List of Saltwater Fish Species

The warm, nutrient rich waters of the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic Ocean allow for a diverse range of marine life to flourish along the East Coast of the Americas. Fish play an important role in ocean ecosystems, and populations of many larger species are a source of income and food for many coastal communities. Of the numerous fish species found in the Western Atlantic Ocean, many are of particular interest because of their importance both economically and recreationally.

  1. Atlantic Cod

    • Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) are commonly found along the East Coast of North America. Their range extends through the Northern Atlantic toward Greenland and Iceland and can also be found in the Baltic and Barents Seas. Atlantic cod are large fish, commonly reaching sizes over six feet in length and weights of 200-pounds. Cod have been an important fish, economically, throughout their range. Many populations have been over-exploited and have crashed in recent years. The fish is now listed as a vulnerable species, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

    Black Groupers

    • Black groupers (Mycteroperca bonaci) are one of the more well known and commonly found species in the grouper family. This large fish lives in the warm waters of the western Atlantic. Adults are commonly over four feet in length and weigh upwards of 170 pounds. Black groupers prefer to live amongst rocky bottoms of the ocean floor and around coral reefs in the southern portion of the range; juveniles, however, can be found as far north as the Massachusetts coast. Black groupers are a prized game fish as they have high quality meat.

    Bluefish

    • The bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix). is a sleek, streamlined predatory fish that has a seasonal distribution in the Western Atlantic. In winter seasons bluefish are commonly found off the coast of Florida and throughout the Caribbean; in summer months, their range extends northward toward Canada. Bluefish reach a maximum size around four feet in length and a weight of 30 pounds. Bluefish are a common game fish and anglers will often catch more bluefish, by weight, than commercial fisheries on an annual basis.

    Atlantic Tarpon

    • The Atlantic tarpon (Megalops atlanticus), also known as the silver king, is a large, shiny silver-colored fish revered by sport fisherman for their acrobatic displays in the water when hooked. Tarpon are large fish with adults reaching sizes over eight feet in length and weighing up to 350 pounds. Atlantic tarpon are also a long-lived species with a lifespan over 50 years. Atlantic tarpon are widespread throughout the waters of the Atlantic Ocean from the shores of the Americas and around Caribbean Islands to the coasts of Europe and Africa. Tarpon are able to live in oxygen-poor brackish waters and can occasionally be found in estuaries and in the mouths of rivers.