Fish Species Database - Complete Guide to Freshwater, Saltwater & Brackish Fish

A strikingly beautiful pelagic fish known for its extremely elongated dorsal and anal fin filaments in juveniles. Found in tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide, often near reefs or offshore structures. A powerful game fish that fights aggressively.

Alaska Pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) is a commercially important saltwater fish, widely used in processed seafood products such as fillets and surimi. It inhabits cold northern Pacific waters, often forming large schools, and is a key species for commercial fisheries.

A migratory tuna species known for its exceptionally long pectoral fins. Inhabits temperate and tropical waters worldwide, undertaking long oceanic migrations. The primary species used for high-quality canned "white meat" tuna due to its light-colored flesh.

A prehistoric-looking fish with a fearsome reputation and a long, toothy snout.

A migratory fish native to North America, known for its ability to thrive in freshwater and brackish environments.

The American Shad (Alosa sapidissima) is an anadromous species: it lives in the ocean and migrates into rivers to spawn. It passes through estuaries during migration and is an important species for commercial and recreational fishing, known for its spawning runs.

A critically endangered bottom-dwelling shark with a flattened body that conceals itself on sandy ocean floors. An ambush predator that bursts from the sediment to capture fish and cephalopods. Once common, now severely threatened by bottom trawling and habitat loss.

The Arapaima (Arapaima gigas) is one of the world’s largest freshwater fishes, inhabiting the Amazon and Essequibo river basins. It is an air-breathing species that thrives in floodplain lakes and slow-moving rivers, highly valued for its ecological and cultural importance.

Adapted to cold waters, this fish has a unique lifecycle involving both freshwater and saltwater phases.

An aggressive predator known for its explosive strikes when hunting.

A fast-swimming fish known for its schooling behavior and importance in commercial fisheries.

The largest tuna species and one of the most powerful pelagic predators. Capable of transatlantic migrations and diving to great depths. Heavily exploited for the sushi market, making it one of the most valuable fish in the world. Populations are carefully managed.

A commercially important species known for its mild flavor and flaky white flesh.

A small, schooling fish known for its importance in commercial fisheries and smoked products.

An anadromous fish that spends most of its adult life in the North Atlantic Ocean before undertaking incredible migrations to return to its native freshwater river to spawn. Prized for its taste and sport fishing value, though many wild populations are now threatened or endangered.

A slender fish characterized by its distinctive thread-like rays on the pectoral fin. Found in shallow coastal waters and estuaries over sandy or muddy bottoms. Uses its specialized fins to detect and capture small crustaceans and fish.

A cold-water benthic predator of the North Atlantic. Known for its formidable teeth used to crush hard-shelled invertebrates like crabs, urchins, and mollusks. It produces natural antifreeze proteins to survive in near-freezing waters. A solitary species that inhabits rocky reefs and seabed cavities.

A prized sport and commercial fish endemic to Australasia, known for its firm texture and mild flavor. Inhabits reefs, rocky areas, and estuaries. Changes color and body shape during its life cycle, with larger adults developing a prominent hump on the head.

An important species for recreational fishing in Australia, found in freshwater and brackish waters.

A robust and migratory fish important to recreational anglers in southern Australia and New Zealand. Forms large schools in surf zones, bays, and estuaries. Not a true salmon but a member of the perch family.