Explore Fish Species

Bass. Sailfish. Trout. Learn about all kinds of fish and what it takes to catch ‘em.
Fish images courtesy of ©Diane Rome Peebles and ©Duane Raver.

What is Catch Ease

There are many variables involved when it comes to catching any type of fish. From size to fighting ability to time of day to time of year, fishing isn’t an exact science. Which is what makes it so much fun. That said, these are the top-level factors we use to determine ease of catch.

DIFFICULTY OF PURSUIT:

Some fish will bite anything you put in front of them, while others require a high degree of skill, patience and precise equipment. Also, some fish prove difficult to catch due to their limited geographical range.

FIGHTING/SPORTING ABILITY:

This is based on how difficult it is to land the fish once you’ve got it on the line. Some fish leap out of the water, others use their size and strength to make long hard runs, hide under rocks or simply break your line, while others seem to put up little resistance.

Catch Ease

Type of Water

Region Key

Midwest

States Include: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin

Northeast

States Include: Connecticut, Maine, Massachussetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont

South

States Include: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio

West

States Include: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Otah, Washington, Wyoming

Region

There are no fish that match your filters.

African Pompano
African Pompano
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Albacore
Albacore
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Alligator Gar
Alligator Gar
Habitat
Bay, Lake, River
Catch Ease
Hard
Almaco Jack
Almaco Jack
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
American Eel
American Eel
Habitat
Lake, Ocean, River
Catch Ease
Easy
American Shad
American Shad
Habitat
Bay, Ocean, River
Catch Ease
Easy
Apache Trout
Apache Trout
Habitat
Lake, River, Stream
Catch Ease
Medium
Arctic Char
Arctic Char
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Easy
Arctic Grayling
Arctic Grayling
Habitat
Lake, River, Stream
Catch Ease
Hard
Atlantic Bonito
Atlantic Bonito
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Easy
Atlantic Cod
Atlantic Cod
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Atlantic Croaker
Atlantic Croaker
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Easy
Atlantic Halibut
Atlantic Halibut
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Hard
Atlantic Salmon
Atlantic Salmon
Habitat
Bay, Ocean, River
Catch Ease
Medium
Atlantic Spadefish
Atlantic Spadefish
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Bigeye Trevally
Bigeye Trevally
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Bigeye Tuna
Bigeye Tuna
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Bigmouth Buffalo
Bigmouth Buffalo
Habitat
Lake, Pond, River
Catch Ease
Medium
Black Bullhead
Black Bullhead
Habitat
Lake, Pond, River
Catch Ease
Easy
Black Crappie
Black Crappie
Habitat
Lake, Pond
Catch Ease
Easy
Black Drum
Black Drum
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Black Grouper
Black Grouper
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Black Marlin
Black Marlin
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Hard
Black Sea Bass
Black Sea Bass
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Black Skipjack
Black Skipjack
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Blackfin Tuna
Blackfin Tuna
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Blacktip Shark
Blacktip Shark
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Blue Catfish
Blue Catfish
Habitat
River, Stream
Catch Ease
Medium
Blue Marlin
Blue Marlin
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Hard
Blue Shark
Blue Shark
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Bluefin Trevally
Bluefin Trevally
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Bluefin Tuna
Bluefin Tuna
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Hard
Bluefish
Bluefish
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Easy
Bluegill
Bluegill
Habitat
Bay, Lake, Pond
Catch Ease
Easy
Bonefish
Bonefish
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Hard
Bonnethead Shark
Bonnethead Shark
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Easy
Bowfin
Bowfin
Habitat
Lake, Pond, River
Catch Ease
Easy
Brook Trout
Brook Trout
Habitat
Ocean, River, Stream
Catch Ease
Easy
Broomtail Grouper
Broomtail Grouper
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Brown Bullhead
Brown Bullhead
Habitat
Lake, Pond, River
Catch Ease
Easy
Brown Trout
Brown Trout
Habitat
Ocean, River, Stream
Catch Ease
Easy
Bull Trout
Bull Trout
Habitat
Lake, Pond, River
Catch Ease
Medium
Burbot
Burbot
Habitat
Bay, Lake, Pond
Catch Ease
Easy
Butterfly Peacock Bass
Butterfly Peacock Bass
Habitat
Lake, Pond
Catch Ease
Medium
California Corbina
California Corbina
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
California Halibut
California Halibut
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
California Yellowtail
California Yellowtail
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Cero Mackerel
Cero Mackerel
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Easy
Chain Pickerel
Chain Pickerel
Habitat
Lake, Pond
Catch Ease
Medium
Channel Catfish
Channel Catfish
Habitat
Lake, River, Stream
Catch Ease
Easy
Chum Salmon
Chum Salmon
Habitat
Bay, Ocean, River
Catch Ease
Medium
Cobia
Cobia
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Coho Salmon
Coho Salmon
Habitat
Lake, Ocean, Stream
Catch Ease
Medium
Common Carp
Common Carp
Habitat
Lake, Pond, River
Catch Ease
Medium
Conger
Conger
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Hard
Crevalle Jack
Crevalle Jack
Habitat
Canal, Pond
Catch Ease
Easy
Cubera Snapper
Cubera Snapper
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Hard
Cutthroat Trout
Cutthroat Trout
Habitat
Ocean, River, Stream
Catch Ease
Easy
Dogtooth Tuna
Dogtooth Tuna
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Hard
Dolly Varden
Dolly Varden
Habitat
Bay, Ocean, River
Catch Ease
Medium
Dolphinfish
Dolphinfish
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Flathead Catfish
Flathead Catfish
Habitat
Lake, Pond, River
Catch Ease
Easy
Florida Gar
Florida Gar
Habitat
Lake, River, Stream
Catch Ease
Easy
Flounder
Flounder
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Easy
Freshwater Drum
Freshwater Drum
Habitat
Lake, Pond, River
Catch Ease
Easy
Gag Grouper
Gag Grouper
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Giant Trevally
Giant Trevally
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Hard
Golden Trout
Golden Trout
Habitat
Lake, River, Stream
Catch Ease
Medium
Grass Carp
Grass Carp
Habitat
River, Stream
Catch Ease
Hard
Great Barracuda
Great Barracuda
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Greater Amberjack
Greater Amberjack
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Green Sunfish
Green Sunfish
Habitat
Lake, Pond
Catch Ease
Easy
Hammerhead Shark
Hammerhead Shark
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Hogfish
Hogfish
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Horse-eye Jack
Horse-eye Jack
Habitat
Bay, Ocean, River
Catch Ease
Medium
Inconnu
Inconnu
Habitat
Lake, Ocean, River
Catch Ease
Medium
Kelp Bass
Kelp Bass
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
King Mackerel
King Mackerel
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
King Salmon
King Salmon
Habitat
Bay, Ocean, River
Catch Ease
Hard
Ladyfish
Ladyfish
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Easy
Lake Trout
Lake Trout
Habitat
Lake, River, Stream
Catch Ease
Medium
Lake Whitefish
Lake Whitefish
Habitat
Lake, Pond, River
Catch Ease
Easy
Largemouth Bass
Largemouth Bass
Habitat
Lake, Pond
Catch Ease
Easy
Lingcod
Lingcod
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Little Tunny
Little Tunny
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Easy
Longbill Spearfish
Longbill Spearfish
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Hard
Longnose Gar
Longnose Gar
Habitat
Lake, Pond, River
Catch Ease
Medium
Mako Shark
Mako Shark
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Hard
Mangrove Snapper
Mangrove Snapper
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Easy
Mountain Whitefish
Mountain Whitefish
Habitat
Lake, Pond, River
Catch Ease
Easy
Muskellunge
Muskellunge
Habitat
Lake, Pond, River
Catch Ease
Hard
Mutton Snapper
Mutton Snapper
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Northern Pike
Northern Pike
Habitat
Lake, Pond
Catch Ease
Medium
Northern Pikeminnow
Northern Pikeminnow
Habitat
Lake, Pond, River
Catch Ease
Easy
Oscar
Oscar
Habitat
Lake, Pond
Catch Ease
Easy
Pacific Bonito
Pacific Bonito
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Easy
Pacific Cod
Pacific Cod
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Pacific Crevalle Jack
Pacific Crevalle Jack
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Pacific Halibut
Pacific Halibut
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Hard
Pacific Sierra Mackerel
Pacific Sierra Mackerel
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Easy
Paddlefish
Paddlefish
Habitat
Lake, River, Stream
Catch Ease
Hard
Permit
Permit
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Pink Salmon
Pink Salmon
Habitat
Bay, Ocean, River
Catch Ease
Easy
Pollock
Pollock
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Pompano
Pompano
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Porbeagle Shark
Porbeagle Shark
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Pumpkinseed Sunfish
Pumpkinseed Sunfish
Habitat
Lake, Pond
Catch Ease
Easy
Rainbow Runner
Rainbow Runner
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Easy
Rainbow Trout
Rainbow Trout
Habitat
Ocean, River, Stream
Catch Ease
Easy
Red Drum
Red Drum
Habitat
Bay, Ocean, River
Catch Ease
Medium
Red Grouper
Red Grouper
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Red Snapper
Red Snapper
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Redbreast Sunfish
Redbreast Sunfish
Habitat
Lake, Pond
Catch Ease
Easy
Redear Sunfish
Redear Sunfish
Habitat
Lake, Pond
Catch Ease
Easy
Redeye Bass
Redeye Bass
Habitat
Creek, River, Stream
Catch Ease
Medium
Rock Bass
Rock Bass
Habitat
Lake, Pond, River
Catch Ease
Easy
Round Whitefish
Round Whitefish
Habitat
Lake, Pond, River
Catch Ease
Medium
Sailfish
Sailfish
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Sauger
Sauger
Habitat
Lake, Pond
Catch Ease
Easy
Saugeye
Saugeye
Habitat
Lake, Pond, River
Catch Ease
Easy
Scamp Grouper
Scamp Grouper
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Sea Trout
Sea Trout
Habitat
Ocean, River
Catch Ease
Hard
Sheepshead
Sheepshead
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Easy
Shoal Bass
Shoal Bass
Habitat
Creek, River, Stream
Catch Ease
Medium
Shortbill Spearfish
Shortbill Spearfish
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Shorthead Redhorse
Shorthead Redhorse
Habitat
Lake, Pond, Stream
Catch Ease
Easy
Shortnose Gar
Shortnose Gar
Habitat
Lake, Pond, River
Catch Ease
Easy
Silver Redhorse
Silver Redhorse
Habitat
Lake, Pond, River
Catch Ease
Easy
Skipjack Tuna
Skipjack Tuna
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Habitat
Lake, Pond
Catch Ease
Easy
Smallmouth Buffalo
Smallmouth Buffalo
Habitat
Lake, Pond, River
Catch Ease
Easy
Snook
Snook
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Sockeye Salmon
Sockeye Salmon
Habitat
Bay, Ocean, River
Catch Ease
Medium
Spanish Mackerel
Spanish Mackerel
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Easy
Speckled Peacock Bass
Speckled Peacock Bass
Habitat
Lake, Pond, River
Catch Ease
Hard
Splake
Splake
Habitat
Lake, River, Stream
Catch Ease
Easy
Spot
Spot
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Easy
Spotted Bass
Spotted Bass
Habitat
Lake, Pond
Catch Ease
Medium
Spotted Gar
Spotted Gar
Habitat
Lake, Pond, River
Catch Ease
Easy
Spotted Seatrout
Spotted Seatrout
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Easy
Steelhead
Steelhead
Habitat
Bay, Ocean, River
Catch Ease
Medium
Striped Bass
Striped Bass
Habitat
Bay, Ocean, River
Catch Ease
Medium
Striped Marlin
Striped Marlin
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Hard
Sturgeon
Sturgeon
Habitat
Bay, Ocean, River
Catch Ease
Hard
Swordfish
Swordfish
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Hard
Tarpon
Tarpon
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Hard
Tautog
Tautog
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Thresher Shark
Thresher Shark
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Hard
Tiger Muskellunge
Tiger Muskellunge
Habitat
Lake, Pond, River
Catch Ease
Hard
Tiger Shark
Tiger Shark
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Hard
Tiger Trout
Tiger Trout
Habitat
Pond, River, Stream
Catch Ease
Easy
Tope Shark
Tope Shark
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Hard
Tripletail
Tripletail
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Wahoo
Wahoo
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Hard
Walleye
Walleye
Habitat
Lake, Pond
Catch Ease
Easy
Warmouth
Warmouth
Habitat
Lake, Pond, River
Catch Ease
Easy
Weakfish
Weakfish
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Easy
Whalers Shark
Whalers Shark
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
White Bass
White Bass
Habitat
Lake, Pond
Catch Ease
Easy
White Catfish
White Catfish
Habitat
Lake, Pond, River
Catch Ease
Easy
White Marlin
White Marlin
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Hard
White Perch
White Perch
Habitat
Bay, Ocean, River
Catch Ease
Easy
White Seabass
White Seabass
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
White Shark
White Shark
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Hard
Whiterock Bass
Whiterock Bass
Habitat
Lake, Pond
Catch Ease
Medium
Wiper
Wiper
Habitat
Lake, Pond, River
Catch Ease
Medium
Yellow Bass
Yellow Bass
Habitat
Lake, Pond, Stream
Catch Ease
Easy
Yellow Bullhead
Yellow Bullhead
Habitat
Lake, Pond, River
Catch Ease
Easy
Yellow Perch
Yellow Perch
Habitat
Lake, Pond
Catch Ease
Easy
Yelloweye Rockfish
Yelloweye Rockfish
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Medium
Yellowfin Tuna
Yellowfin Tuna
Habitat
Ocean
Catch Ease
Hard
Yellowtail Snapper
Yellowtail Snapper
Habitat
Bay, Ocean
Catch Ease
Easy

Purchase a Fishing License

Fishing is a great way to bond with your family. But remember, before you go you need to purchase your fishing license and to check your state fishing regulations.

Register A Boat

By registering your boat, you are helping to protect your state’s aquatic natural resources. Make sure you know the boating laws for your state before you leave the dock.