How to catch saltwater fish

Guides to 48+ popular saltwater species: where and when to find them, the best baits and tactics, and the destinations where anglers target them.

Ballan Wrasse

Labrus bergylta

Ballan wrasse are colourful, hard-fighting reef fish of the northeast Atlantic, a popular light-rock-fishing target over rough ground.

Barracuda

Sphyraena barracuda

Great barracuda are toothy, lightning-fast ambush predators of tropical flats and reefs, known for savage strikes on fast-moving lures.

Barred Surfperch

Amphistichus argenteus

Barred surfperch are a dependable US West Coast surf target, feeding in the wash along sandy beaches and accessible to any shore angler.

Black Drum

Pogonias cromis

Black drum are heavy, crab-crushing cousins of the redfish that reach enormous sizes, common around jetties, bridges, and channels.

Black Marlin

Istiompax indica

Black marlin are the giants of the Indo-Pacific, with the fish off the Great Barrier Reef reaching 'grander' sizes over 1,000 pounds.

Black Sea Bass

Centropristis striata

Black sea bass are structure-loving bottom fish that gather over wrecks and reefs, offering excellent eating and steady action.

Blue Marlin

Makaira nigricans

Blue marlin are the apex offshore gamefish, capable of enormous size and spectacular jumps, the pinnacle of big-game trolling.

Bluefin Tuna

Thunnus thynnus

Atlantic bluefin tuna are among the largest and most powerful gamefish, capable of enormous size and drawing anglers to their seasonal runs.

Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

Bluefish are hard-fighting, toothy predators that blitz bait schools in feeding frenzies, making them a favorite of surf and boat anglers alike.

Bonefish

Albula vulpes

Bonefish are the classic saltwater flats quarry, prized for their blinding speed and wariness as they tail across shallow tropical flats.

Bonito

Sarda sarda

Bonito are small, fast members of the tuna family that blitz bait near the surface, a lively light-tackle target inshore and nearshore.

California Halibut

Paralichthys californicus

California halibut are ambush-feeding flatfish of the US West Coast, holding on sandy bottom near structure and prized for the table.

Cobia

Rachycentron canadum

Cobia are curious, hard-fighting fish that follow rays, buoys, and structure, often sight-cast as they migrate along beaches in spring.

Coho Salmon (Silver)

Oncorhynchus kisutch

Coho salmon are acrobatic, aggressive Pacific salmon that provide fast trolling and casting action in the salt during their late-summer runs.

Coral Trout

Plectropomus leopardus

Coral trout are a stunning, prized reef predator of the Indo-Pacific, ambushing bait over coral and rewarding anglers with a hard fight and superb eating.

European Seabass

Dicentrarchus labrax

European seabass are the premier inshore lure target of Atlantic Europe, hunting over reefs, estuaries, and surf beaches.

False Albacore

Euthynnus alletteratus

False albacore are speedy inshore members of the tuna family that draw fly and light-tackle anglers during the fall run with blistering runs.

Flathead

Platycephalus spp.

Flathead are ambush-feeding flatfish of Australian estuaries and beaches, a popular soft-plastic target over sand and drop-offs.

Flounder

Paralichthys lethostigma

Flounder are ambush-feeding flatfish targeted along inlets, docks, and channel edges throughout the US South, prized for the table.

Fluke (Summer Flounder)

Paralichthys dentatus

Fluke are ambush-feeding flatfish that lie on sandy bottom, a staple summer target for bay and nearshore anglers along the US East Coast.

Giant Trevally

Caranx ignobilis

Giant trevally are the bullies of the Indo-Pacific reefs, striking poppers with savage aggression and testing the heaviest tackle.

Gilthead Seabream

Sparus aurata

Gilthead seabream are a prized Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic species with powerful crushing jaws, targeted over mixed and sandy ground.

King Mackerel

Scomberomorus cavalla

King mackerel are fast, toothy pelagics that patrol nearshore and offshore waters, striking slow-trolled live baits with sizzling runs.

King Salmon (Chinook)

Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

King salmon are the largest of the Pacific salmon and a premier saltwater troll target off Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.

Lingcod

Ophiodon elongatus

Lingcod are aggressive, toothy ambush predators of Pacific reefs and pinnacles, striking jigs and baits fished near rocky structure.

Mackerel

Scomber scombrus

Atlantic mackerel are fast, schooling fish that flood inshore waters in summer, superb light-tackle sport and prime bait for bigger species.

Mahi-Mahi (Dorado)

Coryphaena hippurus

Mahi-mahi are among the most beautiful and fastest-growing gamefish in the ocean, found around floating debris and weed lines and famous for acrobatic fights.

Pacific Halibut

Hippoglossus stenolepis

Pacific halibut are enormous cold-water flatfish of Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, a bucket-list bottom-fishing target that can top 100 pounds.

Permit

Trachinotus falcatus

Permit are the ultimate flats challenge, a spooky, crab-eating gamefish that completes the flats 'grand slam' with bonefish and tarpon.

Pollack

Pollachius pollachius

Pollack are hard-pulling reef predators of the northeast Atlantic, taking lures and baits fished over rough ground and wrecks.

Red Snapper

Lutjanus campechanus

Red snapper are the prized bottom fish of the Gulf of Mexico, holding over wrecks, reefs, and ledges and fighting hard on the way up.

Redfish (Red Drum)

Sciaenops ocellatus

Redfish are the workhorse inshore gamefish of the US South and Gulf, famous for tailing on shallow flats and their signature tail spot.

Rockfish

Sebastes spp.

Rockfish are a diverse group of structure-loving bottom fish of the Pacific, dependable action over reefs and pinnacles and excellent eating.

Sailfish

Istiophorus platypterus

Sailfish are the most acrobatic of billfish, lighting up with color as they slash through bait, a bucket-list target on light tackle and fly.

Sheepshead

Archosargus probatocephalus

Sheepshead are structure-loving fish with human-like teeth that crush barnacles and crabs, notorious for their delicate, hard-to-detect bite.

Snapper (Australasian)

Chrysophrys auratus

Snapper are a prized inshore and reef fish of Australia and New Zealand, holding over reefs and sand and taking baits and soft plastics.

Snoek

Thyrsites atun

Snoek are fast, toothy pelagics of the Southern Hemisphere, a hugely popular target off South Africa on handlines and light tackle.

Snook

Centropomus undecimalis

Snook are prized ambush predators of the tropics and subtropics, holding around mangroves, docks, and passes and hitting lures with explosive strikes.

Spanish Mackerel

Scomberomorus maculatus

Spanish mackerel are fast, schooling pelagics that chase bait near the surface, a fun light-tackle target on small metal and flashy lures.

Spotted Seatrout

Cynoscion nebulosus

Spotted seatrout are a hugely popular inshore target along the US South and Gulf, holding over grass flats and readily taking lures under a cork.

Striped Bass

Morone saxatilis

The striped bass is the premier inshore gamefish of the US East Coast, prized for its willingness to hit lures and its dramatic seasonal migrations.

Tarpon

Megalops atlanticus

Tarpon are one of the most iconic saltwater gamefish, famous for spectacular leaps and dogged fights when hooked in the flats, passes, and beaches.

Tautog

Tautoga onitis

Tautog are hard-pulling, structure-oriented fish that feed on crabs around rocks and wrecks, a cool-season favorite in the Northeast.

Wahoo

Acanthocybium solandri

Wahoo are among the fastest fish in the sea, striking trolled baits at high speed and making blistering runs, prized offshore for their fight and flavor.

White Marlin

Kajikia albida

White marlin are a smaller, highly acrobatic billfish of the Atlantic, prized on light tackle and fly for their tail-walking fights.

Yellowfin Tuna

Thunnus albacares

Yellowfin tuna are powerful, fast pelagics that test tackle and anglers alike, found around bait, current edges, and offshore structure worldwide.

Yellowtail (Amberjack)

Seriola lalandi

Yellowtail amberjack are brutally strong reef and kelp predators of the Pacific and Southern oceans, a favorite of live-bait and jig anglers.

Yellowtail Snapper

Ocyurus chrysurus

Yellowtail snapper are a reef staple of the tropical Atlantic and a favorite of chum-and-chunk anglers for their light-tackle fight and superb eating.

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