There’s no single best fishing show. There’s a best one for your goal. Long-running host-led shows and Waypoint’s courses suit learning, scenic series like Sport Fishing Television and Gone Fishing suit unwinding, tournament shows suit competition, and Deadliest Catch and Wicked Tuna suit drama. Waypoint TV is free, while most other options need cable or a subscription.
Match the show to your goal: Learn, Unwind, Compete, or Survive. Don’t expect commercial-fishing dramas to teach you how to fish. Start free with Waypoint TV, then add a paid service only if a specific show earns it.
What Are Fishing Shows? (The 4 Kinds)
Fishing shows are TV and streaming programs about recreational or commercial fishing. Wikipedia describes a range that includes educational shows, sports-style tournaments, reality series, and even game shows.
Here’s a simpler way to think about them:
- Instructional: a host shows you how, where, and why.
- Scenic and story-driven: the place and the people are the point.
- Competition: anglers race for weight, points, or prize money.
- Commercial and survival drama: fishing is a job, and the stakes are high.
That last group confuses a lot of people. It’s the most famous, but it’s the least useful if you want to catch fish yourself.
Where to Watch Fishing Shows
You can watch fishing shows free on Waypoint TV and some ad-supported services, on cable through World Fishing Network, or on subscription platforms like MyOutdoorTV, Discovery+, and Prime Video. The right choice depends on which shows you want.
| Where | Cost | Best for | Examples |
| Waypoint TV | Free | Saltwater, inshore, offshore, bass, films, podcasts, courses | Flats Class, Saltwater Experience, Local Knowledge, Silver Kings |
| World Fishing Network (WFN) | Cable/satellite | Classic host-led shows and tournaments | Bill Dance Outdoors, Jimmy Houston Outdoors, Fishing with Roland Martin, MLF programming |
| MyOutdoorTV | Subscription (free trial offered); some free channels | Fishing and hunting on demand | Major League Fishing content, plus shows from Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, and WFN |
| Discovery and HBO Max/Discovery+ | Subscription or TV provider | Big-name documentary series | Deadliest Catch, River Monsters |
| Prime Video | Subscription or add-on channels | Mixed, including Lunkerville and travel series | Lunkerville streams on Prime Video |
| Netflix | Subscription | Mostly documentaries, films, and dramas rather than how-to fishing | Blue Miracle, Seaspiracy |
| Free ad-supported | Free with ads | Older seasons and select series | Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Tubi (varies) |
A few availability notes, checked from September 2026 listings:
- Deadliest Catch was listed on HBO Max, Hulu, Discovery+, YouTube TV, and free with ads on The Roku Channel and Plex.
- Wicked Tuna was listed on Lionsgate+ via Amazon Channels, with no free streaming option at the time of the check.
- River Monsters was listed on YouTube TV, Philo, HBO Max, and Discovery+, and free with ads on Animal Planet. Tubi also carries it free. Other platforms may differ, so check a current listing before you commit.
Cable note: World Fishing Network launched in 2005 as a dedicated angling TV station. Its site offers a zip-code lookup to find providers.
Price note: I couldn’t verify current MyOutdoorTV pricing, so check the app or site for today’s monthly and annual rates.
The Watch-Why Matrix: Pick by Goal
This is the quickest way to choose. Find what you want, then start with the matching column.
| If you want to… | Watch for… | Start with |
| Learn | Host-led how-to, courses, technique | Bill Dance-style classics, Flats Class, Angling Edge |
| Unwind | Beautiful places, relaxed pace | Sport Fishing Television, Gone Fishing, Saltwater Experience |
| Compete | Tournaments, points, weigh-ins | Major League Fishing, Pond Wars, National Walleye Tour |
| Survive | Danger, drama, real stakes | Deadliest Catch, Wicked Tuna, River Monsters |
The rest of this guide follows those four goals. If you already know your goal, jump straight to it.
Best Fishing Shows to Learn From
For learning, choose host-led shows built around technique, or courses. These are the closest things to a lesson on a screen.
Classic host-led shows
WFN’s schedule includes Bill Dance Outdoors, Jimmy Houston Outdoors, and Fishing with Roland Martin. One guide’s roundup calls Dance, Houston, and Martin the “Three Legends,” with more than 120 years of TV experience combined.
That history is useful. These hosts have shown decades of bass tactics and tackle choices, so you can see how methods evolved.
Lindner’s Angling Edge
Al Lindner is in the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame as an educator and angler. His show, listed on WFN and Waypoint, is aimed at teaching, with an emphasis on freshwater tactics.
Flats Class
The show is hosted by Captain CA Richardson, who sees himself as much an educator as a guide. It suits saltwater and flats fishing. Waypoint also lists a “Flats Class University” course if you want to go deeper.
Waypoint’s how-to courses
Waypoint lists courses including “How To” with Peter Miller and Local Knowledge “How To.” If you want lessons, not entertainment, start here.
Honest tip: Shows compress days of fishing into a half hour. They’re great for ideas, but they’re not a substitute for time on the water.
Best Bass Fishing Shows
Bass shows are the biggest slice of fishing TV, split between instruction and tournaments.
Lunkerville
Lunkerville is a bass series across the US and Canada, with 14 seasons and 182 episodes. Instead of relying on a host-as-expert format, it follows everyday recreational anglers who share their own secret spots and techniques. It’s a good pick if you like real-people stories. It streams on Amazon Prime Video and airs on WFN.
Zona’s Awesome Fishing Show
Mark Zona is known as an opinionated analyst of tournament bass fishing. His show is on WFN’s lineup, and it works for viewers who like big personalities with technical talk.
Road Trip Angler and Dirty 30 (on Waypoint)
Road Trip Angler hunts for the best fishing in America across different regions. Dirty 30 follows Bassmaster Elite Series veteran Mike Iaconelli through his 30-year career. Both are free on Waypoint.
Best Saltwater and Offshore Shows
Saltwater shows tend to be the most scenic, especially those filmed in the Florida Keys.
- Silver Kings: Islamorada guide Captain Jared Raskob showcases tarpon on fly.
- Saltwater Experience: Filmed from Hawks Cay in Marathon, it’s described as one of the longest-running fishing shows ever, covering backcountry, flats, and inshore fishing.
- Into the Blue: A sister show that focuses on offshore fishing in the Florida Keys.
- Sport Fishing Television: Praised for production value, with Flip Pallot narrating and detailed close-ups. Discovery’s page shows episodes such as salmon runs in Alaska and striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay.
Note on bias: Several of these are Florida Keys shows, so they’ll make you want to book a trip. That’s part of the appeal, but they don’t represent every US region.
Best Fly Fishing Shows
Fly fishing shows are usually about place, patience, and craft. Waypoint lists fly-focused series such as Fly Rod Chronicles, Fly Shop Tour, and Aguas Arriba, which is filmed in Patagonia and promotes environmental stewardship.
WFN’s lineup also includes Fly Fusion and The New Fly Fisher. If you’re curious about the sport itself, our guide on why people go fly fishing is a good companion read.
Best Competition Fishing Shows
Competition shows suit you if you like scoreboards, strategy, and rooting for someone.
- Major League Fishing: MyOutdoorTV offers a dedicated MLF channel with Cups, All Angles, Legends, Bass Pro Tour, and Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit. WFN also airs MLF Bass Pro Tour and MLF5.
- National Walleye Tour: Listed on WFN’s schedule.
- Realtree’s Fishing Pond Wars: Five two-man teams compete on a trophy bass lake.
A useful perspective: One angler on a fishing forum suggested tournament shows give a more realistic picture of success under real conditions than instructional shows do. That’s one person’s view, but it’s a fair reminder that a half-hour how-to show is edited highlights.
Best Commercial Fishing and Drama Shows
These shows entertain, but they don’t teach recreational fishing. They follow people who fish for a living.
Deadliest Catch
It premiered on Discovery on April 12, 2005, and follows crab fishermen in the Bering Sea. Season 22 began May 8, 2026 and concluded September 27, 2026. That means you can binge older seasons or catch up on the latest.
Wicked Tuna
The series follows commercial tuna fishermen from Gloucester, Massachusetts, who fish for Atlantic bluefin in the North Atlantic. It’s often compared to Deadliest Catch, with anglers competing for the largest catch.
River Monsters
A documentary-style show that follows biologist and extreme angler Jeremy Wade around the world. It’s more mystery and adventure than instruction. Tubi notes that it may be unsuitable for younger children.
Why this split matters: If someone asks for “a fishing show” to learn, don’t hand them Deadliest Catch. If they want a story about people and danger, don’t hand them a technique lesson.
Family-Friendly and Women-Led Fishing Shows
Options here are smaller, but they exist.
- Get Hooked with Team Justagirl: Described as Australia’s first all-female fishing TV series, with action, adventure, and humor.
- Fox Hollow Outdoors: Follows a father-and-son duo as they chase outdoor goals through fishing and first-time experiences.
- Queens of Camo: Created in 2012 to focus on women getting involved in hunting and fishing.
- Parent tip: Preview a few minutes first. Ratings vary widely, and some shows on this list, like River Monsters and the commercial-fishing dramas, aren’t meant for younger kids.
International Picks Worth Streaming
Some of the most relaxed fishing TV comes from outside the US.
- Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing (UK): Two comedian friends reflect on life after major heart problems while fishing across Britain. What to Watch calls it a gentle adventure. Check US availability, since the UK shows movement between services.
- Robson Green’s Grand Slam Fishing: Rotten Tomatoes lists it as available with a Prime Video subscription. Green also fronted Extreme Fishing, which travels the world searching for great fishing destinations.
- Get Hooked with Team Justagirl (Australia) and Aguas Arriba (Patagonia), both on Waypoint.
Are Fishing Shows Real or Scripted?
Most fishing shows are real fishing, but they’re planned, filmed over time, and edited for TV. That’s not the same as a fictional script, but it’s not raw either.
Here’s what the evidence says:
- Entertainment coverage describes Deadliest Catch as a docu-follow reality show that strays from being scripted, yet many viewers have questioned its authenticity. The same article says a cast member described filming as more scripted than another reality series.
- Fishing forum posters note that pros may spend weeks filming a half-hour episode and may get help from local guides. That’s anecdotal, but it matches how TV production generally works.
What I’d say to a curious viewer: Treat drama series as produced storytelling, treat instructional shows as edited highlights, and treat tournament coverage as the closest to live results. Don’t expect your own first day to look like theirs.
Want Something Other Than TV?
YouTube and podcasts fill the gaps. One roundup recommends Wired2Fish as a YouTube fishing channel. Waypoint also hosts podcasts, including a fly fishing consultant series and a bass podcast with Mike Iaconelli.
If a show format doesn’t grab you, a channel or podcast on your exact species or region can teach you more, faster.
[Brand input needed: add your real first-hand section here]
This is where your team’s own voice goes: which show taught you something you used, one you’d skip, or a viewing lesson from a real angler. Add the author’s name and photo. Delete this box if you can’t provide real experience. Please don’t invent one.
FAQs
What is the best fishing show on TV?
There isn’t one best show, because it depends on your goal. Learners may prefer host-led instructional series, viewers who want calm may prefer scenic shows, and drama fans may prefer Deadliest Catch. Use the Watch-Why Matrix above to choose.
Where can I watch fishing shows for free?
Waypoint TV offers fishing shows, films, and podcasts free. Some series also stream free with ads on services like Tubi, Pluto TV, and The Roku Channel. Availability changes, so check current listings.
Is there a fishing channel on TV?
Yes. World Fishing Network is a dedicated fishing channel available through participating TV providers. Outdoor Channel and Sportsman Channel also carry fishing content, and MyOutdoorTV streams many of their shows.
Are there fishing shows on Netflix?
Netflix has some fishing-related films and documentaries, but it’s not the main home for how-to fishing shows. One recent list highlights titles like Blue Miracle and Seaspiracy. Check Netflix directly, as catalogs rotate.
What are the best fishing shows for beginners?
Look for instructional, host-led shows and course-style content, such as Flats Class University and Waypoint’s how-to courses. Start with one fishing style, like bass or saltwater, so the tips apply to what you’ll actually fish.
Are fishing shows scripted?
Most are real fishing that’s planned and edited for TV, not scripted like fiction. Reality dramas are the most debated for authenticity. Treat instructional shows as highlights, not what a typical day looks like.
Are fishing shows good for kids?
Some are, but it varies. Family-oriented series like Fox Hollow Outdoors are a gentler fit, while shows like River Monsters may not suit younger viewers. Preview an episode first.
