Discover the 11 Biggest Fish Found in the U.S. Waters

The waters of the United States hold a huge variety of fish species that live in its lakes, rivers, and coastal areas. From the Pacific Ocean to the Great Lakes and more, the country boasts a huge variety of fish that are worth getting to know. Interestingly, some of the fish found in the United States are among some of the biggest fish in the world. In fact, some of these fish can measure over 40 feet! Have you ever wondered which fish in the United States are the biggest in the country? Well, wonder no more! In this article, we’ll go over the 11 biggest fish found in U.S. waters. Whether it be a saltwater giant or a freshwater monster, these giant fish and their mere size and weight are sure to amaze you. So, let’s dive in and get to know these massive fish!

1. Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) – 40+ Feet

The whale shark is the largest fish in the world and can also be found in U.S. waters. These fish can grow to an incredible 40+ feet long and weigh between 15 and 20 tons! This species has a shark’s body with an enormous mouth. In fact, the mouth can grow over 5 feet wide, which allows them to scoop up food while they swim. The whale shark is dark gray on the dorsal side and is covered in light spots or stripes, while the ventral side of the fish is light white in color.

Whale sharks can be found in tropical and warm temperate seas. In the United States, these fish swim around the western Atlantic Ocean.

The whale shark’s diet largely consists of plankton. Despite their size, these huge fish do not hunt down large prey. Instead, they eat smaller prey such as anchovies, jellyfish, crabs, and squid. They consume prey passively, eating whatever comes into their gigantic mouth while swimming. And then, they filter out the plankton using specialized structures called gill rakers.

2. Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus) – up to 40 Feet

The basking shark is also commonly known as the bone shark or elephant shark. This beautiful fish is the second biggest fish in the world; it can grow up to 40 feet long and weigh up to 10,000 pounds! The color of the basking shark ranges from a brownish gray to black, with some individuals having mottled skin. The gills of the basking shark nearly encircle the entire body. These gills have gill rakers, which help filter and catch the plankton in the water. These sharks also have large mouths and a crescent-shaped tail.

Basking sharks prefer cool to temperate climates. They have a massive distribution that covers stretches of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. They can often be found floating or swimming along the surface of the water because that is a prime location for prey.

Basking sharks have a relatively long lifespan compared to other shark species. They can live for several decades, with some individuals reaching up to 50 plus years of age!

3. Greenland Shark (Somniosus microcephalus) – up to 24 Feet

The Greenland shark, also known as gurry shark or gray shark, is a large shark that is part of the family of sleeper sharks. This shark is not only one of the largest living species of sharks in the world, but it also has the longest known lifespan of vertebrates. They are estimated to live between 250 and 500 years! Talk about a living fossil!

The Greenland shark can grow up to 24 feet long and weigh up to 2,200 pounds. The coloration of these sharks ranges from pale creamy-gray to blackish-brown. Some may also have white spots or dark streaks on the dorsal side.

You can find the Greenland shark in the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, but they can also be found on the coast of the southeastern United States. They swim at varying depths, from near the surface to depths of over 7,000 feet.

This opportunistic carnivore is not picky and will eat anything, including fish, seabirds, seals, and squids. Strangely, this shark is not very fast and is not known for its speed. In fact, this species can only achieve a speed of around 1.6 miles per hour at most. However, despite being slow, they are apex predators and do not need to worry about swimming away from predators.

4. Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) – up to 24 Feet

The tiger shark will generally grow between 10 and 14 feet long and weigh between 850 and 1,400 pounds. However, larger individuals have been known to grow up to 24 feet long and 2,000 pounds heavy! The tiger shark has smooth gray skin with dark gray or black stripes. Like many other sharks, the underside of the tiger shark is white in color. The nose of the tiger shark is broad and rounded in shape, and its teeth are curved and serrated.

The tiger shark inhabits tropical waters and, in North America, swims around the Gulf of Mexico. These predators have a diet that consists of squid, sea turtles, dolphins, fish, and rays. Known predators of the tiger shark include killer whales and humans.

5. Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias) – up to 20 Feet

The great white shark is an unmistakably large fish in U.S. waters. These fantastic creatures can grow up to 20 feet long and weigh 4,000 pounds. They are known for their aggressive nature and infamous for their attacks on humans.

The great white shark has a torpedo-shaped body and a pointed snout. Their dorsal fin is very prominent and helps them to balance and steer through the water. One of the most prominent features of this type of shark is its teeth – each shark has 300 serrated, triangular teeth that are continuously replaced throughout their entire lives. Their skin is tough and is covered in denticles or tiny teeth, that are slate-gray to black in color. The shark’s underside is white, which is where this mighty fish gets its name.

Great white sharks are mostly found in temperate and tropical coastal regions and the open ocean. In the United States, you can spot these sharks in California and the Northeast. These sharks will either swim below the surface or off the ocean floor.

Great whites hunt seals, dolphins, sea lions, and even sea turtles. To detect prey, great white sharks use their sense of smell, and then they attack with great speed and force, making them successful predators.

6. White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) – up to 20 Feet

The first non-shark fish on our list of the biggest fish found in U.S. waters is the white sturgeon. This fish is very large with bony plates and lives in both freshwater and saltwater environments. White sturgeons can grow up to 20 feet long and weigh up to 1,800 pounds. Although the name suggests otherwise, the white sturgeon is not predominantly white. In fact, the dorsal side of the fish is grey or brown, while only the ventral side is white in color. The body of the white sturgeon closely resembles that of a shark.

The white sturgeon can be found in U.S., Canadian, and Mexican waters. In the United States, you may find these fish inhabiting Alaska Bay, Washington, Oregon, and California.

The white sturgeon’s diet mainly consists of other fish, such as salmon and flounder, but this fish will also eat smaller prey like shrimp, clams, and larvae. Fun fact: white sturgeons eat their prey by sucking them into their mouths and swallowing them whole.

7. Megamouth Shark (Megachasma pelagios) – up to 18 Feet

The megamouth shark is the seventh biggest fish found in U.S. waters. This huge fish can grow between 13 and 18 feet in length and weigh up to 2,700 pounds. The dorsal aspect of the megamouth shark is brown, black, or gray in color. On the flip side, the ventral aspect is generally creamy or white. The shark is covered in tiny tooth-like scales known as denticles. These scales protect the sharks from sharp rocks and parasites. And, of course, as this fish’s name suggests, the megamouth shark has a massive mouth – it can measure four feet wide! Furthermore, this shark’s teeth are small and hooked.

These sharks swim in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. This rarely-seen deepwater shark can be found in United States waters and has been reported to be sighted off the coast of California.

The megamouth shark is a filter-feeding shark. This means this shark swims with its mouth wide open and feeds on small prey that enter its mouth. The main prey of the megamouth shark consists of coopepods, plankton, jellyfish, and shrimp.

8. Great Hammerhead Shark (Sphyrna mokarran) – up to 15 Feet

The great hammerhead shark is the largest species of hammerhead shark. These sharks can grow to around 15 feet long and weigh up to 1,000 pounds. These gorgeous sharks have streamlined bodies with tall and curved dorsal fins. Their heads have a hammer-like shape, as their name suggests, and their eyes sit on the edge of their heads. They have excellent eyesight, and they have a 360-degree view of their surroundings. The great hammerhead shark is dark brown to light gray in color on its dorsal side, and they have a white coloration on the ventral side.

The great hammerhead shark is found worldwide and prefers shallow waters. These sharks are also found in U.S. waters, specifically in the Atlantic Ocean from North Carolina to Uruguay. They generally inhabit continental and insular coral reefs where prey is abundant. This shark species has a broad diet that includes stingrays, fish, crustaceans, and octopuses.

9. Alligator Gar (Atractosteus spatula) – up to 10 Feet

The alligator gar is a unique-looking fish species mostly found in the Southern United States’ lakes, waterways, and bays. This fish can tolerate changes to water salinity and can be found in both fresh and seawater. The alligator gar has a distinctive mouth, elongated and full of sharp teeth, similar to an alligator, hence their name. This fish has a torpedo-like body and a broad head and is brown or olive in color, with a light gray or yellow underbelly. Alligator gars can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh 350 pounds.

Alligator gars prefer slow-moving or still waters and are native to the southern United States, usually found in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida. Their diet is diverse as they are opportunistic feeders. Being voracious eaters, these fish will prey upon various animals such as fish, waterfowl, turtles, and even small mammals who venture too close to the water.

10. Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) – up to 7 Feet

Lake sturgeons have a unique appearance, with long slender bodies covered in bony plates. They have a long snout which is equipped with a pair of barbels. These allow them to detect electrical changes in the water and help them to locate their prey. Lake sturgeons are typically greenish-grey in color. They can grow up to 7 feet long and weigh up to 300 pounds in some cases!

Lake sturgeons are freshwater fish and live in many waterways across North America. Sadly, due to overfishing, these fish are not as widespread as they once were. But they can still be found in many of the Great Lakes and connecting rivers, as well as other lakes throughout the US and Canada.

The diet of lake sturgeon includes insect larvae, crustaceans, clams, and small fish.

11. Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) – up to 6 Feet

The muskellunge, also called a muskie, is a large predatory type of fish native to North America. This fish is close relative to the northern pike and pickerel and is a prized catch due to its impressive size.

Muskies have long, streamlined bodies with large mouths full of razor-sharp teeth. These fish have iridescent coloring ranging from greenish-gold to light brown, with a cream-colored belly. Their fins, however, are a dull reddish-brown. These large fish can grow up to 6 feet long and weigh up to 60 pounds.

These fish live in freshwater lakes and rivers across North America. Muskies like to spend their time in clean, clear waters with enough vegetation to provide hiding places. The temperature plays a big role in where you can find these fish. These fish prefer colder temperatures, so they will stay in deeper waters during the summer and venture closer to the surface when the weather cools.

Muskies are opportunistic feeders and will eat anything they consider food. Their most common prey includes smaller fish and insects.

Summary of the Biggest Fish Found in the United States

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