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EveryFish

Sport fishing

Prized by anglers. 186 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 riversLargemouth bassAmerica's most popular sport fishBrown troutStocked for anglers across the worldBonefishA fast fish of tropical flats

Still to be written: Tor remadeviae, Atlantic blue marlin, Atlantic tarpon, Giant trevally.

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
🇪🇸 Spain and 1 moreCommon dentex Large-toothed seabream of the Atlantic and Mediterranean.Perch-like · Coasts and shelves · 1758 🇦🇺 Australia and 4 moreLeopard coral grouper A spotted reef predator prized for food across the Pacific.Perch-like · Coasts and shelves · 1802 🇺🇸 United States and 3 moreBlack crappie A spotted freshwater sunfish native to North America, prized by anglers for its sport and table fare.Perch-like · Rivers and lakes · 1856 North AmericaNassau grouper A large reef fish critical to Caribbean fisheries now facing extinction risks.Perch-like · Coral reefs WorldBluefin trevally Large tropical marine predator with electric blue finsPerch-like · Coasts and shelves · 1833 WorldBluestripe snapper Bright yellow reef fish with four blue stripesPerch-like · Coasts and shelves · 1775 WorldPompano Deep-bodied marine fish in the genus Trachinotus.Perch-like · Coasts and shelves 🇺🇸 United States and 4 moreMutton snapper A colourful Atlantic reef fish prized for its meat.Perch-like · Coasts and shelves · 1828 WorldRed porgy A pink-hued seabream found in warm Atlantic coastal waters.Perch-like · Coasts and shelves · 1758 WorldDusky grouper Large reef-dwelling fish found in the Atlantic and Mediterranean.Perch-like · Coasts and shelves · 1834 WorldGreasy grouper Indo-Pacific reef fish with slow growth and high commercial valuePerch-like · Coasts and shelves WorldGolden snapper A large Indo-Pacific snapper with distinctive rusty scale spots.Perch-like · Coasts and shelves · 1792 WorldSpangled emperor A large, colourful reef fish found across the Indo-West Pacific.Perch-like · Coasts and shelves · 1775 WorldMalabar grouper Large Indo-Pacific reef fish with dark spotsPerch-like · Coasts and shelves WorldMangrove red snapper Large Indo-Pacific snapper found in mangroves and reefsPerch-like · Rivers and lakes · 1775

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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