List of fishes of Alaska

Last updated August 31, 2025

Alaska has a large diversity of marine and freshwater fish found in its waters. the following is a list of species, both native and introduced

Native Species

Class Petromyzonti (Lampreys)

Family Petromyzontidae (Northern Lampreys)

Genus Entosphenus
- Entosphenus tridentatus (Pacific Lamprey)
Genus Lethenteron
- Lethenteron camtschaticum (Arctic Lamprey)

Class Chondrichthyes (Cartilaginous Fish)

Family Rajidae (Skates)

Genus Bathyraja
- Bathyraja abyssicola (Deepsea Skate)
- Bathyraja aleutica (Aleutian Skate)
- Bathyraja interrupta (Sandpaper Skate)
- Bathyraja maculata (Whiteblotched Skate)
- Bathyraja matsubarai (Dusky-purple Skate)
- Bathyraja minispinosa (Smallthorn Skate)
- Bathyraja parmifera (Alaska Skate)
- Bathyraja taranetzi (Mud Skate)
Genus Raja
- Raja binoculata (Big Skate)
- Raja rhina (Longnose Skate)

Family Squalidae (Dogfish Sharks)

Genus Squalus
- Squalus suckleyi (Pacific Spiny Dogfish)

Family Somniosidae (Sleeper Sharks)

Genus Somniosus
- Somniosus pacificus (Pacific Sleeper Shark)

Family Lamnidae (Mackerel Sharks)

Genus Lamna
- Lamna ditropis (Salmon Shark)
Genus Carcharodon
- Carcharodon carcharias (Great White Shark) — Rare visitor
Genus Cetorhinus
- Cetorhinus maximus (Basking Shark) — Seasonal visitor

Family Carcharhinidae (Requiem Sharks)

Genus Prionace
- Prionace glauca (Blue Shark)

Family Alopiidae (Thresher Sharks)

Genus Alopias
- Alopias vulpinus (Common Thresher Shark)

Family Chimaeridae (Ghost Sharks)

Genus Hydrolagus
- Hydrolagus colliei (Spotted Ratfish) — Southeastern Alaska

Class Actinopterygii (Ray-Finned Fishes)

Family Acipenseridae (Sturgeons)

Genus Acipenser
- Acipenser medirostris (Green Sturgeon) — Rare, southeastern Alaska

Family Clupeidae (Herrings)

Genus Clupea
- Clupea pallasii (Pacific Herring)

Family Salmonidae (Salmon, Trout, Chars, and Whitefish)

Genus Oncorhynchus
- Oncorhynchus gorbuscha (Pink Salmon)
- Oncorhynchus keta (Chum Salmon)
- Oncorhynchus kisutch (Coho Salmon)
- Oncorhynchus nerka (Sockeye Salmon)
- Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Chinook Salmon)
- Oncorhynchus mykiss (Rainbow Trout / Steelhead) — Primarily in Southeast and South Central
Genus Salvelinus
- Salvelinus malma (Dolly Varden)
- Salvelinus alpinus (Arctic Char)
- Salvelinus confluentus (Bull Trout) — Southeastern Alaska
Genus Prosopium
- Prosopium cylindraceum (Round Whitefish)
- Prosopium williamsoni (Mountain Whitefish)
Genus Coregonus (Whitefishes and Ciscos)
- Coregonus autumnalis (Arctic Cisco)
- Coregonus laurettae (Bering Cisco)
- Coregonus nasus (Broad Whitefish)
- Coregonus nelsonii (Alaska Whitefish)
- Coregonus pidschian (Humpback Whitefish)
- Coregonus sardinella (Least Cisco)
Genus Thymallus
- Thymallus arcticus (Arctic grayling)

Genus Stenodus
- Stenodus leucichthys (Sheefish / Inconnu)

Family Osmeridae (Smelts)

Genus Hypomesus
- Hypomesus pretiosus (Surf Smelt)
- Hypomesus transpacificus (Delta Smelt) — Yukon River drainage
Genus Mallotus
- Mallotus villosus (Capelin)
Genus Osmerus
- Osmerus mordax (Rainbow Smelt)
Genus Spirinchus
- Spirinchus thaleichthys (Longfin Smelt)
Genus Thaleichthys
- Thaleichthys pacificus (Eulachon / Hooligan)

Family Gadidae (Cods)

Genus Gadus
- Gadus macrocephalus (Pacific Cod)
- Gadus chalcogrammus (Walleye Pollock)
Genus Arctogadus
- Arctogadus glacialis (Arctic Cod)
Genus Boreogadus
- Boreogadus saida (Polar Cod)
Genus Eleginus
- Eleginus gracilis (Saffron Cod)
Genus Microgadus
- Microgadus proximus (Pacific Tomcod)
Genus Lota
- Lota lota (Burbot)

Family Pleuronectidae (Righteye Flounders)

Genus Hippoglossus
- Hippoglossus stenolepis (Pacific Halibut)
Genus Atheresthes
- Atheresthes evermanni (Kamchatka Flounder)
- Atheresthes stomias (Arrowtooth Flounder)
Genus Reinhardtius
- Reinhardtius hippoglossoides (Greenland Turbot)
Genus Platichthys
- Platichthys stellatus (Starry Flounder)
Genus Lepidopsetta
- Lepidopsetta bilineata (Rock Sole)
- Lepidopsetta polyxystra (Northern Rock Sole)
Genus Pleuronectes
- Pleuronectes quadrituberculatus (Alaska Plaice)
Genus Limanda
- Limanda aspera (Yellowfin Sole)
- Limanda proboscidea (Longhead Dab)
Genus Glyptocephalus
- Glyptocephalus zachirus (Rex Sole)
Genus Lyopsetta
- Lyopsetta exilis (Slender Sole)

Family Hexagrammidae (Greenlings)

Genus Hexagrammos
- Hexagrammos decagrammus (Kelp Greenling)
- Hexagrammos lagocephalus (Rock Greenling)
- Hexagrammos octogrammus (Masked Greenling)
- Hexagrammos stelleri (Whitespotted Greenling)
Genus Ophiodon
- Ophiodon elongatus (Lingcod)
Genus Pleurogrammus
- Pleurogrammus monopterygius (Atka Mackerel)

Family Scorpaenidae (Scorpionfishes)

Genus Sebastes (Rockfishes)
- Sebastes alutus (Pacific Ocean Perch)
- Sebastes aurora (Aurora Rockfish)
- Sebastes babcocki (Redbanded Rockfish)
- Sebastes borealis (Shortraker Rockfish)
- Sebastes brevispinis (Silvergray Rockfish)
- Sebastes caurinus (Copper Rockfish)
- Sebastes crameri (Darkblotched Rockfish)
- Sebastes diploproa (Splitnose Rockfish)
- Sebastes elongatus (Greenstriped Rockfish)
- Sebastes entomelas (Widow Rockfish)
- Sebastes flavidus (Yellowtail Rockfish)
- Sebastes helvomaculatus (Rosethorn Rockfish)
- Sebastes maliger (Quillback Rockfish)
- Sebastes melanops (Black Rockfish)
- Sebastes melanostomus (Blackgill Rockfish)
- Sebastes mentella (Deepwater Redfish)
- Sebastes miniatus (Vermilion Rockfish)
- Sebastes mystinus (Blue Rockfish)
- Sebastes nebulosus (China Rockfish)
- Sebastes nigrocinctus (Tiger Rockfish)
- Sebastes paucispinis (Bocaccio)
- Sebastes polyspinis (Northern Rockfish)
- Sebastes proriger (Redstripe Rockfish)
- Sebastes reedi (Yellowmouth Rockfish)
- Sebastes ruberrimus (Yelloweye Rockfish)
- Sebastes variegatus (Harlequin Rockfish)
- Sebastes variabilis (Dusky Rockfish)
- Sebastes zacentrus (Sharpchin Rockfish)
Genus Sebastolobus (Thornyheads)
- Sebastolobus alascanus (Shortspine Thornyhead)
- Sebastolobus altivelis (Longspine Thornyhead)

Family Cottidae (Sculpins)

Genus Myoxocephalus
- Myoxocephalus jaok (Plain Sculpin)
- Myoxocephalus polyacanthocephalus (Great Sculpin)
- Myoxocephalus scorpius (Shorthorn Sculpin)
- Myoxocephalus verrucosus (Warthead Sculpin)
Genus Hemilepidotus
- Hemilepidotus hemilepidotus (Red Irish Lord)
- Hemilepidotus jordani (Yellow Irish Lord)
- Hemilepidotus papilio (Butterfly Sculpin)
- Hemilepidotus spinosus (Brown Irish Lord)
Genus Gymnocanthus
- Gymnocanthus pistilliger (Naked Sandfish)
- Gymnocanthus tricuspis (Arctic Staghorn Sculpin)
Genus Icelus
- Icelus bicornis (Twohorn Sculpin)
- Icelus spatula (Spatulate Sculpin)
- Icelus spiniger (Thorny Sculpin)
Genus Artediellus
- Artediellus pacificus (Hookhorn Sculpin)
Genus Enophrys
- Enophrys bison (Buffalo Sculpin)
- Enophrys lucasi (Leister Sculpin)
Genus Megalocottus
- Megalocottus platycephalus (Belligerent Sculpin)
Genus Scorpaenichthys
- Scorpaenichthys marmoratus (Cabezon)
Genus Triglops
- Triglops macellus (Roughspine Sculpin)
- Triglops metopias (Scissortail Sculpin)
- Triglops pingelii (Ribbed Sculpin)

Family Anoplopomatidae (Sablefishes)

Genus Anoplopoma
- Anoplopoma fimbria (Sablefish / Black Cod)
Genus Erilepis
- Erilepis zonifer (Skilfish)

Family Zoarcidae (Eelpouts)

Genus Lycodes
- Lycodes brevipes (Shortfin Eelpout)
- Lycodes diapterus (Black Eelpout)
- Lycodes palearis (Wattled Eelpout)
- Lycodes pacificus (Blackbelly Eelpout)
- Lycodes raridens (Marbled Eelpout)
Genus Lycodapus
- Lycodapus mandibularis (Pale Eelpout)
Genus Bothrocara
- Bothrocara molle (Soft Eelpout)
Genus Zoarces
- Zoarces americanus (Ocean Pout) — Rare in AK

Family Stichaeidae (Pricklebacks)

Genus Lumpenus
- Lumpenus fabricii (Slender Eelblenny)
- Lumpenus medius (Stout Eelblenny)
Genus Anisarchus
- Anisarchus medius (Stout Eelblenny)
Genus Leptoclinus
- Leptoclinus maculatus (Daubed Shanny)
Genus Chirolophis
- Chirolophis nugator (Mosshead Warbonnet)
- Chirolophis polyactocephalus (Decorated Warbonnet)
Genus Plectobranchus
- Plectobranchus evides (Bluebarred Prickleback)

Family Pholidae (Gunnels)

Genus Pholis
- Pholis laeta (Crescent Gunnel)
- Pholis ornata (Saddleback Gunnel)
Genus Apodichthys
- Apodichthys fucorum (Rockweed Gunnel)

Family Liparidae (Snailfishes)

Genus Liparis
- Liparis cyclopus (Ribbon Snailfish)
- Liparis dennyi (Marbled Snailfish)
- Liparis fucensis (Slipskin Snailfish)
- Liparis gibbus (Polka-dot Snailfish)
Genus Paraliparis
- Paraliparis cephalus (Pearly Snailfish)
- Paraliparis deani (Paddle Snailfish)

Family Cyclopteridae (Lumpfishes)

Genus Cyclopteropsis
- Cyclopteropsis inarmatus (Smooth Lumpfish)
Genus Eumicrotremus
- Eumicrotremus orbis (Pacific Spiny Lumpsucker)
- Eumicrotremus phrynoides (Toad Lumpsucker)
Genus Aptocyclus
- Aptocyclus ventricosus (Smooth Lumpsucker)

Introduced Species

Due to Alaska's focus on managing its pristine native fisheries, introductions are rare and typically discouraged. A few species have been introduced to specific lakes for sport fishing.

Genus Salvelinus
- Salvelinus fontinalis (Brook Trout)
- Salvelinus namaycush (Lake Trout)
Genus Oncorhynchus
- Oncorhynchus aguabonita (Golden Trout) — Stocked in isolated high-elevation lakes
Genus Salmo
- Salmo trutta (Brown Trout) — Very rare introductions

References

"Alaska Department of Fish and Game - Species". Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
"NOAA Fisheries - Alaska Region". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
"Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database - Alaska". U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
"A Guide to the Rockfishes (Scorpaenidae) of Alaska". NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
"Sharks, Skates, and Rays of Alaska" (PDF). Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
"Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands". NOAA Fisheries. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
"Salmon Species in Alaska". Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
"Arctic Marine Fish Fauna". NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
"The Fishes of Alaska" (PDF). NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center. Retrieved 22 May 2024.

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