Great Fishing Places for Timeshare Vacations

With many of the activities at timeshare resorts focused on beaches, theme parks, golf, skiing and onsite amenities, sometimes fishing gets lost in the shuffle of top activities you can do on vacation. But fishing can be a great way to relax and disconnect while away from home.

In 2019, over 50 million people went fishing in the United States, and this figure lifted to almost 55 million people last year as people looked for more outdoor pursuits during the height of the COVID pandemic. Compared to the nearly 18 million people that play tennis and the 25 million people who play golf each year, fishing dominates when it comes to an outdoor hobby.

So why does it seem like timeshare resorts focus so much on other activities?

Bluegreen Seems to Get It

Well at least one developer seems to get it. Bluegreen Vacations has a marketing agreement with Bass Pro Shop which began over 20 years ago and allows Bluegreen to market their vacation club program directly to Bass Pro Shop customers. About 9 percent of Bluegreen’s sales in 2018 came from Bass Pro Shop, of which BPS gets a cut as well as annual fees for allowing Bluegreen into their stores. It appears this is a lucrative arrangement for both companies.

The irony is that, as resorts focus on building more amenities such as water parks and rock walls, fishing seems to be a rather cost-effective way to provide entertainment to its customers.

Most avid fishermen and women (yes, about 36 percent of anglers are women), like to bring their own lines with them. Therefore, it seems like resorts just need to put programs together or establish agreements with local companies in order to add value to their guests’ vacation experiences.

Top Fishing Destinations

Let’s take a look at some of the leading fishing spots in North America (in alphabetical order) which also feature top timeshare accommodations. Fans of the warmer destinations can visit at any time, but you can also start planning now for when the weather warms up at the more northern locations.

Remember to check the limits, seasons and licensing requirements at your destination of choice. Licenses can usually be purchased online through state fish and wildlife department websites.

The resorts shown below are the most popular in their respective areas based on the customer offers placed through our online platform.

Branson

Table Rock Lake provides sensational fishing and scenic fun rolled into one experience. Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Crappie and Catfish stand out, with bass available year-round depending on your tolerance to fish during the colder months.

The lake is a meandering maze of inlets with over 750 miles of shoreline, so it might be best to hire a charter or guide if you are not familiar with the area. If you want to head out on your own, boat rentals are available at Table Rock State Park. For a shoreline spot, try Aunts Creek on the James River arm of the lake.

Branson timeshare resorts: Wyndham Branson at The Meadows, Grand Crowne Resort

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Sportfishing is supreme in this self-described “Marlin Capital of the World”, and few would disagree - with Cabo known as a world-famous sportfishing destination. The location at the southern tip of Baja California is a unique spot, where the Pacific Ocean meets the Gulf of California, with casting for Tuna, Snapper, Mahi Mahi and Wahoo joining Marlin as great possibilities.

While heading out into the deep is the preferred option, you can also toss in a line from shore. Try the coastal stretch between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, the San Jose del Cabo Estuary or, if you don’t mind heading up a few more miles, up to the East Cape area.

Cabo San Lucas timeshare resorts: Villa del Palmar Cabo San Lucas Beach Resort & Spa, Grand Solmar Land’s End Resort and Spa

Avon/Vail, Colorado

The Eagle River runs through this stunning part of Colorado, with excellent flyfishing in play for Rainbow, Cutthroat, Brown, and Brook Trout. Several anglers are available for hire to take you out and navigate the best places to drop in a line.

Most of the access points are a few miles west of Avon, but there are also spots in the White River National Forest such as Sylvan Lake State Park. Those closer to Vail can try Gore Creek.

Colorado timeshare resorts: Christie Lodge, Marriott's StreamSide Evergreen at Vail

Florida Keys