According to Klaus Schwab, “In the new world, it’s not the big fish that eats the small fish, it’s the fast fish that eats the slow fish.” While most of the fishes use speed and agility to their advantage, certain species stand above the rest.
After careful research and analysis, scientists and wildlife experts have agreed on the top 10 fastest fish in the world.
Read on…
Top 10 Fastest Fish In The World
Below are the names and traits of 10 fastest fishes in the world.
1. Black Marlin
The black marlin is one of the fastest fish in the world, measuring up to 15 feet in length and 1,600 pounds in weight. It has low, round dorsal fins that help them accelerate, rigid, non-retractable pectoral fins that aid in stability, and a sword-like bill.
| Measuring Unit | Top Speed |
| Miles Per Hour | 80 mph |
| Kilometers Per Hour | 129 km/h |
A high quantity of black marlins are present in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. However, for fishing enthusiasts, the Great Barrier Reef is the best spot to catch the speedster. Other hot spots include Mauritius, Hawaii, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Panama.
2. Sailfish
Sailfish are large-sized fish, measuring 10 feet and 200 pounds. They have a huge dorsal fin of approx one foot in height. Their sword-like bill allows them to stun larger prey, such as crustaceans and squids.
| Measuring Unit | Top Speed |
| Miles Per Hour | 68 mph |
| Kilometers Per Hour | 110 km/h |
You can find sailfish across tropical and subtropical zones of oceans, including Florida, Gulf of Mexico, Puerto Rico, Bermuda, the Philippines, Hawaii and other spots.
3. Swordfish
The swordfish belongs to the same category as the sailfish and marlin. Its sword-like bill grows up to 15 feet long and weigh around 1,400 pounds.
| Measuring Unit | Top Speed |
| Miles Per Hour | 60 mph |
| Kilometers Per Hour | 94 km/h |
You can find swordfish in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Swordfish is a migratory species; it moves into warmer waters during the winter season to spawn.
4. Striped Marlin
Compared to black marlin, the physical characteristics of striped marlin are different. These fishes are smaller in size, weigh 500 pounds, and grow 14 feet in length.
| Measuring Unit | Top Speed |
| Miles Per Hour | 50 mph |
| kilometers Per Hour | 80 km/h |
This fish species is found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, from Eastern Africa to the West of America, and as far as New Zealand.
5. Wahoo
The wahoo is a slender tropical fish, measuring up to 8 feet long and weighing 200 pounds. With excellent strength and speed, it is valued by sports fishermen as a top-quality swimmer.
| Measuring Unit | Top Speed |
| Miles Per Hour | 48 mph |
| Kilometers Per Hour | 77 km/h |
You can find them in tropical and warm temperate waters around the world, including the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
6. Mako Shark
The mako shark, on an average, measures 10 feet, but extends to 15 feet in length. It weighs between 130–1,000 pounds. This genus is composed of two distinct species:
• Common Shortfin Mako Shark
• Rare Longfin Mako
The mako shark is one of the fastest shark species found in the oceans.
| Measuring Unit | Top Speed |
| Miles Per Hour | 46 mph |
| Kilometers Per Hour | 74 km/h |
The mako sharks are found from New England to Florida, in the Gulf of Mexico from Florida to Texas, and in the Caribbean Sea.
7. Atlantic Bluefin Tuna
The bluefin tuna has a sleek and streamlined shaped body that makes it capable of reaching high speeds in the pursuit of its prey.
It weighs up to 1,500 pounds and 12 feet in length. With its leaping characteristic, the Atlantic bluefin tuna can reach speeds of 43 mph.
| Measuring Unit | Top Speed |
| Miles Per Hour | 44 mph |
| Kilometers Per Hour | 70 km/h |
The atlantic bluefin, as the name suggests, swims in the Atlantic Ocean. Other locations include the Mediterranean Sea, in proximity to Balearic Islands, and in the Gulf of Mexico.
8. Blue Shark
Blue Sharks are up to 12 feet long and weigh more than 400 pounds. They have a long, sleek body and elongated snout with bright blue coloration on their upper half.
| Measuring Unit | Top Speed |
| Miles Per Hour | 43 mph |
| Kilometers Per Hour | 69 km/h |
Blue Sharks can be found throughout the world’s oceans and seas.
9. Bonefish
Bonefish is a medium-sized fish that weighs between 4–6 pounds. These species love sandy bottoms or grassy flats, as shallow as 6 inches.
| Measuring Unit | Top Speed |
| Miles Per Hour | 40 mph |
| Kilometers Per Hour | 64 km/h |
You can find bonefish in tropical and subtropical waters around the world. They reside in tropical waters in Florida, Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Riviera Maya in Mexico, Belize, Venezuela and the Seychelles.
10. Barracuda
Barracudas have sleek, elongated bodies, sharp snouts, and formidable tails that are designed for high-speed maneuvering. The largest species of barracuda can grow up to 3 m (10 ft) in length.
| Measuring Unit | Top Speed |
| Miles Per Hour | 40 mph |
| Kilometers Per Hour | 64 km/h |
The great barracuda is found in temperate and tropical waters, except the eastern Pacific Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
Other Fast Fishes In The Ocean
These fishes may not all be as fast as the above-mentioned ones, but their speeds are impressive and deserve an honorable mention:
• Tarpon: This fish is one of the most loved game fish in the world. It is strong and speedy, reaching speeds of up to 35 miles per hour.
• Four-Winged Flying Fish: The flying fish is one of a kind in the entire fish kingdom. They can reach remarkable speeds of up to 40 miles per hour.
• Great White Shark: The great white shark possess swimming speeds of 25 miles per hour. And in short bursts can pace up to 35 miles per hour.
Final Thoughts
The speed of a marine fish is linked to its body shape and characteristics it carries. Experts and fishing enthusiasts understand the complexity, especially when they’re analyzing them or trying to catch them.
From the list of fastest fish, which one did you like?
