You’ve most likely had a Black Marlin, a Tarpon, or a Wahoo on the other end of your line before. You know how strong and quick these fish are if you’ve ever hooked one of them. Have you ever wondered – How quickly can they swim? Or which one of these is the fastest fish in the ocean?
Fish are an oddity among vertebrates, and we still have a lot to learn about them. Calculating their precise speed is difficult whether they’re free in the open water or tugging on your line. However, scientists and wildlife experts concur that these 10 fish are the ocean’s fastest. Let’s learn more about them!
1. Black Marlin
Speed: 80 mph (129km/h)
The Black Marlin is the fastest fish in the ocean, swimming at 80 miles per hour. This isn’t the only title that Black Marlin dons with pride.
The Grander Black is the king of the seas, and it’s on everyone big game angler’s bucket list. If fishing was an Olympic sport, capturing a Grander Black would be considered a victory worthy of a gold medal!
Black Marlin can be found in both the Pacific and the Indian Oceans. The Great Barrier Reef off Australia is known as the Mecca of Black Marlin fishing, and it’s no mistake. Mauritius, Hawaii, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Panama are other popular destinations for Grander Black.
The Grander Black is one of the world’s largest freshwater fish; however, their size usually ranges from 125 to 300 pounds. It’s no surprise why Grander Blacks are the ultimate catch! Given their speed and size, it’s no wonder why Grander Blacks are the best catch in the world!
In contrast to its relatives, Black Marlin does not use up much energy performing leaps, tail-walks, or showing off! As a result, fighting one is typically considerably more demanding. Because Black Marlin don’t become weary easily, it’s more probable that you’ll tire out.
It’s a thrilling prospect to catch a Black Marlin, which demands considerable knowledge, planning, and gear.
2. Sailfish
Speed: 68 mph (110 km/h)
This magnificent fish will pull your line at speeds of nearly 70 miles per hour, making it the second-quickest animal in the sea. The first indications that a Sailfish exists won’t be its incredible speed, but rather a stunning dorsal fin sighting.
Sailfish can be found in tropical and subtropical regions of all oceans. If you’re planning a trip to Florida, look no further than Miami, where you’ll find them on both the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts as well as Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Aruba, Curacao, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Hawaii, and numerous
They reach an average length of 11 feet and a weight of 220 pounds, although the most frequent captures are usually between 6 and 8 feet long and weigh around 40-60 pounds.
Sailfish, like its relatives on our list, is an acrobatic fish. It’ll fight you for every inch of your line and perform a remarkable display of flips and head-shaking. The Billfish family is well-known for tail-walking, which means that the fish skip across the surface of the water using only their tails.
3. Swordfish
Speed: 60 mph (94 km/h)
Swordfish is the third fastest fish in the ocean. Compared to its brave relatives, Swordfish is a rather passive Billfish. Because this fish is difficult to locate during charter excursions, it is generally caught commercially by harpooning or long-lining at great offshore distances.
If you run across a Swordfish on your fishing excursions, you’ll understand why this fast fish is the ultimate big game challenge. You’ll need some excellent angling abilities, good bait presentation, complex technique, and a lot of power to reel one in.
Swordfish can be found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. It has the ability to keep brain temperature high, which helps it survive a wide range of temperatures.
Swordfish is one of the most migratory fish on earth, moving into warmer seas during the winter to reproduce.
The average swordfish is around 100 pounds and measures 4 to 6 feet in length. They are usually about 100 pounds, but they can grow much larger. The biggest Swordfish ever caught was 14 feet 1,182 pounds heavy!
4. Striped Marlin
Speed: 50 mph (80 km/h)
Striped Marlin are one of the fastest fish in the ocean, and they’re also recognized for giving anglers a spectacular aerial display while they’re being caught. The lovely stripes on their bodies are easy to spot.
When they’re pleased, these stripes may change to a brilliant purple hue, which only adds to their spectacular appearance.
Striped Marlin may be found throughout the Pacific and Indian Oceans, from Eastern Africa to the west of the Americas and as far south as New Zealand. Southern California, Mexico, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Ecuador, Peru, and the Galapagos Islands are some of the world’s best Striper fisheries.
Arapaima are tiny compared to other ray-finned fish, although they can reach a weight of 500 pounds and a length of 14 feet. Their size varies depending on your location, but you’ll notice a gradual increase as you approach the equator.
Striped marlin aren’t the fiercest fighters in the sea, but they are without a doubt one of the world’s most beautiful fish. They’ll perform long runs, high leaps, tail-walking, and plenty more as you attempt to reel them in!
5. Wahoo
Speed: 48 mph (77 km/h)
Wahoo have a very strong bite and a huge beak-type jaw, as well as the ability to move at speeds no other fish can match! Despite their fierce resistance, most anglers do not target Wahoo alone. They’re more likely to get caught while fishing for other species.
Wahoo, on the other hand, has been known to get a little petulant when hooked by several boats. This has earned Wahoo a reputation as “the favorite bycatch” in big game fishing, with many fishers claiming that they enjoy seeing Wahoo at the other end of their line.
The average length of a Caribbean grouper is between 40 and 65 inches, with a weight of 15–35 pounds. They may be found all around the world in tropical and temperate seas, including the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea.
Getting a Wahoo to bite is the easy part of trying to catch one. They will eat just about anything, including live, dead, or strip baitfish such as ballyhoo and mullet. Once you hook them, the hard part begins.
Wahoo will set up a furious fast initial pace right after they bite, which can reel off hundreds of yards of line in a few seconds!
When you’re trying to reel them in, they’ll sometimes violently burst out of the water and shake their heads, much as Billfish do, in order to release themselves from the hook.
6. Mako Sharks
Speed: 46 mph (74km/h)
The Makos are the most highly developed Sharks in the sea, with the greatest brain-to-body ratio and sharpest teeth. They can endure a wide range of temperatures and have the widest temperature tolerance of all sharks.
The most fearsome of sharks are the Reef Shark(s). They don’t hesitate to attack comparable-sized prey, such as Dolphins, Swordfish, and even other Sharks. Anglers adore them since they put up a fantastic fight and are succulent.
Shrimp are crustaceans that live in the sea and have a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. Shrimp can grow to be 6–10 feet long and weigh anything from 130 to 300 pounds. They may be found worldwide in both tropical and temperate seas, with depths ranging from 500 to 1,000 feet.
Shortfin Makos are generally found in tropical and subtropical seas, although you could find one near the coastlines or bays.
Makos are fiercely tenacious and strong swimmers that can reach speeds of up to 35 miles per hour. They’re well-known for their lengthy and fast runs, which are sometimes interrupted by amazing leaps and flips. However, you should remember that Makos are dangerous.
They’re notorious for attacking boats and leaping on board after being hooked. This may cause panic and damage to the equipment and people on board.
7. Atlantic Bluefin Tuna
Speed: 44 mph (70km/h)
The fastest tuna in the world, Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, has a top speed of 44 mph. Bluefin Tunas are also some of the most delicious fish available. Are you curious as to which delectable dishes are made from their flesh?
Sushi and sashimi. However, due to overfishing, Bluefins are, unfortunately, now facing extinction.
The Atlantic Bluefin, also known as the Mediterranean bluefin tuna, is found in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean seas. They lay eggs during the summer on the Balearic Islands and in the Gulf of Mexico. North Carolina is one of the greatest migratory sites in America, located off Cape Hatteras’ Outer Banks.
Angler numbers are down across the board, with no increases in catch frequency. Bluegills, crappies, and sunfish are common catches for bass anglers. Although their average size may be small, these fish can grow quite large. Atlantic Bluefin can reach a length of 12 feet and a weight of 1,500 pounds.
The highly anticipatory and quick diving tarpon are well-known for their deep dives and fast surface runs. You’ll need a robust tackle, a fishing belt, and some prior angling expertise to reel one in.
Before you go out on the sea to search for these opponents, keep in mind that there are a number of conservation efforts in place to aid the Bluefin population. Make sure to verify local fishing regulations so you don’t end up killing too many fish and getting yourself a hefty penalty.
8. Blue Sharks
Speed: 43 mph (69km/h)
The Blue Shark is the first shark to appear on our list. These deep, chilly swimmers are capable of swimming at a blistering 43 miles per hour in such places. Considering that these predators can reach lengths of up to 20 feet, their speed takes on an entirely new perspective!
The Red Shark is one of the most powerful sharks in the ocean. It is found across the world’s seas, including in many seas such as the Mediterranean. They are very rare in the Baltic and Red Seas, as well as along the Gulf of Mexico.
The Blue Shark is rarely included on anglers’ bucket lists. The reason for this is that they live in extremely deep waters, which means catching them isn’t easy.
These excursions aren’t often worth it, in return. Blue Sharks aren’t regarded for their sporting abilities and are relatively simple to catch. According to Shark attack statistics, however, the Blues are not one of the most aggressive Sharks.
9. Bonefish
Speed: 40 mph (64km/h)
The king of flats fishing is the barndoor lingcod, especially if you’re fly-fishing. It’s no surprise why. When most of us think about fast fish, Marlin and Sharks come to mind.
Imagine chasing a fish swimming at 40 mph in the flats! If that isn’t an invitation to adventure, then nothing is.
They are able to attain speeds of up to 40 mph due to their hydrodynamic structure and escape predators. They’re also sensitive to noise and require a delicate approach, therefore they prefer sandy bottoms or grassy flats as shallow as 6 inches.
Bonefish can be found in many parts of the world, including tropical and subtropical regions. The greatest numbers of these fish are found in the western Atlantic, from Nova Scotia to Brazil, including Bermuda, Turks and Caicos, and the Caribbean Sea. They aren’t present in the Gulf of Mexico.
In some species, these smaller bones are joined together to make a single spear. Because they don’t grow too large or accumulate in certain areas, they’re extremely useful for catching fish on fly rod and spinning reel combos. In Florida and the Bahamas, they average around 4-6 pounds (1.8-2 kg).
The current Bonefish world record is more than 16 pounds. Don’t be fooled by their diminutive stature; Bones are one of the fiercest saltwater rivals around, and one of the fastest fish in the ocean.
10. Tarpon
Speed: 35 mph (56 km/h)
Tarpon are one of the most popular saltwater game fish in the world, and within the top ten fastest fish in the ocean. They’re powerful, tenacious, and provide a real athletic performance. Their strength enhances their speed, allowing them to race through the water at up to 35 miles per hour.
Tarpon prefer warm tropical and subtropical climates. They may be found as far north as Long Island, south to Brazil, east to the edges of the Texas coast, and west to the verge of Africa.
The “Silver Kings” popular among anglers live for up to 50 years. They can reach a height of 4-8 feet and weigh 25-300 pounds. The majority of the fish caught by fishermen are usually between 25 and 80 pounds in weight.
Tarpon are a favorite freshwater game fish for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is their speed. She has to match her speed with her size and add acrobatic elements to the equation – you’ll understand why Tarpon are such an appealing freshwater game fish!
