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Fishing
by State
17 of 50 states earn an A-range fishing grade in this guide, as of May 2026. 23 have saltwater access and 23 have notable wild trout streams. The cheapest resident license is $9 a year in Louisiana; the most expensive is $54 in California.
17
A-grade fishing states
23
States with saltwater access
23
States with trout streams
$9
Cheapest resident license
All States — Ranked by Fishing
#1AlaskaA+#2FloridaA+#3MinnesotaA+#4MontanaA+#5WisconsinA+#6IdahoA#7LouisianaA#8MichiganA#9WyomingA#10ArkansasA-#11ColoradoA-#12New YorkA-#13OhioA-#14OregonA-#15PennsylvaniaA-#16TexasA-#17WashingtonA-#18AlabamaB+#19CaliforniaB+#20GeorgiaB+#21KentuckyB+#22MaineB+#23North CarolinaB+#24OklahomaB+#25South DakotaB+#26TennesseeB+#27VirginiaB+#28West VirginiaB+#29IowaB#30MississippiB#31New HampshireB#32North DakotaB#33South CarolinaB#34VermontB#35IndianaB-#36MarylandB-#37MassachusettsB-#38MissouriB-#39New JerseyB-#40New MexicoB-#41UtahB-#42ArizonaC+#43KansasC+#44NebraskaC+#45Rhode IslandC+#46ConnecticutC#47DelawareC#48IllinoisC#49HawaiiC-#50NevadaC-
Sources: State wildlife agencies, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Bassmaster, Field & Stream, In-Fisherman, Fly Fisherman. Grades reflect species diversity, world-class waters, license affordability, public land access, and cultural fishing identity. Updated May 2026.