Michelle Dalton (left) and Tom Wye (far right) catc a Pacific sailfish out of Quepos, Costa Rica in 2019. Photo by Joe Yerkovich
Top Sportfishing Destinations for 2026: Cabo, Florida Keys, Costa Rica, and More
By John Piotrowski
As I prepared to write this month’s article, I scrolled through the Lighthouse Point Saltwater Sportsman Association’s (LHPSSA) WhatsApp chat to check out recent catches and see which fishing spots members were discussing. Most of the conversation focused on our club’s 2026 tournament schedule and trips. The list of destinations was impressive: Guatemala, Mag Bay, Mexico, Port Vincent, Louisiana, Key West, New England, Bimini, Bahamas, West End Bahamas, Costa Rica, and more. Curious, I asked ChatGPT to list the world’s top 10 sportfishing destinations to see if there was any overlap with our club’s plans. As it turns out, several of the places we’re planning to visit are considered among the best fishing spots in the world.
Whether you chase blistering runs, acrobatic leaps, or the calm tension of a line sliding off a reel, these destinations represent the pinnacle of sport fishing. The LHPSSA currently has trips planned to the following spots.
1. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico — The Marlin Capital Where the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez, Cabo is synonymous with big-game fishing. Striped, blue, and black marlin prowl these waters, along with dorado, tuna, and roosterfish.
2. The Florida Keys, USA — Flats Fishing Paradise A network of flats, channels, and coral reefs, the Keys offer year-round opportunities for bonefish, tarpon, and permit—the famed “Grand Slam.”
3. Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast — A Pelagic Playground From Quepos to the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica is a blue-water powerhouse. Sailfish arrive in huge numbers, joined by marlin, dorado, and yellowfin tuna.
4. Andros Island, Bahamas — Bonefish Mecca If there’s a spiritual home for fly fishing, this is it. The vast, shallow flats of Andros are perfect for stalking trophy bonefish that can strip line at breathtaking speed.
5. Panama’s Gulf of Chiriquí — Untamed Pacific Still less crowded than many hotspots, Panama delivers consistent sailfish action alongside cubera snapper, roosterfish, and amberjack.
These five spots are on the LHPSSA’s radar. Seychelles — Remote and Ridiculously Beautiful Iceland — Cold-Water Giants Cairns, Australia — Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef Norway — Cod and Arctic Adventures Kenya’s Watamu Coast — Indian Ocean Speedsters
Several of these destinations were new to me, but very intriguing. I will have to look into Norway or Seychelles. But to have several world-class destinations on our calendar already this year is exciting. One of the best ways to learn to be a better fisherman is to try different techniques in different places and with different people. There are so many situations or conversations I can remember over the years in which an idea, tip, or technique was discovered in some far corner of the earth, brought back to home waters, and found to be successful. The people at many of these places are so welcoming and eager to meet and learn from us, too. I learned to fish with a yo-yo in the Bahamas, learned how to fish a beach break in Costa Rica, and learned how to fish for eels differently in Montauk, where it worked in Venice for Cobia.
Take your passion for fishing to different places with an open mind. You never know who you will meet or what you will learn. A fishing club like the LHPSSA affords you the opportunity to try new places with a fraction of the time, planning and cost.
For more information, check out the LHPSSA.org website.