FISH SPECIES
B.C. Fish Species
British Columbia’s sport fish include salmon, trout, char, steelhead, sturgeon, rockfish, lingcod and halibut.
Aside from these popular species, there are also dozens of other less-known fish species that are found in this region. Here is a list of fish species that you may encounter when fishing in British Columbia.
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Category |
| American shad |
Alosa sapidissima |
Anadromous |
| Black rockfish |
Sebastes melanops |
Saltwater |
| Brook trout |
Salvelinus fontinalis |
Freshwater |
| Bull trout |
Salvelinus confluentus |
Anadromous, freshwater |
| Cabezone |
Scorpaenichthys marmoratus |
Saltwater |
| Chinook salmon |
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha |
Saltwater |
| Chub mackerel |
Scomber japonicus |
Saltwater |
| Chum salmon |
Oncorhynchus keta |
Anadromous |
| Coastal cutthroat trout |
Oncorhynchus clarki clarki |
Anadromous, freshwater |
| Coho salmon |
Oncorhyncus kisutch |
Anadromous |
| Common carp |
Cyprinus carpio |
Freshwater |
| Copper rockfish |
Sebastes caurinus |
Saltwater |
| English sole |
Parophrys vetulus |
Saltwater |
| Eulachon |
Thaleichthys pacificus |
Anadromous |
| Kokanee |
Oncorhynchus nerka |
Freshwater |
| Largemouth bass |
Micropterus salmoides |
Freshwater |
| Largescale sucker |
Catostomus macrocheilus |
Freshwater |
| Lingcod |
Ophiodon elongatus |
Saltwater |
| Mountain whitefish |
Prosopium williamsoni |
Freshwater |
| Northern pikeminnow |
Ptychocheilus oregonensis |
Freshwater |
| Pacific halibut |
Hippoglossus stenolepis |
Saltwater |
| Pacific herring |
Clupea pallasii |
Saltwater |
| Pacific sanddab |
Citharichthys sordidus |
Saltwater |
| Pacific sand lance |
Ammodytes hexapterus |
Saltwater |
| Pacific staghorn sculpin |
Leptocottus armatus |
Saltwater |
| Peamouth chub |
Mylcheilus caurinus |
Freshwater |
| Pink salmon |
Oncorhynchus gorbuscha |
Anadromous |
| Quillback rockfish |
Sebastes maliger |
Saltwater |
| Rainbow trout |
Oncorhynchus mykiss |
Freshwater |
| Redside shiner |
Richardsonius balteatus |
Freshwater |
| Shiner perch |
Cymatogaster aggregata |
Saltwater |
| Smallmouth bass |
Micropterus dolomieui |
Freshwater |
| Sockeye salmon |
Oncorhynchus nerka |
Anadromous |
| Spiny dogfish |
Squalus acanthias |
Saltwater |
| Starry flounder |
Platichthys stellatus |
Saltwater |
| Steelhead |
Oncorhynchus mykiss |
Anadromous |
| Westslope cutthroat trout |
Oncorhynchus clarki lewisi |
Freshwater |
| White spotted greenling |
Hexagrammos stelleri |
Saltwater |
| White sturgeon |
Acipenser transmontanus |
Anadromous, freshwater |
| Yellow perch |
Latest Posts
Catch and Release
Although being able to keep your catches for a fine meal is what draws most of us to fishing, there are times when a fish is...
Know Your B.C. Fishing Regulations
To fish in British Columbia, anglers need to know the fishing regulations that apply to the BC rivers, lakes and seas where they...
Getting Your License
Before you start fishing in British Columbia, you must purchase and carry the correct fishing licences and other additional...