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Sport fishing

Prized by anglers. 302 fish on EveryFish so far.

Sport fishing, or recreational angling, is fishing for enjoyment rather than a living. Hundreds of millions of people fish this way, from children with a line in a pond to anglers who travel the world for marlin, tarpon or mahseer. Game fish are prized for their fight, size, wariness or the places they live. Catch and release, in which fish are returned alive, has become common for many species.

Game fish of India

The mahseers of the Himalaya and the Western Ghats are India's great game fish, known for their power in fast rivers. British anglers wrote about them from the 19th century, and camps on the Kaveri ran catch and release fishing for the hump-backed mahseer for decades. Trout introduced into Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and the Nilgiris draw anglers to cold streams. Sea anglers fish for giant trevally, barracuda and sailfish off Goa, Karnataka and the Andaman Islands.

Rules and conservation

Recreational fishing is a large industry in North America, Europe and Australia, and it funds a good deal of fish conservation through licence fees. Anglers can also put real pressure on stocks, so many countries set seasons, bag limits and minimum sizes. The International Game Fish Association, founded in 1939, keeps world records and promotes ethical angling. Catch and release survival depends on careful handling, short fights and quick return.

Famous sport fishing fish

Golden mahseerThe golden mahseer of Himalayan riversOrange-finned mahseerThe hump-backed mahseer of the KaveriAtlantic blue marlinA giant billfish prized by sea anglersAtlantic tarponA leaping fish of warm coastsLargemouth bassAmerica's most popular sport fishBrown troutStocked for anglers across the worldGiant trevallyA powerful reef predatorBonefishA fast fish of tropical flats

Further reading

GroupSharkRayCarpCatfishSalmonidHerringCodTunaPerch-likeCichlidReef fishEelFlatfishLivebearerAncientOther
WaterRivers and lakesEstuaries and mangrovesCoasts and shelvesCoral reefsOpen oceanDeep seaPolar and cold seasCaves and springsBetween sea and river
OrderBest knownA to ZOldest firstNewest firstBy size
North AmericaAtlantic croaker Noisy marine fish of the western Atlantic coastOther · Coasts and shelves 🇯🇵 Japan and 2 moreAyu sweetfish Small amphidromous fish prized for its sweet flesh in East Asia.Other · Rivers and lakes · 1846 WorldBigeye scad Tropical marine fish with large eyes and metallic blue skinOther · Coasts and shelves · 1793 WorldSailfish Fastest marine fish with a large dorsal fin.Other · Coasts and shelves WorldWhite marlin A fast-swimming billfish of the Atlantic Ocean.Other · Open ocean · 1860 WorldBlue-spotted grouper A widely distributed Indo-Pacific grouper known for its blue spots and invasive impact in Hawaii.Other · Coasts and shelves 🇺🇸 United States and 2 moreGar Ancient armored fish with lung-like swim bladders found in North American waters.Ancient · Rivers and lakes · 1758 🇦🇷 Argentina and 4 moreArgentinian silverside A large, adaptable silverside native to South America.Other · Rivers and lakes WorldBigeye trevally A large marine fish found in tropical oceans, known for its nocturnal hunting and distinctive dark dorsal fin.Other · Coasts and shelves · 1825 WorldYellowstripe goatfish A small Indo-Pacific reef fish with yellow fins and shrimp-like taste.Other · Coasts and shelves WorldGreat barracuda Large predatory fish found in warm oceans worldwide.Other · Coasts and shelves WorldRoundscale spearfish Atlantic billfish often mistaken for white marlinOther · Open ocean · 1841 WorldStriped marlin Fast pelagic predator with blue stripesOther · Open ocean 🇺🇸 United StatesSpotted seatrout Estuarine drum fish of the US southeast coastOther · Estuaries and mangroves WorldTalang queenfish Large Indo-Pacific game fish with sharp teeth and silvery spots.Other · Coasts and shelves 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 4 moreTorpedo scad A fast, torpedo-shaped marine fish found across the Indo-Pacific.Other · Coasts and shelves · 1758 🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreBonefish A prized shallow-water game fish of the western Atlantic.Other · Coasts and shelves WorldGiant trevally Large marine jack found across the Indo-Pacific, known for size and hunting skill.Other · Coasts and shelves · 1775 🇺🇸 United StatesAtlantic tarpon Large, acrobatic saltwater game fish of the Atlantic.Other · Coasts and shelves · 1847 WorldPickhandle barracuda A striped Indo-Pacific barracuda with a yellow tail.Other · Coasts and shelves WorldIndo-Pacific sailfish Fast ocean predator with a large dorsal finOther · Coasts and shelves 🇺🇸 United States and 3 morePorkfish Striped Atlantic grunt found on reefs and in seagrass beds.Other · Coasts and shelves · 1758 🇦🇺 Australia and 1 moreAustralian salmon South Pacific marine fish native to Australia and New Zealand coasts.Other · Coasts and shelves · 1801 🇦🇺 AustraliaKing George whiting A large coastal fish endemic to southern Australia, known for its spotted pattern and commercial value.Other · Coasts and shelves · 1829 🇿🇦 South Africa and 4 moreJapanese meagre A large saltwater fish found across the Indo-Pacific region.Other · Coasts and shelves 🇦🇺 AustraliaDusky flathead A large predatory fish found in Australian estuaries.Other · Estuaries and mangroves 🇳🇿 New Zealand and 3 moreHāpuku Large deep-water wreckfish prized for food and aquaculture.Other · Coasts and shelves 🇳🇿 New ZealandNew Zealand grayling Extinct amphidromous fish endemic to New Zealand rivers and seas.Other · Rivers and lakes 🇦🇺 AustraliaAustralian herring A silver coastal fish from southern Australia.Other · Coasts and shelves · 1831 🇦🇺 AustraliaWestern blue groper Large, long-lived wrasse from southern Australian reefs.Other · Coasts and shelves · 1843 🇺🇸 United StatesCalifornia grunion Small silvery fish that spawns on sandy beaches during high tides.Other · Coasts and shelves WorldBluefish Aggressive marine pelagic fish found in temperate and subtropical waters worldwide.Other · Coasts and shelves 🇺🇸 United StatesFlorida pompano A fast-growing marine fish prized for food and sport fishing.Other · Coasts and shelves 🇦🇺 Australia and 1 moreYellowtail amberjack Large pelagic fish of the Southern Hemisphere oceansOther · Coasts and shelves · 1833 WorldGreater amberjack Large predatory jack found in warm seas worldwide.Other · Coasts and shelves · 1810 🇺🇸 United States and 2 moreLingcod A large predatory fish of the North American Pacific coast.Other · Coasts and shelves WorldStriped red mullet A striped goatfish from the Mediterranean and Atlantic.Other · Coasts and shelves WorldHoundfish A large pelagic needlefish found in tropical oceans worldwide.Other · Coasts and shelves · 1821 WorldShrimp scad Tropical jack with a yellow tail found on reefs.Other · Coasts and shelves · 1775 🇺🇸 United States and 4 moreSmelt Small fish of the northern hemisphere known for spring runs and culinary traditions.Other · Rivers and lakes WorldBarracuda Large predatory saltwater fish with sharp teeth found in tropical oceans.Shark · Coasts and shelves · 1758 WorldSwordfish Large migratory fish with a long flat bill, sole member of its family.Other · Coasts and shelves 🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreStriped bass Anadromous marine fish native to the Atlantic coast of North America, known for sport fishing and culinary use.Other · Rivers and lakes 🇦🇺 Australia and 4 moreBarramundi A catadromous fish found across the Indo-West Pacific, valued for sport and aquaculture.Other · Rivers and lakes WorldAtlantic sailfish Fast pelagic fish with a large dorsal fin and long billOther · Coasts and shelves WorldGrey triggerfish A hardy Atlantic fish known for its locking dorsal spines and tough skin.Other · Coasts and shelves · 1789 WorldBlack marlin Largest marlin species in tropical Indo-Pacific watersOther · Coasts and shelves · 1832 WorldIndo-Pacific blue marlin Large tropical billfish of the Pacific and Indian OceansOther · Coasts and shelves
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