgia | 9th |
| North Carolina | 10th |
State
Alaska
2024 Rank
1st
State
Florida
2024 Rank
2nd
State
Delaware
2024 Rank
3rd
State
Michigan
2024 Rank
4th
State
South Carolina
2024 Rank
5th
State
Maine
2024 Rank
6th
State
Louisiana
2024 Rank
7th
State
Hawaii
2024 Rank
8th
State
Georgia
2024 Rank
9th
State
North Carolina
2024 Rank
10th
Biggest Fishing Rank Gains
Delaware made the largest climb, moving from 38th in 2022 to 3rd in 2024, a 35-place gain. Hawaii rose 28 places, while Louisiana and Connecticut each gained 18.
| # | State | 2022 to 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | 38th to 3rd (+35) |
| 2 | Hawaii | 36th to 8th (+28) |
| 3 | Louisiana | 25th to 7th (+18) |
| 4 | Connecticut | 47th to 29th (+18) |
| 5 | Oklahoma | 31st to 16th (+15) |
1
State
Delaware
2022 to 2024
38th to 3rd (+35)
2
State
Hawaii
2022 to 2024
36th to 8th (+28)
3
State
Louisiana
2022 to 2024
25th to 7th (+18)
4
State
Connecticut
2022 to 2024
47th to 29th (+18)
5
State
Oklahoma
2022 to 2024
31st to 16th (+15)
Biggest Fishing Rank Drops
Montana fell from 3rd in 2022 to 32nd in 2024, while Alabama dropped from 14th to 43rd. Both lost 29 places. California and Indiana each fell 24 places, tying for the next-largest decline after Iowa's 26-place drop.
| # | State | 2022 to 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montana | 3rd to 32nd (-29) |
| 2 | Alabama | 14th to 43rd (-29) |
| 3 | Iowa | 22nd to 48th (-26) |
| 4 | California | 20th to 44th (-24) |
| 5 | Indiana | 23rd to 47th (-24) |
| 6 | Texas | 5th to 28th (-23) |
1
State
Montana
2022 to 2024
3rd to 32nd (-29)
2
State
Alabama
2022 to 2024
14th to 43rd (-29)
3
State
Iowa
2022 to 2024
22nd to 48th (-26)
4
State
California
2022 to 2024
20th to 44th (-24)
5
State
Indiana
2022 to 2024
23rd to 47th (-24)
6
State
Texas
2022 to 2024
5th to 28th (-23)
Quick Answers
Which state is best for fishing?
Alaska ranks first overall. Florida ranks second and Delaware ranks third.
What was Florida's fishing rank in 2024?
Florida ranks second in the 2024 list. Its 2023 score is 126.5, tied with Michigan for the highest value in that column.
Which state ranked last for fishing in 2024?
Idaho ranks 50th in 2024. It ranked 29th in the separate 2022 index, a difference of 21 places.
Which state made the biggest jump in the fishing rankings?
Delaware. It moved from 38th in the 2022 index to 3rd in the 2024 list, a 35-place climb.
Which state fell the most in the fishing rankings?
Montana and Alabama tie with 29-place drops. Montana fell from 3rd in 2022 to 32nd in 2024, while Alabama moved from 14th to 43rd.
What is the fishing rank for Texas?
Texas ranks 28th in the 2024 list. It ranked 5th in the separate 2022 index, a 23-place decline.
Methodology
The table reproduces World Population Review's FishingBooker Rank 2024 and Fishbox Score 2023, plus a separate fishing rank and score for 2022. Washington, D.C. is excluded.
Sources
Information is cross-referenced with official state archives.
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