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
Sportfishing in B.C.
Sportfishing in British Columbia is a popular recreational activity that anyone can participate due to its availability and...
Basic Licence Carry and Production Requirements in B.C.
When fishing, you are legally required to produce your fishing licence and government issued photo ID upon request of an...
New Drain Plug Regulations
Pull the plug! It’s the law! Effective May 17 2024 In B.C. it is now illegal to transport your watercraft with the drain plug...