Wreckfish

As their name suggests, wreckfish are often found hanging out around shipwrecks and other structures. These fish can be found along the east coast of North America from North Carolina to Newfoundland. To catch them, anglers should try jigging and bottom fishing.

Wreckfish

Region: Northeast, South
Habitat: Ocean

How to identify Wreckfish

Wreckfish have dark brown or black fins and a steel-gray back that graduates into a silver abdomen. Young wreckfish have markings on their heads. These fish have bony ridging on the top of their gill covers. The wreckfish has a large head and an equally large mouth.

Where to catch Wreckfish

Wreckfish prefer sheltered places, such as shipwrecks or rocks, in areas with deep-water bottoms. These fish are found in the Atlantic from North Carolina to Newfoundland in North America and the southwest Atlantic coasts of Argentina, south Brazil, Uruguay, and the Falklands. In the southwest Pacific Ocean, the wreckfish thrives near New Zealand, Australia and in the west Indian Ocean. Adult wreckfish are often found hiding in rocks, caves, natural reefs, and shipwrecks, which is why they are called wreckfish.

Range: Northeast, South
Wreckfish Fishing Map

The following are habitats where you can catch Wreckfish:

How to catch Wreckfish

To catch a wreckfish, it’s important to have tackle that reaches as far as 500 feet deep. Look for these fish in areas with rocky bottoms. One effective method for catching them is jigging with a baited hook equipped with weights of 500+ grams. Because these fish are often found hiding in wrecks in rocks, anglers should be extremely cautious of snagging their lines. Another effective method for catching Wreckfish is bottom fishing.

The following are effective fishing methods and techniques for catching Wreckfish:

Best Lures, Bait & Tackle to catch Wreckfish

Bait works best for catching wreckfish. Some good options include cuts pieces of squid, octopus and cuttlefish.

The following are fishing lures, bait and tackle that can be used to catch Wreckfish: