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Pelagic Fish

Pelagic fish are animals that live in the open seas. Pelagics represented on this page include bluefish, boarfish, dory, butterfish, herring, lancetfish, lumpfish, mackerel, moonfish, snowy grouper, swordfish, wahoo, and yellowfin tuna. Sharks, skates, and rays are also pelagic fish, but have their own gallery.

School of Atlantic bluefin tuna, image taken with the hexacopter northeast of Provincetown MA. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Michael Jech (NEFSC), Jennifer Johnson (NEFSC), Molly Lutcavage (LPRC), Angelia Vanderlaan (LPRC) Download largest Atlantic bluefin tuna in 'soldier' school form, image taken with the hexacopter northeast of Provincetown MA. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Michael Jech (NEFSC), Jennifer Johnson (NEFSC), Molly Lutcavage (LPRC), Angelia Vanderlaan (LPRC) Download largest Small menhaden filmed outside our Narragansett Lab. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Jerry Prezioso Download largest Individuals of Atlantic menhaden, image taken with the hexacopter at the NEFSC wooden pier in Woods Hole MA. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Michael Jech (NEFSC), Jennifer Johnson (NEFSC) Download largest School of Atlantic menhaden, image taken with the hexacopter at the NEFSC wooden pier in Woods Hole MA. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Michael Jech (NEFSC), Jennifer Johnson (NEFSC) Download largest Mahi mahi swimming in the ocean. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Richard Holt Download largest Aerial shot of a school of tuna swimming in the ocean. Credit: NOAA Fisheries Download largest Aerial shot of a school of tuna swimming in the ocean. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Kelly Slivka Download largest A marlin swimming in the ocean. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Todd Pusser Download largest A marlin swimming in the ocean. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Todd Pusser Download largest A marlin swimming in the ocean. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Richard Holt Download largest Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix). Credit: NEFSC/NOAA Download largest Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix). Credit: NEFSC/NOAA Download largest Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix). Credit: NEFSC/NOAA Download largest Deepbody boarfish (Antigonia capros). Credit: Donald Flescher, NEFSC/NOAA Download largest Deepbody boar (Antigonia capros). Credit: Alicia Miller, NEFSC/NOAA Download largest Buckler dory (Zenopsis conchifera) caught during the 2006 Autumn Bottom Trawl Survey on the NOAA Ship Albatross IV Credit: Alicia Miller, NEFSC/NOAA Download largest Juvenile buckler dory (Zenopsis conchifera) puts on a Technicolor show. Credit: Anne Richards, NEFSC/NOAA Download largest Dory (Zenopsis conchifera) caught during 2009 monkfish survey cruise. Credit: Anne Richards, NEFSC/NOAA Download largest Butterfish (Peprilus triacanthus). Credit: Donald Flescher, NEFSC/NOAA Download largest Butterfish (Peprilus triacanthus). Credit: NEFSC/NOAA Download largest Dolphinfish, or Mahi-Mahi (Coryphaena hippurus). Credit: Apex Predators Program, NEFSC/NOAA Download largest Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus). Credit: Donald Flescher, NEFSC/NOAA Download largest Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) in a basket. Credit: Richard McBride, NEFSC/NOAA Download largest Herring larvae (Clupea harengus) (about 10 mm; under magnification) caught on Georges Bank. Credit: Chris Taylor, NEFSC/NOAA Download largest Round herring (Clupea harengus). Credit: NEFSC/NOAA Download largest Lancetfish (Alepisaurus spp.). Credit: Apex Predators Program, NEFSC/NOAA Download largest Lancetfish (Alepisaurus spp.). Credit: Apex Predators Program, NEFSC/NOAA Download largest Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) in the Woods Hole Science Aquarium. Credit: NEFSC/NOAA Download largest Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) has a sucker disc on its belly to adhere to the substrate. Credit: Apex Predators Program, NEFSC/NOAA Download largest Mackerel (Scomber scombrus). Credit: NEFSC/NOAA Download largest Mackerel (Scomber scombrus). Credit: NEFSC/NOAA Download largest Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus). Credit: Donald Flescher, NEFSC/NOAA Download largest Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus). Credit: NEFSC/NOAA Download largest Moonfish (Selene setapinnis). Credit: NEFSC/NOAA Download largest Moonfish (Selene setapinnis). Credit: NEFSC/NOAA Download largest Moonfish (Selene setapinnis). Credit: NEFSC/NOAA Download largest Snowy grouper (Epinephelus niveatus). Credit: Donald Flescher, NEFSC/NOAA Download largest Snowy grouper (Epinephelus niveatus). Credit: NEFSC/NOAA Download largest Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) eye. Credit: Apex Predators Program, NEFSC/NOAA Download largest Swordfish (Xiphias gladius). Credit: Apex Predators Program, NEFSC/NOAA Download largest Wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri). Credit: Apex Predators Program, NEFSC/NOAA Download largest Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares). Credit: Apex Predators Program, NEFSC/NOAA Download largest Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares). Credit: NEFSC/NOAA Download largest