Top 10 Saltwater Fish to Catch in Southeast
Top 10 Species
These are the fish that get noticed by FishyAF anglers. Click any species to deep dive and learn more.
1
Striped Bass (Striper)
Verified
World Record
81 lb 14 oz
Gregory Myerson / 2011
Long Island Sound, Connecticut
Gregory Myerson / 2011
Long Island Sound, Connecticut
Signature Fact
Their eggs must stay drifting for about 48 hours-sink once, and the entire spawn suffocates.
2
Redfish
Verified
World Record
94 lb 2 oz
David R. Deuel / 1984
Hatteras, North Carolina
David R. Deuel / 1984
Hatteras, North Carolina
Signature Fact
Males literally drum-low booms you can feel through the hull on calm spawning nights.
3
Speckled Trout
Verified
World Record
17 lb 7 oz
Floyd B. Smith / 1995
Florida, USA
Floyd B. Smith / 1995
Florida, USA
Signature Fact
Males crank ultrafast sonic muscles to drum in booming dusk choruses you can pinpoint with a $30 hydrophone.
4
Southern Flounder
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
20 lb 9 oz
David H. Self / 1983
North Carolina, USA
David H. Self / 1983
North Carolina, USA
Signature Fact
Warm nursery water flips their sex switch-hot summers churn out mostly males, gutting future trophy female numbers.
5
Tarpon
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
286 lb 9 oz
Max Domecq / 2003
Guinea-Bissau
Max Domecq / 2003
Guinea-Bissau
Signature Fact
They breathe air using a lung-like swim bladder, so those surface "rolls" are actual gulps of oxygen.
6
Cobia
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
135 lb 9 oz
Robert Davis / 1985
Shark Bay, Western Australia
Robert Davis / 1985
Shark Bay, Western Australia
Signature Fact
They're freeloading ambushers, tailgating rays and sharks without a sucker disk, stealing every critter the host spooks.
7
Snook
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
53 lb 10 oz
Gilbert Ponzi / 1978
Parismina Ranch, Costa Rica
Gilbert Ponzi / 1978
Parismina Ranch, Costa Rica
Signature Fact
Born male, many later switch sex-so that 40-incher tugging back is almost certainly a she.
8
Gafftopsail Cat
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
16 lb 8 oz
Joseph W. Bailey / 1996
Texas, USA
Joseph W. Bailey / 1996
Texas, USA
Signature Fact
Dad does daycare the hard way: he mouthbroods marble-sized eggs and hungry babies, fasting for weeks.
9
Bluefin Tuna
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
1,496 lb 0 oz
Ken Fraser / 1979
Aulds Cove, Nova Scotia
Ken Fraser / 1979
Aulds Cove, Nova Scotia
Signature Fact
Bluefin run a built‑in furnace, keeping muscles, eyes, and brain up to 20°C warmer than seawater.
10
Goliath Grouper
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
680 lb 0 oz
Lynn Joyner / 1961
Fernandina Beach, Florida
Lynn Joyner / 1961
Fernandina Beach, Florida
Signature Fact
It "booms" like a subwoofer-swim-bladder muscles thump so hard divers feel it in their ribs.
FAQs
What fish can you catch in Southeast?
You’ll find striped bass, redfish, speckled trout, southern flounder, tarpon, cobia, snook, gafftopsail catfish, bluefin tuna, and goliath grouper in Southeast saltwater.
What is the best time of year to fish in Southeast?
Southeast saltwater fishing brings action spring through fall, with some species biting year-round.
Where are the best places to fish in Southeast?
Hit the saltwater inlets, bays, and offshore waters across the Southeast for shots at redfish, striped bass, and more.
What gear do you need for fishing in Southeast?
Medium to heavy spinning or baitcasting setups cover most targets, but go big if you’re chasing tuna or goliath grouper.
What are the easiest fish to catch in Southeast?
Speckled trout, southern flounder, and gafftopsail catfish are usually the most accessible catches in Southeast saltwater.
