Top 10 Sports Fishing Species

Recreational fishing is one of the most popular forms of sport among anglers. You can relax alone among the peace and quiet or challenge yourself by indulging in big games.

Freshwater Fishing and Saltwater Fishing – This sport is best enjoyed alone or with a companion so that you can enjoy the peace and quiet of the beautiful calm surroundings.

Here are ten of the most sought after fishing species.

1.  Salmon

Salmons are found in land-locked pockets of rivers and lakes. Fishing for salmons in rivers is done the best during their upstream migration period each year. Salmon varieties like the rainbow trout and Kokanee are abundant in lakes and offer a great fight while getting snared and require tremendous amount of skill to catch.

2. Snook

Found in abundance in the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, Snook fish is a prized catch among many anglers as they have great fighting capabilities. They are most active in waters with temperatures ranging from 68F to 78F. Winter is not a very good time to fish for snook and it is not considered to be an appropriate season for this type of fish.

3. Tuna

Commercially a very sought after fish; Tuna fish gained popularity among anglers since the 1950’s.  Anglers fish for Tunas in Kayaks. Ernest Hemmingway and Habana Joe were famous recreational fishermen who enjoyed hunting Tuna.

Since they are extremely fast swimmers, therefore they require immense skill and technique to catch.

4. Bass

Bass fishing is a multi-million dollar industry in the United States. This fish is found in lakes, rivers, ponds, reservoirs, streams and creeks. The Black-bass is the most sought-after game fish in the United States. Largemouth bass are renowned for their resistance and large sizes when hooked. Their small mouth fights aggressively on the surface when hooked. This provides good challenges to anglers for fishing and it also ensures to make the activity extremely enjoyable.

5. Trout

Trout is most popular among fly-fishing anglers. they can be fished in fresh water and salt water. Popular in Great Britain, Japan, North America and Australia trout fishing has been done practiced the 14^th century. There are dedicated websites that guide you and provide fishing expeditions for trout fishing in Europe and United States.

6. Billfish – Marlin

Marlin fishing is considered the cream of all game fish. The average weight of a marlin is 150 kg and they reach sizes in excess of 450 kg. It is a hobby for the elite as considerable money has to be spent for fishing expeditions. In the marlin species, the Blue Marlin is the most sought after fish. The Atlantic, Bahamas, Bermuda Islands, Brazil, Portugal are some of the ideal destinations to pursue Blue Marlin fishing.

7. Sharks

Shark fishing is an extreme sport due as they are immensely strong and dangerous predators. To pursue this as a sport requires extreme caution and care. Shark Baiting wherein the adventurers are lowered in cages and bait sharks. However, their dwindling population due to excessive farming has damaged their ecosystem.

8. Tarpon

Tarpons are great game fish though due to their accessibility and size. The Atlantic Tarpon have a great fighting spirit and make magnificent leaps in the air when hooked. Due to their undesirable flesh, to prevent excess sport-fishing, special permits are required and the fish and release method has been adopted. The most popular method of catching tarpons is by flats fishing with a fly rod. It is a combination of fishing and hunting, providing great thrill to anglers.

9. Mackerel

Mackerel species are found all over the world, are smaller varieties of fish as opposed to Tuna’s, Marlins, Sharks etc. Their small size and fighting ability make them extremely popular among recreational anglers. The Spanish Mackerel enter bays and are more sought-after than other species. The King mackerel is also another prized catch among anglers.

10. Pan fish

The smallest of game fishes, Pan fish include Bluegill, Crappie, Flier, Sunfish, Warmouth, Perch are some pan fishes to name a few. These fishes are so called because they are small enough to fit into a frying pan. Usually caught by anglers they are an easy game to catch. Depending upon the geographical location the varieties and their usages differ.