Washington state 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 Lampetra Lampetra ayresii (Western River Lamprey) Lampetra richardsoni (Western Brook Lamprey)
Class Chondrichthyes (Cartilaginous Fish) Family Rajidae (Skates) Genus Beringraja Beringraja binoculata (Big Skate) Genus Raja Raja stellulata (Pacific Starry Skate)
Family Squalidae (Dogfish Sharks) Genus Squalus Squalus suckleyi (Pacific Spiny Dogfish)
Family Carcharhinidae (Requiem Sharks) Genus Prionace Prionace glauca (Blue Shark) Genus Carcharhinus Carcharhinus obscurus (Dusky Shark) Uncommon visitor
Family Lamnidae (Mackerel Sharks) Genus Lamna Lamna ditropis (Salmon Shark) Genus Carcharodon Carcharodon carcharias (White Shark) Rare seasonal visitor Genus Cetorhinus Cetorhinus maximus (Basking Shark) Seasonal visitor
Family Alopiidae (Thresher Sharks) Genus Alopias Alopias vulpinus (Common Thresher Shark)
Family Hexanchidae (Cow Sharks) Genus Notorynchus Genus Hexanchus Notorynchus cepedianus (Broadnose Sevengill Shark) Hexanchus griseus (Bluntnose Sixgill Shark)
Family Chimaeridae (Shortnose Chimaeras) Genus Hydrolagus Hydrolagus colliei (Spotted Ratfish)
Class Actinopterygii (Ray-Finned Fishes)
Family Acipenseridae (Sturgeons) Genus Acipenser Acipenser medirostris (Green Sturgeon) Acipenser transmontanus (White Sturgeon)
Family Clupeidae (Herrings, Shads, and Sardines) Genus Alosa Alosa sapidissima (American Shad) Genus Clupea Clupea pallasii (Pacific Herring)
Family Salmonidae (Salmon, Trout, Chars, and Whitefish) Genus Oncorhynchus Oncorhynchus clarkii (Cutthroat Trout) Oncorhynchus gorbuscha (Pink Salmon) Oncorhynchus keta (Chum Salmon) Oncorhynchus kisutch (Coho Salmon) Oncorhynchus mykiss (Rainbow Trout / Steelhead) Oncorhynchus nerka (Sockeye Salmon / Kokanee) Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Chinook Salmon) Genus Salvelinus Salvelinus confluentus (Bull Trout) Salvelinus malma (Dolly Varden) Genus Prosopium Prosopium cylindraceum (Mountain Whitefish) Genus Coregonus Coregonus clupeaformis (Lake Whitefish) Coregonus zenithicus (Shortjaw Cisco)
Family Osmeridae (Smelts) Genus Hypomesus Hypomesus pretiosus (Surf Smelt) Hypomesus transpacificus (Longfin Smelt) Genus Spirinchus Spirinchus thaleichthys (Longfin Smelt) Genus Thaleichthys Thaleichthys pacificus (Eulachon)
Family Umbridae (Mudminnows) Genus Novumbra Novumbra hubbsi (Olympic Mudminnow)
Family Esocidae (Pikes) Genus Esox Esox lucius (Northern Pike) Introduced
Family Cyprinidae (Carps and Minnows) Genus Acrocheilus Acrocheilus alutaceus (Chiselmouth) Genus Mylocheilus Mylocheilus caurinus (Peamouth) Genus Ptychocheilus Ptychocheilus oregonensis (Northern Pikeminnow) Genus Richardsonius Richardsonius balteatus (Redside Shiner) Genus Rhinichthys Rhinichthys cataractae (Longnose Dace) Rhinichthys osculus (Speckled Dace)
Family Catostomidae (Suckers) Genus Catostomus Catostomus catostomus (Longnose Sucker) Catostomus columbianus (Bridgelip Sucker) Catostomus macrocheilus (Largescale Sucker) Catostomus platyrhynchus (Mountain Sucker)
Family Gadidae (Cods) Genus Microgadus Microgadus proximus (Pacific Tomcod) Genus Gadus Gadus macrocephalus (Pacific Cod)
Family Gasterosteidae (Sticklebacks) Genus Gasterosteus Gasterosteus aculeatus (Threespine Stickleback) Genus Pungitius Pungitius pungitius (Ninespine Stickleback)
Family Cottidae (Sculpins) Genus Cottus Cottus aleuticus (Coastrange Sculpin) Cottus asper (Prickly Sculpin) Cottus cognatus (Slimy Sculpin) Cottus confusus (Shorthead Sculpin) Cottus perifretum (Riffle Sculpin) Cottus rhotheus (Torrent Sculpin) Genus Oligocottus Oligocottus maculosus (Mosshead Sculpin) Genus Scorpaenichthys Scorpaenichthys marmoratus (Cabezon)
Family Embiotocidae (Surfperches) Genus Cymatogaster Cymatogaster aggregata (Shiner Perch) Genus Embiotoca Embiotoca lateralis (Striped Seaperch) Genus Phanerodon Phanerodon furcatus (White Seaperch) Genus Rhacochilus Rhacochilus vacca (Pile Perch)
Family Percopsidae (Trout-Perch) Genus Percopsis Percopsis omiscomaycus (Trout-Perch)
Family Anoplopomatidae (Sablefishes) Genus Anoplopoma Anoplopoma fimbria (Sablefish)
Family Hexagrammidae (Greenlings) Genus Hexagrammos Hexagrammos decagrammus (Kelp Greenling) Hexagrammos lagocephalus (Rock Greenling) Genus Ophiodon Ophiodon elongatus (Lingcod)
Family Pleuronectidae (Righteye Flounders) Genus Eopsetta Eopsetta jordani (Petrale Sole) Genus Hippoglossus Hippoglossus stenolepis (Pacific Halibut) Genus Lepidopsetta Lepidopsetta bilineata (Rock Sole) Genus Platichthys Platichthys stellatus (Starry Flounder) Genus Pleuronichthys Pleuronichthys coenosus (C-O Sole) Genus Microstomus Microstomus pacificus (Dover Sole)
Family Cynoglossidae (Tonguefishes) Genus Symphurus Symphurus atricaudus (California Tonguefish)
Introduced Species The following is a list of notable fish species that have been introduced to Washington state and have established self-sustaining populations.
Family Cyprinidae (Carps and Minnows) Genus Cyprinus Cyprinus carpio (Common Carp) Genus Ctenopharyngodon Ctenopharyngodon idella (Grass Carp) Sterile populations introduced for vegetation control Genus Hypophthalmichthys Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Silver Carp) Hypophthalmichthys nobilis (Bighead Carp)
Family Salmonidae (Salmon, Trout, Chars, and Whitefish) Genus Salmo Salmo trutta (Brown Trout) Salvelinus fontinalis (Brook Trout) Genus Oncorhynchus Oncorhynchus aguabonita (Golden Trout) Stocked in high alpine lakes Genus Prosopium Prosopium williamsoni (Mountain Whitefish) Native to parts of WA, introduced to others
Family Centrarchidae (Sunfishes) Genus Lepomis Lepomis gibbosus (Pumpkinseed) Lepomis macrochirus (Bluegill) Lepomis microlophus (Redear Sunfish) Genus Micropterus Micropterus dolomieu (Smallmouth Bass) Micropterus salmoides (Largemouth Bass) Genus Pomoxis Pomoxis annularis (White Crappie) Pomoxis nigromaculatus (Black Crappie)
Family Ictaluridae (North American Catfishes) Genus Ictalurus Ictalurus punctatus (Channel Catfish) Genus Ameiurus Ameiurus melas (Black Bullhead) Ameiurus natalis (Yellow Bullhead)
Family Esocidae (Pikes) Genus Esox Esox lucius (Northern Pike) Illegally introduced, invasive
Family Percidae (Perches) Genus Perca Perca flavescens (Yellow Perch) Genus Sander Sander vitreus (Walleye)
Family Moronidae (Temperate Basses) Genus Morone Morone chrysops (White Bass) Introduced in some impoundments
References