The Top Five Fastest Fish In The Ocean

In looking at the top speeds of various ocean fish, two things have become clear. First, these fish are strong and incredibly powerful creatures. Second, measuring the top speed of a fish is no easy task.

Across all of the remarkable accounts of fish on the run, the various methods for calculating the speed of a fish are inconsistent, and reported speeds for various species vary widely.

In many cases, speed was calculated based on the rate at which a fish took line off a reel. While this does have some inherent issues, it is one of the most consistent methods for getting this data, but just be sure to take the exact numbers with a grain of salt. Here are five of the fastest fish in the ocean.

5. Bonefish

Bonefish, sometimes called just “bones” or “gray ghosts,” are elusive fish that are highly regarded by anglers for their difficulty to catch. They have silver sides with slightly darker gray to olive-green backs, stripes down their side, and have a very streamlined body.

This body shape helps them to reach speeds of up to 40 miles per hour, helping them to evade predators and to run out your line in a matter of seconds. They also have lung-like air bladders, which help them to tolerate shallower water with less oxygen, and are very sensitive to noise.

4. Tuna

Yellowfin are identifiable from other tuna species by their distinct second dorsal and anal fins. These long sickle shaped fins are bright yellow and extend from their bodies in dramatic fashion. In mature fish, these can extend quite a ways, reaching back almost to the tail. Yellowfin tuna are large fish that can reach over 300 pounds.

Bluefin Tuna are the largest of all the tuna species. They are torpedo-shaped, strong, and fast swimmers and are dark blue, fading to silver on their bellies. The average bluefin lives for about 15 years, growing to an average of 78 inches long and around 500 pounds. However, they can grow up to 180 inches long and almost 1,500 pounds during their 50-year life span.

There have been disagreements about which one of these two species of tuna is the fastest, but their top speeds max out at 43 miles per hour.

3. Wahoo

Nicknamed the “Texas Torpedo”, wahoo are an angler favorite around the world. These fish grow to over 4 feet long and are ferocious eaters. Wahoo are more than capable of crushing lures being trolled at high speeds. While these fish typically weigh only 25 pounds, they grow to well over 50 pounds.

The explosive bite and scorching runs make them formidable sport fish. Their impressive length is what gives them their speed, topping out at 48 MPH. Aside from their fight, their white, flaky meat is firm, clean, and makes for a delicious meal.

2. Marlin

Marlin are some of the most sought after trophy fish for anglers around the world. Their size, strength, and elusive behavior will test the skills, endurance, and mind of any angler. These fish weigh hundreds and sometimes thousands of pounds and are better measured in feet than inches. These behemoth predators require the heaviest of tackle and are often considered the ultimate sportfish.

Reeling in a marlin is made even more difficult due to their ability to reach speeds of up to 50 miles per hour. It's safe to say that trying to land a fish that weighs hundreds of pounds and can swim at highway speeds is going to be the fight of a lifetime.

1. Sailfish

With its large dorsal fin stretching along its back, the sailfish is one of the most recognizable billfish. Known as the cheetah of the ocean, they are one of the fastest marine creatures alive. Sailfish are capable of swimming at speeds of up to 68 miles per hour, making them highly prized by anglers despite being one of the smaller species of billfish.

Other distinguishing characteristics of sailfish are their blue to gray coloring and elongated bill, and these colors will change into rust color and even black while hunting. There are two types of sailfish—the Pacific Sailfish and the Atlantic Sailfish—who reside in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.