If you were to move to ANY lower 48 state for fishing.....

For year round fishing - NorCal, South Florida (Key West) or North Carolina. Regarding NC, If you combine saltwater(inshore/offshore) and freshwater (mountain/warm water) this state pretty much has everything except ocean run salmon and high elevation trout species. Although I've heard that NC has a few steelie runs, hmmmm.

Mike

No state income tax in Washington.  San Juans are really nice up there.  .....If you can put up with long periods of grey wet weather in the winter.

Not just in the winter.

Wow, thanks everyone SO MUCH for all of the advice and experience. I think I agree with a lot of you in that staying near the salt will be a priority. I do LOVE me some good trout fishing, but I don't think I can go on missing those ugly Lings. I think top on our list are washington, oregon, montana, and wyoming. It's going to be hard to leave as the fihsing here has been so great!

I'd second, third and forth the Washington state votes. I lived up there for three months one year and fell in love  with the place. Only problem, I couldn't talk the wife into it. It's a true sportsman's paradise up there. Always dream of fishing the sound in a kayak… Great trout, steelhead, salmon,Pac hallis, rock fishing, crabbing, hunting EVERYTHING. If you don't mind the extended wet periods it's THE place to be. And B.C right next door.

I'm already here...no need to move.

Now if i could 50/50 spend time -and it has to be the US...then CA and FL

I vote for FL.

I'm already here...no need to move.

Now if i could 50/50 spend time -and it has to be the US...then CA and FL

Pretty much feel exactly the same… I'm fine here.  If it wasn't just the lower 48 add Hawaii.

Don't think i'd move to any other state for anything. Discontent for the east and south. Very few states I even want to spend time in, let alone move. California has all my hobbies and interests.

Hmm.   I love California. However in my mid 30's I have missed the boat of the dot com and housing boom.  So I will slave my life for the time being just to make enough to pay bills and a bit for fishing.  As for fishing, I remember growing up in FL there were always fish in rivers and ponds.  You can see the fish swimming and they easily be caught.  I also remember dragging a net and pick up shrimp and grab oysters and clams from the ocean beach. 

Living here in the east and South Bay.  All the small likes and ponds are well overfished.  I remember 15 years ago lakes like Uvas and Calero had plenty of fish.  Heck there were even crawfish and fish in the coyote river.  Now it's fill with debris and feces from homeless incanpments.   Which is the reason why I now prefer to fish in the ocean.  Realistically if I can find a comfortable job in Oregon or Washington I would pack and leave in a heartbeat.  I would love go back to Florida.  But I would miss the mountains. For fishing, camping, and epic motorcycle trips.

Wife and I are looking at houses in Washington. On the water of Puget Sound. With privite beach to launch my kayak.

I used to think eastern Idaho (Ashton/Driggs) would be pretty near heaven, in part due to the proximity to the wilderness areas of Wyoming and Montana. Perhaps eastern Oregon (Ontario) would work for you if you gotta have an ocasional salt fix. Just a "straight" shot accross the flats of Idaho to Yellowstone yet within striking distance of the coast with local attractions as well.

Jefferson would be a nice place to live. 

. . . in my mid 30's I have missed the boat of the dot com and housing boom.  So I will slave my life for the time being just to make enough to pay bills and a bit for fishing.

Replace "mid 30's" with "mid 50's" and that's me...

Wife and I are looking at houses in Washington. On the water of Puget Sound. With privite beach to launch my kayak.

I hate to say it, but Puget sound is a shell of its former self.  Pretty much all bottomfishing is shut down.  No take of rockfish.  6 week season on lingcod.  And a maze of salmon regs that will leave you shaking your head.

-Allen

Wife and I are looking at houses in Washington. On the water of Puget Sound. With privite beach to launch my kayak.

I hate to say it, but Puget sound is a shell of its former self.  Pretty much all bottomfishing is shut down.  No take of rockfish.  6 week season on lingcod.  And a maze of salmon regs that will leave you shaking your head.

-Allen

Thanks for the heads up!! 

Wife and I are looking at houses in Washington. On the water of Puget Sound. With privite beach to launch my kayak.

I hate to say it, but Puget sound is a shell of its former self.  Pretty much all bottomfishing is shut down.  No take of rockfish.  6 week season on lingcod.  And a maze of salmon regs that will leave you shaking your head.

-Allen

Thanks for the heads up!!

Check out the the Olympic Penisula and look for some place near the Strait of Juan de Fuca.  The fish gets better the further west you go, so if you live on the west side of the sound, it is easier to reach (no ferries or driving around).

-Allen