(Credit) Southwick Associates on Research for Most Popular Fish and a Dose of Reality

Most Sought Fish Species in the U.S.
AnglerSurvey, a monthly consumer monitoring service, reports the species most sought by anglers in 2008. The tables below report the freshwater and saltwater species targeted most often by anglers between January and December. Please note the rankings report the species targeted more often, which is not the same as anglers’ preferred species or the species most commonly caught. For example, a Texas angler’s favorite fish may be freshwater trout, but does not pursue trout based on the distance to the nearest trout fishery. He may instead target bass on most trips – which is reported in the tables below – but catches more panfish over the course of the year based on that species high numbers.


The tables show largemouth bass continues to be the most targeted freshwater species across the U.S., followed by panfish, smallmouth bass and trout, respectively. Among saltwater anglers, spotted seatrout was the most sought fish, being targeted by Gulf and Atlantic anglers. Red drum, flounder and striped bass were next. Please note that anglers often target more than one species per trip, with flounder and red drum frequently targeted in the same trip as spotted seatrout. Rankings are available each month to AnglerSurvey subscribers, as well as information on where anglers shop, preferred brands, average prices paid, and more. For more information, please contact Southwick Associates.


Freshwater :
Largemouth or spotted bass
59.30%

Panfish (Crappie, Perch, Sunfish, Bluegill/Bream)
36.80%

Smallmouth bass
25.30%

Trout
20.10%

Catfish
17.40%
Walleye
14.30%
Any freshwater fish that bites
13.50%
Perch
9.40%
Striped bass (freshwater) or hybrid bass
8.70%
Pickerel, pike or muskie
8.30%
Carp
4.60%
White bass and Sunshine bass
4.50%
Steelhead
3.20%
Salmon
3.10%
Saugeye
2.10%
Other fish not on this list
2.00%
Based on 11,000+ completed surveys in 2008


Saltwater

Spotted seatrout or weakfish
29.50%

Redfish, red drum, channel bass
29.20%

Flounder
27.00%

Striped bass
24.50%

Any saltwater fish that bites
23.90%

Bluefish
21.70%

Other fish not on this list
18.90%

Grouper, snapper, sea bass
15.00%

Mackerel (king, spanish, boston, etc.)
11.40%

Snook
9.80%

Shark
8.10%

Dolphin
6.90%
Tuna
6.70%
Rockfish (Pacific coast only)
5.70%
Calico bass
5.20%
Tarpon
5.10%
Yellowtail
5.00%
Bonito
3.90%
Tautog (Blackfish)
3.70%
Billfish
3.50%
Salmon
2.90%
Bonefish
1.20%
Permit
1.00%
Based on nearly 4,500 completed surveys in 2008