Saltwater Fish Species
Saltwater species roam the bays, flats, nearshore reefs, and open ocean along both US coasts and the Gulf of Mexico. These fish tend to be stronger fighters pound-for-pound than their freshwater cousins, and many are prized as table fare as well as sport. From redfish tailing on shallow grass flats to tuna running offshore, saltwater fishing demands an understanding of tides, structure, and bait presentation. This library covers the most sought-after saltwater gamefish in US waters, with data sourced from FishBase and NOAA.
135 species in this category
African Pompano
African Pompano (Alectis ciliaris) inhabits offshore reefs. Popular technique: d…
Albacore Tuna
The white-meat tuna of canned fame. Long pectoral fins distinguish this smaller …
Almaco Jack
Almaco Jack (Seriola rivoliana) inhabits offshore open water. Popular technique:…
Atlantic Bonito
Atlantic Bonito (Sarda sarda) inhabits nearshore atlantic. Popular technique: ca…
Atlantic Cod
Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua) inhabits deep cold atlantic, offshore banks. Popular…
Atlantic Croaker
Atlantic Croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) inhabits bays, nearshore. Popular tec…
Atlantic Halibut
Atlantic Halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) inhabits deep cold atlantic. Popula…
Atlantic Mackerel
Atlantic Mackerel (Scomber scombrus) inhabits nearshore northeast atlantic. Popu…
Banded Rudderfish
Banded Rudderfish (Seriola zonata) inhabits nearshore to offshore. Popular techn…
Bar Jack
Bar Jack (Caranx ruber) inhabits coral reefs, caribbean. Popular technique: jigg…
Barred Surfperch
Barred Surfperch (Amphistichus argenteus) inhabits pacific surf zone. Popular te…
Bigeye Tuna
Bigeye Tuna (Thunnus obesus) inhabits deep offshore, night surface. Popular tech…
Black Drum
Black Drum (Pogonias cromis) inhabits bays, nearshore, jetties. Popular techniqu…
Black Grouper
Premier reef predator. Bottom bulldog of structure-heavy offshore and nearshore …
Black Marlin
Fastest fish in the ocean. Indo-Pacific species known for blistering runs and ta…
Black Rockfish
Black Rockfish (Sebastes melanops) inhabits pacific rocky reefs, kelp. Popular t…
Black Sea Bass
Black Sea Bass (Centropristis striata) inhabits nearshore reefs, wrecks. Popular…
Blackfin Tuna
Blackfin Tuna (Thunnus atlanticus) inhabits offshore atlantic, gulf. Popular tec…
Blacktip Shark
Blacktip Shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) inhabits nearshore, surf, flats. Popular …
Blue Marlin
Legendary blue-water gamefish. Size, beauty, and aerial acrobatics make this the…
Blue Rockfish
Blue Rockfish (Sebastes mystinus) inhabits pacific kelp forests. Popular techniq…
Blue Runner
Blue Runner (Caranx crysos) inhabits nearshore offshore. Popular technique: cast…
Blue Shark
Blue Shark (Prionace glauca) inhabits offshore open ocean. Popular technique: he…
Bluefin Tuna
The giant of tunas. North Atlantic migrations produce the biggest fish caught on…
Bluefish
Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) inhabits nearshore atlantic, surf. Popular techni…
Bluestriped Grunt
Bluestriped Grunt (Haemulon sciurus) inhabits coral reefs, grass flats. Popular …
Bocaccio
Bocaccio (Sebastes paucispinis) inhabits deep pacific offshore. Popular techniqu…
Bonefish
The ghost of the flats. Famous for blistering runs across shallow Bahamian and F…
Brown Rockfish
Brown Rockfish (Sebastes auriculatus) inhabits pacific bays, rocky shores. Popul…
Bull Shark
Bull Shark (Carcharhinus leucas) inhabits nearshore, estuaries, rivers. Popular …
Cabezon
Cabezon (Scorpaenichthys marmoratus) inhabits pacific kelp, rocky reefs. Popular…
California Halibut
California Halibut (Paralichthys californicus) inhabits pacific nearshore kelp e…
California Yellowtail
California Yellowtail (Seriola lalandi) inhabits pacific kelp, offshore islands.…
Canary Rockfish
Canary Rockfish (Sebastes pinniger) inhabits pacific offshore reefs. Popular tec…
Cero Mackerel
Cero Mackerel (Scomberomorus regalis) inhabits caribbean reefs. Popular techniqu…
China Rockfish
China Rockfish (Sebastes nebulosus) inhabits pacific rocky reefs, kelp. Popular …
Cobia
Also called ling or lemonfish. Curious nearshore fighter often sight-cast near r…
Common Snook
Florida inshore superstar. Wary, structure-loving, and famous for tackle-busting…
Copper Rockfish
Copper Rockfish (Sebastes caurinus) inhabits pacific rocky reefs. Popular techni…
Corbina
Corbina (Menticirrhus undulatus) inhabits pacific surf zone. Popular technique: …
Crevalle Jack
Crevalle Jack (Caranx hippos) inhabits nearshore, surf, flats. Popular technique…
Cubera Snapper
Cubera Snapper (Lutjanus cyanopterus) inhabits deep reefs, structure. Popular te…
Dog Snapper
Dog Snapper (Lutjanus jocu) inhabits deep reefs, caribbean. Popular technique: b…
Fat Snook
Fat Snook (Centropomus parallelus) inhabits mangroves, inlets, rivers. Popular t…
Florida Pompano
Florida Pompano (Trachinotus carolinus) inhabits surf zone, nearshore. Popular t…
French Grunt
French Grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum) inhabits coral reefs, caribbean. Popular t…
Gag Grouper
Gag Grouper (Mycteroperca microlepis) inhabits offshore reefs, ledges. Popular t…
Goliath Grouper
Goliath Grouper (Epinephelus itajara) inhabits nearshore wrecks, reefs. Popular …
Gray Triggerfish
Gray Triggerfish (Balistes capriscus) inhabits offshore reefs, wrecks. Popular t…
Great Barracuda
Great Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) inhabits tropical reefs, open water. Popul…
Great Hammerhead
Great Hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran) inhabits nearshore to offshore. Popular tech…
Greater Amberjack
Greater Amberjack (Seriola dumerili) inhabits offshore reefs, wrecks. Popular te…
Gulf Flounder
Gulf Flounder (Paralichthys albigutta) inhabits gulf coast, bays. Popular techni…
Haddock
Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) inhabits offshore banks, deep water. Popular …
Hogfish
Hogfish (Lachnolaimus maximus) inhabits shallow coral reefs. Popular technique: …
Horse-Eye Jack
Horse-Eye Jack (Caranx latus) inhabits nearshore reef, caribbean. Popular techni…
Kelp Greenling
Kelp Greenling (Hexagrammos decagrammus) inhabits pacific kelp forests. Popular …
King Mackerel
Smoker kings. Fast Atlantic and Gulf pelagic with sharp teeth and long runs.
Ladyfish
Ladyfish (Elops saurus) inhabits bays, inlets, nearshore. Popular technique: lig…
Lane Snapper
Lane Snapper (Lutjanus synagris) inhabits shallow reefs, grass flats. Popular te…
Lemon Shark
Lemon Shark (Negaprion brevirostris) inhabits nearshore, mangroves, flats. Popul…
Lesser Amberjack
Lesser Amberjack (Seriola fasciata) inhabits deep offshore reefs. Popular techni…
Lingcod
Lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus) inhabits pacific rocky reefs. Popular technique: bo…
Little Tunny
Little Tunny (Euthynnus alletteratus) inhabits nearshore atlantic, gulf. Popular…
Longbill Spearfish
Longbill Spearfish (Tetrapturus pfluegeri) inhabits atlantic offshore. Popular t…
Lookdown
Lookdown (Selene vomer) inhabits nearshore, piers, bridges. Popular technique: l…
Mahi-Mahi
Also called dorado or dolphinfish. Neon blue-and-gold offshore fighter near flot…
Mangrove Snapper
Mangrove Snapper (Lutjanus griseus) inhabits mangroves, docks, reefs. Popular te…
Mutton Snapper
Mutton Snapper (Lutjanus analis) inhabits coral reefs, grass beds. Popular techn…
Nassau Grouper
Nassau Grouper (Epinephelus striatus) inhabits coral reefs, caribbean. Popular t…
Northern Kingfish
Northern Kingfish (Menticirrhus saxatilis) inhabits surf zone, nearshore. Popula…
Olive Rockfish
Olive Rockfish (Sebastes serranoides) inhabits pacific kelp forests. Popular tec…
Opah
Opah (Lampris guttatus) inhabits deep offshore, open ocean. Popular technique: d…
Pacific Bonito
Pacific Bonito (Sarda chiliensis) inhabits pacific nearshore. Popular technique:…
Pacific Halibut
Giant Pacific flatfish. Deep-water species prized for white firm fillets.
Pacific Mackerel
Pacific Mackerel (Scomber japonicus) inhabits pacific nearshore. Popular techniq…
Permit
Hardest fish on the flats. Spooky, picky, and famous for humbling experienced an…
Petrale Sole
Petrale Sole (Eopsetta jordani) inhabits pacific deep water. Popular technique: …
Pile Perch
Pile Perch (Rhacochilus vacca) inhabits pacific piers, pilings. Popular techniqu…
Pollock
Pollock (Pollachius virens) inhabits nearshore to offshore. Popular technique: j…
Porbeagle
Porbeagle (Lamna nasus) inhabits cold offshore atlantic. Popular technique: heav…
Quillback Rockfish
Quillback Rockfish (Sebastes maliger) inhabits pacific rocky reefs. Popular tech…
Red Drum
Also called redfish. Gulf and Atlantic flats favorite with distinct spot on the …
Red Grouper
Red Grouper (Epinephelus morio) inhabits shallow reefs, limestone bottom. Popula…
Red Hind
Red Hind (Epinephelus guttatus) inhabits coral reefs, caribbean. Popular techniq…
Red Snapper
Gulf of Mexico icon. Short regulated seasons and excellent table fare make this …
Rex Sole
Rex Sole (Glyptocephalus zachirus) inhabits deep pacific. Popular technique: bot…
Rock Hind
Rock Hind (Epinephelus adscensionis) inhabits shallow coral reefs. Popular techn…
Roosterfish
Roosterfish (Nematistius pectoralis) inhabits pacific surf, rocky shores. Popula…
Rubberlip Perch
Rubberlip Perch (Rhacochilus toxotes) inhabits pacific rocky shores. Popular tec…
Sailfish
Fastest fish in the sea. Electric blue coloration and towering sail fin make thi…
Sandbar Shark
Sandbar Shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus) inhabits nearshore, bays. Popular techniqu…
Scamp
Scamp (Mycteroperca phenax) inhabits deep reefs, ledges. Popular technique: bott…
Schoolmaster Snapper
Schoolmaster Snapper (Lutjanus apodus) inhabits coral reefs, caribbean. Popular …
Scup
Scup (Stenotomus chrysops) inhabits nearshore ne atlantic. Popular technique: bo…
Sheepshead
Sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus) inhabits jetties, bridges, reefs. Popul…
Shortfin Mako
Shortfin Mako (Isurus oxyrinchus) inhabits offshore pelagic. Popular technique: …
Silk Snapper
Silk Snapper (Lutjanus vivanus) inhabits deep offshore reefs. Popular technique:…
Skipjack Tuna
Skipjack Tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) inhabits tropical open ocean. Popular techniq…
Snowy Grouper
Snowy Grouper (Epinephelus niveatus) inhabits deep offshore structure. Popular t…
Southern Flounder
Ambush predator that lies flat on the bottom. Gigging and bottom rigs both produ…
Southern Kingfish
Southern Kingfish (Menticirrhus americanus) inhabits nearshore gulf, surf. Popul…
Spanish Mackerel
Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus) inhabits nearshore trolling lanes. Po…
Spinner Shark
Spinner Shark (Carcharhinus brevipinna) inhabits nearshore surf zone. Popular te…
Spot
Spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) inhabits nearshore, bays. Popular technique: bottom …
Spotted Seatrout
Spotted Seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) inhabits grass flats, estuaries. Popular …
Starry Flounder
Starry Flounder (Platichthys stellatus) inhabits pacific bays, estuaries. Popula…
Striped Marlin
Striped Marlin (Kajikia audax) inhabits pacific and indian ocean offshore. Popul…
Summer Flounder
Summer Flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) inhabits nearshore atlantic, inlets. Pop…
Swordfish
Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) inhabits deep offshore, night fishing. Popular techn…
Swordspine Snook
Swordspine Snook (Centropomus ensiferus) inhabits tidal rivers, mangroves. Popul…
Tarpon
The silver king. Acrobatic jumps and long fights make tarpon the premier flats g…
Tautog
Tautog (Tautoga onitis) inhabits rocky reefs, wrecks. Popular technique: bottom …
Thresher Shark
Thresher Shark (Alopias vulpinus) inhabits offshore pelagic. Popular technique: …
Tiger Shark
Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) inhabits nearshore reefs, offshore. Popular tech…
Tilefish
Tilefish (Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps) inhabits deep offshore structure. Popul…
Tripletail
Tripletail (Lobotes surinamensis) inhabits open water, floating objects. Popular…
Vermilion Rockfish
Vermilion Rockfish (Sebastes miniatus) inhabits pacific rocky reefs. Popular tec…
Vermilion Snapper
Vermilion Snapper (Rhomboplites aurorubens) inhabits deep offshore reefs. Popula…
Wahoo
Speed demon of the offshore. High-speed trolling targets this 50 mph pelagic.
Walleye Pollock
Walleye Pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) inhabits deep cold pacific, bering sea. Po…
Weakfish
Weakfish (Cynoscion regalis) inhabits nearshore atlantic, bays. Popular techniqu…
White Croaker
White Croaker (Genyonemus lineatus) inhabits pacific nearshore, piers. Popular t…
White Grunt
White Grunt (Haemulon plumierii) inhabits coral reefs, sandy bottom. Popular tec…
White Hake
White Hake (Urophycis tenuis) inhabits deep cold atlantic. Popular technique: bo…
White Marlin
Smaller Atlantic billfish with rounded fins. Light-tackle trophy of Mid-Atlantic…
White Seabass
White Seabass (Atractoscion nobilis) inhabits pacific kelp beds, offshore. Popul…
Winter Flounder
Winter Flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) inhabits nearshore ne atlantic. …
Wreckfish
Wreckfish (Polyprion americanus) inhabits deep wrecks, rocky ledges. Popular tec…
Yellowedge Grouper
Yellowedge Grouper (Epinephelus flavolimbatus) inhabits deep bottom structure. P…
Yelloweye Rockfish
Yelloweye Rockfish (Sebastes ruberrimus) inhabits deep pacific rocky reefs. Popu…
Yellowfin Croaker
Yellowfin Croaker (Umbrina roncador) inhabits pacific surf, bays. Popular techni…
Yellowfin Grouper
Yellowfin Grouper (Mycteroperca venenosa) inhabits deep caribbean reefs. Popular…
Yellowfin Tuna
Warm-water pelagic tuna. Popular for both chunking and trolling, yields ahi sash…
Yellowtail Snapper
Yellowtail Snapper (Ocyurus chrysurus) inhabits coral reefs. Popular technique: …
Log your saltwater catches in FishLog
The FishLog app has the full species database plus a personal catch log — species, weight, length, GPS location, and photos. Free for iOS and Android.
Free Download