Editor's note: How not to use this list:
The purpose of this list is to give the reader an idea of which species of fish are generally considered kosher. In practice however, its use is very limited.
Unfortunately, the common, unscientific, names of fish are very inaccurate. For example, there are a number of different species of fish that go by the name tilapia, tuna or red snapper, respectively—and not all of them are kosher. Note that even the FDA warns that species substitution is a very serious problem.
For more on how to go about buying kosher fish see All About Kosher Fish
Reprinted with permission of the Orthodox Union. To find out about non-kosher fish, see the Non-Kosher Fish List.
Albacore See: Mackerels
Alewife See: Herrings
Amberjack See: Jacks
Anchovies (Family Engraulidae). Including: European anchovy (Engraulis encrasciolus), North of California anchovy br(Engraulis mordax).
Angelfishes and butterfly fishes (Family Chaetodontidae). Including: Angelfishes (Holacanthus species, Pomacanthus species).
Ballyhoo See: Flyingfishes
Barracudas (Family Sphyraenidae) Including: Baama or reineta which go by the Latin name lepidotus austrais or lepidotus raii)
Atlantic Pomfret or Ray's Bream(Brama racudas and kakus (Sphyraena species).
Bass See Sea Basses. Temperate basses, Sunfishes, Drums
Bigeyes (Family Priacanthidae). Including: Bigeyes or aweoweos (Priacanthus species).
Blacksmith See: Damselfishes
Blueback See: Flounders, Herrings, Trouts
Bluefish or snapper blue (Pomatomus saltarix)
Bluegill See: Sunfishes
Bocaccio See: Scorpionfishes
Bombay duck (Harpadeon nehereus)
Bowfin Freshwater dogfish, or grindle (Amia calva)
Bream See: Carps, Atlantic Pomfret, Porgies
Brill See: Flounder
Buffalo Fishes See: Suckers
Butterfly fish See: Angelfish
Cabrilla See: Sea Basses
Calicobass See: Sunfishes
Capelin See: Smelts
Carps and minnows (Family Cyprinidae), Including: the carp, leather carp, mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio); Crucian carp (Carassius carassius); Goldfish (Carassius auratus); tench (Tinca tinca); Splittail (Pogonichthys macrolepidotus); Squawfishes (Ptychocheilus species); Scramento backfish or hardhead (Orthodon microlepidotus); Freshwater breams (Abramis species, Blicca species); Roach (Rutilus rutilus).
Carosucker See: Suckers
Caviar (Must be from a kosher fish) See: Trouts and whitefishes (salmon), Lumpsuckers (non kosher), Sturgeons (non kosher).
Cero See: Mackerels
Channel bass See: Drums
Char See: Trouts
Chilipepper See: Scorpionfishes
Chinook salmon See: Trouts
Cichlids (Family Chichilidae), Including: Tilapias (Tilapia species); Mozambique mouthbrooder (Tilapia mossambica); Cichlios (Cichlasoma species); Rio Grande perch (Cichlasoma cyanoguttatum)
Cigarfish See: Jacks
Cisco See Trouts
Coalfish See: Codfishes
Cobia, cabio, or black bonito (Rachycentron canadum) Cod, cultus, black, blue, or ling. See: Greenlings, Sablefish
Codfishes(Family Gadidae), Including: Cod (Gadus morhua), Haddock (Melanogrammus aegiefinus); Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus); Pollock, saithe, or coalfish (Pollachius virens); Walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma); Hakes (Urophycis species); Whiting (Meriangiu meriangus); Blue whiting or poutassou (Micromesistius poutassou); Tomcods or frostfishes (Microgradus species); note. some cods are not-kosher; See: Freshwater Cod.
Coho salmon See: Trouts
Corbina or Corvina, See: Drums
Cottonwick See: Grunts
Crappie See: Sunfishes
Creville See Jacks
Croacker See: Drums
Crucian carp See: Carps
Cubbyu See: Drums
Cunner See Wrasses
Dab See: Flounders
Damselfishes(Family Pomacentridae). Including: Blacksmith (Chromis punctipinnis); Garibaldi (Hypsypops rubicunda).
Doctorfish See: Surgeonfishes
Dolly Varden See: Trouts
Dolphin fishes or mahi mahis (Coryphaena species) Not to be confused with the Mammal called Dolphin or Porpoise, which is non kosher.
Drums and croakers (Family Sciaenidae), Including: Seatrouts and carvinas (Cynoscion species); Weakfish (Cynoscion nebulosus); White seabass (Cynoscion nobillis); Croakers (micropogon species, Bairdiella species, Odontoscion species); Silver perch (Bairdiella chyrsura); White or King croaker (Genyonemus lineatus); Black croaker (cheilottena saturnum); Spotfin croaker (Roncadorstearnsi); Yellowfin croaker(Umbrinaroncador); Drums (Pogonias species, Stellifer species, Umbrina species); Red drum or channel bass (Sciaenops ocallata); Freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens); Kingfishes or king whitings (Menticirrhus species); California corbina (Menticirrhus undulatus); spot or lafayette (Leiostomus xanthurus); Queenfish (Seriphus politus); Cubbyu or ribbon fish (Equetus umbrosus).
Eulachon See: Smelts
Flounders (Families Bothidae and Pleuronectidae). Including:
- Flounders (Paralichthys species,
- Liopsetta species,
- Platichthys species,etc.);
- Starry flounder (Platichthys stellatus);
- Summer flounder or fluke (Paralichthys denatus);
- Yellowtail flounder (limanda ferrugina);
- Winter flounder, lemon sole or blackback (Pseudopleuronectes americanus);
- Halibuts (Hippoglossus species);
- California halibut (Paralichthys Californicus);
- Bigmouth sole (Hippoglossina stomata);
- Butter of scalyfin sole (Isopsetta isolepis);
- "Dover" sole (Microstomus pacificus);
- "English" sole (Parophrys vetulus);
- Fantail sole (Xystreurys liolepis);
- Petrale sole (Eopsetta jordan);
- Rex sole (Glyptocephalus zichirus);
- Rock sole (Lepidopsetta bilineata);
- Sand Sole (Psettichthys melanostictus);
- Slender sole (Lyopsetta exillis);
- Yellowfin sole (Limanda aspera);
- Pacific turbots (Pleuronichthys species);
- Curlfin turbot or sole (Pleuronichthys decurrens);
- Diamond turbot (Hypsopsetta guttulata);
- Greenland turbot or halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides);
- Sanddabs (Citharichthys species);
- Dabs (Limanda species);
- American plaice (Hippoglossoides platessoides);
- European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa);
- Brill (scophthalmus rhomus).
- But not including: European turbot (Scophthalmus maximus or Psetta maximus).
Fluke See: Flounders
Frostfish See: Codfishes
Gag See: Sea Basses
Garibaldi See: Damselfishes
Giant kelpfish (Heterostichus rostratus)
Gizzard shad See: Herrings
Goatfishes or surmullets (Family Mullidae). Including: Goatfishes (Mullus species, Pseudupeneus species); Wekes or goatfishes (Mulloidichthys species, Upeneus species); Kumu (Parupeneus species); Red mullet (Mullus surmuletus).
Gobies (Family Gobidae), Including: Bigmouth sleeper or guavina (Gobiomorus dormitor); Sirajo goby (sicydium plumieri)
Goldeye and mooneye (Hiodon alosoides and Hiodon tergisus).
Goldfish See: Carps
Grayling See: Trouts
Graysby See: Sea Basses
Greenlings (Family Hexagrammidae), Including: Greenlings (Hexagrammos species); Kelp greenling or seatrout (Hexagrammos decagrammus); Lingcod, cultus orblue cod (Ophiodonelongatus); Atkamackerel (Pleurogrammus monopterygius).
Grindle See: Bowfin
Grouper See: Sea Basses
Grunion See: Silversides
Guavina See: Gobies
Haddock See: Codfishes
Hake See: Codfishes
Hakes(Family Meriucciidae), Including: Hakes (Merluccius species); Silver hake or whiting (Meriuccius bilinearis); Pacific hake or meriuccio (Meriuccius productus)
Halfbeak See: Flyingfishes
Halfmoon See: Sea chubs
Halibut See: Flounders
Hamlet See: Sea Basses
Hardhead See: Carps
Harvestfish See: Butterfishes
Hawkfishes(Family Cirrhitidae). Including: Hawkfishes (Cirrhitus species).
Herrings (Family Clupeidae), Including: Atlantic and Pacific herring (Clupae harengus subspecies); thread herrings (Opisthonema species); Shads (Alosa species); Shad or glut herring, or blueback (Alosa aestivalis); Hickory shad (Alosa mediocris); Alewife or river herring (Alosa pseudoharengus); Gizzard shads (Dorosoma species); Menhadens or mossbunkers (Brevoortia species); Spanish sardines (Sardineila anchovia); European sardine or pilchard (Sardina pilchardus); Pacific sardine or pilchard (Sardinops sagax); Spart (Sprattus sprattus)
Hind See: Sea Bass
Hogchocker See: Soles
Hogfish See: Wrasses
Horse mackerel See: Jacks
Jack Mackerel See: Jacks
Jacks and Pompanos (Family Charangidae) Including: Pompanos, palometas, and permits (Trachionotus species); Amberjacks and yellowtails (Seriola species); California yellowtail (Seriola dorsalls); Scads and cigarfish (Decapterus species, Selar species, Trachurus species); Jack mackerel or horse mackerel (Trachurus symmetricus); Jacks and uluas (Caranx species, Carangoides species); Crevalles (Caranx species); Blue runner (Caranx crysos); Rainbow runner (Elagatis bipinnulata); Moonfishes (Vomer species); Lookdown (Selene vomer); Leatherback or lae (Scomberoides sanctipetri); BUT NOT INCLUDING: LEATHERJACKET (Oligoplites saurus).
Jacksmelt See: Silversides
Jewfish See: Sea Basses
John Dory (Zeus faber)
Kelpfish See: Giant Kelpfish
Kingfish See: Drums, Mackerels
Ladyfish, or tenpounder (Elops saurus)
Lafayette See: Drums
Lake Herring See: Trouts
Largemouth bass See: Sunfishes
Leatherback See: Jacks
Lingcod See: Greenlings
Lizardfishes(Family Synodontidae)
Lookdown See: Jacks
Mackerel See also: Jacks
Mackerels, Atka See: Greenlings
Mackerels and tunas (Family Scombridae), Including: Mackerels (Scomber species, Scomberomorus species, Auxis species); Spanish mackerels, cero, and sierra (Scomberomorus species); King mackerel or kingfish (Scomberomorus cavalla); Bonitos (Sarda species); Wahoo (Acanthocybius solanderi); tunas (Thunnus species, Euthynnus species); Skipjack tunas (Euthynnus or Katsuwonus species); Albacore (thunnus alalunga) But not including: Snake mackerels.
Mahi mahiSee: Dolphin fishes
MargateSee: Grunts
Menhaden See: Herrings
Menpachii See: Squirrelfishes
Merluccio See: Hakes
Milkfish or awa (Chanos chanos)
Mojarras (Family Gerreidae) including: Mojarras (Eucinostomus species, Gerres species, Diapterus species)
Monkeyface prickleback or eel (Cebidichthys violaceus)
Mooneye See: Goldeye
Moonfsh See: Jacks
Mossbunker See: Herrings
Mouthbrooder See: Cichlids
Mullet See: Goatfishes
Mullets (Farnily Mugilidae) including: Mullets and amaamas (Mugil species); Uouoa (Neomyxus chaptallii); Mountain mullets or dajaos (agonostomus species)
Muskellunge See: Pikes
Mutton hamlet See: Sea Basses
Muttonfish See: Snappers
Needlefishes (Family Beslonidae) Needlefishes or marine gars (strongylura species, Tylosuru species)
Opaleye See: Sea chubs
Palometa See: Jacks
Parrotfishs (Family Scaridae) including: Parrotfishes and uhus (Scarus species, Slparisoma species)
Perch See also: Temperate basses, Drums, Cichlids, Surfperches, Scorpionfishes
Perches(Family Percidae) including: Yellow perch (Perca flavescens); Walleye, pike perch, or yellow or blue pike (Stizostedion vitreum); Sauget (Stizostedion canadense)
Permit See: Jacks
Pickerel See: Pike
Pigfish See: Grunts
Pikes (Family Esocidae) including; Pike (esox lucius); Pickerels (Esox species); Muskellunge (esox masquinongy)
Pikeperch See: Perches
Pilchard See Herrings
Pinfish See: Porgies
Plaice See: Flounders
Pollock See: Codfishes
Pomfret See: Atlantic pomfret
Pompano See: Jack, Butterfishes
Porgies and sea breams (Family Sparidae). Including: Porgies (Calamus species, Diplodus species, Pagrus species); Scup (Stenotomus chrysops); Pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides); Sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus)
Porkfish See: Grunts
Poutassou See: Codfishes
Prickleback See: Monkeyface prickleback, Rockprickleback (non kosher).
Queenfish See: Drums
Quillback See: Suckers
Rabalo See: Snooks
Ray's bream See: Atlantic Pomfret
Red snapper See: Snappers
Redfish See: Scorpionfishes, Wrasses
Roach See: Carps
Rock bass See: Sunfishes
Rockhind See: Sea Basses
Rockfish See: Scorpionfishes, Temperate basses
Rosefish See: Scorpionfishes
RudderfishSee: Sea chubs
Runner See: Jack
Sablefish or black cod (Anoplopoma fimbria)
Sailors choice See: Grunts
Saithe See: Codfishes
Salmon See: Trouts
Sardine See: Herrings
Sargo See: Grunts
Sauger See: Perches
Scad See: Jacks
Scamp See: Sea Basses
Schoolmaster See: Snappers
Scorpionfishes (family Scorpaenidae), Including: Scorpionfishes (Scorpaena species); California scorpionfish or sculpin (Scorpaena guttata); Nohus (Scorpaenopsis species); Redfish, rosefish, or ocean perch (Sebasters marinus); rockfishes (Sebasters species, Sebastodes species); Pacific ocean perch (Sebastes alutus); Chilipepper (Sebastes goodel); Bocaccio (Sebastes paucipinus); Shortspine thornyhead or channel rockfish (Sebastolobus alascanus)
Scup See: Porgies
Sea bass See also: Temperate basses, drums
Sea basses (Family Serranidae) including: Black sea basses (Centropristis species); Groupers (Epinephelus species, and Mycteroperca species); Rockhind (Epinephelus adscensionis); Speckled hind (Epinephelus drummondhayi); Red hind (Epinephelus guttatus); Jewfish (Epinephelus itajara); Spotted cabrilla (Epinephelus analogus); Gag (Mycteroperca microlepis); Scamp (Mycteroperca phenax); Graysby (petrometopon cruentatum); Mutton hamlet (Alphestes afer) Sand bass, kelp bass, and spotted bass (Paralabrax species)
Sea bream See: Porgies
Seaperch See: Surfperches
Searobins(Family Triglidae); Searobins (Prionotus species)
Seatrout See: Drums, Greenlings, Steelhead
Shad See: Herrings
Sheepshead See: Porgies, Wrasses
Sierra See: Mackerels
Sirajo goby See: Gobies
Skipjack See Mackerels
Sleeper See Gobies
Smallmouth bass See Sunfishes
Smelts (Family Osmeridae) including: Smelts (Osmerus species); Capelin (Malotus villosus); Eullachon (Thaleichthys pacificus)
Snapper blue See: Bluefish
Snappers (Family Lutjanidae) including: Snappers (Lutjanus species); Schoolmaster (Lutjanus apodus); Muttonfish or mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis); Red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus); Yellowtail snapper (Ocyurus chrysurus); Kalikali (Pristipomoides sieboldi); Opakapaka (Pristipomoides microlepis); Onaga (Etelis carbunculus)
Snooks (Family Centropomidae) including: Snooks orrabalos (Centropomus species)
Sockeye salmon See: Trouts
Sole See also: Flounders
Soles (Family Soleidae), Including: Sole or true sole (solea solea); Lined sole (Achirus lineatus); Hogchoker (Trinectes maculatus).
Spadefishes (Family Ephippidae). Including: Spadefishes (Chaetodipterus species)
Spanish mackerel See: Mackerels
Spearing See: Silversides
Splitttail See: Carps
Spot See: Drums
Sprat See: Herrings
Squawfish See: Carp
Squirrelfishes(Family Holocentridae), Including: Squirrelfishes (Holocentrus species); Menpachii (Myripristis species).
Striped bass See: Temperate basses
Suckers(Family Catostomidae). Including: Buffalo fishes (Ictiobus species); Suckers (Catostomus species, Moxostoma species); Quillbacks or carpsuckers (Carpiodes species)
Sunfishes(Family Centrarchidae). Including: Freshwater basses (Micropterus species); Largemouth bass (Microterus salmoides); Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieui); Sunfishes (Lepomis species); Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus); Warmouth (Lepomis macrochirus); Rock bass or red eye (Ambloplites rupestris); Crappies or calico basses (Pomoxis species)
Surfperches (Famly Embiotocidae). Including: Surfperches (Amphistichus species, Hyperprosopon species); Seaperches (Embiotoca species, Hypsurus species, Phanerodon species, Rhacochilus species); Blackperth (Embiotoca jacksoni); Pile perch (Rhacochilus vacca); Shiner perch (Cymatogaster aggregata).
Tang See: Surgeonfishes
Tarpon (Megalops atlantica)
Tautog See Wrasses
Temperate basses (Family Percichthyidae). Including: Striped bass or rockfish (morone saxatillis); Yellow bass (Morone mississippiensis); White bass (Morojne chrysops); White perch (Morone americana); Giant California sea bass (Stereolepis gigas)
Tench See: Carps
Tenpounder See Ladyfish
Threadfins (Family polynemidae) including: Blue bobo (Polydactylus approximans); Barbu (Polydactylus virginicus); Moi (Polydactylus sexfilis)
Tilapia See: Cichlids
Tilefishes (Family Branchiostegidae) including: tilefish (Logholatilus chamaeleonticeps) Ocean whitefish (Caulolatilus princeps)
Tomcod See: Codfishes
Tomtate See: Grunts
Tomsmelt See: Silversides
Tripletail (Lobotes surinamensis)
Trouts and whitefishes (Family Salmonidae) including: Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar); Pacific salmons (Oncorhtnchus species); Coho or silver salmon; sockeye, blueback or red salmon; chinook, king or spring salmon; pink or humpback salmon; chum, dog or fall salmon, Trouts (Salmo species) Brown trout, rainbow trout or steelhead, cutthroat trout, golden trout, Chars (Salvelinus species); Lake trout, brook rout, Arctic char (salvelinus alpinus), Dolly Varden, Whitefishes and ciscos (coregonus species and Prosopium species); Cisco or lake herring (Corengonus artedii); chubs (coregonus species); graylings (thymallus Species)
Tuna See: Mackerels
Turbot See Flounder (some nonkosher)
Unicornfish See: Surgeonfishes
Wahoo See: Mackerels
Walleye See: Perches
Walleye pollock See: Codfishes
Warmouth See: Sunfishes
Weakfishes See: Drums
WhiteFish See: Trouts, Tilefishes
Whiting See: Codfishes, Hakes, Drums
Wrasses (Family Labridae) including: Hogfishes and aawas (Bodianus species); Hogfish or capitaine (Lachnolaimus maximus); Tautog or blackfish (Tautoga onitis); California sheephead or redfish (Pimelometopon pulchrum); Cunner, chogset, or bergall (Tautogolabrus adspersus)
Yellowtail See: Jacks
Yellowtail snapper See Snappers
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