Photos

Scenic Fishing Spots

Exciting fishing action, gorgeous coasts, fascinating fauna and more, taken all over the world.

By Doug Olander

Updated: June 18, 2013

Since a fundamental question for fishermen is “What’d ya catch?” everyone loves to see photos of the fish. But there is of course much more to the sport than that, and I hope this gallery is proof — a compilation of scenes from various vacation spots of exciting fishing action, gorgeous coasts, fascinating fauna and more, taken all over the world.

Tasu Inlet, British Columbia

The mouth of this small inlet in the Queen Charlotte (aka Haida Gwaii) Islands is seldom calm but very often very fishy, both for big Chinook salmon and halibut. Doug Olander

Golden Gate Bank off Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

A kayak angler faces down the big boys on this bank, about 12 miles off the coast, to hook up the striped marlin pulling him along at a fair clip. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

San Blas Islands, Panama

Women form greeting party of Kuna Indians — the men are already on the dock — as a sport fishing yacht ties up for the night. Visitors are rare in the astoundingly lovely, seven pristine San Blas Islands along northern Panama’s Atlantic coast. Kunas are known for their diminutive stature and the bright colors that characterize their clothing. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

Great Barrier Reef, Northeastern Australia

Although fishing the protected shallows tucked in behind the Great Barrier Reef, a fierce, wind-driven spray still showers these die-hard anglers. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

Piñas Bay, Panama

Pelican pandemonium prevails just off the rocky coast north of Piñas Bay as they feast on baitfish. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

New Caledonia

The elated high-signs of this skipper suggest he’s a pilot-whale trainer. But this pod just happened by and for about 10 minutes kept close company with these anglers. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

Northwestern Australia

I can no longer recall just where this was — wherever our chopper pilot put down so we could cast for barramundi and other fresh/estuarine fishes. The wonderland setting is typical of that region of Australia. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

Andaman Sea

Wahoo gone wild in the Andaman Sea, not far off the rugged coast of Barren Island, with all four rods loaded up. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

Calcasieu Lake, Louisiana

Rugged anglers brave the chill of a clear, breezy winter morning in Louisiana’s “Big Lake” to tangle with spotted seatrout. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

The Kimberley, Northwestern Australia

This remote and rugged corner of the continent is full of saltwater crocodiles (“salties” in local parlance) like this one that has latched onto a king threadfin and is carrying up the muddy intertidal flat of a creek. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

Ilhabela, Brazil

The heavy Atlantic swell off this island southeast of Sao Paolo doesn’t slow these artisanal fishermen from dropping hand lines from their homemade canoes. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

Bocas Del Toro, Panama (Atlantic)

Mangrove tunnels like this are a wonderland waiting for exploration by for kayak anglers. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

Kuala Rompin, Malaysia

Anglers get ready to meet their boats for a day fishing the China Sea, where the water is flat and sailfish in singles and small groups are often seemingly everywhere. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

Rio Colorado, Costa Rica

Big schools of big tarpon await just outside the Rio Colorado river mouth, but getting out the river, over the bar, can at times be a real white-knuckle ride. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

Resurrection Bay, Alaska

Quintessential Alaska scene as a young angler’s salmon is finally thrashing in the net. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

Boca Grande Pass, Florida

The tarpon run here has for many years been attracting hordes of hopefuls to crowd into the narrow pass, as this shot circa 1995 or so, attests. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

The Kimberley, Northwestern Australia

Though at a glance, this may resemble a piece of Asian art, the photo — taken from a chopper about 500 feet up — actually shows channels carved into part of a huge intertidal mud flat. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

Indian River Lagoon, Titusville, Florida

A feeding redfish attracts the interest of angler and guide out for a morning of sight casting in the clear grassy shallows. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

Mississippi River Mouth, Louisiana

The run down the river and through one of the several passes to the Gulf of Mexico offers an idyllic scene on a steamy, calm midsummer morning. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

Midway Atoll, Hawaiian Islands

Fairy terns, like most of the abundant birds on Midway, show little fear of humans. This photo was taken in the 1990s, when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service permitted limited fishing at Midway (for GT and other game fish), but the national wildlife refuge has for years been closed to sport fishing. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

Socorro Island, Mexico

The view from the deck of a sport-fishing yacht arriving from Cabo (about 240 miles north) in time for freshening winds, and making a lee shore seem an inviting prospect. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

Manhattan, New York City

Manhattan, New York fishing vacation spots

Feeling something whack his bunker (menhaden) chunk puts this angler on alert in the East River, a productive striped bass fishery where skyline and boat traffic provide a particularly photogenic and dynamic backdrop. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

New Caledonia

Fifty shades of blue: The view across the lagoon, from the outer, fringing reef to the large, semi-arid island of New Caledonia on a windy day. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

Key West, Florida

Winter winds bring choppy seas and snapping sailfish. These anglers have dropped the hook on the reef near the outer bar. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

Shark Bay, Australia

A photographer has no need for colored filters here, where a sun just before setting lights up the austere rocky escarpment behind a boat anchored for the night. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

The Kimberley, Australia

We took a break from fabulous fishing to explore an island with mind-boggling cave paintings made thousands of years earlier, suggesting a record by natives of early visitation by explorers (note the hats and pipes in visitors’ mouths). Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

Islas Las Perlas, Panama

Even a moderate swell batters this rocky promontory; note the large sierra mackerel leaping in the white water just to the right of the lower center. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

Sørøya, Norway

An angler determined to fish despite the high winds (deceiving in the lee of this tall cliff) and cold, driving drizzle — all part of midsummer in these very remote islands off northern Norway. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

New Caledonia

Packing a neurotoxic venom far more powerful than that of a cobra, a banded sea snake comes ashore. Small mouths and teeth fortunately diminish the risk of a bite, which would most likely prove quickly fatal. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

Socorro Island, Mexico

Patterns left on the steep slopes of this barren island, from past lava flows, present a decidedly otherworldly appearance to anglers just off its shore. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

Kyuquot Sound, British Columbia

A family of sea otters floats serenely in the cool Pacific waters. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

Three Kings Islands, New Zealand

This group of 13 islands about 35 miles off the northernmost tip of the country attracts die-hard anglers after the world’s largest striped marlin in the normally heavy seas where Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea meet. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

Athlone Island, British Columbia

An abundance of salmon attracts boats from floating resorts in the area; choppy North Pacific seas require alert boat handling, particularly once hooked up to a trophy-sized Chinook. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

Dry Tortugas, Florida

With part of the historic fort visible in the foreground, boats lay at anchor in the scenic, protected harbor. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

Manta, Ecuador

While tuna provide the main target for purse seiners off Ecuador, the boats will happily scoop up entire schools of dorado (mahi) given the chance. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

Barren Island, the Andaman Islands

Steam rises from the remote, active mountain peak, quite visible from anchorages along the steep island’s shore, where midnight rumbling isn’t unusual. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

Papagayo, Costa Rica

Light-tackle action throwing swim baits and poppers along the rocky, angled shorelines of northern Costa Rica. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

Great Barrier Reef, Australia

The top of the outer reef is a wild and rugged place to be on a windy day, but that’s where the big giant trevally hang out. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

Northern Australia

Gregarious and noisy, flying foxes — as the large fruit bats are also known — may occupy the same large mangrove trees underneath which anglers fish for barramundi. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

Kuala Rompin, Malaysia

A typical local charter boat takes anglers out onto the South China Sea for sailfish. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing Magazine

More: photos

More Photos

Scenic Fishing Spots

Tasu Inlet, British Columbia

Golden Gate Bank off Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

San Blas Islands, Panama

Great Barrier Reef, Northeastern Australia

Piñas Bay, Panama

New Caledonia

Northwestern Australia

Andaman Sea

Calcasieu Lake, Louisiana

The Kimberley, Northwestern Australia

Ilhabela, Brazil

Bocas Del Toro, Panama (Atlantic)

Kuala Rompin, Malaysia

Rio Colorado, Costa Rica

Resurrection Bay, Alaska

Boca Grande Pass, Florida

The Kimberley, Northwestern Australia

Indian River Lagoon, Titusville, Florida

Mississippi River Mouth, Louisiana

Midway Atoll, Hawaiian Islands

Socorro Island, Mexico

Manhattan, New York City

New Caledonia

Key West, Florida

Shark Bay, Australia

The Kimberley, Australia

Islas Las Perlas, Panama

Sørøya, Norway

New Caledonia

Socorro Island, Mexico

Kyuquot Sound, British Columbia

Three Kings Islands, New Zealand

Athlone Island, British Columbia

Dry Tortugas, Florida

Manta, Ecuador

Barren Island, the Andaman Islands

Papagayo, Costa Rica

Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Northern Australia

Kuala Rompin, Malaysia

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