February 28, 2014
By Jeremy Abernathy
Say what you will about the majestic white winters up north — this article pays homage to warm summer days walking South Carolina's beaches, fishing Georgia's lakes and sampling spicy seafood gumbo in Louisiana . It was a mighty challenge, but we've compiled a list of the ten best family towns to live in for Southern fishing.
This isn't a ranking so much as sampling what it might be like to have it all: civilization and the great outdoors, spectacular weekends and jobs galore, quality time with happy kids who also make high scores in science and math. Sounds realistic, right? Why not!
Keep in mind, though, the competition was fierce. We started by researching data from housing prices, rankings for school districts and reputation among fishermen. After cross-referencing these three criteria, some compromises narrowed the list down further: our finalist cities represent a diversity of both lifestyles and fishing opportunities spread across eight Southern states.
So forget your worries and forget the cold. Come sit a spell and bring the kids, too!
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Charleston, South Carolina Southern style comes aplenty with Charleston's marinas, sandy beaches and antebellum architecture. With a convenient hour's drive south you'll find Beaufort, S.C., a saltwater fisherman's paradise, and just to the north is another sportsman's hub, Georgetown. In particular, the quiet Mt. Pleasant suburb has quality fish markets and restaurants near Shem Creek, the historic Boone Hall Plantation site and the state's 16th top-ranked high school, Wando High.
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wikimedia Guntersville, Alabama Home of this month's
2014 Bassmaster Classic , Lake Guntersville delights anglers with its largemouth bass, crappie, sauger and catfish. Here, among all the spots we researched, Marshall County has one of the cheapest costs of living. Something must be special — for example, greatschools.org gives the nearby Douglas High School an 8-out-of-10 rating. But if you don't believe us, then just ask Chris Lane — current Guntersville resident, father of four and 2012 Bassmaster Classic Champion.
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Alabama State Parks website New Orleans, Louisiana Tropical storms may cloud New Orleans' reputation for some, but savvy sportsmen know 'The Big Easy ' for some of the nation's best fishing. Here the 2011 Bassmaster Classic ended in nearby Venice, La., a modest Mississippi River town world-famous for its abundant catch. The city's Benjamin Franklin High School ranks 1st in the state, and the cozy uptown neighborhood of Carrollton is home to several charters for K-12, not to mention Tulane University.
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wikimedia Apalachicola, Florida Known for its oyster and shrimp industries, the Apalachicola Bay area also offers relaxing opportunities for light-tackle and kayak fishing. Take a boat into St. George Sound for sea-trout, redfish and sheepshead, or spend a day inland catching bass with the fam'. Real estate here is much cheaper than around Miami or the keys (in Islamorada, for example, another famed Florida fishing spot), but you're still within driving distance of some of the state's finest beaches.
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www.apalachicolabay.org Morehead City, North Carolina For diverse fishing in all seasons, few choices top Morehead City. Saltwater highlights include some of the world's biggest redfish, as well as tuna, dolphin and marlin. The inshore area also offers seatrout, along with prime bass farther inland. Home prices are slightly higher due to tourist traffic along the coast, but area schools receive decent reviews including an 8-out-of-10 rating for Croatan High School in nearby Newport, N.C.
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www.moreheadcity.nc.gov Jasper, Texas East Texas boasts two hotspots famous for year-round largemouth bass: Sam Rayburn Reservoir and Toledo Bend Reservoir. Located conveniently next door, Jasper could easily serve as your small-town headquarters for both 'Big Sam ' and Toledo Bend. For educational opportunities, you could also try several Houston suburbs just two hours south: for example, the high school in The Woodlands, Texas, ranks in the top 50 statewide — no easy feat in the country's largest state.
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wikimedia Tulsa, Oklahoma Tulsa sits at the doorstep of some of the nation's most diverse fishing. Lake Tenkiller is especially impressive with its clear waters, 130-mile shoreline and prime largemouth bass. Driving distance also includes Fort Gibson Lake, the Arkansas River and smaller waterways plentiful in smallmouth bass, catfish, crappie, carp and even trout. Tulsa is home to the state's #1 high school, Booker T. Washington, as well as honorable mentions just outside the city including #16, Bixby High School.
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Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department Eufaula, Alabama Just south of Montgomery near the Georgia border is the little gem, Lake Eufaula. Once known as the South's bass-fishing capital, Eufaula still packs a punch with plentiful largemouth bass, along with sunfish, crappies, catfish and hybrid bass. Barbour County is also generous to hunters seeking whitetail deer, so look no further for low-key family outings and affordably low costs of living.
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wikimedia Islamorada, Florida The final stop in our 'live the dream ' tour is the tropical wonderland of Islamorada, a tiny strip of dry land halfway between Miami and Key West. Here the daily catch might include anything from grouper, snapper, dolphin and swordfish to tarpon, permit and bonefish. But what's it like to live there, you ask? Due to high costs and its exotic but impractical location, the place is just a village by population. Perhaps it's more reasonable to visit from the Fort Lauderdale area or West Palm Beach, home of Florida's 8th top-ranked Suncoast Community High School.
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wikimedia Which one is your top choice? Share with us in the comments!
