We often hear anglers say, “I wish I could find a few friends to go on this fishing trip with me.” We agree, fishing with friends is the best! This article focuses on fishing clubs and organizations that we feel help connect anglers and provide resources as well as camaraderie, leading you to find more fishing buddies.  

1. Non-Profit Fishing Organizations

There are many amazing non-profit fishing organizations, but we will focus on those that tend to have regular meetings or other events that encourage camaraderie and networking. Most of these organizations do conservation projects, organize fishing events, and help new anglers learn sportfishing techniques in their local fisheries. Often regions are broken down into chapters. Chapters are like local fishing clubs within the non-profit organization.

• International Game Fish Association (IGFA)- “The leading authority on angling pursuits and the keeper of the most current world record fishing catches by fish categories”.

  • Known for keeping the record books in the fishing community, this organization also has many fishing clubs throughout the world. Most clubs are saltwater focused, and their local chapters often meet in marinas. Learn more about the IGFA here: https://igfa.org/

• Coastal Conservation Association (CCA)- “A grassroots, non-profit, social movement organization of saltwater anglers from 17 coastal states spanning the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic, and Pacific coasts.” 

  • Another saltwater focused organization, local chapters meet in US states that border the ocean. This organization is especially strong in southern states from Texas to the Carolinas. However, it seems their presence has been growing on the West Coast and Northeast in recent years. Learn more about CCA here: https://www.joincca.org/our-story/

• Fly Fishers International- “Foster the legacy of fly fishing for all fish in all waters through conservation, education, and inspiring a growing community of fly fishers.”

  • Obviously by the name, this organization focuses on the fly-fishing community. This organization is very welcoming to new fly anglers and fly-fishing education is one of their major focusses. Learn more about FFI here: https://www.flyfishersinternational.org/About-Us

• Backcountry Hunters and Anglers- “Looks to preserve North America's outdoor heritage of hunting and fishing through public education and advocacy.”

  • Organization focused on preserving and protecting public lands. Each state organizes various projects and meetups. Learn more about BHA here: https://www.backcountryhunters.org/about

• Muskies Inc.- “The largest fishing and conservation organization in the world, dedicated to the conservation of muskellunge.”

  • You guessed it, this group is focused on the conservation of muskellunge. There are chapters across the country, but the upper Midwest states have a significant portion of the chapters. Learn more about MI here: https://muskiesinc.org/public/miWabout

2. For-Profit Organizations with Community Chapters

Similar to the non-profit groups listed above, these are commercial entities with club-like local chapters and events. We’ve listed nationwide organizations, but there are many great local groups.

• Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (BASS)- “A global network of locally organized clubs whose members participate in and support a range of activities, including tournaments, conservation initiatives and youth programs”

  • In terms of membership BASS is one of the biggest fishing organizations. With over half a million members, BASS is known for organizing everything from local bass fishing tournaments to the most viewed fishing tournament in the world - The BassMaster Classic. Local chapters organize fishing tournaments and often have monthly meetups with guest speakers and fun events. While this organization has an emphasis on tournament bass fishing, newbies will find that it is a welcoming organization Learn more about BASS here: https://www.bassmaster.com/b-a-s-s-nation/

3. Independent Fishing Clubs

There are various fishing clubs across the globe that are not associated with any fishing organization. They are usually a community of anglers in a specific area. They range from a local club with a well-organized website and event calendar to some locals who get together at the lake and eat at the local burger joint. You can generally find larger clubs by searching “fishing clubs near me” on your favorite search engine. You can also contact your state fish and wildlife department and see if they have any information on regional fishing clubs. Tackle shops and fly shops can also provide information about local fishing clubs.

4. Marinas

There are many marinas that have monthly meetings at their clubhouse or a local restaurant. Their activities will range from fishing, sailing, boating, and perhaps even golfing, but you will be able to rub shoulders with other anglers.

Some examples include the West Palm Beach Fishing Club in Florida (https://westpalmbeachfishingclub.org/), one of the oldest fishing clubs in the U.S., offering monthly meetings, fishing outings, and community events like marine yard sales, or the Mission Bay Marlin Club in California (https://www.missionbaymarlinclub.org/), a historic fishing club that hosts tournaments, social events, and monthly meetings.

5. Social Media Fishing Clubs

We don’t recommend meeting up with a random stranger you met on the internet, but these pages can be a good resource as they often announce public events such as fishing trade shows, local conservation projects, and local fishing tournaments. We recommend pages that focus on your local fishing waters if your long-term goal is to network with the fishing community in your area. If a page requires admin approval and has set rules that is best. The group pages that have no rules tend to get loaded with spam posts.

Conclusion

There have never been more ways to connect with fellow anglers. Whether you’ve just moved to town or want to expand your circle, fishing clubs—both formal and informal—can open up valuable resources and a network where you can make new fishing buddies in no time!