70+ Best Fishing Movies of All-time

What’s actually included on the list?

The list primarily includes either 1) documentaries on fishing or 2) drama and adventure movies that have a good portion of fishing or feature fishing as a main theme.

In addition, we’ve also included a third group on the list: movies about fish (i.e. Finding Nemo) or with spectacular fishing scenes (i.e. The Beach’s spearfishing scene). This last group is in the minority, but we felt that if you loved fishing you’d also love movies with fish in them.

Top 75 Fishing Movies

Note: You can sort the table by “genre” by clicking on the “genre” column, in case you only want to see documentaries or vice versa. You can also use the search bar to search the table for a specific movie or genre.

My Personal Top 3 Fishing Movies

1. Bait Shop

The best fishing movie I have ever watched is “Bait Shop.” Bill Dugan, a bait shop owner on Paradise Lake learns of a $15,000 payment he must make to the bank or he will lose his shop. In the meantime, a professional bass tournament is being held on the lake. The favorite to win the event, Hot Rod Johnson, who is loved by all the townspeople and will do anything to win. The only way Bill Dugan can pay the bank is by entering the tournament and winning the first place prize! This movie is funny and certainly one I would recommend that all fishermen should watch!

2. Gone Fishin’

This is another exciting, funny fishing movie. When two friends Joe and Gus take a trip to Florida for a fishing trip, the two get themselves into a bit of trouble and cause a lot of damage. Not much is going right on there little vacation. In addition, they find themselves on a mission to stop a thief. If you’re looking for a good laugh and adventure, this movie is for you!

3. A River Runs Through It

This movie is about two brothers who grow up fly fishing the rivers and streams in Montana. Much of the film portrays their love for fly-fishing and their shared experiences within in as they grew up. This movie is full of drama and is recommended for anyone who enjoys fishing.