Fish of Mexico
Two oceans, the Sea of Cortez, the Yucatán peninsula and celebrated inland reservoirs: Mexico offers one of the widest ranges of fishing on the American continent.
116 species documented
The Sea of Cortez, between Baja California and the mainland, is a case apart. Its narrow, deep configuration and strong currents make it one of the most productive seas on the planet, with a concentration of open-water species reachable from the coast.
At the other end, the Caribbean side of the Yucatán unrolls reefs, lagoons and mangroves in clear warm water. It is another world entirely, where fishing is done on sight over ground a few tens of centimetres deep.
The interior holds vast reservoirs that built an international reputation around a handful of introduced species. The season there is governed by rainfall and temperature: the hottest months compress activity into dawn and dusk.
Saltwater91

African pompano
Alectis ciliaris
Coastal· 150 cm

Albacore
Thunnus alalunga
Big pelagics· 140 cm

Almaco jack
Seriola rivoliana
Coastal· 160 cm

Atlantic bluefin tuna
Thunnus thynnus
Big pelagics· 458 cm

Atlantic bonito
Sarda sarda
Big pelagics· 91.4 cm

Atlantic goliath grouper
Epinephelus itajara
Coastal· 250 cm

Atlantic spadefish
Chaetodipterus faber
Coastal· 90 cm

Atlantic tripletail
Lobotes surinamensis
Coastal· 110 cm

Bigeye scad
Selar crumenophthalmus
Coastal· 70 cm

Bigeye trevally
Caranx sexfasciatus
Coastal· 120 cm

Bigeye tuna
Thunnus obesus
Big pelagics· 250 cm

Black grouper
Mycteroperca bonaci
Coastal· 150 cm

Black jack
Caranx lugubris
Coastal· 100 cm

Black marlin
Istiompax indica
Coastal· 465 cm

Black snapper
Apsilus dentatus
Coastal· 65 cm

Blackfin tuna
Thunnus atlanticus
Big pelagics· 108 cm

Blacktip shark
Carcharhinus limbatus
Sharks & rays· 286 cm

Blue marlin
Makaira nigricans
Coastal· 500 cm

Blue shark
Prionace glauca
Sharks & rays· 400 cm

Bluefin trevally
Caranx melampygus
Coastal· 117 cm

Bluefish
Pomatomus saltatrix
Coastal· 130 cm

Bonefish
Albula vulpes
Migratory· 104 cm

Bull shark
Carcharhinus leucas
Sharks & rays· 360 cm

California Halibut
Paralichthys californicus
Flatfish· 152 cm

Cero mackerel
Scomberomorus regalis
Big pelagics· 183 cm

Chub mackerel
Scomber japonicus
Big pelagics· 64 cm

Cobia
Rachycentron canadum
Coastal· 200 cm

Common dolphinfish
Coryphaena hippurus
Big pelagics· 210 cm

Common snook
Centropomus undecimalis
Coastal· 140 cm

Coney grouper
Cephalopholis fulva
Coastal· 44 cm

Crevalle jack
Caranx hippos
Coastal· 124 cm

Cubera snapper
Lutjanus cyanopterus
Coastal· 160 cm

Dog snapper
Lutjanus jocu
Coastal· 128 cm

Dusky shark
Carcharhinus obscurus
Sharks & rays· 420 cm

Eastern Pacific bonito
Sarda chiliensis
Big pelagics· 102 cm

European barracuda
Sphyraena sphyraena
Coastal· 165 cm

Flathead grey mullet
Mugil cephalus
Coastal· 100 cm

Golden trevally
Gnathanodon speciosus
Coastal· 120 cm

Graysby
Cephalopholis cruentata
Coastal· 42.6 cm

Great barracuda
Sphyraena barracuda
Coastal· 200 cm

Great white shark
Carcharodon carcharias
Sharks & rays· 640 cm

Grey snapper
Lutjanus griseus
Coastal· 89 cm

Indo-Pacific sailfish
Istiophorus platypterus
Coastal· 348 cm

Island trevally
Carangoides orthogrammus
Coastal· 75 cm

Kawakawa
Euthynnus affinis
Big pelagics· 100 cm

Kelp bass
Paralabrax clathratus
Coastal· 72 cm

Ladyfish
Elops saurus
Migratory· 100 cm

Lane snapper
Lutjanus synagris
Coastal· 60 cm

Leatherjacket
Oligoplites saurus
Coastal· 35 cm

Little tunny
Euthynnus alletteratus
Big pelagics· 122 cm

Lookdown
Selene vomer
Coastal· 48.3 cm

Mackerel scad
Decapterus macarellus
Coastal· 46 cm

Milkfish
Chanos chanos
Coastal· 180 cm

Mutton snapper
Lutjanus analis
Coastal· 94 cm

Nassau grouper
Epinephelus striatus
Coastal· 122 cm

Oilfish
Ruvettus pretiosus
Big pelagics· 300 cm

Orangemouth corvina
Cynoscion xanthulus
Coastal· 129 cm

Pacific barracuda
Sphyraena argentea
Coastal· 145 cm

Pacific bluefin tuna
Thunnus orientalis
Big pelagics· 300 cm

Pacific sierra
Scomberomorus sierra
Big pelagics· 99 cm

Permit
Trachinotus falcatus
Coastal· 122 cm

Pilotfish
Naucrates ductor
Coastal· 70 cm

Pompano dolphinfish
Coryphaena equiselis
Coastal· 146 cm

Rainbow parrotfish
Scarus guacamaia
Coastal· 120 cm

Rainbow runner
Elagatis bipinnulata
Coastal· 180 cm

Red hind
Epinephelus guttatus
Coastal· 76 cm

Roosterfish
Nematistius pectoralis
Coastal· 163 cm

Scalloped hammerhead
Sphyrna lewini
Sharks & rays· 430 cm

Sheepshead
Archosargus probatocephalus
Coastal· 91 cm

Shortbill spearfish
Tetrapturus angustirostris
Coastal· 230 cm

Shortfin mako
Isurus oxyrinchus
Sharks & rays· 445 cm

Silky shark
Carcharhinus falciformis
Sharks & rays· 350 cm

Skipjack tuna
Katsuwonus pelamis
Big pelagics· 110 cm

Smooth hammerhead
Sphyrna zygaena
Sharks & rays· 500 cm

Southern flounder
Paralichthys lethostigma
Flatfish· 83 cm

Spotted Sand Bass
Paralabrax maculatofasciatus
Coastal· 67 cm

Spotted seatrout
Cynoscion nebulosus
Coastal· 100 cm

Stoplight parrotfish
Sparisoma viride
Coastal· 64 cm

Striped bass
Morone saxatilis
Coastal· 200 cm

Striped bonito
Sarda orientalis
Big pelagics· 102 cm

Striped marlin
Kajikia audax
Coastal· 420 cm

Swordfish
Xiphias gladius
Big pelagics· 455 cm

Tarpon
Megalops atlanticus
Migratory· 250 cm

Tiger shark
Galeocerdo cuvier
Sharks & rays· 750 cm

Tope shark
Galeorhinus galeus
Sharks & rays· 193 cm

Wahoo
Acanthocybium solandri
Big pelagics· 250 cm

White mullet
Mugil curema
Coastal· 91 cm

White seabass
Atractoscion nobilis
Coastal· 166 cm

Yellowfin tuna
Thunnus albacares
Big pelagics· 239 cm

Yellowtail amberjack
Seriola lalandi
Coastal· 250 cm

Yellowtail snapper
Ocyurus chrysurus
Coastal· 86 cm
Freshwater25

Alligator gar
Atractosteus spatula
Predators· 260 cm

Amur carp
Cyprinus rubrofuscus
Carp & coarse· 28 cm

Blue catfish
Ictalurus furcatus
Catfish· 165 cm

Blue tilapia
Oreochromis aureus
Other· 46 cm

Bluegill
Lepomis macrochirus
Predators· 41 cm

Brook trout
Salvelinus fontinalis
Salmonids· 60 cm

Channel catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
Catfish· 132 cm

Common carp
Cyprinus carpio
Carp & coarse· 129 cm

Flathead catfish
Pylodictis olivaris
Catfish· 155 cm

Freshwater drum
Aplodinotus grunniens
Bottom fish· 95 cm

Goldfish
Carassius auratus
Carp & coarse· 48 cm

Grass carp
Ctenopharyngodon idella
Carp & coarse· 150 cm

Green sunfish
Lepomis cyanellus
Predators· 31 cm

Largemouth bass
Micropterus salmoides
Predators· 97 cm

Longnose gar
Lepisosteus osseus
Predators· 200 cm

Mexican golden trout
Oncorhynchus chrysogaster
Salmonids· 12.7 cm

Mirror carp
Cyprinus carpio (forme miroir)
Carp & coarse· 129 cm

Mozambique tilapia
Oreochromis mossambicus
Other· 39 cm

Nile tilapia
Oreochromis niloticus
Other· 60 cm

Rainbow trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Salmonids· 123 cm

Redbelly tilapia
Coptodon zillii
Other· 40 cm

Redbreast tilapia
Coptodon rendalli
Other· 45 cm

Redtail catfish
Phractocephalus hemioliopterus
Catfish· 135 cm

Smallmouth bass
Micropterus dolomieu
Predators· 69 cm

White crappie
Pomoxis annularis
Predators· 53 cm
Species list
| Name | Scientific name | In Spanish | Max size | Best months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| African pompano | Alectis ciliaris | Pámpano africano | 150 cm | Year-round |
| Albacore | Thunnus alalunga | Atún blanco | 140 cm | Mar–Sep |
| Alligator gar | Atractosteus spatula | Pejelagarto caimán | 260 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Almaco jack | Seriola rivoliana | Medregal limón | 160 cm | Mar–Aug |
| Amur carp | Cyprinus rubrofuscus | Carpa del Amur | 28 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Atlantic bluefin tuna | Thunnus thynnus | Atún rojo del Atlántico | 458 cm | May–Nov |
| Atlantic bonito | Sarda sarda | Bonito del Atlántico | 91.4 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Atlantic goliath grouper | Epinephelus itajara | Mero guasa | 250 cm | Jun–Nov |
| Atlantic spadefish | Chaetodipterus faber | Paguara | 90 cm | May–Sep |
| Atlantic tripletail | Lobotes surinamensis | Dormilona | 110 cm | May–Sep |
| Bigeye scad | Selar crumenophthalmus | Chicharro ojón | 70 cm | Year-round |
| Bigeye trevally | Caranx sexfasciatus | Jurel ojón | 120 cm | Mar–Aug |
| Bigeye tuna | Thunnus obesus | Patudo | 250 cm | Sep–Feb |
| Black grouper | Mycteroperca bonaci | Mero negrillo | 150 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Black jack | Caranx lugubris | Jurel negro | 100 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Black marlin | Istiompax indica | Marlín negro | 465 cm | Sep–Nov |
| Black snapper | Apsilus dentatus | Pargo negro | 65 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Blackfin tuna | Thunnus atlanticus | Atún aleta negra | 108 cm | Mar–Sep |
| Blacktip shark | Carcharhinus limbatus | Tiburón macuira | 286 cm | Mar–Aug |
| Blue catfish | Ictalurus furcatus | Bagre azul | 165 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Blue marlin | Makaira nigricans | Aguja azul | 500 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Blue shark | Prionace glauca | Tiburón azul | 400 cm | Jun–Nov |
| Blue tilapia | Oreochromis aureus | Tilapia azul | 46 cm | Year-round |
| Bluefin trevally | Caranx melampygus | Jurel azul | 117 cm | Year-round |
| Bluefish | Pomatomus saltatrix | Anjova | 130 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Bluegill | Lepomis macrochirus | Pez sol azul | 41 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Bonefish | Albula vulpes | Macabí | 104 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Brook trout | Salvelinus fontinalis | Salvelino de fontana | 60 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Bull shark | Carcharhinus leucas | Tiburón toro | 360 cm | Mar–Nov |
| California Halibut | Paralichthys californicus | Lenguado de California | 152 cm | Mar–Oct |
| Cero mackerel | Scomberomorus regalis | Carite chinigua | 183 cm | Dec–Feb |
| Channel catfish | Ictalurus punctatus | Bagre de canal | 132 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Chub mackerel | Scomber japonicus | Estornino del Pacífico | 64 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Cobia | Rachycentron canadum | Cobia | 200 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Common carp | Cyprinus carpio | Carpa común | 129 cm | Jul–Sep |
| Common dolphinfish | Coryphaena hippurus | Lampuga | 210 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Common snook | Centropomus undecimalis | Róbalo común | 140 cm | May–Sep |
| Coney grouper | Cephalopholis fulva | Guativere | 44 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Crevalle jack | Caranx hippos | Jurel común | 124 cm | Mar–Aug |
| Cubera snapper | Lutjanus cyanopterus | Pargo cubera | 160 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Dog snapper | Lutjanus jocu | Pargo jocú | 128 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Dusky shark | Carcharhinus obscurus | Tiburón arenero | 420 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Eastern Pacific bonito | Sarda chiliensis | Bonito del Pacífico oriental | 102 cm | Mar–Nov |
| European barracuda | Sphyraena sphyraena | Espetón | 165 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Flathead catfish | Pylodictis olivaris | Bagre de cabeza plana | 155 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Flathead grey mullet | Mugil cephalus | Mújol | 100 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Freshwater drum | Aplodinotus grunniens | Tambor de agua dulce | 95 cm | Mar–Sep |
| Golden trevally | Gnathanodon speciosus | Jurel dorado | 120 cm | Year-round |
| Goldfish | Carassius auratus | Carpín dorado | 48 cm | Apr–Oct |
| Grass carp | Ctenopharyngodon idella | Carpa herbívora | 150 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Graysby | Cephalopholis cruentata | Enjambre | 42.6 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Great barracuda | Sphyraena barracuda | Barracuda | 200 cm | Year-round |
| Great white shark | Carcharodon carcharias | Tiburón blanco | 640 cm | Jun–Nov |
| Green sunfish | Lepomis cyanellus | Pez sol verde | 31 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Grey snapper | Lutjanus griseus | Pargo prieto | 89 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Indo-Pacific sailfish | Istiophorus platypterus | Pez vela del Indo-Pacífico | 348 cm | Year-round |
| Island trevally | Carangoides orthogrammus | Jurel de islas | 75 cm | Year-round |
| Kawakawa | Euthynnus affinis | Bacoreta oriental | 100 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Kelp bass | Paralabrax clathratus | Cabrilla de sargazo | 72 cm | May–Sep |
| Ladyfish | Elops saurus | Macabí chiro | 100 cm | Mar–May, Sep–Nov |
| Lane snapper | Lutjanus synagris | Pargo biajaiba | 60 cm | Mar–Aug |
| Largemouth bass | Micropterus salmoides | Perca americana | 97 cm | Jul–Sep |
| Leatherjacket | Oligoplites saurus | Zapatero | 35 cm | Mar–Aug |
| Little tunny | Euthynnus alletteratus | Bacoreta | 122 cm | Year-round |
| Longnose gar | Lepisosteus osseus | Pejelagarto narigudo | 200 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Lookdown | Selene vomer | Jorobado de penacho | 48.3 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Mackerel scad | Decapterus macarellus | Macarela caballa | 46 cm | Year-round |
| Mexican golden trout | Oncorhynchus chrysogaster | Trucha dorada mexicana | 12.7 cm | |
| Milkfish | Chanos chanos | Sabalote | 180 cm | Year-round |
| Mirror carp | Cyprinus carpio (forme miroir) | Carpa de espejo | 129 cm | Year-round |
| Mozambique tilapia | Oreochromis mossambicus | Tilapia del Mozambique | 39 cm | Year-round |
| Mutton snapper | Lutjanus analis | Pargo criollo | 94 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Nassau grouper | Epinephelus striatus | Mero de Nassau | 122 cm | Dec–Feb |
| Nile tilapia | Oreochromis niloticus | Tilapia del Nilo | 60 cm | Year-round |
| Oilfish | Ruvettus pretiosus | Escolar | 300 cm | Jun–Nov |
| Orangemouth corvina | Cynoscion xanthulus | Corvina boca naranja | 129 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Pacific barracuda | Sphyraena argentea | Barracuda del Pacífico | 145 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Pacific bluefin tuna | Thunnus orientalis | Atún rojo del Pacífico | 300 cm | Apr–Sep |
| Pacific sierra | Scomberomorus sierra | Sierra del Pacífico | 99 cm | Oct–Mar |
| Permit | Trachinotus falcatus | Pámpano palometa | 122 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Pilotfish | Naucrates ductor | Pez piloto | 70 cm | Jun–Nov |
| Pompano dolphinfish | Coryphaena equiselis | Lampuga rabicorta | 146 cm | Mar–Aug |
| Rainbow parrotfish | Scarus guacamaia | Pez loro guacamayo | 120 cm | Year-round |
| Rainbow runner | Elagatis bipinnulata | Macarela salmón | 180 cm | Mar–Aug |
| Rainbow trout | Oncorhynchus mykiss | Trucha arcoíris | 123 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Red hind | Epinephelus guttatus | Mero cabrilla | 76 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Redbelly tilapia | Coptodon zillii | Tilapia de vientre rojo | 40 cm | Year-round |
| Redbreast tilapia | Coptodon rendalli | Tilapia de pecho rojo | 45 cm | Year-round |
| Redtail catfish | Phractocephalus hemioliopterus | Bagre de cola roja | 135 cm | Jun–Jan |
| Roosterfish | Nematistius pectoralis | Pez gallo | 163 cm | May–Nov |
| Scalloped hammerhead | Sphyrna lewini | Cornuda común | 430 cm | Jun–Nov |
| Sheepshead | Archosargus probatocephalus | Sargo chopa | 91 cm | Dec–May |
| Shortbill spearfish | Tetrapturus angustirostris | Marlín trompa corta | 230 cm | Mar–Aug |
| Shortfin mako | Isurus oxyrinchus | Marrajo dientuso | 445 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Silky shark | Carcharhinus falciformis | Tiburón jaquetón | 350 cm | Jun–Nov |
| Skipjack tuna | Katsuwonus pelamis | Listado | 110 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Smallmouth bass | Micropterus dolomieu | Lobina de boca pequeña | 69 cm | Apr–Oct |
| Smooth hammerhead | Sphyrna zygaena | Cornuda cruz | 500 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Southern flounder | Paralichthys lethostigma | Lenguado del sur | 83 cm | Mar–Oct |
| Spotted Sand Bass | Paralabrax maculatofasciatus | Cabrilla de arena | 67 cm | Mar–Oct |
| Spotted seatrout | Cynoscion nebulosus | Corvinata pintada | 100 cm | Year-round |
| Stoplight parrotfish | Sparisoma viride | Loro viejo | 64 cm | Year-round |
| Striped bass | Morone saxatilis | Lubina rayada | 200 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Striped bonito | Sarda orientalis | Bonito mono | 102 cm | Mar–May, Sep–Nov |
| Striped marlin | Kajikia audax | Marlín rayado | 420 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Swordfish | Xiphias gladius | Pez espada | 455 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Tarpon | Megalops atlanticus | Sábalo | 250 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Tiger shark | Galeocerdo cuvier | Tiburón tigre | 750 cm | Jun–Nov |
| Tope shark | Galeorhinus galeus | Cazón | 193 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Wahoo | Acanthocybium solandri | Peto | 250 cm | Mar–Aug |
| White crappie | Pomoxis annularis | Crappie blanco | 53 cm | Mar–Nov |
| White mullet | Mugil curema | Lebrancho | 91 cm | Year-round |
| White seabass | Atractoscion nobilis | Corvina blanca | 166 cm | Mar–Nov |
| Yellowfin tuna | Thunnus albacares | Rabil | 239 cm | Jun–Aug |
| Yellowtail amberjack | Seriola lalandi | Medregal rabo amarillo | 250 cm | Mar–Aug |
| Yellowtail snapper | Ocyurus chrysurus | Rabirrubia | 86 cm | Mar–Nov |