Blue Anchovy - [Encrasicholina devisi]
This Indo-Pacific fish can grow to just over 3 inches but the photo specimen, shown with a toothpick for scale, was 2-1/2 inches and weighed .075 ounce (that's over 200 to the pound). They are found in the Persian Gulf, the Indian Ocean and the West-Central Pacific as far southeast as Fiji and as far north as Taiwan. Prep & Cooking Details

California Anchovy - [Engraulis mordax]
This anchovy is found from the Canadian border to the tip of Baja California and can grow to 9-3/4 inches and weigh 2.4 ounces, but the photo specimen was 5-3/4 inches and weighed 0.7 ounce. The Argentine Anchovy Engraulis anchoita from the Southwest Atlantic looks almost exactly the same but only grows to 6.7 inches and 0.9 ounce. The California anchovy is used mostly for fishmeal and tuna bait but is also sold fresh and just occasionally canned. The Argentine is generally sold fresh or canned.. Prep & Cooking Details

European Anchovy - [Engraulis encrasicolus]
European anchovies are found on the west coast of South Africa all the way up to Norway and in the western Mediterranean. Live they look a lot like the California anchovy but are a little more elongated and a bit smaller, growing to just under 9 inches. In Europe they are sold fresh, frozen, dried and salted, but are familiar to Americans in cans from Morocco. Unfortunately Morocco makes the worst anchovies in the world. Instead buy Italian anchovies put up in tiny jars - more expensive but well worth it.. Prep & Cooking Details

Black Bass - see Sunfish.

Chilean Sea Bass - see Patagonian Toothfish.

Largemouth Bass - see Sunfish.

Smallmouth Bass - see Sunfish.

Sand Bass - [family Serranidae (Sea Basses) Paralabrax sp.]

The several varieties of Sand Bass available in Southern California, Barred (P.nebulifer), Spotted (P. maculatofasciatus), Goldspotted (P. auroguttatus, Cabrilla Estranjero), are all about the same as far as cooking is concerned. The Goldspotted species can grow to 28 inches and 6 pounds, but the photo specimen is 16 inches long and weighing 2-1/4 pounds. This is the only sandbass available commercially and is fished mainly in the Gulf of California. Prep & Cooking Details

Striped Bass - [Striped Sea-bass, Morone saxatilis]

This sea bass is found mainly in river estuaries from the Gulf Coast of the U.S. up the Western Atlantic coast into Canada and there are some landlocked. It has been introduced to other countries and is now farmed commercially. These fish can grow to 78 inches and 125 pounds but the one in the photo was 15-1/2 inches and weighed 1-3/4 pounds, a typical market size. This fish renews its population fairly quickly, is not listed as threatened and is now being farmed. Details and Cooking

White Bass - [Morone chrysops]
Native to the rivers of North America, this bass looks a lot like the Striped Bass, but it inhabits only fresh water and does not venture to sea. These fish can grow to almost 18 inches and 6-3/4 pounds but the one in the photo was 13-1/4 inches and weighed 1 pound 6 ounces, a little larger than the average market size. This fish is now farmed on an experimental basis and is not listed as threatened. Details and Cooking

White Perch - [Morone americana]
Not actually a Perch but a Bass, this fish is native to the North Atlantic coast, living in salt, brackish and fresh water, and is an invasive species in the Great Lakes. It is a good eating fish and can be cooked in various ways. The White Perch is not considered threatened, in fact it is considered a nuisance in some areas. It can grow to a little over 19 inches and 4-3/4 pounds, but the photo specimen was 10 inches long and weighed 11 ounces, toward the high end of typical market size. Details and Cooking.

Silver Pomfret - [Butterfish, White Pomfret, Pampus argenteus]
This tropical Indo-West Pacific fish is found from the Red Sea to the South Pacific islands and is not a pomfret but a butterfish It can grow to almost 24 inches but the photo specimen is about 9 inches and weighed 1/2 pound, a typical market size here in Los Angeles. Prep & Cooking Details.

Chinese Silver Pomfret - [White Pomfret, Pampus chinensis]
This tropical Indo-West Pacific fish is found from the Persian Gulf to southern Japan and is not a pomfret but a butterfish. It can grow to 15 inches but the photo specimen is about 9 inches and weighed 1/2 pound, a typical market size here in Los Angeles. Prep & Cooking Details.

Bighead - [Speckled Amur, Tongsan, Noble Fish, Hypothalmichthys nobilis alt Aristichthys nobilis]
This Asian (probably Chinese) carp has been introduced worldwide and escapees from pond clearing duty now populate waters in 23 U.S. states where they, and their near relative the Silver Carp, are considered troublesome invasive species. Bighead is a filter feeding fish that lives on plankton near the surface of the water and is used to clear algae from ponds.

This fish is common in Asian markets in Los Angeles where it is generally sold in sections due to its large size. Split heads are sold for making soup. This fish can grow to over 5 feet and 100 pounds, but the photo specimen was 3 feet 6 inches and weighed 19.2 pounds, factory cleaned. That's a full size dinner fork in the picture for scale. Details & Cooking.

Black Carp - [Mylopharyngodon piceus]
Black carp are highly commercial in China and are the most prestigious of the native fish there but have not become as widespread as other Asian carp worldwide. They can grow to 48 inches and 77 pounds and can become pests if they escape. A few have been found loose in the Mississippi basin. They live on snails and mussels so some attempts have been made to use this fish to control mollusks. They are considered a threat to native mollusks so sterile fish are generally used to prevent wild populations.   Photo US Federal Government = public domain.

Carp Bream - [Common Bream, Bronze Bream, Abramis brama]
Silver Bream - [Blicca bjoerkna alt Abramis bjoerkna]

The Carp Bream is a highly commercial fish from Central Europe to Middle Asia and was once an important food for the poor in Britain. The flesh has been described as "bony, insipid and soft". It can grow to 32 inches and 13 pounds but is more typically 12 to 20 inches and 4 to 9 pounds. In the photo the top fish is actually a Silver Bream and the bottom one a Carp Bream. They are closely related but the Carp Bream grows much larger and fully mature Carp Bream are often bronze in color. Silver Bream grow to 14 inches and 2.2 pounds. Both fish are IUCN listed as LC (Least Concern)   Photo by Viridiflavus contributed to the public domain.

Common Carp - [Cyprinus carpio carpio]
Possibly originating in the Danube river, these fish have been transplanted all around the world and have become pests in some areas. They can grow to 80 pounds and 47 inches long but the photo specimen was 25-3/4 inches and weighed 7 pounds.

This is a highly commercial fish just about everywhere except North America, where fancy varieties are used mainly as a landscaping accent. Common Carp prefer larger lakes and slow moving streams with muddy bottoms and eat just about anything. Wild carp and decorative koi tend to be less deep of body and without the distinct hump typical of farmed carp. Details & Cooking.

Crucian Carp - [Carassius carassius]
A highly commercial European carp, both wild and farmed, Crucians can grow to 25 inches and 6.6 pounds but are more commonly between 1 and 3 pounds. They are found throughout European lakes, streams and rivers, as far east as northern China and as far north as Finland.

The Crucian Carp has an amazing ability to survive for months with almost no oxygen. This is an adaption to allow survival in ponds that are frozen over and covered with snow, ponds predators can't survive in. Details & Cooking.

Goldfish - [Gold Crucian, Carassius auratus auratus]

An Asian carp introduced throughout the world, generally pictured in a small bowl with a cat trying to get at it. This fish can grow to 23 inches and 6.6 pounds but will stay small if kept in a small aquarium, often around 2 to 4 inches. It's ability to survive in low oxygen environments made it possible to keep goldfish in fishbowls before the advent of areated acquariums.

Goldfish are highly variable in color and have been bred in numerous variations as a decorative. They are edible but is not generally eaten except by cats and raccoons. Swallowing live goldfish was once a popular passtime among college frat-brats but has long been out of style. Not Red Listed.

Grass Carp - [Rehu (India); Ctenopharyngodon idella]
A silver bodied fresh water fish imported from Asia, the grass carp can grow to 59 inches and nearly 100 pounds, but the photo specimen was 27 inches and 8.4 pounds. Grass carp are voracious eaters of underwater vegetation and are an important food fish in Asia, both farmed and caught wild.

Use of triploid (sterile) grass carp to control invasive aquatic weeds was pioneered in the Imperial Valley of California. Triploids are created by slightly damaging eggs immediately after fertilization. They grow to only 40 pounds in the irrigation channels and live half as long as diploid carp but they eat about 90% as much and won't establish wild populations where they are not wanted. The California hatchery has been studied by teams from many states and countries. Details and Cooking

Silver Carp - [Hypophthalmichthys molitrix]
An Asian carp that has been introduced worldwide for food and for cleaning algae out of lakes and reservoirs - though it often becomes a pest. This fish, like the closely related Bighead Carp, is a plankton eating filter feeder, but it feeds a little deeper than the Bighead. It's the worlds most important farmed fish but I haven't seen any for sale in Southern California.

This fish is a major pest in the Mississippi, Illinois, Ohio and Missouri rivers where it can grow to well over 40 pounds and leap 10 feet out of the water when startled. Many recreational boaters have been injured and even killed by leaping fish and contests are held to catch as many as possible, but there is no effective control method. For Details and Cooking see the closely related Bighead Carp.   Photo by Tdk, distributed under license Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0.

Tinfoil Barb - [Barbonymus altus (Red Tailed Tinfoil (photo)), B. schwanenfeldii (Tinfoil Barb), Poropuntius malcolmi (Goldfin Tinfoil)]
Found in the rivers of Southeast Asia these are very small carp. The photo specimen (B. altus) is 10 inches and weighed 1 pound but most are smaller, while B. schwanenfeldii (black edges on the tail) can get 13 inches. The Goldfin doesn't tolerate aquaculture and is only sold locally in Southeast Asia. Details & Cooking.

Channel Catfish - [Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus]
Catfish farming is a sizeable industry in the U.S. where the Channel Cat dominates. Most catfish are grown (and consumed) in the Southern States but they are widely available in the rest of North America. The photo specimen weighed 4-3/4 pounds (factory cleaned) and was 23-1/2 inches long. Details & Cooking.

Sheatfish - [family Siluridae (Sheatfishes)]
There are many genera and species in this catfish family, but only a few are fished and farmed commercially. Most live in the rivers and lakes of Southeast Asia and China, though by far the largest, Silurus glanis, is found in the Baltic region of Europe and the Black and Aral Sea regions. The photo shows Micronema bleekeri which can grow to nearly 24 inches but the photo specimen was 16 inches and weighed 14 ounces. Details & Cooking.

Swai - Vietnamese Catfish   -   [Basa, Shark Catfish, Pangasius bocourti   |   Swai, Tra, Iridescent Shark, Striper (Trader Joe's), China Sole (marketing - no longer used), P. hypophthalmus]

Vietnam has recently become a serious competitor to U.S. catfish growers, shipping large amounts of frozen fillets to the US. These may range from 2 ounces to over 11 ounces, but in the Mekong River these fish may grow to over 3 feet long.

The two varieties commonly farmed are Basa and Swai (Tra), but what is shipped to the U.S. is mostly Swai. Basa is preferred in Vietnam but, since North American. buyers don't seem to care, the faster growing Swai is shipped. Details and Cooking   Photo of P. hypophthalmus by Melanochromis licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic.

Walking Catfish - [Clarias batrachus - also C. gareipinus North African catfish and hybrids of the two]

This air breathing catfish quickly becomes a pest in subtropical regions, especially since it can travel fairly long distances over land from one body of water to another. Brought to Florida for fish farming, it escaped and is now notorious for invading fish farms and eating all the fish. Native to Southeast Asia it can grow to over 18 inches and over 2-1/2 pounds but the photo specimen was 17 inches and 1-1/2 pounds. Hybrids with the North African variety can be much larger, and that variety itself can grow to 120 pounds. Details and Cooking

Flathead Catfish - [Mississippi Catfish, Yellow Catfish, Opelousa Catfish, Mud Catfish, Shovelhead Catfish, Pylodictis olivaris]
A very large Mississippi catfish noted mainly as a sport fish but pretty good eating too. Details & Cooking.   Illustration by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service = public domain.

Blue Catfish - [Ictalurus furcatus]
The largest Mississippi catfish and the second best North American catfish for eating, after the closely related Channel Catfish. Details & Cooking.   Illustration by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service = public domain.

Arctic / Alpine Char - [Salvelinus alpinus alpinus]
Circumpolar in both freshwater and saltwater, the Arctic Char can live farther north and in colder waters than any other fish. It can grow to 33 pounds and 42 inches but is usually marketed at between 2 and 5 pounds. In color it can range from gray to gray above and red below. The photo specimen is from Südtirol, in Alpine Italy. This fish is now farmed in Canada, Iceland, Norway, Ireland and West Virginia. In the wild it is listed as "LC" (least concern) by the IUCN, and farming is approved by the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Details & Cooking.   Photo by Saibling donated to the public domain.

Rötel - [Storröding (Sweeden); Salvelinus umbla]
This trout-like char is native to the alpine regions of Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Italy, and has been reported from Sweden. It can grow to 29 inches, but there are dwarf populations in many high Alpine lakes. I have seen Rötel described as a "perch" in cookbooks, but cookbooks tend to call a lot of things "perch". IUCN rated LC (Least Concern).

Black Cod - see Sablefish.
Lingcod - see Lingcod.
Rock Cod (Red) - see Vermillion Rockfish.

Atlantic Cod - [Gadus morhua]
This highly commercial North Atlantic fish can grow to 78 inches and over 200 pounds. Populations are found off North America from Cape Hatteras to northern Canada, off Europe from Northern France through the Barents Sea and off Greenland and Iceland. Atlantic Cod populations have been over-fished and are rated "Vulnerable". Efforts are underway in Norway to develop methods for farming this fish.

Cod produces white, mild flavored, low fat flesh that holds together well when cooked but flakes easily. It's one of the three fish used for British Fish and Chips (the other two are Haddock and Plaice. Cod is also smoked, dried (stockfish) and salted. It is particularly popular in the Basque country and Portugal. Photo by Bartlomiej Stroinski

Pacific Cod - [Arctic Cod, Alaskan Cod, Gray Cod, Gadus macrocephalus]
This species has a distribution in the North Pacific similar to that of Atlantic Cod in the Atlantic. It is found as far south as the Yellow Sea and the coast of Southern California. This fish can grow to about 4 feet and 50 pounds but the photo specimen, from Canada, was 6.9 pounds and 25 inches long.

This cod is not as threatened as the Atlantic cod, particularly since McDonalds has shifted to Alaskan Pollock (a cod relative). The Bering Sea and Aleutian Island fisheries have been certified by the Marine Stewardship Council as responsible and sustainable.   Details and Cooking.

Haddock - [Offshore Hake, Melanogrammus aeglefinus]
A highly commercial North Atlantic fish closely related to cod, found from the Arctic Circle to as far south as New Jersey and the north coast of France. They can get as large as 39 inches and 37 pounds.

Haddock flesh is much like cod, white, firm, low fat and holds together well when cooked. It is much used for British Fish and Chips. Haddock are sold fresh, dried and smoked, but, unlike cod, it doesn't take salting well. Details and Cooking.   Drawing by H.L. Todd for U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration = public domain.

Whiting - European - [English Whiting, North Sea Whiting, Merlangius merlangus]

Native to the eastern North Atlantic and Baltic Sea, and through the Mediterranean and Black Sea, this is the "whiting" called for in European cookbooks. It was formerly considered a fish for the poor, but due to general overfishing of European waters it is now valued more highly. This fish can grow to 27 inches and over 6-1/2 pounds, but is commonly caught at 9-1/2 inches.

Whiting - New England - [Silver Hake, New England Hake, Merluccius bilinearis]

This cod relative is native to the western North Atlantic from South Carolina to a bit north of Newfoundland, Canada. This fish is highly commercial, but most of the catch is exported to Europe where hake is in demand. This fish can grow to 30 inches and over 5 pounds, but are more likely to be less than 15 inches. This fish is so similar to the Pacific Whiting we presume you can use the same write-up.   Details and Cooking.   Drawing © expired = public domain.

Whiting - Pacific - [Pacific Hake, North Pacific Hake, Merluccius productus]

This cod relative is native to the eastern North Pacific from southern Mexico to Vancouver Island, Canada, and is very similar to the Silver Hake found on the Atlantic side. Our photo example was, unfortunately, headless and without scales or guts, but you can see it is a very elongated fish of almost circular cross section with fragile fins nearly the entire length of the body, dorsal and ventral. This fish can grow to 35 inches and over 2-1/2 pounds, but the headless photo specimen was 12 inches (probably 17 inches head-on) and weighed 8-1/4 ounces (probably 14 ounces head-on).   Details and Cooking.

Freshwater Drum - [Gaspergou, Sheepshead, Lake/River drum, Grunt, Croaker, Aplodinotus grunniens]
This fish was purchased in an Asian market in Southern California labeled "Sheephead" with a subscript of "Bacoco". It's not a Bacoco which are ocean fish but it is called "Sheepshead" in some regions, but in California a Sheepshead is a totally different fish. This is a pretty big fish at 20 inches and 4.82 pounds but they can grow to over 3 feet and 50 pounds. Found in large non-freezing lakes and rivers in North and Central America, this is a minor commercial fish and not considered threatened. Prep & Cooking Details.

Yellow Croaker
This is confusing. There are two fish called Yellow Croaker in Southern California, often sold in the same market. Some authorities clearly assign them as Larimichthys polyactis and Pseudosciaena manchurica but Fishbase considers those two names to be for the same fish. They are probably right, but their photo is so bad it's hard to tell what fish they think it is. L. polyactis seems reasonably clear, but the other fish was a problem. A bunch of croakers looking quite similar - but based on tail shape and stripe pattern in Fishbase I settled on M. undulatus, confirmed by the Smithsonian Envronmental Research Center. Their photo of M. undulatis is very good, and a dead ringer for my boy.

Corvina / Yellow Croaker - [Yellowfish, Yellow Corvina, Larimichthys polyactis alt Pseudosciaena manchurica]

Native to the northwest Pacific, particularly the Yellow Sea and East China Sea, this fish is highly prized among Asians in Los Angeles, especially the Koreans. In Korean markets they are sold frozen, dried, salted cooked and sometimes fresh, usually in lengths less than 12 inches. They are often called "Corvina" (Spanish for croaker) or "Yellow Corvina" to avoid confusion with the other fish called "yellow croaker" (see Yellow Croaker above). They are easy to tell apart, this one has a round face, the other has a pointy face. This fish can grow to about 18 inches, but the photo specimen, purchased from a Los Angeles market serving mostly Vietnamese and Chinese, was 13-1/4 inches long and weighed 1 pound 2-1/2 ounces, IUCN status NE (Not Evaluated).   Details and Cooking.

Atlantic Croaker / Yellow Croaker - [Micropogonias undulatus | very similar: Spotfin Croaker Roncador stearnsi; Yellowfin Croaker Umbrina roncador; Sharpnose hammer croaker Johnius borneensis]

See the entry for Yellow Croaker above for the confusion surrounding this fish and others. I had previously followed the FDA photo and called this fish Pseudoscianena manchurica but I'm pretty sure now that is wrong (see Corvina above).

This fish is native to the West Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. It ranges from Massachusetts to Argentina and is considered a very good eating fish. This fish can grow to 22 inches and 5 pounds 11 ounces, but the photo specimen was 14 inches long and weighing 1 pound 3/4 oz. This fish is currently caught wild and not farmed. Details and Cooking.

Red Drum - [Redfish, Sciaenops ocellatus]
Strangely, this drum is not always red, and the distinctive ringed spot at the tail may not be there on some fish either, or may appear on only one side. This West Atlantic fish is found from Massachusetts to northern Mexico and can grow to 61 inches and 99 pounds, but the photo specimen was 16-1/2 inches and 2 pounds. The photo specimen, farm raised in Taiwan, shows an extra black spot on this side and had two on the other side. Red drum was badly depleted to supply restaurants during the "Blackened Redfish" craze of a few years back but is now farmed and in good supply. Details and Cooking.

American Eel - [Anguilla rostrata]

This freshwater eel is found in rivers and streams along the West Atlantic from Greenland to the tip of South America but is most common in the temperate zones of that range. Female eels can grow to 60 inches and 16 pounds but males only to 18 inches. North of the equator these eels go to the Saragaso Sea to spawn and die, a little to the west of where the European eels go. Aquaculture depends on capturing returning juveniles. There is a big market in Asia for these juveniles because of an eel shortfall there but populations are declining and protections are being considered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.   Illustration from U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration = public domain.

European Eel - [Anguilla anguilla]

This freshwater eel is found in rivers and streams along the East Atlantic from Morocco to northern Norway and in the Mediterranean, Baltic and Black seas. These eels can grow to 52 inches and 14 pounds but market size is much smaller. These eels go to the Saragaso Sea to spawn and die, a little to the east of where the American eels go. Aquaculture depends on capturing returning juveniles but the runs have been scant recently and this eel is listed as CR "Critically Endangered". Do not catch or eat this eel.   Photo by Ron Offermans distributed under license Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0.

Japanese Eel - [Unagi (sushi), Anguilla japonica]
This freshwater eel, native to Japan, China and Southeast Asia including the Philippines, is caught wild and farmed. japonica spawns far out to sea and then dies, so aquaculture depends on capturing returning juveniles. They can grow to nearly 60 inches but are generally marketed much smaller. This fish is highly prized and expensive in Japan and is not seen in California markets - in fact most farmed eels in Japan are now American eels because the supply of Japanese eels is approaching "none".

Conger Eels - [Anago (sushi), Conger conger (European), Conger myriaster (Japanese) and others of family Congridae]

This strictly ocean eel is much larger than the freshwater eels and much more robust in its reproduction habits. The European Conger can grow to nearly 10 feet and 350 pounds. They are found worldwide and there isn't a lot of difference from one species to another.   Illustration of Conger conger from U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration = public domain. .

Spiny Eel - see Spiny Eel

Swamp Eel - [Rice Eel, Asian Swamp Eel, Monopterus albus of family Synbranchidae]
This eel is native to Southeast Asia, China and Japan, and possibly Bangladesh (a very similar but smaller eel, M. cuchia is found from Pakistan through Bangladesh and Burma). M. albus can grow to a little over 39 inches but the photo specimen, bought fresh at an Asian market in California, was 32 inches and weighed 1.1 pound factory cleaned. This eel is in no way endangered and can be a pest. Details, Prep and; Cooking page.

Redbelly Yellowtail Fusilier - [Caesio cuning ]
This Indo-West Pacific fish can grow to nearly 24 inches but is generally marketed much smaller. The pictured fish was 12-1/2 inches and weighed 14 ounces. A popular eating fish in the Philippines it can be found in fish markets catering to that community. Prep & Cooking Details.

Twinstripe Fusilier - [Pterocaesio marri]
This Indo-West Pacific fish can grow to nearly 14 inches but is generally marketed smaller. The pictured fish was 10 inches and weighed 8 ounces. A popular eating fish in the Philippines, it can be found in fish markets catering to that community.

Apparently Twinstripe Fusiliers vary in color. The ones available at a Philippine market in Los Angeles are very red and marked "Redtail Fusilier", but Fishbase and other sources list no such name. Prep & Cooking Details.

Giant Gourami - [Osphronemus goramy]
Found in the rivers of Southeast Asia this fish can grow to over 27 inches. An air breathing fish it can stay alive for days out of the water if kept moist. A popular eating fish it is both fished and farmed and is not threatened. Prep & Cooking Details.

Snakeskin Gourami - [Trichogaster pectoralis]
Found in the rivers of Southeast Asia this fish can grow to nearly 10 inches but the photo specimen was 7-1/4 inches and weighted 3.9 ounces. Note that the pelvic fins have become long threads extending from well below the pectoral fins extending back (visible in the larger photo). Able to breath air, this fish can stay alive for days out of the water if kept moist. Considered a good eating fish it is both fished and farmed and is not threatened. Prep & Cooking Details.

Areolate Grouper - [Epinephelus areolatus]
An Indo West-Pacific fish found from South Africa to Fiji and north as far as Japan. It can grow to 18 inches and 3 pounds but the photo specimen was 13-1/2 inches and weighed 1 pound. This fish is both caught wild and farmed. This fish is not Red Listed. Prep & Cooking Details.

Goliath Grouper - [Epinephelus itajara]
This fish which grows to 98 inches and near 1000 pounds occasionally attempts to eat scuba divers. It is found in warmer waters on both coasts of North and South America and particularly likes to live in caves and shipwrecks. This fish has been greatly depleted, mainly by sport spear fishing - this fish is Red Listed CR (Critically Endangered) - do not catch, do not spear, do not eat (severe Federal fines for posession).

Giant Grouper - [Epinephelus lanceolatus]
This Indo-West Pacific fish grows to over 100 inches and 880 pounds and is found from South Africa to Hawaii. It's habits and characteristics are very similar to the Goliath Grouper of the American coasts. This fish has been over-fished and is Red Listed as VU (Vulnerable). Some aquaculture has been established.

Red Grouper - [Pink Grouper (restaurants), Brown Grouper, Deer Grouper (Bahamas), Epinephelus morio]
This West Atlantic fish is found from North Carolina to Southern Brazil and all around the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. It can grow to 49 inches and 50 pounds but the photo specimen was 16-1/2 inches and weighed 1-1/2 pound. This fish is Red Listed as NT (Near Threatened). Prep & Cooking Details.

Strawberry Grouper / Golden Hind - [Golden Hind (fb), Cephalopholis aurantia | Strawberry Hind (fb), Strawberry Grouper, Cephalopholis spiloparaea]
Fishbase ascribes "strawberry grouper" to C. spiloparaea but the photo specimen is a half inch longer than that fish gets. Consequently I'm assigning "Strawberry Grouper" to both these nearly identical fish. Both are Indo Pacific fish found from Mozambique (C. Spiloparaea only) to French Polynesia. Both are deep water reef fish of similar habit. C. spiloparaea can grow to nearly 12 inches and C. aurantia to 23 inches but the photo specimen was 12-1/2 inches and weighed 1.4 pounds. Neither fish is Red Listed. Prep & Cooking Details.

Atlantic Herring - [Clupea harengus harengus]
The most abundant and economically important herring, this round bodied fish can grow to nearly 18 inches and 1.5 pounds but the photo specimen was 13-1/2 inches and weighed 14-3/4 ounces, pickled whole. Atlantic herring is commonly sold pickled or smoked but is eaten raw in Holland and fresh in Northern Europe, particularly Poland.

Whitebait are immature herrings and generally eaten whole. Sild are small immature herrings canned like Sardines in Norway. Marine ecologists classify Atlantic herring as a sustainable harvest. Details, Prep & Cooking.

Blue Herring - [Skipjack Shad, Alosa chrysochloris]
While most herring are found in cold ocean waters this one likes subtropical temperatures and ventures far up rivers, having been found as far north as Minnesota in the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. This fish can grow to 19 inches and 3-3/4 pounds the photo specimen, caught wild off Florida, was 9-1/2 inches and weighed 5 ounces. Prep & Cooking Details.

Kilka - [Black Sea Sprat, Clupeonella cultriventris, also Anchovy Kilka, Anchovy Sprat (fb), Clupeonella engrauliformis and (lesser importance) Bigeye Kilka, Southern Caspian sprat, Clupeonella grimmi]
Cultriventris is a brackish to fresh water fish native to the Black, Azov and northern Caspian Seas and nearby lakes and rivers. Grimmi and engrauliformis live in central and southern Caspian only. All can grow to just over 5-1/2 inches, engrauliformis a little longer, and are major fish for canning in the region. I have also seen some cans of Latvian Baltic sprats labeled Kilka.

Caspian stocks have recently dropped 50% due to an American comb jelly named Mnemiopsis leidyi eating all their food and the fishery is now endangered. This also happened to the Black Sea but another American jellyfish named Beroe ovata came along and ate most of the Mnemiopsis. This solution is likely to be applied in the Caspian. Beroe eats only Mnemiopsis and disappears when they are all eaten. Prep & Cooking Details

Herring Pickled, Canned, Kippered & Dried
Herring is an oily fish that preserves well in various ways, and all these ways are exploited. The photo shows two varieties of pickled herring from Poland, a major herring eating country. Yummm! More on Preserved Herring

Kelee Shad - [Tenualosa kelee or Hilsa kelee]
Hilsa Shad - [Tenualosa ilisha]
Toli Shad - [Chinese Herring, Tenualosa toli]
These three fish are all but indistinguishable one from another. They are highly commercial Indo-West Pacific fish found from the Persian Gulf to the South China Sea and the Java Sea, these fish can grow to 23 inches (13 for kelee) but the specimen in the photo was 10 inches and weighed 6 ounces. These shad are marketed fresh and dried and are not considered threatened. Some Hilsa shad has been successfully farmed in India. Prep & Cooking Details

Tunsoy - [Genus Sardinella various species and Dussumieria acuta]
Tunsoy is the Philippine name for various Indo-Pacific herring. The photo example was rehydrated from a package of salted and dried herring obtained from a Philippine grocery. These fish are about 5-1/2 inches long and weigh about 1/2 ounce (after a 5 hour soak). Prep & Cooking Details

Blue Runner - [Bluestripe Jack, Hardtail Jack, Caranx crysos]
Belonging to the same family as Pompanos, Blue Runners are found on both sides of the Atlantic and in the Mediterranean, generally near reefs, They can grow to 27 inches and 11 pounds, but the photo specimen, caught wild off Alabama, was 13 inches and weighed 1# 2 oz. Prep & Cooking Details

Crevalle Jack - [Jackfish Caranx caninus (Pacific) Caranx hippos (Atlantic)]
The Pacific and Atlantic fish may actually be the same species. The Pacific, is found from Southern California to Peru and may grow to almost 40 inches and almost 40 pounds but the photo specimen is 11 inches and 11 ounces. Atlantic fish are found from Nova Scotia to Uruguay and have grown to over 48 inches and 70 pounds. Prep & Cooking Details

Yellowtail Amberjack - [California Yellowtail, Seriola lalandi]
This large jack is found in warm waters all around the Pacific, the Pacific Islands and the South Atlantic below the Equator. This is a prize game fish off the coast of California and can grow to over 8 feet long and over 200 pounds but the photo specimen was 27 inches and 7.44 pounds. Prep & Cooking Details

Atlantic Mackerel - [Scomber scombrus]
This North Atlantic mackerel is most commonly found off the European coast and in Japanese sushi bars - large quantities are exported to Japan from Norway. There are also strong populations off the U.S. Atlantic coast and also found in the Mediterranean, the Black Sea and off the coast of Morocco. The pictured specimen was 15 inches long and weighed 1-1/4 pounds before being cleaned, stuffed and baked. Prep & Cooking Details

Chub Mackerel - see Japanese Mackerel

Hasa Hasa (Philippine) - [Short Mackerel (fb) Rastrelliger brachysoma] Fish I have seen labeled "Hasa Hasa" marketed in Los Angeles was actually Bigeye Scad.

Indian Mackerel - [Rastrelliger kanagurta ]
A highly commercial Indo-West Pacific mackerel found from the Red Sea and Madagascar to Samoa, these fish can grow to over 13 inches but the specimen in the photo was 8-1/2 inches and weighed 4-1/2 ounces. This fish is not considered threatened and is sold fresh, frozen, canned, dried-salted, smoked and made into fish sauce. Prep & Cooking Details

Japanese Mackerel - [Blue Mackerel, Pacific Mackerel, Chub Mackerel, Aji (Japanese), Scomber japonicus]
A truly worldwide fish, this mackerel is found in temperate and tropical waters just about everywhere - unless you subscribe to division into three species: S. japonicus in the Indo Pacific, S. colias in the Atlantic and S. australasicus around Australia and Indonesia. It grows to 25 inches and over 6 pounds but the photo specimen is 16-1/4 inches and 1-3/4 pounds. Held in disrespect in the U.S. for being strong flavored and oily, this fish is highly regarded in Japan (though Atlantic Mackerel is still considered better eating). Sold fresh, frozen, salted, smoked and canned. It is kosher and not threatened. Prep & Cooking Details

King Mackerel - [Scomberomorus cavalla]
Largest of the fish called mackerel, the king mackerel can weigh nearly 100 pounds, measure up to 6 feet long and live for over 20 years. It is found along the Atlantic coast of the Americas from the U.S. / Canada boarder almost to Argentina. Sports fishing brings in well over twice the catch of commercial fishing.

Mackerel Pike - [Pacific Saury, Sanma (japanese), Cololabis saira]
This highly elongated fish is found in the North Pacific, ranging from Japan to Alaska and as far south as Mexico. This fish can grow to 15 inches but the photo specimen was 12-1/2 inches long and weighed 6 ounces. Mackerel Pike is kosher, and with a high reproductive rate is not threatened.   Details and Cooking

Pacific Sierra - [Sierra, Spanish Mackerel, Scomberemorus sierra]
This prized eating mackerel is found along the East Central Pacific from Southern California to the northern tip of Chili. It can grow to 39 inches and 18 pounds but the one in the photo was 18-3/4 inches long and weighed 1 pound 4-3/4 ounces. Market size around here is between 15 and 22 inches. Details and Cooking

Smoked Mackerel - [Scomber spp.]
Mackerel is an oily fish with robust flavor which makes it an excellent candidate for smoking. Atlantic mackerel is preferred but Pacific mackerel is also used. Prep & Cooking Details

Climbing Perch - not a perch, see Climbing Perch.

Barramundi - [Giant Perch, Asian seabass, White seabass, Barra; Siakap (Malay); Lates calcarifer]

This Indo-Pacific fish is very important in Southeast Asia and northern Australia both wild and farmed - a sought after fish that fetches a premium price. It can grow to 78 inches and 132 pounds but the photo specimen was 17 inches long, weighed 2 pounds 14 ounces. It probably came from from a fish farm in Thailand, but a growing number are farmed in the US. They are also farmed in Indonesia, Malaysia and Australia with smaller operations in the UK and Holland. Details and Cooking.

Walleye - [Yellow Pike, American Zander, Sander vitreus | similar Sandre Canadien, Sand pickerel; Sander canadensis]

Pronounced "Wally", this largest member of the true perch family can grow to 42 inches and 25 pounds but the photo specimen was 18-1/2 inches and 2-3/4 pounds. This freshwater fish is found in the great lakes and in most major rivers in the Northeast of the U.S. and Canada. It is found in the Mississippi river basin as far south as Arkansas. Commercial aquaculture is in the development stages but large numbers are hatched for restocking lakes and rivers. Red List status "Not Evaluated". Details and Cooking.

Ocean Perch is not a perch - see Rockfish.

White Perch is not a perch - see Bass - White Perch.

Yellow Perch - [Perca flavescens]

This North American native lives mainly in nortern lakes and rivers, but a few are found as far south as South Carolina. It can grow to nearly 20 inches and 4-1/4 pounds, but is commonly quite a bit smaller. Red List status "Not Evaluated".   Photo by U.S. Department of Agriculture = public domain.

Egli / European Perch - [Perca flaviatilis]

Very similar to the North American Yellow Perch, but not yet proven to be the same species. This perch infests the ponds, rivers and streams of Europe and most of Siberia, except Spain and Italy which are too warm for it. In Europe they grow to about 10 pounds, but they have been introduced to New Zealand and Australia where the record is 23 pounds. They are commonly marketed at around 10 inches. Considered an excellent eating fish, caught wild and farmed. IUCN rated LC (Least Concern).   Photo by Dgp.martin distributed under license Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported..

Zander - [Pike Perch, Sander lucioperca | similar Volga Pikeperch Sander volgensis]

This elongated perch is native to Eastern an Central Europe, Sweden, Finland and Western Asia, but has been introduced into England and other countries as a popular angling fish. It can grow to 39 inches and 44 pounds, but is commonly around 20 inches and is considered a very good eating fish. Red List status is "Least Concern". Restaurants in Minnesota have been busted for serving imported Zander as Walleye (from which it is indistinguishable on the plate), so see Walleye for Details and Cooking.   Photo by Elnuko contributed to the public domain.

Pomfret, Black (Gray) - see under Pompanos Black Pomfret. There is actually a Black Pomfret that's a real Pomfret (Taractes rubescens), but the pompano is what you'll find called "black pomfret" in the markets.

Silver Pomfret - see under Butterfish Silver Pomfret and Chinese Silver Pomfret.

White Pomfret - see Silver Pomfret and Chinese Silver Pomfret.

Black Pomfret - [C. Parastromateus niger]
Actually not a Pomfret but a Pompano (the two families look a lot alike) and a very good eating fish. This Indo-West Pacific fish can grow to 29 inches but the photo specimen was 10 inches and weighed 12 ounces. Though highly commercial this is a fast breeding fish and not considered threatened, Prep & Cooking Details.

Pompano - [Trachinotus blochii (Golden Pompano, Asian Pompano), Trachinotus carolinus (Florida Pompano, Common Pompano)]
Pompano is a highly preferred eating fish. The specimen in the photo was marketed as "Golden Pompano" which is supposed to be T. Blochii but from photos in Fishbase he looks more like the very similar Florida Pompano T. carolinus. Florida wild caught pompanos are very expensive (actually this fish is found from Massachusetts to Brazil). Both species are farmed commercially and I wouldn't be at all surprised at hybrids of the two. Carolinus can grow to 25 inches and Blochii to 43 inches but the photo specimen was 12 inches and weighed 1 pound 6 ounces, toward the high end of market size here. Prep & Cooking Details.

Sheepshead Seabream. - [Archosargus probatocephalus]
Found along the West Atlantic from Nova Scotia around along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico this fish can get to almost 36 inches and 21 pounds but the photo specimen was 12-1/2 inches and weighed 1-1/2 pounds. It's an ocean fish but it freely enters brackish water and sometimes even fresh water. It is considered an excellent eating fish and is not threatened. Prep & Cooking Details.

Squirefish - [Pink Snapper, Chrysophrys auratus]
A fish often sold in the U.S. as "Snapper" from New Zealand, this Porgy is found of the coasts of Australia and New Zealand. A distinctly separate population is found from the Philippines and Indonesia to China, Taiwan, and Japan. Farming this fish is in the experimental stages so all market fish are currently wild. The pictured specimen was 14 inches long and weighed 1 pound 6 ounces. The Squirefish is not considered threatened. Prep & Cooking Details.

Yellowfin Seabream - [Acanthopagrus latus]
This Indo-West Pacific fish is found from the Persian Gulf to the Philippines and from the north coast of Australia to Japan. It can grow to 19 inches and 3 pounds but the photo specimen was 10-1/2 inches and weighed 12 ounces. It is both caught wild and farmed. Prep & Cooking Details.

Java Rabbitfish - [Streaked Spinefoot (Fishbase / FDA), Java Rabbitfish, Bluespotted spinefoot; Siganus javus]

Found in tropic seas from the east coast of Africa to the South Pacific islands, the Java Rabbitfish is a vegetarian living on algae. It can grow to 20 inches but the photo specimen was 14 inches and 1.9 pounds, near the high end for market fish. Rabbitfish reproduces quickly and is not listed as endangered (IUCN NE (Not Evaluated). They have no conventional scales so are not kosher. Details and Cooking.

Virgate Rabbitfish / Barred Spinefoot - [Barhead Spinefoot (Fishbase), Virgate Rabbitfish; Siganus virgatus | similar Barred Spinefoot (Fishbase), Pencil-streaked Rabbitfish / Spinefoot: Siganus doliatus]

These two Rabbitfish are very closely related and can interbreed. They also vary tremendously in coloration so are hard to tell apart. The Virgate ranges from the east coast of Africa to the South Pacific islands while the Barred ranges from southern India across the Pacific to the coast of Central America and northern South America. They both go as far south as the northern coast of Australia and as far north as the northern tip of the Philippines. Both are vegetarian, living on seaweed (algae). The Virgate can grow to nearly 12 inches and the Barred to almost 10 inches. Rabbitfish reproduce quickly and are not listed as endangered (IUCN NE (Not Evaluated). They have no conventional scales so are not kosher. Details and Cooking.

California Scorpionfish - [Sculpin, Scorpaena guttata]

Commonly called "Sculpin" (which it is not), this fish is found from the central coast of California to the central cost of Baja California and the northern half of the Gulf of California, a rather short range as fish go. It can grow to 17 inches but the photo specimen was 14 inches and weighed just under 2 pounds 2 ounces. Details and Cooking.

Canary Rockfish - [Orange Rockfish, Rockcod, Sebastes pinniger]
One of the many varieties of deep water rockfish caught all along the Pacific coast, Canary Rockfish is found from Baja California to the Gulf of Alaska. They can grow to 29 inches and 10 pounds but the photo specimen is normal market size at 20 inches and 4 pounds. This fish is sometimes more orange than the one in the photo. Prep & Cooking Details.

Idiot Fish - [Shortspine Thornyhead, Sebastolobus alascanus]
A variety of Scorpion Fish particularly adapted to the deep "oxygen minimum" layer of the ocean where most fish can not thrive. It has a huge head, both long and wide, housing very large gills. It lives in the North Pacific, some as far south as the Mexican border but mostly Northern California, Washington State, Canada and Russia, but as far south as northern Japan. This fish can grow to 31 inches and 20 pounds but the photo specimen was 21 inches and 4-3/4 pounds, towards the large end of market size.

Living under very sub-optimal conditions the Idiot Fish grows slowly and has a slow propagation rate. The U.S. fishery is tightly regulated under Federal fisheries programs to avoid overfishing, consequently it's not found far from the Pacific coast. Of course it's strange spiny appearance is sort of off-putting for many people anyway, which is just as it should be because there will be more for me. Outside the U.S. Pacific coast regulation may be defficient and the IUCN Red List status is EN (Endangered). Details and Cooking.

Redbanded Rockfish - [Red Bandit (Asian markets); Sebastes babcocki]

This Pacific rockfish is found from the northern tip of Japan all the way around and down to San Diego, California but is most populous along the south coast and islands of Alaska. It can grow to 25 inches and almost 10 pounds, but the photo specimen was 17 inches and 3 pounds. It is sold in Asian groceries in Southern California labeled "Red Bandit". Colors may be lighter than on the photo specimen. A slow growing fish of moderate population, it's mainly an incidental catch and unlikely to be found in markets far from the Pacific Coast. Details and Cooking.

Rougheye Rockfish - [Blacktip Rockcod; Sebastes aleutianus]

. .This Pacific rockfish is found from the northern tip of Japan all the way around and down to San Diego, California but is most populous along the south coast and islands of Alaska and off the coast of Washington state. It gets its name from a row of tiny spins found right under the eyes. This fish can live for over 140 years and can grow to 38 inches and 19 pounds, but the photo specimen was 19 inches and 3 pounds 4 ounces. It can occasionally be found in Asian groceries in Southern California. Fishing regulations for rockfish are quite strict, limiting supply, so they are unlikely to be found in markets far from the Pacific Coast. Details and Cooking.

Ocean Perch - Other
Besides the Pacific Ocean Perch described below there is an Atlantic Ocean Perch (Golden Redfish, Sebastes marinus) which grows up to 15 pounds and lives across the subarctic Atlantic, and a smaller (to 3 pounds) Australian Ocean Perch (Red Gurnard Perch, Helicolenus percoides alt. Sebastes percoides) which lives on the west and southern coasts of Australia and around New Zealand. Both of these are rockfish closely related to the Pacific Ocean Perch but may vary in culinary details. Spines on the Australian fish are toxic.

Ocean Perch - Pacific - [Longjaw Rockfish, Pacific Ocean Perch; ; Sebastes alutus]

This Pacific rockfish, easily recognized by the nubby protrusion on it's lower lip (no, it isn't a cold sore) is found from the northern tip of Japan all the way around and down to San Diego, California but is most populous along the south coast and islands of Alaska and around the Kamchatka Peninsula. This fish can live for about 100 years and can grow to 21 inches and 4.6 pounds, but the photo specimen was 16-1/4 inches and weighed 1 pounds 15 ounces.

This fish can occasionally be found in Asian fish markets in Southern California. As with all rockfish it is wild caught and this fish is currently considered overfished. IUCN Red List status is "Not Evaluated". Details and Cooking.

Vermillion Rockfish - [Red Rock Cod, Sebastes miniatus]
One of the many varieties of deep water rockfish caught all along the Pacific coast from Baja to Vancouver Island. They can grow to 30 inches and 15 pounds but the individual in the photo is normal market size at 17 inches and 3 pounds. Prep & Cooking Details.

California Sardine - [South American Pilchard, Sardinops sagax]
California is fortunate in having a good supply of these sardines sold fresh, but they are also found along both Pacific coasts, in the Indian Ocean and on the Atlantic side of South Africa. The photo specimens are about 7 inches long and weigh about 2 ounces each. Prep & Cooking Details.

Spanish Sardine - [Sardinella aurita (fb Round Sardninella), Sardinella maderensis (fb Maderensis Sardinella)]
Spanish Sardine is supposed to be S. aurita, but the photo specimen, sold as such, looks more like S. maderensis to me. aurita lives all along both Atlantic coasts, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean in both tropical and temperate zones. Maderensis is an East Atlantic and Mediterranean fish. While both species can grow to over 12 inches, the photo specimen was 10-1/2 inches long, 3 inches high, 1-1/4 inches thick and weighing 7-1/2 ounces. These fish are doing well and do not have an at-risk rating. Prep & Cooking Details

Bigeye Scad - [Selar crumenophthalmus]
This is a "circumtropical" fish found all the way around the world above and below the equator, but it's interpretation of the "tropical" part is a bit loose since it's found as far north as Nova Scotia. It's a nocturnal fish traveling in schools of hundreds of thousands and can grow to 27 inches, but the photo specimen was 10 inches and weighed 7.1 ounces. I have seen this fish marketed in Los Angeles labeled "Hasa Hasa" which is properly the unrelated (but similar looking) Short Mackerel. This fish is kosher and is not threatened. Prep & Cooking Details.

Hardtail Scad - [Torpedo Scad, Megalaspis cordyla]
This Indo-West Pacific fish is found from East Africa to Japan and very common around Indonesia. It can grow to 31 inches and nearly 9 pounds but the photo specimen was 11-1/2 inches and weighed 10 ounces. This is a highly commercial fish in Southeast Asia. Kosher and not threatened. Prep & Cooking Details.

Mackerel Scad - [Cigarfish, Cigarminow (small), Galunggong (Philippine), Round Scad, Decapterus macarellus]
This fish, found worldwide, is not related to Mackerel, but can be treated similarly except when the Mackerel's oiliness is important (smoking, pickling). This fish can grow to 18 inches but the photo specimen was 15 inches long and weighed 1# 3oz. These fish have just enough scales to be kosher. Prep & Cooking Details.

Round Scad - a group of mackerel shaped scads, all of the genus Decapterus, including Mackerel Scad (D. macarellus), Japanese Scad (D. maruadsi), Shortfin Scad (D. macrosoma), Round Scad (D. punctatus) and Indian Scad (D. russelli).

Shortfin Scad - [Round Scad, Decapterus macrosoma]
This Indo-Pacific scad is also found in the East Pacific from the coast of Baja California to Northern Peru. They can grow to over 14 inches, but the ones popular here (photo - California wild caught) are about 6-1/2 inches and weigh 2 ounces. Prep & Cooking Details.

Yellowstripe Scad - [Yellowstripe Trevally, Salay Salay, Selaroides leptolepis ]
One of a number of similar small deep bodied Scad called "Salay Salay" in the Philippines. These Indo-West Pacific fish, found from the Persian Gulf to the Philippines, can reach 8 inches but are marketed here much smaller. The photo specimen was 6-1/4 inches long, weighed 1.6 ounce and has a yellow stripe more distinct than many have. Prep & Cooking Details.

Yellowtail Scad - [Atule mate]
This Indo-Pacific fish is found from the east coast of Africa to Hawaii. The specimen in the photo was 11 inches and weighed 9 ounces. Prep & Cooking Details.

Silver Sillago - [Whiting, Common Whiting, Northern Whiting, Sand Whiting, Silago-whiting, Silver Whiting (Australia); Sillago sihama]
An Indo - West Pacific fish found from the east coast of Africa to the Pacific islands and from the southern tip of Japan to the north and west coasts of Australia. A few have gotten into the eastern Mediterranean through the Red Sea. They can grow to 13 inches but the photo specimen was 5-1/4 inches and weighed 0.6 ounce. Both caught wild and farmed, this is considered a good eating fish and is not endangered. Prep & Cooking Details

Dipturus Skate - [genus Dipturus var. species]
Fishbase has a number of skates that look "almost exactly like" this one and they're all so similar but just a touch different that I'm going to chicken out and just call this one a "Dipturus Skate". This species is white on the underside but some are dark on both sides. The photo specimen, obtained from an Asian market serving a primarily Vietnamese community, was quite small at 14-1/2 inches across, 18 inches total length and 1.6 pounds. Some Dipturus species can get as large as 100 inches long and 200 pounds but 48 inches and 24 pounds is more typical. Prep & Cooking Details.

Red Snapper
Lots of fish are marketed under the name "Red Snapper", but some aren't even in the family Lutjanidae and some aren't even red. Listed below you'll find some with a legitimate claim to the name.

Crimson Snapper - [Lutjanus erythropterus]
This is what an Australian would probably have in mind as a Red Snapper. This species inhabits the Indo-Pacific region and is both caught commercially and farmed. to 32 inches. Not considered threatened.

Jordan's Snapper - [Lutjanus jordani]
Mexico to Peru 23 inches Not considered threatened

New Zealand Snapper - Pink Snapper - see Squirefish This fish often sold in the U.S. as "Snapper" from New Zealand is actually a Porgy.

Northern Red Snapper - [Lutjanus campechanus]
This popular fish is found in the Gulf of Mexico and off the Western Atlantic coast to Massachusetts but is rare above North Carolina. It can grow to 39 inches and 48 pounds. There have been reports of ciguatera poisoning from eating this fish from tropical reef environments. The body of this fish is deeper than the Pacific Red Snapper and the face more tapered to a point. This fish was badly over-fished, but the fishery is now better managed and populations have been recovering. We presume the culinary characteristics of this fish are very similar to its close relative, the Pacific Red Snapper, so refer to Details and Cooking for that fish.   Drawing from Fishbase distributed under license Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported.

Pacific Red Snapper - [Lutjanus peru]
This true Red Snapper is found from Mexico to Peru in the Eastern Pacific. It can get up to 37 inches long and up to almost 13 pounds but the photo specimen was 15-1/4 inches and weighed 1 pound 14 ounces, a bit larger than average market size. This snapper is a premium fish and fetches a premium price. Pacific Red Snapper is IUCN rated NE (Not Evaluated) and is not considered threatened.   Details and Cooking.

Southern Red Snapper - [Lutjanus purpureus]
This snapper is native to the Caribbean to as far south as northern Brazil but doesn't extend north into the Gulf of Mexico. It can grow to about 39 inches 22 pounds. In appearance it is similar to the Northern Red Snapper but has an oval darker spot on the lateral line near the tail, which may fade in maturity. There have been reports of ciguatera poisoning from eating this fish from tropical reef environments Not considered threatened.

Black Bass - [Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides,Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu]

These famous fresh water bass are not actually bass at all but a variety of Sunfish. The photo is of a 13 inch Largemouth Bass weighing 1-1/2 pounds. Details and Cooking

Fourfinger Threadfin - [Blue Threadfin (Aust.), Giant Threadfin, Ca Chet (Viet), Eleutheronema tetradactylum ]
This Indo-West Pacific fish is common from the Persian Gulf to Papua New Guinea and along the north coast Australia. It enters freshwater during the breeding season so it's sometimes listed as a freshwater fish. It can grow to 6-1/2 feet but the photo specimen was 13 inches and weighed 11 ounces. This fish is highly commercial, both wild catch and aquaculture, and frozen ones from Vietnam are found in Asian markets in Los Angeles. Packages I've purchased were labeled "Threadfin Bream" which they clearly are not. Prep & Cooking Details.

Paradise Threadfin - [Polynemus paradiseus]
This Indo-West Pacific fish is found from Pakistan to Vietnam. It enters freshwater during the breeding season so it's sometimes listed as a freshwater fish. It can get over 10 inches long but the photo specimen was 8-1/4 inches and weighed 3.3 ounces. Another in the package of frozen fish from Vietnam was 10-1/2 inches and 7.9 ounces but was not photographed because the tail fins had been clipped to fit the package. Prep & Cooking Details.

Ocean Whitefish - [Caulolatilus princeps]
This East Pacific fish is found from Vancouver Island, Canada to Peru (though rare north from Central California) and can grow to over 40 inches and over 12 pounds. The photo specimen was 17-1/2 inches and 1-1/4 pounds but I have bought them up to 21 inches and 4-1/2 pounds. The FDA tilefish mercury warning (see above) does not apply to this fish, it is safe and an excellent all around eating fish. Prep & Cooking Details.

Golden Tilefish - [Great Northern Tilefish (fishbase) Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps]
This fish, found in the West Atlantic from Nova Scotia, Canada into the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean, can grow to over 49 inches and 66 pounds. This fish is on the mercury warning list based on one set of Gulf of Mexico samples, which may be suspect as tilefish do not fit the high mercury profile. Prep & Cooking Details.

Grey Tilefish - [Blueline Tilefish, Caulolatilus microps]
This fish, found in the West Atlantic from North Carolina around Florida and into the Gulf of Mexico can grow to over 35 inches and 15 pounds. Smaller and much shorter lived than the Golden Tilefish it seems quite unlikely it would have a high mercury levels. Prep & Cooking Details.

Bonito / Tongal Tuna - [Katsuwonus pelamis]
This small Indo Pacific tuna is found from the east coast of Africa to Hawaii and is an important commercial fish. Unlike the Skipjack proper (Katsuwonus pelamis) it stays fairly close to shore. It can grow to 39 inches and over 30 pounds, but the photo specimen was 19-1/2 inches and 3-1/4 pounds, about typical for Southern California markets. This fish is listed as having just enough scales to be kosher but I haven't found them. This fish is not currently considered endangered, IUCN Red List status is NE (Not Evaluated). The Monterey Bay Aquarium rates this fish as "Good Alternative" if it comes from Malaysia, or pole / troll caught anywhere, otherwise "Avoid" due to uncontrolled bycatch problems. Details and Cooking.

Bonito / Skipjack Tuna - [Katsuwonus pelamis]
These small tuna can grow to over 43 inches and over 76 pounds, but the photo specimen was 18 inches and 3 pounds, about average in Southern California markets. Skipjack is found worldwide in tropical and warm-temperate seas but not in the Estern Mediterranean and Black Sea.

Commercially Skipjack is sold fresh, frozen and canned, with a small amount sold smoked and dried. This fish is not considered endangered. IUCN Red List status NE (Not Evaluated). Monterey Bay Aquarium lists pole and troll taken as "Best Choice", purse seine and US Longlin "Good Alternative" but imported longline as "Avoid". Details and Cooking.

Bluefin Tuna - [Kuromaguro, Hon Maguro, Toro (Japan); Thunnus thynnus (Northern / Atlantic) | Thunnus maccoyii (Southern) | Thunnus orientalis (Pacific)]
Bluefin Tuna is the most prestigious sushi / sashimi fish in Japan, and the Japanese are eating them to extinction. Bluefins are listed as Critically Endangered in all conservation lists, but the Japanese simply don't care - the scarcer they are the more they'll pay, because the higher the cost of a fish the better it tastes to the Japanese. It has been reported that a single large Atlantic Bluefin can now fetch as much as US $100,000 in the Japanese fish markets. Do not eat this fish, and strongly discourage others from eating it.

Note that "farmed" is not an acceptable alternative, in fact for Atlantic Bluefin (the most threatened) farming, which depends on wild fish captured before reproductive maturity, is a major cause of depletion. For Pacific and Southern Bluefin, there has recently been some success in captive breeding, but this is still in early experimental stages and is in no way able to impact the market at this time.   Drawing from U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration = public domain.