Discover 7 Spectacular Fish Found in Mongolia

Mongolia is a landlocked country in Asia just north of China and south of Russia. Plenty of fascinating fish inhabit the cool deep lakes, crisp streams, and raging rivers. The Northern Arctic Basin includes many rivers and tributaries, including the Selenga River, one of the major waterways in Mongolia. Lake Khuvsgul in north-central Mongolia is the largest freshwater lake by volume in the country and supports a wide range of fish, including good-sized salmon and sturgeon. Have you heard of the “river wolf”? This is the nickname of one of the largest fish in Mongolia. What kind of fish can you find in the cool Altai Mountains? Read on to discover seven spectacular fish found in Mongolia!

1) Mongolian Taimen

The Mongolian taimen is one of the largest salmonids; some get to be the same size as the “king salmon” of North America. Their nickname is “river wolf” due to their aggressive nature and the way they hunt their prey. These agile hunters are quick to snag other fish but will attack birds and other small mammals if given the chance. Mongolian taimen have a trout-like look, long and narrow with a pointed head. They are brown to olive with dark spotting along their dorsal side. They average between 27-47 inches long (nearly 4 feet) and weigh between 33-66 pounds. However, the largest taimen was 61 inches long and weighed 92 pounds!

In Mongolia you can find these feisty fish in rivers like the Selenga, Orkhon, Eg, Delgermörön, Ider, Chuluut, and Onon River. Taimen prefer cool, large freshwater rivers that move swiftly. Anglers enjoy fly-fishing for taimen because they put up quite a fight. It is easy to see why the taimen is one of the most spectacular fish in Mongolia!

2) Lenok Trout

These trout have a shimmering coloration, with a reddish back dotted with black spots and a golden hue. They have a slightly forked tail and a pointed snout. Lenok trout are in the 18-inch – 22-inch range and can weigh around 20-22 pounds. The Amur River system in eastern Mongolia is a popular place to find these unique trout. The Amur River flows along the border of China and Russia, but the drainage basin spreads across the border into Magnolia as well.

3) Amur Pike

Another fish from the Amur River system is the Amur pike. These long narrow pike are very similar to the northern pike of North America. They are sometimes called the spotted pike due to the obvious black spots all over their bodies, fins, and tail. Amur pike can get to be 3 feet 9 inches long and weigh up to 28 pounds. One of the largest Amur pike ever caught was from the Khalkh River in eastern Mongolia. Stan Dabrowski reeled in this spectacular 27-pound, 47- inch spotted fish.

4) Grayling

There are several grayling species found in Mongolia including two that are native to the country. Graylings have a spectacular fanned dorsal fin that reflects the light, shimmering in a multitude of colors. The scales on their sides are iridescent purple, orange, red, and pink. In general, these truly beautiful fish range in size from 12-24 inches long and can weigh up to five pounds. The two endemic species of graylings in Mongolia are the Mongolian grayling and the Khuvsgul grayling. Khuvsguls are darker in color and can be found in Lake Khuvsgul. The Mongolian subspecies inhabits the cool lakes and streams of the Altai Mountains. Other graylings living in Mongolia include the Amur, Baikal, and Arctic graylings.

5) Altai Osman

The Altai Osman is one of the unique fish you can find in the beautiful Altai Mountains. The mountain range is in western Mongolia and bleeds over into neighboring Russia, Kazakhstan, and China. The Altai Osman only inhabits Mongolia and parts of Siberia, making it unique to the region. They are in the cyprinid family along with minnows and carp. Altai Osman have a big gaping mouth and gold to silver scales, with a slightly forked tail. As a heavy bodied fish, they can get up to 24 pounds and reach about 24 inches in length.

6) Siberian Sturgeon

Although this fish is only occasionally found in the Selenga River in northern Mongolia, it is truly a spectacular fish. Unfortunately, they are critically endangered, with overfishing and dam construction the major reasons for their decline. They are now limited to a few areas across Russia, Kazakhstan, and sometimes northern Mongolia.

The Siberian sturgeon is a long-living fish that gets to be 60+ years old! Sturgeons have a covering made of scutes, which are bony plates that provide protection along their bodies. Their long torpedo shaped bodies can get to be 6 ½ feet long and some can weigh as much as 450 pounds; however, most are considerably smaller. They may seem intimidating, but their mouths are toothless, so they cannot bite!

7) Amur Catfish

The Amur catfish inhabits the Amur River system in eastern Mongolia, especially in the Onon River. They are more populous in Russia and Japan. It is actually sometimes called the Japanese common catfish. Instead of scales, Amur catfish have smooth skin in a protective mucus, which gives them a slippery look. They average around 12-24 inches long, although they can get much bigger. In Mongolia, residents highly value the tasty Amur catfish!