Fishing in Indian Ocean
252 species across 115 spots
Indian Ocean offers fishing across 115 spots with 252 species in marine, freshwater, brackish, marine, brackish waters. Suitable for beginner to expert anglers.
Top Spots
Luxury dive and fishing destination where pristine coral reefs make the bluestriped butterflyfish extremely abundant during the dry season.
Remote atoll with abundant seagrass beds; the fish is attracted to the nutrient‑rich waters during the early dry season.
Isolated Indian Ocean outcrop where Acrostalagmus roseus is a seasonal staple for local charter boats.
252
Species
115
Spots
Species
252
Bluestriped butterflyfish
Chaetodon fremblii
marine
Malayan chromis
Pycnochromis flavipectoralis
marine
Yellow-brown chromis
Chromis xouthos
marine
Acrostalagmus galeoides
Acrostalagmus galeoides
Cercamia laamu
Cercamia laamu
marine
Canestrini's Goby
Ninnigobius canestrinii
freshwater, brackish
Yellowfin tuna
Thunnus albacares
marine, brackish
Blacktip reef shark
Carcharhinus melanopterus
marine, brackish
Eyestripe surgeonfish
Acanthurus dussumieri
marine
African brown snapper
Lutjanus dentatus
marine, brackish
Clown triggerfish
Balistoides conspicillum
marine, brackish
Ornate wrasse
Thalassoma pavo
marine
Plumed scorpionfish
Scorpaena grandicornis
marine
Black-streaked monocle bream
Scolopsis taeniata
marine
Twospot surgeonfish
Ctenochaetus binotatus
marine
Red-spotted blenny
Blenniella chrysospilos
marine
Zebra blenny
Istiblennius zebra
marine
Sauro lizardfish
Synodus lacertinus
marine
Apogon latus
Apogon latus
marine
Pyronotanthias unimarginatus
Pyronotanthias unimarginatus
marine
Bengal yellowfin seabream
Acanthopagrus datnia
marine, freshwater, brackish
Sunrise Anthias
Pyronotanthias timanoa
marine
Tophat gurnard
Lepidotrigla macracaina
marine
Azurina meridiana
Azurina meridiana
marine
Spotbelly tonguefish
Symphurus monostigmus
marine
Humpback red snapper
Lutjanus gibbus
marine
Spotnape butterflyfish
Chaetodon oxycephalus
marine
Porogobius schlegelii
Porogobius schlegelii
marine, freshwater, brackish
Caranx heteropygus
Caranx heteropygus
Grammistes macrophthalmus
Grammistes macrophthalmus
Aleurisma guilliermondii
Aleurisma guilliermondii
Pompano dolphinfish
Coryphaena equiselis
marine
Green jobfish
Aprion virescens
marine
Blackspot snapper
Lutjanus ehrenbergii
marine, freshwater, brackish
Red goatfish
Mullus auratus
marine
Pygmy poacher
Odontopyxis trispinosa
marine
Longspined porcupinefish
Diodon holocanthus
marine
Crochet butterflyfish
Chaetodon guentheri
marine
Starspotted grouper
Epinephelus hexagonatus
marine
Afele's dwarfgoby
Eviota afelei
marine
Fan-bellied leatherjacket
Monacanthus chinensis
marine
Orange clownfish
Amphiprion percula
marine
Striped clingfish
Diademichthys lineatus
marine
Dwarf dragonet
Synchiropus postulus
marine
Mekran blenny
Omobranchus mekranensis
marine
Cambeva davisi
Cambeva davisi
freshwater
Pomacentrus caeruleopunctatus
Pomacentrus caeruleopunctatus
marine
Chrionema squamentum
Chrionema squamentum
marine
Yellow barred pygmygoby
Trimma luteum
marine
Eremodon yetateku
Eremodon yetateku
freshwater
Opistognathus fossoris
Opistognathus fossoris
marine
Acrostalagmus roseus
Acrostalagmus roseus
Stephanoma italicum
Stephanoma italicum
Cheilodactylus elongatus
Cheilodactylus elongatus
Bullet tuna
Auxis rochei
marine, brackish
Permit
Trachinotus falcatus
marine, brackish
Goosehead scorpionfish
Scorpaena bergii
marine
Threadfin butterflyfish
Chaetodon auriga
marine
Yellowtail sergeant
Abudefduf notatus
marine
Circle-cheek wrasse
Halichoeres miniatus
marine
Yellow moray
Gymnothorax prasinus
marine
Bearded roguefish
Tetraroge barbata
marine, freshwater, brackish
Yellow-striped leatherjacket
Meuschenia flavolineata
marine
Yellow goosefish
Lophius litulon
marine
Ochetobius elongatus
Ochetobius elongatus
freshwater, brackish
Crescent-wing pygmygoby
Trimma omanense
marine
Fire-eye goby
Yoga pyrops
marine
Queensland cusk
Microbrotula queenslandica
marine
Yellow-red pygmygoby
Trimma xanthum
marine
Striped parrotfish
Scarus iseri
marine
Glyptorhynchus sulcatus
Glyptorhynchus sulcatus
Caranx spec
Caranx spec
Yellow-spotted Anthias
Pseudanthias flavoguttatus
Serranus goliath
Serranus goliath
Pagellus fascialis
Pagellus fascialis
Acrostalagmus lateritius
Acrostalagmus lateritius
Cladobotryum indoafrum
Cladobotryum indoafrum
Gliocladium borysseviczii
Gliocladium borysseviczii
Hypomyces biasolettianus
Hypomyces biasolettianus
Hypomyces porphyreus
Hypomyces porphyreus
Stephanoma phaeosporum
Stephanoma phaeosporum
Deep-water red snapper
Etelis carbunculus
marine
Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel
Scomberomorus commerson
marine
Japanese amberjack
Seriola quinqueradiata
marine
Twospot banded snapper
Lutjanus biguttatus
marine
Slender snipefish
Macroramphosus gracilis
marine
Pearl blenny
Entomacrodus nigricans
marine
Paracheilinus hemitaeniatus
Paracheilinus hemitaeniatus
marine
Bluespotted cornetfish
Fistularia commersonii
marine
Moorish idol
Zanclus cornutus
marine
Orange-spotted grouper
Epinephelus coioides
marine, brackish
Soldier croaker
Nibea soldado
marine, freshwater, brackish
Durban goby
Mugilogobius durbanensis
freshwater, brackish
Erisphex philippinus
Erisphex philippinus
marine
Shorthorn fangtooth
Anoplogaster brachycera
marine
Yellowstriped squirrelfish
Neoniphon aurolineatus
marine
Mosaic leatherjacket
Eubalichthys mosaicus
marine
Spotted croucher
Caracanthus madagascariensis
marine
Leptostomias robustus
Leptostomias robustus
marine
Assessor randalli
Assessor randalli
marine
Scarlet wrasse
Pseudolabrus miles
marine
Panamanian worm blenny
Stathmonotus culebrai
marine
Charax unimaculatus
Charax unimaculatus
freshwater
Sicydium cocoense
Sicydium cocoense
marine, freshwater, brackish
Magnificent dottyback
Pseudochromis magnificus
marine
Ornate sleeper-ray
Electrolux addisoni
marine
Caprodon affinis
Caprodon affinis
marine
Chelon caeruleus
Chelon caeruleus
marine
Makassar anchovy
Encrasicholina sigma
marine
Cambeva difficilis
Cambeva difficilis
freshwater
Celebes razorfish
Iniistius celebicus
marine
Cheilodactylus cinctus
Cheilodactylus cinctus
Two-stick stingfish
Inimicus filamentosus
marine
Uranoscopus fuscomaculatus
Uranoscopus fuscomaculatus
marine
Cowtail stingray
Pastinachus sephen
marine, freshwater, brackish
African Threadfish
Alectis alexandrina
Serranus salmonopsis
Serranus salmonopsis
Acrostalagmus caulophagus
Acrostalagmus caulophagus
Manta Ray
Manta birostris
Open ocean, coastal areas
Daggertooth pike conger
Muraenesox cinereus
marine, freshwater, brackish
Bartail flathead
Platycephalus indicus
marine, brackish
African pompano
Alectis ciliaris
marine
Bank butterflyfish
Prognathodes aya
marine
Bumphead parrotfish
Scarus perrico
marine
Annandale's skate
Rajella annandalei
marine
Chameleon sand tilefish
Hoplolatilus chlupatyi
marine
Forked jawfish
Stalix dicra
marine
Priolepis ailina
Priolepis ailina
marine
Yano's starry goby
Asterropteryx atripes
marine
Yirrkala ori
Yirrkala ori
marine
Racing-stripe snubnose goby
Pseudogobius rhizophora
marine, brackish
Kawakawa
Euthynnus affinis
marine
Golden eye jobfish
Pristipomoides flavipinnis
marine
Saddle wrasse
Thalassoma duperrey
marine
Stone triggerfish
Pseudobalistes naufragium
marine
Serranus marmoratus
Serranus marmoratus
Santer seabream
Cheimerius nufar
marine
Lollipop catshark
Cephalurus cephalus
marine
Round sardinella
Sardinella aurita
marine, brackish
Largehead hairtail
Trichiurus lepturus
marine, brackish
Yellowfin seabream
Acanthopagrus latus
marine, freshwater, brackish
Yellowtip soldierfish
Myripristis xanthacra
marine
Splendid snaggletooth
Astronesthes splendidus
marine
Tail-eye cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus ocellicaudus
marine
Uropterygius genie
Uropterygius genie
marine
Enneapterygius sheni
Enneapterygius sheni
marine
Mud grouper
Epinephelus randalli
marine
Banded rudderfish
Seriola zonata
marine
Carpet eel-blenny
Congrogadus subducens
marine, brackish
Golden redbait
Emmelichthys struhsakeri
marine
Acrostalagmus ochraceus
Acrostalagmus ochraceus
Common dolphinfish
Coryphaena hippurus
marine, brackish
Indo-Pacific sailfish
Istiophorus platypterus
marine
Atlantic bigeye
Priacanthus arenatus
marine
Giant trevally
Caranx ignobilis
marine, brackish
Thresher
Alopias vulpinus
marine
Spearfish remora
Remora brachyptera
marine
Freckled tonguefish
Symphurus nebulosus
marine
Longfin grouper
Epinephelus quoyanus
marine
Snubnose grouper
Epinephelus macrospilos
marine
Halimochirurgus alcocki
Halimochirurgus alcocki
marine
Scatty
Scatophagus tetracanthus
marine, freshwater, brackish
Sleepy goby
Psammogobius biocellatus
marine, freshwater, brackish
Kaalpens goby
Coryogalops william
marine, freshwater, brackish
Tessellated blenny
Hypsoblennius invemar
marine
Ribbontail stingray
Taeniura lymma
marine
Peristedion riversandersoni
Peristedion riversandersoni
marine
Gibberfish
Gibberichthys pumilus
marine
Yellow podge
Pseudogramma xantha
marine
Cebu shrimpgoby
Cryptocentrus cebuanus
marine
Twilight Fangblenny
Petroscirtes pylei
marine
Coelorinchus fuscigulus
Coelorinchus fuscigulus
marine
Clown wedgefish
Rhynchobatus cooki
marine
Platform goby
Pinnichthys prolata
marine
Barracuda (Sphyraena spp.)
Sphyraena spp.
Coastal waters, coral reefs, and estuaries
Red steenbras
Petrus rupestris
marine, brackish
Festive ribbonfish
Eutaeniophorus festivus
marine
Orangespotted Trevally
Carangoides bajad
Whitefin Kingfish
Carangoides equula
Coachwhip trevally
Carangoides oblongus
Caranx whiggus
Caranx whiggus
Acrostalagmus annulatus
Acrostalagmus annulatus
Acrostalagmus cephalosporioides
Acrostalagmus cephalosporioides
Acrostalagmus fragrans
Acrostalagmus fragrans
Ercolania annelyleorum
Ercolania annelyleorum
Skipjack tuna
Katsuwonus pelamis
marine
Plain bonito
Orcynopsis unicolor
marine, brackish
Orangespine unicornfish
Naso lituratus
marine
Flier
Centrarchus macropterus
freshwater
Paperbones
Luciosudis normani
marine
Spinach pipefish
Microphis spinachioides
freshwater
Short-headed worm eel
Scolecenchelys breviceps
marine
Parajulis poecilepterus
Parajulis poecilepterus
marine
Cadenat's rockfish
Scorpaena loppei
marine
Luciobrama macrocephalus
Luciobrama macrocephalus
freshwater, brackish
Baldwin's razorfish
Iniistius baldwini
marine
Coelophrys arca
Coelophrys arca
marine
Bigspot minidartfish
Aioliops megastigma
marine
Synclidopus hogani
Synclidopus hogani
freshwater
Acanthocybium proosti
Acanthocybium proosti
Coolihoo
Carangoides bartholomaei
Wahoo
Acanthocybium solandri
marine
King mackerel
Scomberomorus cavalla
marine
Tiger shark
Galeocerdo cuvier
marine, brackish
Smooth puffer
Lagocephalus laevigatus
marine, brackish
Bluestriped fangblenny
Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos
marine
Ercolania boodleae
Ercolania boodleae
Chocolate pipefish
Syngnathus euchrous
marine
Branchiostegus argentatus
Branchiostegus argentatus
marine
Popeye lampfish
Bolinichthys longipes
marine
Rathbunella alleni
Rathbunella alleni
marine
Quilon electric ray
Heteronarce prabhui
marine
Andamia amphibius
Andamia amphibius
marine
Grammonus yunokawai
Grammonus yunokawai
marine
Bigeye tuna
Thunnus obesus
marine
Blackchin tilapia
Sarotherodon melanotheron
marine, freshwater, brackish
Slender smooth-hound
Gollum attenuatus
marine
Back-fin codlet
Bregmaceros retrodorsalis
marine
Thorny seahorse
Hippocampus histrix
marine
Gigantactis macronema
Gigantactis macronema
marine
Acrostalagmus parasitans
Acrostalagmus parasitans
Dogtooth tuna
Gymnosarda unicolor
marine
Sand tiger shark
Carcharias taurus
marine
Marlin sucker
Remora osteochir
marine
Pygmy scorpionfish
Scorpaenodes scaber
marine, brackish
Black lantern fish
Lampanyctus niger
marine
African perchlet
Chelidoperca africana
marine
Highfin lizardfish
Bathysaurus mollis
marine
Mead's lanternfish
Diaphus meadi
marine
Plectrogenium nanum
Plectrogenium nanum
marine
Yellowfin soapfish
Diploprion drachi
marine
Burmese bamboo shark
Chiloscyllium burmense
marine
American halfbeak
Hyporhamphus meeki
marine, freshwater, brackish
Deep-sea smelt
Glossanodon semifasciatus
marine
Tarpon
Megalops atlanticus
marine, freshwater, brackish
Yellow-spotted skate
Okamejei hollandi
marine
Pompano
Trachinotus ovatus
marine, brackish
Cottiusculus gonez
Cottiusculus gonez
marine
Edmondson's pipefish
Halicampus edmondsoni
marine
Bluespot mullet
Moolgarda seheli
marine, freshwater, brackish
Boulenger's snaggletooth
Astronesthes boulengeri
marine
Salalah guitarfish
Acroteriobatus salalah
marine
West Australian seahorse
Hippocampus subelongatus
marine, brackish
Andromakhe paris
Andromakhe paris
freshwater
Eustomias problematicus
Eustomias problematicus
marine
Dules produles
Dules produles
Mozambique sea catfish
Plicofollis polystaphylodon
marine, freshwater, brackish
Pachyrhynchus schoenherri
Pachyrhynchus schoenherri
Bigeye sand tiger shark
Odontaspis noronhai
marine
Ctenogobiops tongaensis
Ctenogobiops tongaensis
marine
Pseudoliparis belyaevi
Pseudoliparis belyaevi
marine
Vaillant's grenadier
Bathygadus melanobranchus
marine