Saltwater Game Fish

Saltwater fish species spend the majority of their life in saltwater. They live in oceans, seas, bays, tributaries and rivers. Saltwater fish include anadromous fish that are born in freshwater but spend most of their lives in the sea, only returning to freshwater in order to spawn. Below you’ll find the most popular saltwater game fish in North America, along with fish species you’re likely to encounter when saltwater fishing.

Fish Image

African Pompano

Habitat
Bay, Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Albacore

Habitat
Ocean

Region
South, Northeast, West

Fish Image

Almaco Jack

Habitat
Ocean

Region
South

Fish Image

American Shad

Habitat
Bay, Ocean, River

Region
South

Fish Image

Arctic Char

Habitat
Ocean, River, Coastal Waters

Region
West

Fish Image

Atlantic Angel Shark

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South

Fish Image

Atlantic Angelfish

Habitat
Ocean, Bay, Coastal Waters

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

Habitat
Ocean

Region
Northeast, South

Fish Image

Atlantic Bonito

Habitat
Ocean

Region
Northeast, South

Fish Image

Atlantic Chub Mackerel

Habitat
Ocean

Region
South

Fish Image

Atlantic Cod

Habitat
Ocean

Region
Northeast

Fish Image

Atlantic Croaker

Habitat
Bay, Ocean

Region
Northeast, South

Fish Image

Atlantic Cutlassfish

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South, West

Fish Image

Atlantic Halibut

Habitat
Ocean

Region
Northeast

Fish Image

Atlantic Mackerel

Habitat
Bay, Ocean, River

Region
Northeast

Fish Image

Atlantic Salmon

Habitat
Bay, Ocean, River

Region
Northeast

Fish Image

Atlantic Sharpnose Shark

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region

Fish Image

Atlantic Spadefish

Habitat
Bay, Ocean

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Atlantic Sturgeon

Habitat
Bay, Ocean, River

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Atlantic Torpedo Ray

Habitat
Ocean

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Banded Rudderfish

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Bar Jack

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Barndoor Skate

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
Northeast

Fish Image

Bigeye Trevally

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
West

Fish Image

Bigeye Tuna

Habitat
Bay, Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South

Fish Image

Black Drum

Habitat
Bay, Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South

Fish Image

Black Grouper

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South

Fish Image

Black Marlin

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
West

Fish Image

Black Sea Bass

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South

Fish Image

Black Skipjack

Habitat
Bay, Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
West

Fish Image

Blackfin Tuna

Habitat
Ocean

Region
South

Fish Image

Blacknose Shark

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South

Fish Image

Blacktip Shark

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South

Fish Image

Blue Marlin

Habitat
Ocean

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Blue Runner

Habitat
Ocean, Bay, Coastal

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Blue Shark

Habitat
Ocean

Region
Northeast, South

Fish Image

Bluefin Trevally

Habitat
Bay, Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
West

Fish Image

Bluefin Tuna

Habitat
Ocean

Region
Northeast

Fish Image

Bluefish

Habitat
Bay, Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Blueline Tilefish

Habitat
Ocean

Region
Northeast, South

Fish Image

Bluntnose Stingray

Habitat
Ocean, Bay, Estuary

Region
Northeast, South

Fish Image

Bonefish

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South, West

Fish Image

Bonnethead Shark

Habitat
Ocean, Bay

Region
South

Fish Image

Broomtail Grouper

Habitat
Ocean, Bay, Estuary

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Bull Shark

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters, Bay, River

Region
South, Northeast, West

Fish Image

Bullnose Ray

Habitat
Ocean, Bay, Estuary

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Butterfish

Habitat
Ocean

Region
Northeast, South

Fish Image

California Corbina

Habitat
Ocean, Bay, Coastal Waters

Region
West

Fish Image

California Halibut

Habitat
Ocean, Bay Coastal Waters

Region
West

Fish Image

California Yellowtail

Habitat
Bay, Ocean

Region
West

Fish Image

Cero Mackerel

Habitat
Bay, Ocean

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Chinook (King) Salmon

Habitat
Ocean, Bay, River

Region
West

Fish Image

Chum Salmon

Habitat
Bay, Ocean, River

Region
West

Fish Image

Clearnose Skate

Habitat
Ocean, Bay

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Cobia

Habitat
Lake, Ocean, Stream

Region
West

Fish Image

Coho Salmon

Habitat
Lake, Ocean, Stream

Region
West

Fish Image

Conger

Habitat
Bay, Ocean

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Cownose Ray

Habitat
Ocean, Bay, Estuary

Region
Northeast, South

Fish Image

Crevalle Jack

Habitat
Ocean

Region
Northeast, South

Fish Image

Cubera Snapper

Habitat
Bay, Ocean

Region
South

Fish Image

Cunner

Habitat
Ocean, Creeks, Coastal Waters

Region
Northeast

Fish Image

Dog Snapper

Habitat
Ocean, Estuary

Region
Northeast, South

Fish Image

Dogtooth Tuna

Habitat
Ocean

Region
West

Fish Image

Dolly Varden

Habitat
Bay, Ocean, River

Region
West

Fish Image

Dolphinfish (Mahi Mahi)

Habitat
Ocean

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Dusky Shark

Habitat
Ocean

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Escolar

Habitat
Ocean

Region
South

Fish Image

False Albacore

Habitat
Ocean

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Florida Pompano

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
Northeast, South

Fish Image

Flounder

Habitat
Ocean, Bay

Region
Northeast, South

Fish Image

Four-spot Flounder

Habitat
Ocean

Region
Northeast

Fish Image

Gafftopsail Catfish

Habitat
Ocean, Bay, Estuary, Canal

Region
South

Fish Image

Gag Grouper

Habitat
Bay, Ocean

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Giant Trevally

Habitat
Ocean

Region
West

Fish Image

Golden Tilefish

Habitat
Ocean

Region
Northeast, South

Fish Image

Goosefish

Habitat
Ocean

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Gray Snapper

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Gray Triggerfish

Habitat
Ocean, Bay

Region
Northeast, South

Fish Image

Great Barracuda

Habitat
Bay, Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South

Fish Image

Great Hammerhead Shark

Habitat
Ocean, Bay, Coastal Waters

Region
South

Fish Image

Greater Amberjack

Habitat
Ocean

Region
South

Fish Image

Hammerhead Shark

Habitat
Bay, Coastal Waters, Ocean

Region
South, West

Fish Image

Hickory Shad

Habitat
Ocean, Bay, River

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Hogfish

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South

Fish Image

Horse-eye Jack

Habitat
Bay, Ocean, River

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Inshore Lizardfish

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Kelp Bass

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
West

Fish Image

King Mackerel

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
Northeast, South

Fish Image

Ladyfish

Habitat
Ocean, Bay

Region
South

Fish Image

Leather Jack

Habitat
Ocean, Bay, River

Region
South, Northeast, West

Fish Image

Lemon Shark

Habitat
Ocean, Bay, River

Region
South, Northeast, West

Fish Image

Lesser Amberjack

Habitat
Ocean, Bay, River

Region
South, Northeast, West

Fish Image

Lingcod

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
West

Fish Image

Little Skate

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
Northeast, South

Fish Image

Little Tunny

Habitat
Ocean, Bay, Coastal Waters

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Longbill Spearfish

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
Northeast

Fish Image

Lookdown

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Mako Shark

Habitat
Ocean

Region
South, Northeast, West

Fish Image

Mangrove Snapper

Habitat
Bay, Ocean

Region
South

Fish Image

Mutton Snapper

Habitat
Bay, Ocean

Region
South, Northeast, West

Fish Image

Northern Kingfish

Habitat
Ocean, River, Creek

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Northern Puffer

Habitat
Bay, Estuary

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Northern Searobin

Habitat
Ocean, Bay, Estuary

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Northern Stargazer

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
Northeast

Fish Image

Nurse Shark

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South, Wes

Fish Image

Ocean Triggerfish

Habitat
Ocean, Bay, Coastal Waters

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Ocean Whitetip Shark

Habitat
Ocean

Region
South, Northeast, West

Fish Image

Oyster Toadfish

Habitat
Ocean

Region
South, Northeast, West

Fish Image

Pacific Bonito

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Water

Region
West

Fish Image

Pacific Cod

Habitat
Ocean

Region
West

Fish Image

Pacific Crevalle Jack

Habitat
Bay, Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
West

Fish Image

Pacific Halibut

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
West

Fish Image

Pacific Sierra Mackerel

Habitat
Bay, Ocean

Region
West

Fish Image

Palometa

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Permit

Habitat
Bay, Ocean

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Pigfish

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Pinfish

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Pink Salmon

Habitat
Bay, Ocean, River

Region
West

Fish Image

Pollock

Habitat
Bay, Ocean

Region
Northeast

Fish Image

Pompano

Habitat
Bay, Ocean

Region
South

Fish Image

Porbeagle Shark

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
Northeast

Fish Image

Rainbow Runner

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
Northeast, South

Fish Image

Red Drum

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South

Fish Image

Red Grouper

Habitat
Bay, Ocean, River

Region
South

Fish Image

Red Hake

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Red Porgy

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Red Snapper

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South

Fish Image

Remora

Habitat
Ocean

Region
Northeast

Fish Image

Rock Hind

Habitat
Ocean

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Roundscale Spearfish

Habitat
Ocean

Region
Northeast

Fish Image

Sailfish

Habitat
Ocean

Region
South

Fish Image

Sand Tiger Shark

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
Northeast, South

Fish Image

Sandbar Shark

Habitat
Ocean, Bay, Estuary

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Scalloped Hammerhead Shark

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South, West

Fish Image

Scamp Grouper

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters, Estuary

Region
South

Fish Image

Scup

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
Northeast

Fish Image

Sea Bream

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
Northeast

Fish Image

Sea Raven

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
Northeast, West

Fish Image

Sea Trout

Habitat
Ocean, River

Region
Northeast

Fish Image

Sheepshead

Habitat
Bay, Ocean

Region
Northeast, South

Fish Image

Shortbill Spearfish

Habitat
Ocean

Region
West

Fish Image

Shortfin Mako Shark

Habitat
Ocean

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Silky Shark

Habitat
Ocean

Region
Northeast, South

Fish Image

Silver Hake

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
Northeast

Fish Image

Silver Perch

Habitat
Tidal Creeks, Rivers, Marshes

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Skipjack Tuna

Habitat
Ocean

Region
South, Northeast, West

Fish Image

Smooth Butterfly Ray

Habitat
Ocean

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Smooth Hammerhead Shark

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Smooth Puffer

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Smoothhound

Habitat
Ocean

Region
South

Fish Image

Snook

Habitat
Bay, Ocean

Region
South

Fish Image

Snowy Grouper

Habitat
Ocean

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Sockeye Salmon

Habitat
Bay, Ocean, River

Region
West

Fish Image

Southern Kingfish

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Southern Stingray

Habitat
Ocean

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Spanish Mackerel

Habitat
Bay, Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Spinner Shark

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South

Fish Image

Spiny Dogfish

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South

Fish Image

Spot

Habitat
Ocean, Bay, Estuary

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Spottail Pinfish

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Spotted Hake

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Spotted Seatrout

Habitat
Bay, Ocean

Region
South

Fish Image

Steelhead

Habitat
Bay, Ocean, River

Region
South

Fish Image

Striped Marlin

Habitat
Ocean

Region
West

Fish Image

Striped Searobin

Habitat
Ocean, Estuary

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Summer Flounder

Habitat
Ocean, Estuary

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Swordfish

Habitat
Ocean

Region
South

Fish Image

Tarpon

Habitat
Bay, Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South

Fish Image

Tautog

Habitat
Bay, Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
Northeast

Fish Image

Thresher Shark

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South, Northeast, West

Fish Image

Tiger Shark

Habitat
Bay, Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South, Northeast, West

Fish Image

Tope Shark

Habitat
Bay, Ocean

Region
West

Fish Image

Tripletail

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South

Fish Image

Wahoo

Habitat
Ocean

Region
South, Northeast, West

Fish Image

Warsaw Grouper

Habitat
Ocean

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Weakfish

Habitat
Ocean, Bay

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Whalers Shark

Habitat
Bay, Ocean

Region
South, Northeast, West

Fish Image

White Grunt

Habitat
Bay, Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

White Marlin

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

White Seabass

Habitat
Bay, Ocean

Region
West

Fish Image

White Shark

Habitat
Bay, Ocean

Region
South, Northeast, West

Fish Image

Windowpane Flounder

Habitat
Bay, Ocean

Region
Northeast, South

Fish Image

Winter Flounder

Habitat
Ocean, Estuary

Region
Northeast

Fish Image

Witch Flounder

Habitat
Ocean

Region
Northeast

Fish Image

Wreckfish

Habitat
Ocean

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Yellow Jack

Habitat
Ocean

Region
South, Northeast

Fish Image

Yelloweye Rockfish

Habitat
Ocean

Region
West

Fish Image

Yellowfin Tuna

Habitat
Ocean

Region
South, Northeast, West

Fish Image

Yellowtail Flounder

Habitat
Ocean, Coastal Waters

Region
Northeast

Fish Image

Yellowtail Snapper

Habitat
Bay, Ocean

Region
South