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Saltwater Fishing

Saltwater Fishing

Rhode Island › Fishing › Saltwater Fishing › Rhode Island Commonly Caught Species

Rhode Island Commonly Caught Species

Common Fish

Winter Flounder (Blackback)

Illustration of a winter flounder, a flatfish with both eyes on one side of its body and mottled brown coloring used for camouflage on the seafloor.
The winter flounder is a bottom-dwelling flatfish found in coastal waters. Its camouflaged body helps it blend into sandy or muddy seafloors, making it a popular species for recreational and commercial fishing.

Scientific Name: Pseudopleuronectes americanus

Identification: Nearly straight lateral line and blunt snout. Eyes on right side.

Summer Flounder (Fluke)

Illustration of a summer flounder, a flatfish with both eyes on the left side of its body and a brown, mottled pattern with spots for camouflage.
The summer flounder, also known as fluke, is a popular sport and commercial fish known for its spotted, camouflaged appearance and flat body that helps it blend into sandy seafloors.

Scientific Name: Paralichthys dentatus

Identification: Eyes on left side. Large mouth with teeth.

Striped Bass

Illustration of a striped bass featuring a silver body with horizontal black stripes, spiny dorsal fin, and forked tail.
The striped bass is a prized game fish known for its bold horizontal stripes and strong fight. Found along the Atlantic coast, it supports both recreational and commercial fisheries.

Scientific Name: Morone saxatilis

Identification: Grayish-green above, silvery on sides with distinct horizontal stripes.

Black Sea Bass

Illustration of a male black sea bass with a deep blue body, light speckled scales, and prominent dorsal fin spines.
The male black sea bass is easily recognized by its vibrant blue coloring and tall, spiny dorsal fin. This popular bottom-dwelling species is commonly targeted by recreational and commercial fishers along the Atlantic coast.

Scientific Name: Centropristis striata

Identification: Gray, brown or blue-black. Rounded caudal fin.

Weakfish (Squeteague)

Illustration of a weakfish with a slender silver body, iridescent blue-green back, and slightly forked tail.
The weakfish, named for its delicate mouth, is a sleek, silvery fish with a blue-green back. Commonly found in estuaries and nearshore waters, it's a favorite among anglers for its fight and flavor.

Scientific Name: Cynoscion regalis

Identification: Long second dorsal fin, slender body and absent chin barbel.

Bluefish

Illustration of a bluefish with a streamlined body, greenish-blue back, silvery sides, sharp teeth, and a deeply forked tail.
The bluefish is a fast, aggressive predator known for its powerful jaws and sharp teeth. Common in Rhode Island waters, it’s a thrilling catch for recreational anglers.

Scientific Name: Pomatomus saltatrix

Identification: Series of stout conical teeth, and first dorsal fin is much lower than the second with 7-9 dorsal spines.

Atlantic cod

Illustration of an Atlantic cod with a speckled body, barbel under the chin, and a light lateral line running along its side.
The Atlantic cod is a historically significant species with a speckled body and distinctive chin barbel. Once abundant, it remains a focus of conservation and sustainable fishing efforts in the North Atlantic.

Scientific Name: Gadus morhua

Identification: Pale lateral line, chin barbel, large eyes, square tipped tail and spotted color pattern.

Tautog (Blackfish)

Illustration of a tautog, or blackfish, featuring a stout body, thick lips, dark mottled coloring, and strong pectoral fins.
The tautog, also known as blackfish, is a bottom-dwelling species prized by anglers for its fighting strength. Its strong jaws and teeth are adapted for crushing shellfish, and it's commonly found around rocky reefs and wrecks.

Scientific Name: Tautoga onitis

Identification: Highly arched head, blunt snout and thick lips.

Scup (Porgy)

Illustration of a scup fish with a deep, laterally compressed body, silvery-blue scales, and sharp dorsal spines.
Scup, also known as porgy, are abundant along the Atlantic coast and popular among recreational anglers. Recognized by their silvery body and sharp dorsal spines, they’re often caught near rocky bottoms and reefs.

Scientific Name: Stenotomus chrysops

Identification: Silvery, iridescent. Concave dorsal profile, small teeth and lunate pointed tail.

Striped Searobin

Illustration of a striped searobin with a spiny head, large pectoral fins, and distinctive orange and brown coloration along its body and fins.
The striped searobin is known for its wing-like pectoral fins and armored head. Often found on sandy bottoms, this unique species uses its fins to "walk" along the seafloor and detect prey.

Scientific Name: Prionotus evolans

Identification: Large wing-like pectoral fins and distinct dark stripe along either side of body.

Monkfish (Goosefish)

Illustration of an American goosefish, also known as monkfish, with a broad, flat head, large mouth, fringed fins, and a lure-like appendage used to attract prey.
The American goosefish, or monkfish, is a bottom-dwelling predator with a unique lure used to attract prey. Its wide mouth and camouflaged body make it an effective ambush hunter in deep and coastal waters.

Scientific Name: Lophius americanus

Identification: Depressed body and huge mouth.

Smooth Dogfish

Illustration of a smooth dogfish with a slender, streamlined body, rounded snout, and long tail, typical of coastal shark species.
The smooth dogfish is a small coastal shark species commonly found in shallow waters. Known for its smooth skin and non-aggressive nature, it's often encountered by recreational anglers and plays a role in healthy marine ecosystems.

Scientific Name: Mustelus canis

Identification: Small, slender shark with spineless dorsal fins.

American Eel

Illustration of an American eel with an elongated, snake-like body, small pectoral fins, and a dark, smooth skin that fades to a lighter underside.
The American eel is a migratory fish with a long, slender body and smooth, dark skin. It lives in freshwater and estuarine habitats but migrates to the Sargasso Sea to spawn, playing an important role in aquatic ecosystems.

Scientific Name: Anguilla rostrata

Identification: Dorsal fin begins far behind the pectoral fin, and the lower jaw projects beyond upper jaw.

Alewife and Blueback Herring (River Herring)

Illustration of an alewife fish with a deep, laterally compressed body, large eyes, and silvery scales with a bluish back.
The alewife is a small, migratory forage fish important to both freshwater and marine ecosystems. Known for its annual spawning runs, it plays a vital role in the food web, supporting predators like striped bass and ospreys.
Illustration of a blueback herring with a slim, silvery body, bluish-green back, and large eye, typical of migratory river herring.
The blueback herring is an anadromous fish that migrates from the ocean to freshwater rivers to spawn. Its slender, silvery body and bluish back distinguish it from similar species like the alewife, and it plays a key ecological role as prey for larger fish and birds.

Scientific Name: Alosa pseudoharengus and Alosa aestivalis

Identification: Deep body and spot located just behind the gill cover.

Atlantic Menhaden

Illustration of an Atlantic menhaden with a deep, compressed silver body, large eye spot near the gill cover, and a forked tail.
Atlantic menhaden are vital forage fish that support a wide range of marine predators. Known for their distinctive eye spot and oily flesh, they play a key role in the ecosystem and are used in bait and industrial fisheries.

Scientific Name: Brevoortia tyrannus

Identification: Large scaleless head nearly one third total body length.

Common Invertebrates

American Lobster

Illustration of an American lobster with large claws, segmented body, and long antennae, commonly found in cold Atlantic waters.
The American lobster is a valuable commercial species native to the North Atlantic. Recognized by its strong claws and hard shell, it thrives in rocky coastal habitats and is a key part of New England’s fishing heritage.

Scientific Name: Homarus americanus

Identification: Greenish brown with blue patches near joints of appendages.

Blue Crab

Illustration of a blue crab with a wide, flat shell, spiny front claws, and paddle-shaped rear legs adapted for swimming.
The blue crab is a distinctive crustacean found in estuaries and coastal waters. Known for its blue-tinted claws and agile swimming, it’s an important species for both commercial and recreational fisheries along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

Scientific Name: Callinectes sapidus

Identification: Blueish gray shell. Fingers of claws are bright blue in males and red in females.

Atlantic Rock Crab

Illustration of an Atlantic rock crab with a broad, oval-shaped shell and strong, jagged-edged claws.
The Atlantic rock crab is commonly found along the northeastern U.S. coast. Known for its hard shell and powerful claws, it inhabits rocky and sandy bottoms and plays a role in both commercial fisheries and marine ecosystems.

Scientific Name: Cancer irroratus

Identification: Beige or yellowish shell with numerous closely spaced purple-brown spots. Very common.

Green Crab

Illustration of a green crab with five spines along each side of its shell and long, pointed legs.
The green crab is an invasive species found in Rhode Island waters. It competes with native species and can impact shellfish populations. Recognizable by its five spines on either side of the shell and reddish to dark green coloration.

Scientific Name: Carcinus maenas

Identification: Usually dark green. Found under rocks and in intertidal zones. Very common.

Horseshoe Crab

Illustration of a horseshoe crab with a rounded shell, spiny edges, and a long pointed tail.
The horseshoe crab is a prehistoric marine arthropod found along the Rhode Island coast. Despite its name, it’s more closely related to spiders than crabs and plays a vital role in coastal ecosystems and medical research.

Scientific Name: Limulus polyphemus

Identification: Olive green or brownish shell. Long spike-like tail.

Atlantic Longfin Squid

Illustration of an Atlantic longfin squid, showing its elongated body, large side fins, and multiple arms and tentacles.
The Atlantic longfin squid is a fast-swimming, torpedo-shaped cephalopod found in Rhode Island waters. Known for its agility and bioluminescence, it plays a key role in the marine food chain and is popular in commercial and recreational fisheries.

Scientific Name: Loligo pealeii

Identification: White or translucent gray with tiny red or purple spots with expand and contract.

Common Shellfish

Eastern Oyster

Illustration of an Eastern oyster shell, showing its rough, irregular texture and layered ridges.
The Eastern oyster is a vital shellfish species in Rhode Island's coastal waters, valued for both its ecological benefits—like filtering water—and its role in commercial and recreational harvesting.

Scientific Name: Crassostrea virginica

Identification: Grayish white, variable shape, found at or below low tide level.

Northern Quahaug (Hard Shell Clam)

Illustration of a Northern quahog shell with a smooth, rounded shape and fine ridges.
The Northern quahog, also known as a hard clam, is a popular shellfish in Rhode Island harvested for food and vital to the state's commercial and recreational fisheries.

Scientific Name: Mercenaria mercenaria

Identification: Shell ranges from light gray to black. Found in shallow water.

Soft Shell Clam (steamer)

Illustration of a soft-shell clam with an elongated, oval-shaped shell and visible siphon.
The soft-shell clam, commonly found in intertidal zones, is a favorite among recreational diggers and contributes to Rhode Island’s shellfish heritage.

Scientific Name: Mya arenaria

Identification: Chalky white shell. Lives deeply burrowed in sediment. Common in intertidal zone and shallow water.

Blue Mussel

Illustration of a blue mussel with a smooth, dark blue to black elongated shell.
Blue mussels are a common and sustainable shellfish species in Rhode Island’s coastal waters, often found clinging to rocks and pilings.

Scientific Name: Mytilus edulis

Identification: Blue or blue-black. Common in beds near low tide and attaches to rocks and shells with fibers.

Channeled & Knobbed Whelk

Illustration of two types of whelks—knobbed and channeled—with an egg case shown between them.
Knobbed and channeled whelks, both found in Rhode Island waters, are marine snails known for their spiral shells and egg cases often seen washed ashore.

Scientific Name: Busycotypus canaliculatus & Busycon carica.

Identification: Grooved or knobbed beige or yellowish gray shell. Often covered with a hairy outer shell layer. Distinctive egg case.

Common Periwinkle

Illustration of a common periwinkle shell, a small marine snail with a smooth, coiled shape.
The common periwinkle is a small marine snail often found along rocky shores in Rhode Island. Its rounded, coiled shell helps it cling tightly to intertidal surfaces.

Scientific Name: Littorina littorea

Identification: Usually brown, black or gray shell, sometimes will white spiral lines. Most common periwinkle in the rocky intertidal zone.

Fish illustrations by Robert Jon Golder.

Invertebrate illustrations by Roberta Calore

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