North American Saltwater Fish

 

Pacific Species

 

Chinook Salmon

Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) are the largest of the Pacific salmon. Chinook salmon are highly prized by commercial fishermen and recreational anglers. Chinook salmon are anadromous fish. They hatch in freshwater streams and rivers, migrate to the ocean for feeding and growth, and return to their natal waters to spawn. Chinook spawning areas range from just above tidewater to over 3,200 kilometers from the ocean. The fish are are also known as king, pring, or tyee salmon.

Chinook salmon occur in North America from the Ventura River in California to Kotzebue Sound in Alaska. They also occur in Asia and Russia. Fish from Washington, Oregon, and California range widely throughout the Pacific Ocean and the Bering Sea, and as far south as the U.S. border with Mexico. Chinook salmon have disappeared from several areas where they once flourished. As a result, several evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) have been listed or proposed for listing as at risk for extinction under the Endangered Species Act.

 

Coho Salmon

Coho or "silver" salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) are found in streams and rivers throughout much of the Pacific Rim, from central California to Korea and northern Japan. Coho are also anadromous and have a life history similar to chinook. However, the time they spend in fresh and salt water is relatively fixed, compared to chinook. North of central British Columbia, Canada, coho tend to spend two years in the ocean, while south of central B.C. they spend only one year in the ocean. Coho tend to spawn in smaller streams and tributaries. North American coho spawn in tributaries from the San Lorenzo River in Monterey Bay, California to Point Hope, Alaska, and throughout the Aleutian Islands. They are most abundant coastal Oregon to southeast Alaska.

 

Pacific Halibut

Pacific Halibut are members of the flounder family. Halibut have a flat body with eyes on the right side. The skin on the top side is mottled to blend into the ocean floor and can be olive green, brown or almost black in colour depending on where the fish was caught. The underside is snow white. Pacific Halibut are the largest of all flatfish, reaching lengths of 8-10 feet and weighing up to 600 lbs.

They are among the most popular North American fish. Pacific halibut are common along the Northwest coast of the the USA and Canada. Halibut prefer rocky bottoms where they ambush food. Their diet consists of cod, pollock, herring, octopus, crabs, shrimp and other prey.

Pacific halibut is sought after by seafood lovers and is low in saturated fat and sodium, as well as a source of vitamins B6, B12, magnesium and potassium. The meat is white, mild and flakey. It's thickness lends itself to a variety of recipes including grilling, baking and broiling.

 

Sole

Sole are smaller flatfish that are related to halibut. Dover sole and English sole are bottom dwellers that feed on small fish, amphipods, molluscs, crustaceans and other ocean life. Sole are caught commercially by trawling and marketed as filet of sole. Both species make up a large portion of the commercial flatfish harvest in the Pacific Northwest.

 

Lingcod

Lingcod have a large head, large mouth, and large teeth. The fish have a long, elongate body which narrows towards the tail, the back having one long dorsal fin. Lingcod are usually dark gray, brown or a greenish color on the back with mottling or spotting along the back. Lingcod can reach up to 5 feet in length.

Lingcod is an important commercial catch in Washington, Oregon, California and Alaska. The fish are also sought after by recreational anglers because of its aggressive behavior, size and excellent table value.

 

Pacific Cod

Pacific cod are similar to Atlantic cod although generally smaller. Pacific cod are an important commercial food species. Local names include gray cod, gray wolf or grayfish. Pacific cod are found in the Bering Strait, along the Aleutian Islands and along Washington, Oregon and part of California.

 

Black Cod

Black cod is another Pacific fish. Also known as sable fish, these distinctive fish have dark skin and pearly white flesh. Seafood lovers describe the fish as having a smooth texture and rich taste, due to its high oil content. The fish is low in calories and a source of protein and other nutrients. Black Cod can contain up to 50% more Omega-3 Oil than salmon.

 

Alaska Pollock

Alaska pollock can grow to more than 20 pounds, although most of the fish landed in the commercial fishery weigh less than three pounds. Alaska pollock are caught in huge numbers by factory ships, with Alaska pollock making up roughly 40% of the U.S. total commercial catch. Also known as Pacific pollock, the fish are members of the cod family.

 

Atlantic Saltwater Fish

 

Atlantic Cod

Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) are caught along the Northeast coast of North American and in many parts of the North Atlantic Ocean. Cod are cool water fish. They have a delicious mild white flesh and are well suited for a variety of cooking methods. Cod are highly prized by both recreational anglers and by the New England groundfishing fleet. Cod are managed under the New England Fishery Management Council's Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP).

 

Atlantic Haddock

Atlantic Haddock is known for its excellent table quality. The fish has fine white flesh and can be cooked in the same ways as cod. Haddock is a good source of low-fat protein and is high in magnesium and selenium. Small haddock and cod fillets are often sold as scrod in New England The term refers to the size of the fish which have a variety of sizes, i.e. scrod, markets, and cows. Haddock are managed under the New England Fishery Management Council's Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP).

 

Atlantic Pollock

Atlantic Pollock is a member of the cod family. It is distinguished from other cods by its coloring. The Atlantic pollock is olive green above, with yellowish gray side and a silver belly. Its lateral line is white, and it has a small barbel on its chin. Pollock average 4-15 pounds but sometimes reach weights up to 40 pounds. Pollock are most common in cooler waters from Newfoundland south to the Mid-Atlantic states. Pollock are sometimes called blue cod, Boston bluefish, saithe, and coalfish. Most pollock are trawl-caught and are typically available year-round. Pollock are managed under the New England Fishery Management Council's Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP).

 

Summer Flounder

Summer flounder (P. dentatis) are an important commercially caught fish along the USA Northeast and Mid-Atlantic coast. Summer flounder begin life as free swimming fish. During growth, the "bottom" eye migrates to the upward-facing side of its body,allowing the flounder to lie on one side where it can ambush its prey. Flounder feed on a variety of small fish and crustaceans.

 

Southern Flounder

Southern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma) occur from North Carolina to the mouth of the Rio Grande and southward into Mexico. Female of the species may reach lengths up to 36 inches and weigh over 20 pounds while males seldom exceed 12 inches in length.

Winter Flounder

Winter flounder are an important commercial and recreational fish throughout New England and the Mid-Atlantic. Several factors have contributed to serious declines of winter flounder populations. Current stocks are well below historical numbers.

 

Yellowtail Flounder

Yellowtail flounder reach maximum sizes of roughly 22 inches total length and 2.2 pounds in weight. They are found along the Atlantic coast of North America from the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Labrador, and Newfoundland to the Chesapeake Bay. Yellowtail flounder prefer sandy bottoms in waters between 130 and 230 feet.

 

Monkfish

Monkfish are also known as goosefish or angler fish. These strange fish live along the ocean floor, eating almost anything that comes near. They are equipped with a "lure" which is a stalk above their head which they skillfully use to attract prey close enough to swallow. Monkfish are caught by groundfishing trawlers or using gillnets. Monkfish are managed under the New England Fishery Management Council's Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP).

 

Golden Tilefish

Golden Tilefish, Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps are brilliantly colored blue, green, yellow and rose. The species occurs in the deep waters of the Atlantic from Nova Scotia south to Florida and in the Gulf of Mexico. Golden Tilefish live in burrows in the bottom which occur at depths of 250-1500 feet. Tilefish are slow growing and may live up to 45 years.

Mature tilefish weigh up to 50 pounds, though 20 to 30 pounds is more common. They feed on small fish, squid, shrimp, shelled mollusks, worms, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, and sea anemone.

 

Blueline Tilefish

Blueline or gray tilefish (Caulolatilus microps) are another species of tilefish. They also burrow and sometimes live in communities along the bottom. Adults weigh an average of 10-25 pounds. Blueline Tilefish have firm, white meat with a mild flavor.

 

Black Sea Bass

Black sea bass (Centropristis striata) are highly sought after by commercial fishermen throughout the Mid-Atlantic region of North America. Primary gear includes sea bass pots, otter trawls, and hook and line. Bycatch in the pot fishery is minor as the gear is not usually baited. Bycatch in trawl fisheries are dependent on mesh size. In American waters, the black sea bass fishery is jointly managed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. In 2006, commercial landings were 2.8 million pounds. Managers recognize two stocks which are divided at Cape Hatteras, NC.

 

Scup (Porgy)

Scup or porgy (Stenotomus chrysops) range from the Mid Atlantic Bight from Cape Cod, MA to Cape Hatteras, NC. Adult scup feed in schools of similar-sized individuals around piers, rocks, offshore ledges, jetties, and mussel beds. They move inshore in summer but return to deeper waters offshore or migrate southward when temperatures cool. Large scup generally occur farther offshore than do smaller, younger ones.

Scup populations on the East Coast have historically gone thru periodic cycles of abundance. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council jointly manage scup. As of 2008, The fishery was considered to be overfished.

 

Butterfish

Butterfish (Peprilus triacanthus), are small, bony fish with a thin oval body. Butterfish are fast-growing and live only a few years. They reach lengths of up to 9-10 inches. Butterfish congregate in schools and are commonly found from Southern New England to Cape Hatteras. The fish occasionally range from Nova Scotia south to deep waters off Florida. Butterfish overwinter along the 100-fathom contour of the continental shelf from late autumn through early spring. North of Cape Hatteras, these fish begin to disperse over the shelf in spring, moving inshore and northward as water temperatures increase. South of Cape Hatteras seasonal inshore/offshore migrations are not thought to be significant. Butterfish are regulated under the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP).

 

Atlantic Herring

Atlantic herring can be found in both the eastern and western halves of the North Atlantic Ocean. In the western Atlantic, herring range from Labrador to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Herring grow to about 14 inches, weighing less than a pound. Herring landed in the USA are marketed as canned sardines, steaks and kippers. Some U.S.-caught herring is sold to foreign ships that process the fish as frozen or salted products. In addition to being an important food fish, they are harvested as lobster, blue crabs or tuna bait. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission coordinates management of the herring fishery in state waters, and the New England Fishery Management Council manages the fishery in federal waters.

 

Spiny Dogfish

Dogfish are small sharks. They are plentiful, with schools sometimes being enormous. These fish are popular in several types of cuisines. The meat of dogfish is boneless, white and firm. Spiny dogfish management is controversial as scientists, fishermen and environmentalists disagree on population sizes. A popular source describes the fish as "Voracious almost beyond belief, the dogfish entirely deserves its bad reputation. Not only does it harry and drive off mackerel, herring, and even fish as large as cod and haddock, but it destroys vast numbers of them...........fishermen have described packs of dogs dashing among schools of mackerel, and even attacking them within the seines, biting through the net, and releasing such of the catch as escapes them..." (Fishes of the Gulf of Maine, Bigelow, H.B. and W.C. Schroeder, 1953)

 

Atlantic Croaker

Atlantic Croaker or "hardhead" are popular saltwater fish common along the mid atlantic USA coast. They are known to have wild population fluctuations. The fish get their names because of the "croaking" noise the make when removed from the water. Croakers are hard fighters and prolific feeders. They are caught on a variety of baits and lures.

 

Black Drum

Black drum are heavy bodied fish with barbels or whiskers under the chin. Younger fish have four or five dark vertical bars on their sides but the stripes tend to fade with age. The coloration of backs and sides varies although drum usualy have a white belly. Black drum can exceed 100 pounds.

Black drum are members of the croaker family. A characteristic of this family of fish is the ability to produce croaking or drumming sounds with the air bladder, which is the reason for the common names croaker and drum. This ability is most developed in the black drum. Fishermen can sometime hear sounds from schools passing near their boats.

 

Red Drum

Red drum or redfish are another large member of the croaker family, sometimes exceeding 50 lbs. The fish are similar to black drum but are not as deep bodied and have a reddish-copper color. They feed on fish and crustaceans.

 

Spotted Seatrout

Spotted seatrout, also known as speckeld trout are common throughout the Southeast. In addtion to being caught commercially, spotted seatrout are the most sought after fish by recreational anglers in the USA.

 

Weakfish

Weakfish are also known as gray trout. Their coloration includes a dark olive back, iridescent blue and copper sides and a silvery white belly. Other identifying features are yellow fins, large canine teeth in the upper jaw and dark spots on the upper part of the body, sometimes forming diagonal lines. Adult weakfish typically range from 12 to 18 inches but can grow up to to 3 feet long and weigh 4-18 pounds. The name "weakfish" comes from the fish's fragile mouth, which tears easily when hooked. Weakfish is the state fish of Delaware.

 

Spot

Spot occur along the Atlantic coast in estuarine and coastal waters from the Gulf of Maine to Florida, although they are most abundant from Chesapeake Bay south to South Carolina. Spot are caught commercially in gillnets and also in traps for use as live bait.

 

Striped Bass

Striped bass have several regional names. Known as striped bass, stripers, linesides, rockfish and other names, this fish is highly sought after as a recreational fish, as a commercial species and is even grown in aquaculture operations. Striped bass are very hardy fish, and even take to life in freshwater where they are often stocked throughout the USA.

 

White perch

White perch are small but tenacious fish that live along the mid-atlantic coast in brackish waters such as rivers, creeks and bays. Perch can be caught year round, even thru ice. They school up to spawn in early spring and can be caught in large numbers. White perch are caught commercially in rivers and upper parts of estuaries using gillnets or pound nets.

 

 

Grouper and Snapper

 

Red Snapper

Red snapper is one of the most sought after American fish. They range from North Carolina to the Florida Keys and throughout the Gulf of Mexico to the Yucatan in depths from 33 to 623 feet. The fish are long lived, sometimes reaches ages exceeding 50 Years. They may attain lengths of 36 inches or more and weigh up to 50 lbs.

Red snapper are primarily harvested with hook and line. Commercial fishermen typically fish a leader armed with multiple hooks which is weighted at the bottom. Red snapper are also harvested with longlines, by spearfishing and other methods that are allowable under current gear restrictions. In 2006, Over 4.5 million pounds of red snapper, valued at over $13 million, were caught commercially in the USA.

Red snapper are managed in the USA as two separate fisheries. In the South Atlantic, red snapper has been managed since 1983 through the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan (FMP), by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC). In the Gulf of Mexico, red snapper is managed by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (GMFMC) through the Reef Fish FMP which was implemented in 1984.

 

Pelagic Fish - Tuna, Wahoo, Dolphin Fish (Mahi Mahi)

Several Species of tuna are fished commercially off the coasts of North America including bluefin, yellowfin, albacore, skipjack and blackfin tuna.

Yellowfin Tuna

 

The yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) is found in open waters of tropical and subtropical seas worldwide. Yellowfin Tuna reach lengths of more than 8 feet and can weigh over 400 lbs. Yellowfin tuna are also known as ahi in Hawaii. The body of yellowfin tuna are very dark metallic blue, changing to silver on the belly. The body is often strikingly marked with a pattern of vertical lines. The fish get their name from the coloration of the second dorsal fin and the anal fin which are bright yellow. The dorsal and anal fins and be very long in mature fish, and fish displaying this aspect are sometimes refered to as "allison tuna" by fishermen.

Yellowfin tuna tend to school in large schools, sometimes with other species of tuna or other fish. They also travel with dolphins, porpoises or whales. They eat other fish, crustaceans, and squid.
Yellowfin tuna are caught commercially using longline gear, trolled rigs, hand lines and purse seines.

Albacore Tuna

Albacore tuna are distinguished by a dark blue back, and silver white sides and belly. Adult albacore tuna have pectoral fins that extend past the second dorsal fin and anal fin. Its flesh is pink when raw and white when cooked. Mature albacore tuna can reach as much as 100 lbs although the average market weight is 20 lbs. Cooked albacore tuna has a mild taste and soft texture. Albacore is the only species allowed to be labeled as "white meat" tuna.

 

Skipjack Tuna

Skipjack tuna are small but highly migratory tuna which can be found in tropical waters. Large schools sometimes mix with small yellowfin. Normally dolphins do not swim together with the small skipjack, which almost makes it a guaranteed dolphin-safe species.

The meat of the skipjack has a somewhat darker of color sometimes even slightly pinkish. It has a relatively tender texture, and is has somewhat more a fishy taste then some other tuna species. The small size of the fish gives small loins and chunks, making it well suited for canned tuna.

 

 

Other Fish

Pinfish

Pinfish, also known as sailor’s choice, or pin perch is one of the most common inshore fish. It ranges from Massachusetts through the Gulf of Mexico. Pinfish known to coastal anglers as a "bait stealer," but are sought after as a bait for other larger fish. Pinfish are abundant from Virginia south. They occur over a wide variety of bottom types but prefer vegetated bottoms. Pinfish can tolerate wide variations in temperature and salinity conditions. Pinfish reach lengths of about 15 inches, although most pinfish are 4-8 inches in length and are usually considered as baitfish.

 

Pigfish

Pigfish are colorful members of the grunt family. They are marked with a bluish upper and a silver lower body. Each scale has a blue center and bronze edge, which forms a series of yellow-brown stripes on the sides and sometimes exhibits orange bands on the snout and head. The full range of pigfish extends from Massachusetts through the Gulf of Mexico, although they are rare north of Virginia. Pigfish are caught by recreational anglers and considered to be a good quality food fish.

Pigfish have limited commercial importance, and most commercial landings come as pigfish are mixed with other grunt species. Pigfish are also used as live bait especially in Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. Pigfish reach lengths of about 18 inches, with a maximum weight of about 2 pounds. Pigfish are short lived and rarely exceed 3 years of age.

 

Slime Eel or Hagfish

Hagfish, also known as slime eels are eel-like fish equipped with as a tongue having two pairs of rasps. Hagfish use their mouth to snag and then tear the flesh from the carcasses of their victims as they devour their prey from the inside out. They have very slow metabolisms and after eating they may not need to feed again for up to seven months.

They lack jaws, true eyes or a stomach. Hagfish live on areas of muddy sea bottom. The fish overwhelms any prospective predators by exuding massive amounts of sticky slime. Despite these disgusting character traits, the skin of these creatures is often used to make expensive boots, bags, wallets and purses.