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About This Quiz
Fishing is a great pastime enjoyed by millions all over the world. Some fisherman, however, take it very seriously, spending hours on the open seas trying to hook the biggest sportfish they can. Can you identify the most sought-after sportfish in the world? Time to start reeling them in!
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Skipjack
Albacore
The Albacore, sometimes called the Longfin Tuna has a preference for warm, temperate waters and is found the world over as long as these conditions are met. They are also fished commercially thanks to their extremely white meat. The biggest Albacore ever landed weighed 88 pounds and 2 ounces. It was caught in the Canary Islands in 1977.
Little Tunny
Mutton Snapper
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Bluefish
The Bluefish live mostly in coastal zones that are either temperate or subtropical. They are sometimes called the Piranha of the Sea and sport a vicious set of teeth with an attitude to match. Bluefish have a very dark flesh. The biggest Bluefish ever caught weighed 31 pounds 23 ounces and was landed in 1972 in Hatteras, North Carolina.
Bull Shark
African Pompano
Greater Amberjack
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What sportfish is found in this image?
African Threadfin
Sierra
Tiger Shark
Trevally (Bluefin)
These beautiful fish with their brilliant blue fins and tail are found in both the Pacific and Indian oceans. They are known to come close to shore, sometimes entering harbors and even swimming up lagoons, but mostly living on coastal reefs. The biggest catch on record stands at 29 pounds and 3 ounces, caught in 2012 near the Clipperton Atoll.
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Pacific Bonito
Alligator Gar
Red Steenbras
The Red Steenbras is found along the coast of South Africa, mostly near estuaries and rocky coastlines. Strict laws are in place to protect this powerful sportfish. The biggest Red Steenbras ever caught weighed just over 124 pounds and was landed in 1994.
Mulloway
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Pacific Halibut
White Seabass
The White Seabass is found along the Atlantic coastline, particularly in California. It loves kelp beds and sandy areas where it feeds on a variety of other fish, crustaceans, and even squid. Squid, in fact, make the perfect bait to catch these beautiful fish. The biggest White Seabass was caught over 60 years ago near San Felipe. It weighed an impressive 83 pounds.
Meagre
Lemon Shark
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Cero Mackerel
Kahawai
The Kahawai or Australian Salmon is unique to both New Zealand and Australia. These fish tend to swim in schools and live fairly close to the coastline, which means they can be caught from the shore. The biggest Kahawai caught on record was landed in 1994. It was 19 pounds.
Spotted Seatrout
Kelp Bass
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Jack Crevalle
Jack Crevalle live in the more temperate or tropical waters of both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. They are not particularly popular as sportfish but give a hell of a fight when hooked. They are often found swimming in schools. The biggest Jack ever caught was landed off the coast of Angola. It weighed 66 pounds.
Atlantic Bonito
Black Grouper
Two-Spot Red Snapper
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Red Bass
Maori Wrasse
Gag Grouper
Cubera Snapper
These massive fish are strong... and powerful! They live mostly in the warmer sections of the Atlantic Ocean but smaller fish can be found in the Pacific as well. The biggest Cubera Snapper caught in the Atlantic was landed in 2007 off the coast of Louisiana. It weighed 124 pounds.
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Atlantic Halibut
Narrowbarred Mackeral
Also called Narrowbarred Spanish, this fish is noted for the barred pattern which appears on their sides. They love to leap when hooked sometimes as high as 20 feet and sideways as well! They are found in the tropical sections of the Pacific and Indian oceans. The biggest Narrowbarred Mackeral ever caught weighed in at 99 pounds. It was landed in 1982 off the coast of South Africa.
Giant Sea Bass
Almaco Jack
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Black Drum
Weakfish
Great Barracuda
This is the largest type of Barracuda found in the oceans of the world. It likes to live in the Atlantic, off the Carribean in particular. When hooked in deep water, this fish does not jump, but if hooked in shallower water, it makes massive leaps out of the ocean. The biggest Great Barracuda ever hooked weighed 84 pounds. It was landed in the Philippines in 1991.
Dentex
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Coral Grouper
Bonnethead Shark
Goliath Grouper
Leerfish
The Leerfish is found in the Mediterranean as well as tropical areas of the eastern Atlantic. They can be caught from the coastline and from boats and puts up a determined fight. Leerfish are part of the Jack family. The biggest one ever caught was landed off the coast of Spain in 2000. It weighed 61 pounds.
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Broomtail Grouper
Coral Trout
Striped Bass
The Striped Bass is a favorite of the American sports angler. They are found all along the Atlantic coast and even into the Gulf of Mexico. They were heavily overfished at one point and a moratorium was placed on them in the 1980s to help their numbers grow. The biggest Striped Bass ever landed weighed 81 pounds. It was landed off Long Island Sound in 2011.
Rainbow Runner
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Tripletail
The tripletail is not the sleekest fish around and often not thought of as a sportfish. Don't be fooled. This is a fish with attitude and it will put up a massive fight. The largest ever landed weighed 42 pounds. It was caught off the coast of Zululand in South Africa in 1989.
Yellowtail Snapper
California Halibut
Squirrelfish
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Blue Shark
Australasian Snapper
Blackfin Tuna
Living in the tropical and temperate waters of the Western Atlantic, the Blackfin Tuna is a great fish to land, especially for the fight it would have given you. They often swim in massive schools. Their flesh can be eaten but is not as popular as another tuna species, Yellowfin. The biggest catch on record of a Blackfin Tuna came in at 49 pounds. It was landed off the coast of Florida in 2006.
Wreckfish
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What sportfish is found in this image?
King Mackerel
Commonly known as the Kingfish, this member of the mackerel family is found in a number of areas, including the Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean where they appear either in massive schools or even sometimes as solitary fish. The biggest King Mackerel ever landed weighed 93 pounds and was caught off the coast of Puerto Rico in 1999.
European Bass
Red Grouper
Lingcod
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Tautog
Red Drum
The Red Drum or simply Red Fish is a very popular sportfish. This is due to the fact that they are so abundant, particularly between the western parts of the Gulf of Mexico to the mid-Atlantic. They also can be caught from the shore. Note that in federal waters of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina and Texas, the fish must be released. The biggest Red Drum ever caught weighed just over 94 pounds. It was caught in North Carolina in 1984.
Southern Flounder
Fluke
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Summer Flounder
Atlantic Cod
White Sturgeon
The White Sturgeon is noted for its shark-like tail and chin barbels. They are found along the American coastline and can even swim into river estuaries where they are able to survive. The biggest White Sturgeon ever caught weighed 468 pounds when landed in California. It is believed that fish of up to 1,800 pounds do exist, however.
Albacore
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Blue Fish
Red Steenbras
Kahawai
Opah
Catching an Opah can prove very difficult. Not because they are serious fighters but because they live in very deep water. They are found in tropical or temperate waters around the world. The biggest Opah ever caught weighed in at 163 pounds. It was landed in 1998 off California. The biggest commercial Opah ever caught weighed in at close to 600 pounds.
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Dogtooth Tuna
So named because of its mouth full of sharp teeth, this tuna species is often solitary, living near reefs. They are mostly found in the Pacific with the biggest recorded catch landed off Mauritius in 1993 and 2007, each weighing 230 pounds.
Jack Crevalle
Cubera Snapper
Striped Marlin
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Mahi-Mahi
Atlantic Sailfish
California Yellowtail
The California Yellowtail is found in an area from Southern California to the Sea of Cortez. Most fish are between 15 to 30 pounds but the biggest ever caught weighed in at 109 pounds. it was caught near Japan. These fish make for excellent eating.
Giant Trevally
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Chinook Salmon
Roosterfish
Southern Yellowtail
This fish is very similar to the California Yellowtail. In fact, they are the same species but a slightly different sub-species. They are found in a far larger area, however, and live in both the Pacific and Atlantic. The biggest Southern Yellowtail ever caught weighed in at 110 pounds. Two fish were landed at this weight, both in New Zealand.
Permit
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Spearfish
Cobia
To the untrained eye, a Cobia profile, especialy from the top down, looks similar to a shark but they are not related in any way. They are found in tropical or warmer waters around the globe with the record catch measuring in at 135 pounds, It was landed in Shark Bay in Australia.
Pacific Snook
Tarpon
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Blacktip Shark
Living in temperate and tropical waters, Blacktip Sharks are usually found close to shore with the habitat not mattering that much. They are fierce fighters when hooked and are known to jump out of the water. The biggest-ever Blacktip landed came in at 270 pounds and was caught in Kenya.
Coho Salmon
Barramundi
Wahoo
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Tripletail
Leerfish
Great Barracuda
Bonefish
Bonefish are a favorite of sports anglers. Living in relatively shallow water, a hooked bonefish will give a massive fight. The most common type of bonefish (there are a few species) is found in the tropical oceans of the world. A great fishing spot if you are looking to nab one is the Florida Keys or perhaps even the Caribbean. The biggest Bonefish on record came in at 19 pounds and was caught from the shore in South Africa in 1962.
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Little Tunny
Mutton Snapper
Thresher Shark
The Thresher Shark is instantly recognizable with its long tail that is almost the same length as its body. There are a few sub-species of this shark but most prefer to live in cool to temperate waters. They use their massive tails to stun their enemies and then eat them. They feed mostly on small fish. The biggest recorded Thresher ever caught was landed in New Zealand and weighed in at 767 pounds. Note that in certain areas, the Thresher Shark is protected.
Skipjack
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Bull Shark
Black Papuan Snapper
Sometimes called the Black Bass, this fish is only found in southern Papua New Guinea where it lives in river inlets near broken trees, plants, or even rocky outcrops where it hunts for its food. It gives a tough fight when hooked, which adds to its allure. The biggest Black Papuan Snapper ever caught was landed in 1992 and tipped the scales at 42 pounds.
African Pompano
Threadfin
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Tiger Shark
Sierra
Greater Amberjack
Talang Queenfish
A member of the Jack family, the Talang Queenfish loves to breach the water when hooked, often putting on a spectacular show. Not found in American waters, the Queenfish is mostly a resident of the Indo-Pacific region where they live in lagoons or near shallow reefs. They are often used as bait for Black Marlin. The biggest one ever recorded was hooked in South Africa and weighed in at 39 pounds.
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Wahoo
Wahoo's are extremely quick underwater and looking at their body shape, it is easy to see why. So when you hook them be prepared for them to run, run and run some more! Wahoo like warm, tropical waters where they move between rocky areas to deeper waters. The biggest Wahoo ever caught weighed in at 184 pounds.
Pacific Bonito
Red Snapper
Alligator Gar
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Mulloway
Barramundi
Barramundi are not only excellent eating fish, but great fun to catch and more than willing to put up a fight. They are found in Australia and further north in the tropical waters around Asia. The biggest Barramundi ever caught weighed in at 96 pounds. It was fished in Lake Monduran as they can also survive in fresh water.
Pacific Halibut
Meagre
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Kob
Lemon Shark
Giant Trevally
This member of the Jack family gives one of the toughest fights a rod and reel sports fisherman will ever encounter. These fish live in reefs found in the tropical sections of the Atlantic and India oceans. The biggest Trevally ever caught was landed in Japan in 2006. It weighed in at 160 pounds.
Cero Mackerel
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Spotted Seatrout
Kelp Bass
Spearfish
Spearfish fall into two categories - the shortbill and the Atlantic species. The shortbill is found in all the oceans of the world, except the Atlantic and the Meditteranean. The biggest catch on record for the shortbill was landed in Australia and weighed in at 110 pounds.
Atlantic Bonito
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Pacific Snook
There are six different species of Pacific Snook although only two, the black and white, are sought after as sportfish. They love to spend their time near a mangrove-type coastline near rivers. The biggest one on record was caught in Costa Rica in 1991 and came in at 57 pounds.
Black Grouper
Two-Spot Red Snapper
Maori Wrasse
YouTube
What sportfish is found in this image?
Red Bass
Gag Grouper
King Threadfin
These fish are only found in the waters around Australia and New Guinea. They are a prized fight, however, often breaching the water in an effort to get free. They mostly live in fairly muddy waters. Threadfin of up to 100 pounds have been seen but the biggest catch on record is a disappointing 27 pounds.
Spanish Mackerel
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Atlantic Halibut
Giant Sea Bass
Almaco Jack
Coho Salmon
The Coho Salmon is one of the smaller sportfish around. Don't let their size fool you, however. Hook one of these and they will do everything in their power to get free. They are found in large parts of America, including California, the Great Lakes, and the northern Pacific. The biggest Coho was caught in New York and measured 33 pounds.
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Chinook Salmon
Also known as King Salmon, these fish are the biggest of the Pacific salmon species. They can be found from Alaska down to California, the Great Lakes and even South America. The biggest ever landed was caught in Alaska and weighed in at 97 pounds.
Black Drum
Weakfish
Dentex
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Coral Grouper
Roosterfish
With a dorsal fin that looks like a rooster's comb, the Roosterfish is instantly recognizable. These fish live all down the Pacific coast, from California to South America, particularly in areas with rocky shores. The biggest Roosterfish ever caught was landed in Mexico and weighed in at 114 pounds.
Goliath Grouper
Grey Grouper
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Coral Trout
Bonnethead Shark
Permit
Permit live in the western Atlantic but only in the more tropical waters thereof, often living near shallow reefs or wrecks. Here they often live in schools where they mostly feed on crustaceans. The biggest Permit ever caught was landed in Brazil in 2002 and weighed in at 60 pounds.
Broomtail Grouper
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Yellowfin Tuna
One of the most popular sportfish, a Yellowfin Tuna is a much sought after catch for fisherman. These magnificent creatures normally live around 100m and up from the surface of the ocean, although they are capable of diving to great depths. They often appear in schools. The largest one ever caught measured a whopping 427 pounds and was landed in Mexico.
Rainbow Runner
Yellowtail Snapper
California Halibut
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Atlantic Snook
Only found in tropical Atlantic waters, this Snook species loves the coast where it keeps to the shallows searching for mangrove estuaries, inlets or lagoons. They are found in Florida, Texas and into Central America and can even live in fresh water. The biggest Atlantic Snook catch on record measures at 53 pounds.
Squirelfish
Blue Shark
Wreckfish
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Australasian Snapper
European Bass
Bluefin Tuna
Bluefin Tuna are possibly the most prized fish in the world. Why? Well, it's all down the quality of their flesh, prized in Japanese cuisine for sushi in particular. But they are also an angler's dream and hooking one means the fight of your life. Unfortunately, these beauties are severely overfished. The largest Bluefin Tuna ever caught in sportfishing weighed in at an incredible 1,496 pounds!
Red Grouper
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Atlantic Sailfish
The Atlantic Sailfish is characterized by its large dorsal fin that looks like a sail. It is also a fighter of note when hooked and more than willing to leave the water in an attempt to get free. These majestic creatures are considered the fastest fish in the world. They are found in the Atlantic and can be caught off the coast of Florida and Africa. The largest Sailfish on record was caught off Angola and weighed in at 141 pounds.
Lingcod
Tautog
Southern Flounder
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Summer Flounder
White Marlin
This is the smallest of the Marlin species and found throughout the Atlantic, both along the coast of North and South America, Europe and Africa and even in the deep sea. Marlin love to leave the water and offer a show when hooked. They typically are between 50 to 70 pounds but the largest ever hooked weighed in at a formidable 181 pounds. It was caught off Brazil.
Atlantic Cod
Little Tunny
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Fluke
Mutton Snapper
Pacific Sailfish
This fish is found throughout the entire Pacific as well as the Indian Ocean, particularly in warmer waters. They tend to be much larger than their Atlantic cousin. The average size for these fish is around 100 pounds. The largest sailfish ever caught was landed in 1947. It weighed in at 221 pounds.
Skipjack
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Swordfish
The Swordfish is truly majestic and found throughout the oceans of the world. They often come near the surface, particularly to lie in the sun if they live in chillier waters. Swordfish hunt at depths of around 1,800 feet, particularly for squid. If you hook one of these, expect a long, long fight. They largest swordfish ever caught was landed in 1953 in Chile. It weighed 1,182 pounds.
Bull Shark
African Pompano
African Threadfin
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Mahi-Mahi
Also called the Dolphin fish or Dorado, the Mahi-Mahi is one of the most popular sportfish. Not only are they a real fight to catch but they produce a spectacle in their attempts to get away. Mahi-Mahi are found in all the world's major oceans. The biggest catch on record weighed in at 87 pounds.
Greater Amberjack
Sierra
Tiger Shark
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Red Snapper
Pacific Bonito
Striped Marlin
Striped Marlin are found in the Indian and Pacific oceans but never in the Atlantic. As with all Marlin species, a hooked Striped Marlin will fight and fight hard. The largest of these fish tend to be found off the coast of New Zealand. In fact, the largest one ever caught, weighing in at 494 pounds, was caught in the waters off New Zealand.
Alligator Gar
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Mulloway
Pacific Halibut
Kob
Black Marlin
Black Marlin are only found in the Pacific and Indian oceans. Unlike other Marlin, they are often seen close to shore. They are one of the fastest fish in the ocean and have been recorded at speeds of up to 80 mph. The largest of these ever caught weighed in at a massive 1,560 pounds. It was caught in Peru in 1953.
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Meagre
Mako Shark
If you are looking to hook a Mako, be prepared for not only a battle but a spectacular show as they have been known to jump 20 feet out of the water at times. Makos tend to like warmer water and are found along the coastlines of all major oceans. The largest one ever landed weighed in at 1,220 pounds.
Cero Mackerel
Spotted Seatrout
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Tarpon
Found in the Atlantic, the Tarpon is not related to any other fish. Tarpon will fight and jump once hooked, making it a favorite of sports anglers. The largest Tarpon ever caught was hooked off the African coast near Guinea-Bissau. It weighed in at 286 pounds.
Kelp Bass
Atlantic Bonito
Black Grouper
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What sportfish is found in this image?
Blue Marlin
The Blue Marlin is possibly the most prized sportfish of all. The are found in most of the world's oceans but particularly the Pacific and Atlantic. They are protected in United States waters and any caught must be released. The biggest Blue Marlin on record weighed 1,402 pounds when landed off Brazil in 1979.
Maori Wrasse
Albacore
Kahawai
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/50
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