Go Fishing with Us and See if You Can Identify All the Fish You Catch!
By: J.P. Naomi
2 min
Image: By UnknownUnknown author (NOAA FishWatch (see Gallery)), via Wikimedia Commons // By Brian Gratwicke, via Wikimedia Commons // By OAR/National Undersea Research Program (NURP), via Wikimedia Commons // By Brian.gratwicke, from Wikimedia Commons
About This Quiz
Calling all captains! Grab your 1st decks and let's head out to sea! It's time to see how well you can name some of the most south-after fish! And if you're gonna be a Barney, you may as well stay home. We're lookin' for some mighty fresh ones today! Are you up for the challenge?Â
Ahhh, there sure ain't anything better than waking up before dawn, grabbing that cup of joe and heading out to the port. Onto the boat you go, and before you know it, you're cruisin' 30 miles per hour out from the shore to that hot spot... the place where you'll find the big ones! The bluefins, the sailfish, the yellowfins! You've been waiting for this moment; you want that photo finish! You know what we're talking about... that photo where you hold the fish up in glory after the end of a long day out on the water! Well, if that sounds like you, we promise you'll love this quiz! So what do you say? Think you have enough experience to name them all correctly?Â
Come on now, don't be a chummer! Let's get this boat in motion and see what you've got! Good luck and remember, only true fishermen need apply!
n/a
You call yourself a fisherman? Which fish is this?
Blackfin Tuna
Blue Marlin
Sport fishermen first encountered blue marlin in the Bahamas in the 1920s and early 1930s. They have since become one of the world's greatest game fishes, developing into a multimillion-dollar industry.
Holy Mackerel! Known widely as just "kingfish," these fish are found from the mid-Atlantic through the Gulf and the Caribbean down to Brazil. Commonly 10-30 pounds, the all-tackle record is 93 pounds caught near San Juan, Puerto Rico!
The largest bluefin are found in summer and fall off Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. The world-record bluefin has remained unbroken since 1979, when Ken Fraser caught his 1,496-pounder off Nova Scotia!
Did you know that white marlins are the smallest of the Atlantic marlins? They weigh between 50-70 pounds, but the largest on record was 181 pounds - caught off the coast of Vitoria, Brazil!
By Xiphias_gladius.jpg: Derke Snodgrass, NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC/SFDderivative work: Haplochromis (Xiphias_gladius.jpg), via Wikimedia Commons
Its name doesn't lie... which fish is this?
Swordfish
Swordfish are found around the world in tropical and temperate seas. They love to bask at the surface of the sea, particularly in the waters off of Southern California. The world-record 1,182-pound swordfish came from the waters off Chile in 1953.
Redfish are readily available from the westernmost Gulf of Mexico to the mid-Atlantic states. They are quick to strike bait, lures, and flies, the largest of which was recorded near North Carolina at 94 pounds, 2 ounces!
Also known as King salmon, the Chinook salmon are the largest of the six Pacific salmon species. They are one of the world's most valuable species both commercially and recreationally - ranging from central California to northern Alaska.
The mako shark is regarded as the fastest shark. It can turn on a dime and also can jump... more than 20 feet into the air! The all-tackle record mako was caught in 2001 off the coast of Massachusetts and weighed 1,221 pounds.
Black marlins are found only in the Pacific and Indian oceans. They are known to prowl shallow banks and near-coastal waters. The largest black marlin caught to date was recorded in 1953 in Cabo Blanco, Peru!
By Rich Gasparian (Rgaspari at en.wikipedia), via Wikimedia Commons
The ________ is seen here.
Thresher Shark
Atlantic Sailfish
What can we say, Atlantic sailfish are easy to catch! They are known to readily take bait and not only that, but their good looks make for a great photo op when the day is done!
Coho salmon are more abundant than Chinook salmon, and they qualify as one of the world’s great light-tackle gamesters. The all-tackle record came from the Salmon River in New York in 1989, weighing 33 pounds, 4 ounces.
By Kate Crandell (originally posted to Flickr as IMG_1958), via Wikimedia Commons
We're sure you'll get this one too...
Cobia
Giant Trevally
Dogtooth Tuna
Striped Marlin
Striped marlin is found mainly off of southeastern Baja each fall. If you're looking for really big ones, though, head to New Zealand where the 494-pound world record striped was found in 1986!
Ginkgo100 at the English language Wikipedia, via Wikimedia Commons
You know this one...
Blacktip Shark
Mako Shark
Barramundi
Barra, as they are called for short, are found around the upper half of Australia and north through much of tropical Asia. In Australia, they are the number one inshore game fish.
Blacktip sharks are found around the globe in tropical and temperate waters. They live anywhere from muddy waters to clear coral reefs! The largest one caught on record was 270 pounds and 9 ounces near Malindi Bay in Kenya.
By Carol Neuhoff (originally posted to Flickr as Nix roosterfish), via Wikimedia Commons
Wish you could catch one of these? Name it first!
Leerfish
Red Drum
Barramundi
Roosterfish
Roosters are unique to the eastern Pacific, where they are caught from Baja into northern South America. They can put up a fight once they are hooked... but for fishermen, that's part of the excitement!
Did you know that Wahoo were built for speed? Many anglers believe that they are the fastest fish in the sea! Their average speed is 48 miles per hour!
Did you know that bonefish are one of the most coveted trophies by anglers who fish in the flats? Both the Caribbean and the Florida Keys are the places to be when fishing for bonefish!
By Unknown (NOAA Fisheries), via Wikimedia Commons
What is the name of this fish?
Wahoo
White Marlin
Mako Shark
Opah
Opah are found worldwide in tropical to temperate waters and are occasionally caught in the Hawaiian Islands, as well as off California and Baja. They have orange flesh and are renowned for eating as well!
By OAR/National Undersea Research Program (NURP), via Wikimedia Commons
How about the one seen in this photo...
Yellowfin Tuna
Yellowfin tuna are very popular across the world! Did you know that in 2010, 558,761 metric tons of yellowfin tuna were caught in the western and central Pacific Ocean?!
Did you know that California yellowtail are typically 15-30 pounds? Try telling that to the all-tackle record holder who caught one in 2009 off of the coast of Japan... that one weighed in at 109 pounds, 2 ounces!
If you can name this one, we'll be really impressed!
Tarpon
Pacific Snook
Blacktip Shark
Giant Trevally
Giant trevally, or GT for short are known for being one of the most challenging fish to reel in! They are found predominantly in the western tropical Pacific and Indian oceans.
Striper is one of the few "all-American" game fish! They are widely important to the industry along the eastern coast of the United States from Maine down to Florida!
By Sally-Jean Rush (Watercolour painting owned by uploader), via Wikimedia Commons
Last one, don't let us down!
Opah
Thresher Shark
Striped Bass
Leerfish
Leerfish is found solely in the Mediterranean and tropical eastern Atlantic ocean. They migrate seasonally and are known for their stamina and fight once hooked!
The interesting anatomy of these fish tend to make hooking them a challenge! They do love crustaceans though, so that's your best bet if you're heading out to tackle one!
The dogtooth tuna gets its name from its mouthful of dagger-like teeth! They are found throughout the Indo-Pacific region, the largest being found near Tanzania in 2015... 236 pounds, 15 ounces!
Permit are a favorite target of fly-fishermen. If you're looking to catch one, you might consider a live crab or half-crab for bait... permit love to eat crustaceans!
By UnknownUnknown author (NOAA FishWatch (see Gallery)), via Wikimedia Commons
This one you must know...
Spearfish
Pacific Sailfish
Albacore
Albacore are sometimes referred to as "longfin tuna". They are marketed commercially for their very white flesh and can be found in sandwiches across America every day!
Mahimahi is considered one of the most popular offshore game fish, as well as one of the most popular table fare! These fish eat non-stop and grow up to 18 inches each year. The all-tackle-record 87-pounder was taken off Papagallo, Costa Rica, in 1976.
The Atlantic tarpon is found on both sides of the Atlantic ocean. It is an air-breathing, chrome-plated jumper, and fighter! The all-tackle world record of 286 pounds and 9 ounces was taken off Guinea Bissau, Africa in 2003!
The Atlantic snook has an underslung jaw and dark lateral-line stripe that make it hard to mistake for anything else. A 53-pound, 10 ounce Atlantic snook, found near Coasta Rica, has held as the all-tackle world record since 1978.
Spearfish are categorized into the shortbill and the longbill species. Did you know that they are seldom targeted because they’re are not often found in numbers? They’re typically caught by accident!
By National Institute of Standards and Technology (Cobia), via Wikimedia Commons
The challenge continues... which fish is this?
Red Drum
Cobia
At first glance, many fishermen think that a Cobia is a shark, but in fact it is its own species! They are tough fighters, but make for enjoyable eating once caught!
Queenies, as they are nicknamed, inhabit lagoons and shallow reefs, preferring clear waters, and can be found widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific region. Australians actually use them as black marlin bait!
By Williams, J. T.; Carpenter, K. E.; Van Tassell, J. L.; Hoetjes, P.; Toller, W.; Etnoyer, P.; Smith, M., via Wikimedia Commons
Calling all experts! Name this fish...
Tripletail
There aren't many fish quite like a tripletail! Nicknamed 'trips,' they hit hard when they strike and can run and jump from the water like you wouldn't expect! The largest on record was caught near South Africa in 1989 weighing in at 42 pounds and 5 ounces.
If you're a fly-rodder or popper enthusiast, you might get a kick out of these tuna... they sure to put up a good fight frenzy when hooked! They can also swim as fast as 40 miles per hour!
You might just be an expert if you can name this one...
Albacore
King Threadfin
Found mainly in northern Australia, King threadfin live in muddy, silty intertidal waters, where they use their characteristic long filamentous feelers beneath their throat to sense prey. They readily strike lures and bait!
Sailfish are found in the Pacific and Indian oceans. The fishery off Guatemala is known to be a leading sailfishery in the world, with some charter boats enjoying dozens of shots in a day. Malaysia has also been enjoying bountiful numbers.
Did you know that two Southern yellowtail tie for the all-tackle world record of 114 pounds, 10 ounces? Both fish were taken off northern New Zealand, one at White Island and the other out of Tauranga!
By UnknownUnknown author (NOAA FishWatch (see Gallery)), via Wikimedia Commons // By Brian Gratwicke, via Wikimedia Commons // By OAR/National Undersea Research Program (NURP), via Wikimedia Commons // By Brian.gratwicke, from Wikimedia Commons