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Top 10 Saltwater Fish to Catch in West Coast

Top Ten

Fish to Catch in West Coast

Big water, bigger bites. West Coast saltwater hits hard.

This is saltwater fishing on the West Coast—no apologies, just action. Chinook salmon crash the current while Pacific halibut lurk below, both ready to test your gear. From muscle-bound lingcod to a lineup stacked with black rockfish and striped bass, every drop holds a new contender. If you want a mix of brawlers and table fare, this stretch delivers the goods without the sugarcoating.

Chinook Salmon

World Record 97 lb 4 oz
Les Anderson / 1985
Kenai River, Alaska

Signature Fact Laboratory magnets made juvenile Chinook aim as if 'teleported' north or south, proving they navigate by Earth's field.

Click to Learn More About Chinook Salmon

Pacific Halibut

World Record 459 lb 0 oz
Jack Tragis / 1996
Unalaska Bay, Alaska

Signature Fact The IGFA all-tackle record hit 459 pounds-an 8-foot, refrigerator-door flatfish nicknamed a true "barn door.

Click to Learn More About Pacific Halibut

Coho Salmon

World Record 33 lb 4 oz
Les Anderson / 1989
Skeena River, British Columbia

Signature Fact One of the few salmon that regularly crush topwater lures in saltwater-boils, cartwheels, absolute surface chaos.

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Lingcod

Learn More Here Verified Catch

World Record Pending

Signature Fact Some lingcod have naturally blue-green flesh that cooks snow-white, thanks to the pigment biliverdin.

Black Rockfish

Learn More Here Verified Catch

World Record 23 lb 4 oz
James R. Toth / 2001
Washington, USA

Signature Fact She can bank a mate's sperm for months, then unleash over a million live larvae in one birth.

California Halibut

Learn More Here Verified Catch

World Record 67 lb 4 oz
Paul S. Varela / 2011
Santa Rosa Island, California

Signature Fact Up to 40% are mirror-imaged right-eyed 'reversals'-a coin-flip eye migration rare among flatfish.

Striped Bass (Striper)

Learn More Here Verified Catch

World Record 81 lb 14 oz
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.

Bonneville Cutthroat

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World Record 18 lb 3 oz
Darwin L. Peterson / 1966
Strawberry Reservoir, Utah

Signature Fact During Bear Lake's January Cisco Disco, they mob the shallows under ice, gorging so hard they cough scales.

Shortraker Rockfish

Learn More Here Verified Catch

World Record 44 lb 1 oz
James R. Toth / 2001
Alaska, USA

Signature Fact Radiocarbon dating pegged a shortraker at over 120 years old-older than your grandfather's favorite reel.

Striped Marlin

Learn More Here Verified Catch

World Record 494 lb 0 oz
Bill Boniface / 1986
Tutukaka, New Zealand

Signature Fact Their cobalt stripes can switch on like neon under nervous control, apparently signaling teammates during tag-teamed baitball raids.

FAQs

What fish can you catch in West Coast?

On the West Coast, you can catch chinook salmon, Pacific halibut, coho salmon, lingcod, black rockfish, California halibut, striped bass, Bonneville cutthroat, shortraker rockfish, and striped marlin.

What is the best time of year to fish in West Coast?

Spring through fall covers most of the prime fishing for West Coast saltwater species, depending on the target.

Where are the best places to fish in West Coast?

The West Coast offers productive saltwater action from offshore to rocky inshore spots, with strong numbers of salmon, halibut, and rockfish.

What gear do you need for fishing in West Coast?

Sturdy saltwater rods, reels, and leaders handle the chinook salmon, halibut, and larger rockfish found in West Coast waters.

What are the easiest fish to catch in West Coast?

Black rockfish and California halibut are among the more accessible catches for most anglers on the West Coast.

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