Forty-seven US states have designated an official state fish, making it one of the most widely-adopted state animal symbols after state birds (all 50 states) and state insects (48 states). Unlike state birds, which cluster heavily on a few iconic species, state fish reflect a genuinely varied picture of American ichthyology: nine states share the brook trout, seven share a cutthroat trout subspecies, six went with the largemouth bass, six picked the striped bass, and several states have two state fish, one freshwater and one saltwater.
California was first, designating the golden trout in 1947. Wisconsin, New Mexico, and Alabama followed in the 1950s. The bulk of state fish designations came in the 1960s through the 1990s, driven largely by state wildlife agencies using the designations to raise the profile of native species (and, in several cases, to kick off serious conservation programmes for threatened subspecies). The most recent additions include Arkansas’s alligator gar (2017) and Kansas’s channel catfish (2018).
This guide covers every US state fish, including freshwater and saltwater designations, when each was adopted, why it was chosen, and what the species is like in the wild. Jump straight to your state below, or read on for the complete story. For more state animal symbols, see our guides to state mammals, state marine mammals, state birds, state reptiles, state dog breeds and state insects.
Key facts about US state fish
- 47 US states have designated an official state fish. Indiana, Ohio and the District of Columbia have none.
- First US state fish: California’s golden trout, 1947.
- Most recent: Kansas’s channel catfish, 2018.
- Most popular state fish: the brook trout, designated by at least 8 states (Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia), plus a ninth state (North Carolina) designating the Southern Appalachian brook trout subspecies.
- Most popular trout genus: 14 US state fish are trout, salmon or char, reflecting how culturally central these species are in American fishing.
- Most popular bass: largemouth bass, picked by 6 states (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida as freshwater fish, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee as sport fish).
- Longest-named state fish: Hawaii’s humuhumunukunukuapua’a (the reef triggerfish), a 21-letter Hawaiian name.
- Rarest state fish: Arizona’s Apache trout, one of the most narrowly-distributed trout in North America, found only in a few small streams of the White Mountains.
How states pick their fish
State fish designations come from the usual state legislative process. Unlike state mammals or state reptiles, state fish designations tend to be uncontroversial, because the underlying species is almost always a widely-loved game fish that forms part of the state’s fishing culture. Bills are typically championed by state wildlife agencies, fishing organisations, or schoolchildren. The main source of legislative conflict is when the same state has multiple strong candidate species, which has occasionally produced a “dual designation” outcome (separate freshwater and saltwater state fish).
Three main rationales recur in state fish picks:
- Sport fishing importance. Many state fish are designated because of their value as game species that drive local tourism and licence revenue. Largemouth bass (6 states), walleye (multiple states), Chinook salmon (Oregon, Alaska) and muskellunge (Wisconsin) are all picked partly for this reason.
- Native ecological identity. Several state fish are endemic subspecies found nowhere else, picked as flagship species for state-specific conservation. Arizona’s Apache trout, Texas’s Guadalupe bass, New Mexico’s Rio Grande cutthroat trout and Nevada’s Lahontan cutthroat trout are all state-endemic native fish.
- Historical and cultural significance. Massachusetts’s Atlantic cod is inseparable from New England fishing history; the wooden “Sacred Cod” has hung in the Massachusetts State House since 1784. Hawaii’s humuhumunukunukuapua’a has deep cultural significance in traditional Hawaiian reef ecology.
State fish at a glance
| State | State fish | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Largemouth Bass | Freshwater |
| Alabama | Tarpon | Saltwater |
| Alaska | King (Chinook) Salmon | State fish |
| Arizona | Apache Trout | State fish |
| Arkansas | Largemouth Bass | State fish |
| Arkansas | Alligator Gar | State primitive fish |
| California | Golden Trout | Freshwater |
| California | Garibaldi | Marine fish |
| Colorado | Greenback Cutthroat Trout | State fish |
| Connecticut | American Shad | State fish |
| Delaware | Weakfish | State fish |
| Florida | Florida Largemouth Bass | Freshwater |
| Florida | Atlantic Sailfish | Saltwater |
| Georgia | Largemouth Bass | State fish |
| Hawaii | Humuhumunukunukuapua’a (reef triggerfish) | State fish |
| Idaho | Cutthroat Trout | State fish |
| Illinois | Bluegill | State fish |
| Iowa | Channel Catfish | State fish |
| Kansas | Channel Catfish | State fish |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Spotted Bass | State fish |
| Louisiana | White Perch (Sac-au-lait) | State freshwater fish |
| Louisiana | Spotted Seatrout | State saltwater fish |
| Maine | Landlocked Atlantic Salmon | State fish |
| Maryland | Striped Bass (Rockfish) | State fish |
| Massachusetts | Atlantic Cod | State fish |
| Michigan | Brook Trout | State fish |
| Minnesota | Walleye | State fish |
| Mississippi | Largemouth Bass | State fish |
| Missouri | Channel Catfish | State fish |
| Missouri | Paddlefish | State aquatic animal |
| Montana | Westslope Cutthroat Trout (Blackspotted) | State fish |
| Nebraska | Channel Catfish | State fish |
| Nevada | Lahontan Cutthroat Trout | State fish |
| New Hampshire | Brook Trout | Freshwater |
| New Hampshire | Striped Bass | Saltwater |
| New Jersey | Brook Trout | State fish |
| New Mexico | Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout | State fish |
| New York | Brook Trout | Freshwater |
| New York | Striped Bass | Saltwater |
| North Carolina | Southern Appalachian Brook Trout | Freshwater |
| North Carolina | Channel Bass (Red Drum) | Saltwater |
| North Dakota | Northern Pike | State fish |
| Oklahoma | Sand Bass (White Bass) | State fish |
| Oregon | Chinook Salmon | State fish |
| Pennsylvania | Brook Trout | State fish |
| Rhode Island | Striped Bass | State fish |
| South Carolina | Striped Bass | Freshwater |
| South Carolina | Spot-tail Bass (Red Drum) | Saltwater |
| South Dakota | Walleye | State fish |
| Tennessee | Largemouth Bass | State sport fish |
| Tennessee | Channel Catfish | State commercial fish |
| Texas | Guadalupe Bass | State fish |
| Utah | Bonneville Cutthroat Trout | State fish |
| Vermont | Brook Trout | Cold water |
| Vermont | Walleye Pike | Warm water |
| Virginia | Brook Trout | Freshwater |
| Virginia | Striped Bass | Saltwater |
| Washington | Steelhead Trout | State fish |
| West Virginia | Brook Trout | State fish |
| Wisconsin | Muskellunge (Muskie) | State fish |
| Wyoming | Cutthroat Trout | State fish |
Most shared US state fish
- Brook Trout (9 states incl. subspecies): Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, plus North Carolina (Southern Appalachian brook trout). The eastern US’s signature native trout.
- Cutthroat Trout (7 states via subspecies): Colorado (greenback), Idaho, Montana (Westslope), Nevada (Lahontan), New Mexico (Rio Grande), Utah (Bonneville), Wyoming. Every cutthroat subspecies is restricted to a specific mountain watershed, making them natural state-endemic picks.
- Largemouth Bass (6 states): Alabama, Arkansas, Florida (freshwater), Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee (sport fish). The most popular game fish in North America.
- Striped Bass (6 states): Maryland, New Hampshire (saltwater), New York (saltwater), Rhode Island, South Carolina (freshwater), Virginia (saltwater). Migratory anadromous fish that lives in both fresh and salt water.
- Channel Catfish (5 states): Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Tennessee (commercial fish). America’s most widely farmed and commercially important freshwater fish.
- Walleye (3+ states): Minnesota, South Dakota, Vermont (warm water). The iconic upper Midwest game fish.
- Red Drum (2 states): North Carolina (saltwater) and South Carolina (saltwater, as Spot-tail Bass).
State fish by species group
Trouts, salmon and char (14+ designations)
Salmonids dominate the US state fish list. Brook trout (9 states), cutthroat trout (7 states), plus single designations for golden trout (California), Chinook salmon (Oregon, Alaska), Apache trout (Arizona), Atlantic salmon (Maine) and steelhead trout (Washington). This cluster reflects how deeply trout fishing is embedded in American outdoor culture, and also how geographically specific many trout subspecies are: a cold-water mountain watershed often has its own endemic cutthroat or brook trout population.
Basses (11+ designations)
Largemouth bass and its relatives are nearly as popular. Largemouth is shared by six states, striped bass by six (often as saltwater fish), plus specialty picks: Kentucky spotted bass (Kentucky), Guadalupe bass (Texas), sand/white bass (Oklahoma), and red drum/spot-tail bass (North Carolina and South Carolina saltwater, though red drum isn’t strictly a bass).
Saltwater and marine state fish
Coastal states often have a separate saltwater state fish. Florida’s Atlantic sailfish, Massachusetts’s Atlantic cod, Hawaii’s humuhumunukunukuapua’a, California’s Garibaldi, Delaware’s weakfish, Connecticut’s American shad, Louisiana’s spotted seatrout, and Alabama’s tarpon are the main saltwater picks. Red drum is shared by the Carolinas.
Catfish and other freshwater picks
Channel catfish is shared by five plains and midwestern states (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Tennessee). Other picks include bluegill (Illinois), muskellunge (Wisconsin), walleye (Minnesota, South Dakota, Vermont), northern pike (North Dakota), American shad (Connecticut), paddlefish (Missouri state aquatic animal) and the prehistoric-looking alligator gar (Arkansas state primitive fish).
The complete state-by-state guide
Alabama, Largemouth Bass and Tarpon
Alabama has two state fish. The largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) is state freshwater fish, chosen for its dominance of Alabama’s rivers, lakes and reservoirs. The tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) was designated state saltwater fish in 1955. Tarpons are spectacular acrobatic game fish that can reach 2.5 metres and weigh over 130 kg; Alabama’s Gulf Coast hosts an important summer tarpon fishery, with fish migrating north from the Florida Keys and the Yucatan. Alabama largemouths regularly exceed 5 kg, with the state record over 7 kg, and several Alabama reservoirs host major professional bass tournaments.
Alaska, King (Chinook) Salmon
Alaska designated the king salmon, also called the Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), as state fish in 1962. It’s the largest of the Pacific salmon species, with Alaska individuals occasionally exceeding 45 kg, earning it the “king” nickname. Alaska’s Chinook runs up the Kenai, Kuskokwim, Yukon and other major rivers are among the largest remaining in the Pacific, though many runs have declined in recent decades. For Alaska Native communities, particularly those on the Yukon, Kuskokwim, and Copper rivers, Chinook have been a subsistence cornerstone for thousands of years. The species is a keystone of the Alaska salmon industry, valued at hundreds of millions of dollars per year.
Arizona, Apache Trout
Arizona designated the Apache trout (Oncorhynchus apache) as state fish in 1986. It’s one of the most narrowly-distributed trouts in North America: historically restricted to the White Mountains of eastern Arizona, and by the 1970s the species was down to just a handful of streams after hybridization with introduced rainbow trout and habitat loss. The Apache trout was one of the first species listed under the original 1973 Endangered Species Act; since then, the White Mountain Apache Tribe and federal agencies have led one of the most successful trout recovery programmes in US history, with the species downlisted to threatened and now supporting a small regulated sport fishery. It’s one of only two trout species native to Arizona (the other being the Gila trout).
Arkansas, Largemouth Bass and Alligator Gar
Arkansas designated the largemouth bass as state fish in 1997 and added the alligator gar (Atractosteus spatula) as state primitive fish in 2017. The alligator gar is one of the most ancient fish species in North America, with a fossil record stretching back over 100 million years. They’re massive predators that can exceed 3 metres and 130 kg, with heavily armoured scales so tough that Native Americans used them as arrowheads. Once widely considered a trash species and killed on sight in Arkansas, alligator gars are now recognised as an important apex predator of the state’s large rivers and receive formal protection. Arkansas’s designation as state primitive fish was explicitly intended to rehabilitate the species’ reputation.
California, Golden Trout and Garibaldi
California was the first US state to designate a state fish, picking the California golden trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita) in 1947. Golden trout are one of the most beautiful trouts in North America: brilliant gold and orange flanks with a red lateral stripe and vermillion on the throat and belly. They’re endemic to the Kern River basin of California’s southern Sierra Nevada at elevations above 2,300 metres, where lakes freeze over for much of the year and growing seasons are brief. In 1995 California added the Garibaldi (Hypsypops rubicundus), a brilliant orange damselfish found in California’s kelp forests, as state marine fish, making California the first state with separate freshwater and saltwater fish designations.
Colorado, Greenback Cutthroat Trout
Colorado designated the greenback cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii stomias) as state fish in 1994. The greenback is one of three cutthroat trout subspecies native to Colorado, and has an extraordinary back-from-the-dead story: the subspecies was declared extinct in 1937, rediscovered in a few remote streams in the 1950s, and has been the subject of intensive restoration ever since. Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the USDA Forest Service have used a combination of barrier streams, stocking, and removal of non-native rainbow trout to expand greenback cutthroat populations back into historic range. The species is now classified as threatened rather than endangered.
Connecticut, American Shad
Connecticut designated the American shad (Alosa sapidissima) as state fish in 2003. American shad are anadromous migratory fish that spend most of their lives in the Atlantic Ocean but return to spawn in freshwater rivers each spring. The Connecticut River shad run was once one of the largest on the East Coast, and the fish was a staple of Connecticut’s colonial diet. Dam construction, pollution and overfishing decimated the Connecticut River shad population through the 20th century; fish ladders and habitat restoration have since restored partial access to historic spawning grounds, and Connecticut’s spring shad run has returned, though nowhere near its historic scale. American shad are culturally iconic in Connecticut despite their present scarcity.
Delaware, Weakfish
Delaware designated the weakfish (Cynoscion regalis) as state fish in 1981. The name “weakfish” comes not from the fish’s fighting strength (they’re vigorous game fish) but from the fish’s soft-tissue mouth: hooks tear out easily, earning it the reputation for having a “weak” jaw. Weakfish are abundant in Delaware Bay and along the Atlantic Coast from New England to the Carolinas, and support both commercial and recreational fisheries. Weakfish populations have fluctuated dramatically over the past several decades, crashing in the 1990s and partially recovering through Atlantic-wide fishing restrictions. They’re also called “sea trout” or “grey trout” in some regions.
Florida, Largemouth Bass and Atlantic Sailfish
Florida designated the Florida largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides floridanus) as state freshwater fish and the Atlantic sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) as state saltwater fish, both in 1975. The Florida largemouth is a distinct subspecies native to peninsular Florida, growing larger than the northern largemouth bass found elsewhere in North America. Many of the state-record bass from across the American South have Florida largemouth genetics. The Atlantic sailfish is one of the fastest fish in the ocean, capable of short bursts up to 100 km/h, and famous for its massive dorsal “sail.” Florida’s Gulf Stream waters support one of the world’s premier sailfish fisheries, particularly off the Florida Keys and Palm Beach.
Georgia, Largemouth Bass
Georgia designated the largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) as state fish in 1970. Georgia is particularly important in largemouth bass history because of George Perry, whose 1932 catch in Montgomery Lake, Georgia of a 10.1 kg largemouth stood as the all-tier world record for 77 years (later tied, never broken). Georgia’s reservoirs, particularly Lake Lanier, Clarks Hill and West Point Lake, are among the premier largemouth bass waters in the US and host dozens of professional bass tournaments each year.
Hawaii, Humuhumunukunukuapua’a (Reef Triggerfish)
Hawaii designated the humuhumunukunukuapua’a, also called the reef triggerfish (Rhinecanthus rectangulus), as state fish in 1985. The name is 21 letters long and translates roughly as “the triggerfish with a snout like a pig.” Humuhumus are small (up to 25 cm), colourful reef fish found across Hawaiian coral reefs, notable for making grunting pig-like sounds when caught. They’re territorial, aggressive toward intruders, and use their strong teeth to crush sea urchin spines and mollusc shells. Hawaii’s designation actually lapsed in 1990 when the original law expired without reauthorisation, making Hawaii briefly the first state to lose its state fish, before the designation was permanently restored in 2006.
Idaho, Cutthroat Trout
Idaho designated the cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii) as state fish in 1990, specifically honouring the species as a whole rather than a particular subspecies. Idaho is home to four distinct cutthroat subspecies: Westslope, Yellowstone, Bonneville, and Bear River (itself a Bonneville variant). Named for the distinctive red or orange slash marks on the underside of the lower jaw, cutthroat trout were the primary native trout of the western US before introduced rainbow, brown and brook trout displaced them from many of their historic waters. Idaho’s designation applies to all cutthroat subspecies within the state.
Illinois, Bluegill
Illinois designated the bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) as state fish in 1986. Bluegills are the most widely-caught freshwater game fish in Illinois, and one of the most common panfish in North America generally. They’re relatively small (20-25 cm is a good-sized adult) but scrappy on light tackle, and they’re famously easy to catch, making them the quintessential “first fish” for generations of Illinois children. Bluegills spawn in saucer-shaped beds in shallow water during early summer; dense spawning colonies are easy to spot from shore and are popular with recreational anglers.
Iowa, Channel Catfish
Iowa designated the channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) as state fish in 1988. Channel catfish are the most widely-farmed freshwater fish in North America and one of the most popular sport fish in Iowa’s rivers and ponds. They’re bottom-feeding omnivores that locate food using taste buds distributed across their entire body surface, not just on their barbels (catfish “whiskers”) as commonly believed. Iowa’s Mississippi, Missouri, Des Moines and Cedar rivers all hold large channel catfish populations, and the state’s annual channel catfish harvest is in the hundreds of thousands of fish.
Kansas, Channel Catfish
Kansas designated the channel catfish as state fish in 2018, one of the most recent US state fish designations. Kansas is one of the premier channel catfish states in the country, with the Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas and Republican rivers all holding large trophy populations. The Kansas state record channel catfish, caught in 1992, weighed 16.8 kg. The designation came after a statewide schoolchildren’s campaign, and channel catfish beat out largemouth bass, bluegill, and walleye in the legislative balloting. It’s the fifth state to pick channel catfish.
Kentucky, Kentucky Spotted Bass
Kentucky designated the Kentucky spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus) as state fish in 2005, giving the state one of only three state fish named after the state itself (the others are Florida largemouth bass and Texas Guadalupe bass). Spotted bass, also called Kentucky bass or Kentucky spots, are a close relative of largemouth bass that prefer the clearer, faster-moving waters of Kentucky’s upland rivers and reservoirs. They’re smaller than largemouths (1-1.5 kg is typical) but are considered harder-fighting for their size and are the dominant bass species in Kentucky’s Lake Cumberland, Dale Hollow Lake and the Kentucky River.
Louisiana, White Perch and Spotted Seatrout
Louisiana has two state fish: the white perch (locally called sac-au-lait, Pomoxis annularis) as state freshwater fish, and the spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) as state saltwater fish. The white perch is actually a crappie species in Louisiana’s colloquial usage, caught in huge numbers from the state’s bayous, oxbow lakes and cypress swamps. The spotted seatrout is a coastal species found in Louisiana’s extensive inshore marsh waters and one of the state’s top saltwater game fish. Both species are central to Louisiana’s fishing culture, which is among the most active in the US per capita.
Maine, Landlocked Atlantic Salmon
Maine designated the landlocked Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) as state fish in 1969. “Landlocked” Atlantic salmon are a population that completes its entire life cycle in freshwater, in contrast to typical sea-run Atlantic salmon that migrate between rivers and the ocean. Maine’s landlocked salmon were originally isolated from the ocean after the last ice age and have been a distinct population for around 12,000 years. They’re found in several Maine lakes, including Sebago (the species’ type locality), West Grand, Moosehead and the Fish River Chain. Maine is the only US state with both self-sustaining wild Atlantic salmon populations (both sea-run and landlocked) in significant numbers.
Maryland, Striped Bass (Rockfish)
Maryland designated the striped bass (Morone saxatilis), locally called the rockfish, as state fish in 1965. The Chesapeake Bay is the single most important spawning habitat for striped bass on the Atlantic Coast; around 75-90% of all coastal Atlantic striped bass are born in Maryland tributaries. Striped bass crashed in the 1970s and 1980s due to overfishing, poor water quality in Chesapeake Bay, and pollution; Maryland imposed a strict moratorium on striped bass fishing from 1985 to 1990, an emergency closure that allowed the population to rebuild. Striped bass are now carefully managed Atlantic-wide. The species is the centre of one of the most culturally important recreational fisheries in the eastern US.
Massachusetts, Atlantic Cod
Massachusetts designated the Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) as state fish in 1974. Few fish have been more central to a US state’s history. Cod fishing built Massachusetts’s colonial economy and funded the Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay colonies; a carved wooden “Sacred Cod” has hung in the Massachusetts State House chamber since 1784. Cape Cod is named after the species. New England cod populations have collapsed catastrophically since the late 1980s due to overfishing; the Grand Banks cod fishery, once the world’s largest, has never recovered. Massachusetts’s designation of cod as state fish now reads partly as an elegy for what was lost.
Michigan, Brook Trout
Michigan designated the brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) as state fish in 1988. Brook trout are technically char, not true trout, and are native to eastern North America’s cold, clean mountain and forest streams. Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula are among the premier wild brook trout habitats in the Midwest, with populations in the Two Hearted River (of Hemingway fame), the Au Sable, the Manistee and hundreds of smaller streams. Michigan brook trout rarely exceed 30 cm in streams but can reach 60 cm or more in the state’s larger lakes, where the fish are sometimes called “coasters.”
Minnesota, Walleye
Minnesota designated the walleye (Sander vitreus) as state fish in 1965. Walleye are the iconic game fish of the Upper Midwest, found in the cool lakes and rivers across Minnesota’s roughly 12,000 lakes. The species gets its name from its large, milky, reflective eyes, which allow it to hunt in low-light conditions better than most freshwater fish, a trait that supports walleye fishing on dim winter days and at dawn and dusk. Mille Lacs Lake, Lake of the Woods, and the Mississippi River are among the world’s most productive walleye waters. Minnesota’s opening day of walleye season in early May is one of the most celebrated dates on the state calendar.
Mississippi, Largemouth Bass
Mississippi designated the largemouth bass as state fish in 1974. Mississippi’s extensive reservoirs (Grenada, Sardis, Enid, Arkabutla) and bayou systems make it one of the premier bass fishing states in the US South. The state has produced multiple Bassmaster Classic champions and hosts several professional bass tournaments each year. Mississippi largemouths have the Florida largemouth genetic influence, so they grow larger than in many other southern states; the state record exceeds 8 kg. Bass fishing is estimated to generate over $200 million per year for Mississippi’s economy.
Missouri, Channel Catfish and Paddlefish
Missouri has two state fish designations: the channel catfish as state fish, and the paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) as state aquatic animal. The paddlefish is one of the most extraordinary freshwater fish in the world, with a huge paddle-shaped snout up to a third of its body length, used as a sensory organ to detect plankton. Paddlefish are filter feeders that can exceed 30 kg, with the Missouri state record over 63 kg. They’re also among the most ancient vertebrate lineages on Earth, essentially unchanged for 300 million years. Missouri’s snagging season for paddlefish on lakes Table Rock and Truman draws tens of thousands of anglers each spring.
Montana, Westslope Cutthroat Trout
Montana designated the blackspotted (Westslope) cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi) as state fish in 1977. The Westslope cutthroat was the trout encountered by the Lewis and Clark expedition (the subspecies is named after Meriwether Lewis), who documented it in the Missouri River headwaters in 1805. Westslope cutthroats once occupied the entire Columbia River and upper Missouri drainages in Montana, but have been reduced to roughly 2-10% of their historic range due to hybridization with introduced rainbow trout and habitat loss. Montana leads the US in Westslope cutthroat conservation efforts, with significant restoration programmes across western Montana streams.
Nebraska, Channel Catfish
Nebraska designated the channel catfish as state fish in 1997. Nebraska’s Missouri River, Platte River, and large reservoirs (Harlan County Reservoir, Lewis and Clark Lake) hold trophy channel catfish populations, with the state record over 18 kg. Channel cats are sometimes caught by bow fishermen, particularly in the Platte River, where sight-fishing for large spawning catfish in shallow water is a popular seasonal practice. Nebraska is one of five US states to pick channel catfish as state fish.
Nevada, Lahontan Cutthroat Trout
Nevada designated the Lahontan cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii henshawi) as state fish in 1981. Lahontan cutthroats are the largest of all cutthroat trout subspecies, historically reaching over 20 kg in Pyramid Lake, Nevada. They evolved in the massive Pleistocene Lake Lahontan, which once covered huge parts of what is now northwestern Nevada. When Lake Lahontan dried up around 9,000 years ago, Lahontan cutthroats were isolated in remnant lakes and streams. The Pyramid Lake population was declared extinct in 1944 but was successfully restored from genetically-pure remnant populations in the 2000s; some of the restored fish have grown to 10+ kg, the largest cutthroats in the world.
New Hampshire, Brook Trout and Striped Bass
New Hampshire has two state fish: the brook trout as freshwater fish and the striped bass as saltwater fish. New Hampshire’s 18-mile Atlantic coastline is the shortest of any state with coastline, but supports important seasonal striped bass runs each summer. Inland, New Hampshire’s White Mountain streams and small mountain ponds hold some of the best wild brook trout fisheries in the northeastern US, with thousands of miles of designated wild trout streams. New Hampshire brook trout are typically small by national standards (15-25 cm) but populations are dense and genetic integrity is relatively high.
New Jersey, Brook Trout
New Jersey designated the brook trout as state fish in 1991. New Jersey is the southernmost state with self-sustaining wild brook trout populations in its original range; brook trout require consistently cold water (below 20°C), which limits them to a handful of spring-fed streams in the state’s north-western counties. Climate change has already eliminated brook trout from many New Jersey streams that held them a generation ago. The designation was partly a conservation statement, signalling the species’ importance as a cold-water indicator of stream ecosystem health.
New Mexico, Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout
New Mexico designated the Rio Grande cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii virginalis) as state fish in 1955. It’s the southernmost subspecies of cutthroat trout and the only trout native to New Mexico. Rio Grande cutthroats are found in the high-elevation headwaters of the Rio Grande, Pecos, Canadian, and Red rivers in New Mexico and southern Colorado, usually above 2,200 metres. The subspecies is down to roughly 10% of its historic range due to hybridization with rainbow and Yellowstone cutthroat trout, and it’s a state-designated Species of Concern. New Mexico has built several barrier streams and engaged in extensive restoration over recent decades.
New York, Brook Trout and Striped Bass
New York has two state fish. The brook trout was designated state freshwater fish in 1975; it’s native to the Adirondacks and Catskills and is the state’s signature coldwater species. The striped bass was designated state saltwater fish in 2006, recognising the species’ importance to New York’s coastal recreational fishery (New York Harbor and the Long Island Sound are among the most intensively fished striped bass waters on the Atlantic). Both designations grew out of schoolchildren’s campaigns that lobbied the state legislature.
North Carolina, Southern Appalachian Brook Trout and Channel Bass
North Carolina has two state fish. The Southern Appalachian brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis, a genetically distinct population) was designated state freshwater fish in 2005, while the channel bass (red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus) was designated state saltwater fish in 1971. North Carolina’s Southern Appalachian brook trout represent the southernmost wild brook trout population, isolated since the last ice age and now genetically distinct from northern brook trout. The red drum (also called channel bass or redfish) is one of the most-pursued inshore saltwater game fish along North Carolina’s Outer Banks, famous for its reddish bronze flanks and the distinctive black spot near the tail.
North Dakota, Northern Pike
North Dakota designated the northern pike (Esox lucius) as state fish in 1969. North Dakota’s Lake Sakakawea (the massive Missouri River reservoir) and Devils Lake hold some of the largest pike populations in the continental US, with fish exceeding 15 kg regularly caught. Northern pike are long, slender predators that ambush prey from weed beds, striking with extraordinary speed; they can grow to 1.3 metres and are found across the entire northern hemisphere. North Dakota’s ice-fishing culture heavily features pike, which remain active through cold winters under ice.
Oklahoma, Sand Bass (White Bass)
Oklahoma designated the white bass (Morone chrysops), locally called the sand bass or sandie, as state fish in 1974. White bass are migratory schooling fish that undertake spring spawning runs up Oklahoma’s river systems, with the Red River and its tributaries hosting the most spectacular runs. During the annual “sand bass run” each March and April, local anglers can catch limits in minutes as schools move up into tributary streams. Oklahoma’s reservoirs (Texoma, Grand Lake, Keystone) hold large year-round populations. White bass are smaller than largemouths (1-1.5 kg is a good one) but are famous for their aggressive schooling behaviour.
Oregon, Chinook Salmon
Oregon designated the Chinook salmon as state fish in 1961. Oregon’s Columbia River once hosted the largest Chinook salmon runs on Earth, with 10-16 million fish returning annually before 20th-century dam construction. Chinook remain central to Oregon’s identity: the fish supports major commercial and recreational fisheries, is cultural and spiritual anchor for the state’s tribal nations (particularly the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and the Nez Perce), and features on Oregon’s state quarter. The Columbia River Chinook run today is around 5-10% of its pre-dam level, but remains one of the most significant remaining Chinook populations in the lower 48 states.
Pennsylvania, Brook Trout
Pennsylvania designated the brook trout as state fish in 1970. Pennsylvania’s Appalachian mountains and Ridge and Valley province hold some of the most extensive wild brook trout populations in the eastern US, with approximately 15,000 km of designated wild brook trout streams. Pennsylvania brook trout suffer heavily from acid precipitation (the state’s heavy industrial legacy), from stream warming as forests are cleared, and from invasive brown trout. Despite these pressures, Pennsylvania still has some of the best native brook trout fishing in the country, particularly on the small freestone streams of the Pennsylvania Wilds in north-central Pennsylvania.
Rhode Island, Striped Bass
Rhode Island designated the striped bass as state fish in 2000. Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay is one of the most intensively fished striped bass waters in the US, with annual visits by tens of thousands of recreational anglers from across the northeast. The tidal rips off Block Island, the rocky points of the Newport coast, and the tidal waters of the Sakonnet River are legendary striped bass spots. Rhode Island’s striped bass fishery is almost entirely recreational; commercial striped bass fishing is tightly restricted state-wide.
South Carolina, Striped Bass and Spot-tail Bass (Red Drum)
South Carolina has two state fish: the striped bass as state freshwater fish (1972) and the spot-tail bass, also known as red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), as state saltwater fish (1984). South Carolina’s Santee-Cooper lakes are home to a unique landlocked striped bass population, one of the first in the US to prove that striped bass could thrive entirely in freshwater, a discovery that led to striper stocking programmes across southern reservoirs. The spot-tail bass is the dominant inshore game fish along South Carolina’s coast, especially in the spartina marshes and tidal creeks around Charleston and Beaufort.
South Dakota, Walleye
South Dakota designated the walleye as state fish in 1982. South Dakota’s Missouri River reservoirs (Lake Oahe, Lake Sharpe and Lake Francis Case) hold some of the largest walleye populations in the US, with fish regularly exceeding 7 kg. Lake Oahe’s walleye fishery is considered one of the top five in the country. The Missouri River was impounded in the 1950s-60s for hydroelectric and flood control, and these reservoirs became world-class walleye fisheries within a generation. South Dakota walleye tournaments are major economic events in sparsely-populated river counties along the Missouri.
Tennessee, Largemouth Bass and Channel Catfish
Tennessee has two state fish designations: largemouth bass as state sport fish (2005) and channel catfish as state commercial fish (1988). Tennessee’s Tennessee Valley Authority reservoirs (Kentucky Lake, Pickwick Lake, Watts Bar, Chickamauga) are among the premier bass waters in the US. Chickamauga Lake has produced the state-record largemouth bass at 7.1 kg and has hosted multiple Bassmaster tournaments. Tennessee’s channel catfish fishery is split between recreational and commercial sectors, with commercial catfish farming a significant agricultural industry in the western part of the state.
Texas, Guadalupe Bass
Texas designated the Guadalupe bass (Micropterus treculii) as state fish in 1989. The Guadalupe bass is a smaller cousin of the largemouth, endemic to the Guadalupe, San Antonio, Colorado and Brazos river basins of the Texas Hill Country, found nowhere else in the world. It’s smaller than other basses (1 kg is a good one), but in its native clear-flowing rivers it’s considered one of the most sporting native game fish in the US. Hybridization with introduced smallmouth bass is the major threat to genetically pure Guadalupe bass populations; Texas Parks and Wildlife has led significant restoration efforts including stocking pure Guadalupe bass back into the Llano River.
Utah, Bonneville Cutthroat Trout
Utah designated the Bonneville cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii utah) as state fish in 1997. The Bonneville cutthroat evolved in prehistoric Lake Bonneville, which covered much of what is now Utah during the Pleistocene. When Lake Bonneville dried up at the end of the last ice age, Bonneville cutthroat trout were stranded in the lake’s remnants, including Utah’s Great Salt Lake tributaries and the Bear River drainage. The subspecies was thought extinct in 1960 but was rediscovered in a handful of streams in the late 1970s. Utah now runs one of the most active cutthroat trout restoration programmes in the US, expanding Bonneville cutthroat back into their historic watersheds.
Vermont, Brook Trout and Walleye Pike
Vermont has two state fish designations, split by water temperature: the brook trout as state cold water fish (1978) and the walleye pike, despite the name a true walleye (Sander vitreus), as state warm water fish (1978). Vermont’s Green Mountain streams hold wild brook trout populations throughout the state, some tracing genetic continuity back to pre-colonial times. Lake Champlain, which Vermont shares with New York and Quebec, is one of the premier walleye fisheries in the northeastern US. Vermont’s dual-water-temperature designation was novel at the time and has been copied by several other states since.
Virginia, Brook Trout and Striped Bass
Virginia designated the brook trout as state freshwater fish in 1993 and the striped bass as state saltwater fish in 2011. Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park and the western Virginia mountains hold approximately 3,000 km of wild brook trout streams, one of the most extensive native brook trout ranges remaining in the southern Appalachians. Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries are a major spawning area for Atlantic striped bass (along with Maryland’s), and the spring striped bass run up the James, Rappahannock, and York rivers remains a significant recreational fishery.
Washington, Steelhead Trout
Washington designated the steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) as state fish in 1969. Steelhead are the anadromous (sea-run) form of rainbow trout, spending their first year or two in freshwater, then migrating to the Pacific Ocean to grow large before returning to spawn. Washington’s Olympic Peninsula rivers (the Hoh, Sol Duc, Queets) host some of the best wild steelhead fishing remaining in the lower 48 states. Steelhead populations have declined significantly across much of their range due to dams, habitat loss, and climate change, but Washington remains among the strongest remaining strongholds. The Washington state record steelhead, caught in 1983, weighed 15.5 kg.
West Virginia, Brook Trout
West Virginia designated the brook trout as state fish in 1973. West Virginia’s Allegheny Highlands, particularly in Pocahontas and Randolph counties, hold some of the best native brook trout populations in the mid-Atlantic US. The state’s famous “Elk Springs Trout Unlimited” Home Waters Initiative has been a model for state-federal brook trout restoration. West Virginia brook trout were historically the southern end of the species’ core range, and the state’s colder, clearer mountain headwater streams remain important refuges as brook trout elsewhere in the South have been lost to stream warming.
Wisconsin, Muskellunge (Muskie)
Wisconsin designated the muskellunge (Esox masquinongy), universally called the muskie, as state fish in 1955. Muskies are the largest members of the pike family and are North America’s premier freshwater trophy predator: adults can exceed 1.5 metres and 30 kg. Muskies are famously difficult to catch (“the fish of ten thousand casts”), and successful trophy muskie fishing is considered one of the ultimate freshwater angling achievements in North America. Wisconsin’s northern lakes (Chippewa Flowage, Lac Vieux Desert, Lake St Germain) are among the premier muskie waters in the world, and the state hosts the International Muskie Hall of Fame in Hayward.
Wyoming, Cutthroat Trout
Wyoming designated the cutthroat trout as state fish in 1987, honouring the genus broadly rather than a specific subspecies. Wyoming is home to multiple cutthroat trout subspecies: Yellowstone cutthroat (primarily in the Yellowstone River drainage), Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat (a distinctive form in the upper Snake River), Westslope cutthroat, Bonneville cutthroat, and Colorado River cutthroat. Each evolved in isolation in separate river systems and adapted to local conditions over thousands of years. Yellowstone cutthroat trout are particularly significant as they were the only trout native to much of the greater Yellowstone ecosystem before non-native lake trout were illegally introduced in the 1980s, a disaster that continues to play out today.
US states and territories without a state fish
Three US jurisdictions have no official state fish: Indiana, Ohio and the District of Columbia. Indiana has considered several proposals, including the bluegill and the smallmouth bass, but none have passed the legislature. Ohio is a notable absence: despite Lake Erie supporting one of the largest walleye populations in North America and the state’s Division of Wildlife actively promoting walleye fishing, no state fish designation has been passed. DC’s lack of a state fish reflects its unusual legislative status.
Notable firsts and quirky facts about US state fish
- First US state fish: California’s golden trout, 1947.
- Most recent: Kansas’s channel catfish, 2018.
- Longest-named state fish: Hawaii’s humuhumunukunukuapua’a (21 letters).
- Only state fish to lose and regain its status: Hawaii’s humuhumunukunukuapua’a, designated in 1985, lapsed in 1990, restored in 2006.
- Most popular state fish: brook trout, picked by 9 states (including North Carolina’s Southern Appalachian subspecies).
- Only “primitive” state fish: Arkansas’s alligator gar, designated state primitive fish in 2017.
- Only state fish named for a US president’s expedition: Montana’s Westslope cutthroat trout (the subspecies name lewisi honours Meriwether Lewis of the Lewis and Clark Expedition).
- State with the largest number of state fish designations: multiple states have two (Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Louisiana, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia). No state has more than two.
- Only US state fish that is a genus-level rather than species-level designation: Idaho (cutthroat trout generally) and Wyoming (cutthroat trout generally).
- Only state fish that undergoes a pre-ice-age lake-stranded isolation: Lahontan cutthroat (Nevada), Bonneville cutthroat (Utah), both isolated when Pleistocene lakes dried up.
Frequently asked questions about US state fish
How many US states have a state fish?
47 US states have designated an official state fish. Only Indiana, Ohio and the District of Columbia have not. Many of the 47 states have two state fish (typically a freshwater and a saltwater designation), so the total number of state fish designations across the US is over 60.
Which US state was first to pick a state fish?
California was the first, designating the California golden trout as state fish in 1947. Wisconsin’s muskellunge (1955), New Mexico’s Rio Grande cutthroat trout (1955), and Alabama’s tarpon (1955) followed soon after.
What is the most recent US state fish designation?
Kansas’s channel catfish (2018) is the most recent state fish designation. Arkansas’s alligator gar (as state primitive fish, 2017) is the most recent state fish addition by any state, and also one of the most recent state-animal-symbol designations of any kind.
What is the most common US state fish?
The brook trout is the most shared state fish, designated by 9 states (Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, plus North Carolina’s Southern Appalachian brook trout subspecies). Cutthroat trout subspecies are the second most shared, designated by 7 states across the western US.
Which US states don’t have a state fish?
Indiana, Ohio and the District of Columbia are the only US jurisdictions without an official state fish. Indiana has considered bluegill and smallmouth bass proposals; Ohio has no serious active legislative campaign for a state fish despite being home to Lake Erie’s world-class walleye fishery.
Can a US state have multiple state fish?
Yes. At least 13 states have two state fish designations, typically splitting freshwater and saltwater fish, or splitting sport and commercial fish. No state has designated more than two. Alabama, California, Florida, Louisiana, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Vermont and Virginia all have separate freshwater and saltwater state fish. Arkansas, Missouri and Tennessee have a state fish plus a second species with a different category (state primitive fish, state aquatic animal, or state commercial fish).
What is Hawaii’s state fish and how do you pronounce its name?
Hawaii’s state fish is the humuhumunukunukuapua’a, also called the reef triggerfish (Rhinecanthus rectangulus). The 21-letter name is pronounced “hoo-moo-hoo-moo-noo-koo-noo-koo-ah-poo-ah-ah,” and translates roughly as “the triggerfish with a snout like a pig.” The name was made famous beyond Hawaii by a 1933 song, “My Little Grass Shack in Kealakekua, Hawaii,” which mentions it.
Which state fish are endangered?
Several state fish populations are threatened or endangered under federal law. Arizona’s Apache trout is federally threatened (downlisted from endangered after successful recovery). Colorado’s greenback cutthroat trout is federally threatened. New Mexico’s Rio Grande cutthroat trout is a state Species of Concern. Many cutthroat trout subspecies are seriously impacted by hybridization with introduced rainbow trout. Commercial species like Massachusetts’s Atlantic cod have collapsed regionally but are not formally endangered.
What is the largest US state fish?
By maximum recorded size, Arkansas’s alligator gar is the largest: adults can exceed 3 metres and 130 kg. Florida’s Atlantic sailfish can reach similar weight. Alaska’s king salmon, Missouri’s paddlefish and Wisconsin’s muskellunge all routinely exceed 30 kg. Texas’s Guadalupe bass is probably the smallest state fish, rarely exceeding 1.5 kg.
Are state fish the same as state freshwater fish?
Not always. Some states designate a single state fish; others split freshwater and saltwater species into separate designations. In states with a single designation, the state fish may be freshwater, saltwater, or anadromous (living in both, like striped bass). In states with two state fish, the split is typically explicitly between state freshwater fish and state saltwater fish, recognising both inland and coastal species.
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