Skip to main content

2018 Southern Family Fishing Destinations

2018 Southern Family Fishing Destinations

Fishing season is upon us and what better way to make lasting memories with your loved ones than hitting the water with a rod and reel? Your time is precious, so rely on Game & Fish for up to date fishing forecasts, and best tips and tactics. Before you load up the family and gear, take a gander at our wide variety of fishing articles from experts in the field and full reviews on this year's gear. Check out the 2018 Southern Family Fishing Destinations for your state below:

ALABAMAALABAMA FAMILY FISHING

One of the best ways to bring a family together is through fishing. Spending fun times in a boat or on a bank not only creates lifelong memories, it also introduces kids to the great outdoors and ignites their curiosity about nature.

The Cotton State has numerous state parks and other public areas where families can spend a day, or longer, in pursuit of a variety of species. In fact, many of these areas are excellent for beginners, as they provide good access to catchable fish....Keep Reading

ARKANSASAR Family Fishing Feature Image

Where are you going for summer vacation? The Gulf of Mexico is nice. The Rockies and the Smokies are fun, too, but so is Arkansas. Why travel far from home when excitement awaits right here in the Natural State? And if you want a fishing vacation that offers plenty of entertainment off the water, Arkansas fills the bill there as well. It's inexpensive, and instead of driving, you can spend more time fishing, swimming, hiking, dining and relaxing. Pull up a chair and see what you think of these ideas for a staycation getaway...Keep Reading

FLORIDAFL Family Fishing Feature Image

Summer's here and the kids are home from school. It's time for a family vacation. One of the best vacations for an outdoor family is an easy fishing trip with other activities along the way. The Sunshine State has an abundance of family friendly places to fish, as well as fun activities nearby....Keep Reading

GEORGIAGA Family Fishing Feature Image

It is hard to imagine a place that can compete with the Peach State for its abundance and variety of fishing opportunities. Georgia holds 12,000 miles of warm water streams, 4,000 miles of trout water, more than 380,000 acres of major reservoirs and 100 miles of coastline. That is a lot of water for angling, and explains why the sport is so popular with the 829,000 Georgians who go fishing annually. Those anglers can choose to target bass, bream, crappie, trout and a host of other fish in freshwater, or a plethora of saltwater species on the coast. But, when it comes time for a family fishing outing, all waters are not created equal. Some are much better suited for taking the kids fishing. Such destinations need to offer a good chance of hooking a fish or two, regardless of size. They also need to provide an atmosphere that is fun for youngsters...Keep Reading

KENTUCKYGA Family Fishing Feature Image

Summer is the favorite time of year for a lot of people. There is so much fun stuff to do and a lot of extra daylight in which to do it. The coming weeks are also when many families plan vacations and weekend getaways. For families that like to fish, those trips often are planned around locations with a hole of water and plenty of fun fishing adventure suitable for the whole family.Getting away for a while is always fun, but it does not always have to be a major undertaking with a trip hundreds or thousands of miles from home. Sure, those trips are fun too, but there are plenty of great destinations in Kentucky to get away for a weekend or even an entire week, with lots of things to do the whole family will enjoy, not to mention some excellent fishing opportunity....Keep Reading

MISSISSIPPI-LOUISIANA

According to United States Fish and Wildlife Service statistics compiled in 2016, more than 35.8 million Americans, 16 years old and older, participated in fishing. These anglers spent some $46.1 billion dollars on trips, equipment and assorted other expenditures, of which $708 million was for licenses. What's more, these numbers also produce employment for over 1 million people, according to the American Sport Fishing Association.In another study conducted annually by Kampgrounds of America, 75 million participate in camping activities according to its 2017 report. The number one activity campers typically engaged in was hiking, which accounted for 50 percent of the responders. The number two activity was fishing, estimated to be some 44 percent of all campers....Keep Reading

MISSOURI

MO Family Fishing Feature ImageLooking for an outdoor vacation getaway that the whole family can enjoy? Then you surely will want to hit some of these locations this summer.

Summer is just about to begin in Missouri, and it's time to have some fun in the sun. The kids are out of school and the anticipation of what kind of exciting adventures the summer will bring is at a fever pitch. If you're like me and my family, we are always counting our pennies and watching our budget, a staycation in Missouri always seemed to make the most sense for us. And a family fishing vacation was always right up our alley....Keep Reading

NORTH CAROLINANC Family Fishing Feature Image

May is a great month to plan for a family fishing vacation, whether you're going for a weekend trip or planning a longer adventure after the end of school. The following North Carolina destinations provide both good fishing and family-friendly things to do. Plan for variety on your vacation switching back and forth between different activities, from fishing to hiking to camping, will make youngsters on a family fishing vacation happy....Keep Reading

SOUTH CAROLINASC Family Fishing Feature Image

Though your eyes are mostly fixed on rod tips, you steal a glance at your wife and children, who are lined up beside you in lawn chairs. You're happy to see that they too are focused on rod tips, eagerly waiting for the next one to dance. The catfish have cooperated thus far, and everyone has gotten in on the action. The fish on the stringer would make a nice dinner if no more chose to bite, but you're pretty sure that won't happen!

Recommended


A family fishing outing can be big fun, if you plan well. Just remember that not all your favorite fishing spots are necessarily good options for trips with the whole family. To help in the planning process, we've selected four locations, all in different parts of South Carolina, that offer easy access to fishing and a high likelihood of success, making them great destinations for...Keep Reading

 TENNESSEE

TN Family Fishing Feature Image

Some of the best memories are made when the family is in the outdoors, fishing, camping and exploring, away from the electronic cares of the world.

Few things are more enjoyable to a youngster than heading to a pond or lake to catch a string of bluegill. However, these days there are so many events that seem interfere and prevent families from going fishing or doing some other outdoor activity.

Thankfully, the Volunteer State has many locations where families can get out to hike, camp, bird watch and even fish, often in the....Keep Reading

  TEXAS

TX Family Fishing Feature Image

Looking for an outdoor vacation getaway that the whole family can enjoy? Then you surely will want to hit some of these locations this summer.

The Lone Star State is second to none when it comes to fishing destinations. However, many of the hotspots simply aren't kid-friendly. Baffin Bay in remote South Texas (for speckled trout) and Lake Fork in East Texas (for largemouth bass) are truly "trophy" waters for these sought-after species. They are hands-down the best places to fish hard if you've got the time, money and know-how. But when we're talking about young anglers, those spots just aren't easy to....Keep Reading

 VIRGINIA

VA Family Fishing Feature Image

A summer family-fishing outing can be big fun, if you plan well. Just remember that not all your favorite fishing spots are necessarily good options for trips with the whole family. To help in the planning process, we've selected various locations, all in different parts of Virginia, that offer easy access to fishing and a high likelihood of success, making them great destinations for family fishing....Keep Reading

 WEST VIRGINIA

WV Family Fishing Feature Image

Most of my favorite vacation memories include spending time with the family fishing, exploring and having fun at various state parks and forests throughout West Virginia — my son catching his first fish at Watoga Lake, my daughter horseback riding at Cacapon Resort State Park and my grandson pulling a yellow perch from Moncove Lake. Other adventures include hiking through Greenbrier State Forest, touring the famous gristmill at Babcock State Park and fishing for native brook trout at Kumbrabow State Forest. In fact, the Mountain State has many locations where families can get away from the hectic life to enjoy each other's company in...Keep Reading




GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Finesse tactics continue to have impact on new bass gear. Of course, not everything in bass fishing is driven by finesse...
Gear

Dryshod Evalusion Hunt Boots Keep Whitetail Hunters on Top of Their Game

Finesse tactics continue to have impact on new bass gear. Of course, not everything in bass fishing is driven by finesse...
Gear

Lew's Custom Pro Gen 3

Finesse tactics continue to have impact on new bass gear. Of course, not everything in bass fishing is driven by finesse...
Other

Light up the Salt

Finesse tactics continue to have impact on new bass gear. Of course, not everything in bass fishing is driven by finesse...
Fishing

Caring for the Catch

Finesse tactics continue to have impact on new bass gear. Of course, not everything in bass fishing is driven by finesse...
Fishing

Snook on the Hook

Finesse tactics continue to have impact on new bass gear. Of course, not everything in bass fishing is driven by finesse...
Guns

TriStar Cobra III Field Pump Super Compact .410

Finesse tactics continue to have impact on new bass gear. Of course, not everything in bass fishing is driven by finesse...
Gear

Federal Premium Freight Train Copper Sabot Slug

Finesse tactics continue to have impact on new bass gear. Of course, not everything in bass fishing is driven by finesse...
Fishing

Saltwater Setup

Finesse tactics continue to have impact on new bass gear. Of course, not everything in bass fishing is driven by finesse...
Fishing

Jacks to the Max

Finesse tactics continue to have impact on new bass gear. Of course, not everything in bass fishing is driven by finesse...
Gear

Beilue's Best from ICAST 2024: Baits & Tackle

Finesse tactics continue to have impact on new bass gear. Of course, not everything in bass fishing is driven by finesse...
Gear

Beilue's Best from ICAST 2024: Rods

Finesse tactics continue to have impact on new bass gear. Of course, not everything in bass fishing is driven by finesse...
Gear

Beilue's Best from ICAST 2024: Reels

Game & Fish Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Get the Game & Fish App apple store google play store

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top Game & Fish stories delivered right to your inbox every week.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Game & Fish subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now

Never Miss a Thing.

Get the Newsletter

Get the top Game & Fish stories delivered right to your inbox every week.

By signing up, I acknowledge that my email address is valid, and have read and accept the Terms of Use