Water Temperature Ranges for Popular Game Fish

Species

Lower Avoidance

Optimum

Upper Avoidance

Amberjack

60

65 - 75

80+

Atlantic Bonito

60

65 - 75

80+

Atlantic Cod

31

44 - 49

59

Atlantic Mackerel

40

45 - 55

70

Barracuda

55

72 - 80

86

Bigeye Tuna

52

62 - 74

80

Blackfin Tuna

65

70 - 75

82

Black Marlin

68

72 - 82

87

Bluefin Tuna

50

60 - 72

82

Bluefish

50

66 - 72

84

Blue Marlin

70

74 - 82

88

Bonefish

60

72 - 84

92+

Chinook (King) Salmon

44

50 - 56

60

Coho (Silver) Salmon

44

52 - 58

62

Dolphin

70

72 - 78

82

Haddock

36

42 - 48

52

Jack Crevalle

65

70 - 85

90

Kelp Bass

62

64 - 68

72

King Mackerel

65

68 - 76

88

Permit

70

75 - 85

92

Pollock

33

40 - 50

60

Pompano

65

70 - 82

85+

Red Drum (Channel Bass)

52

70 - 90

90+

Red Snapper

50

55 - 65

70+

Sailfish

68

72 - 82

88

Skipjack Tuna

50

55 - 65

70+

Snook

60

70 - 82

90

Spotted Seatrout

48

66 - 82

90

Striped Bass

50

55 - 65

75

Striped Marlin

61

68 - 76

80

Summer Flounder (Fluke)

56

62 - 66

72

Swordfish

50

60 - 75

80

Tarpon

70

75 - 90

100+

Tautog

45

50 - 60

76

Weakfish

45

56 - 68

78

White Marlin

65

68 - 78

80+

White Seabass

58

64 - 68

74

Winter Flounder

35

48 - 52

64

Yellowfin Tuna

64

72 - 82

80

Yellowtail (Pacific)

60

62 - 66

70

¿
Baitfish Temps

Species

Lower Avoidance

Optimum

Upper Avoidance

Atlantic Silverside

U/K

U/K

90

Atlantic Threadfin

U/K

U/K

92

Ballyhoo

62

70 - 80

85

Bay Anchovy

U/K

82

92

California Grunion

68

77

93

Gulf Grunion

68

89

98

Gulf Menhaden

U/K

U/K

86

Mullet

55

70 - 85

92+

Pacific Silverside

72

77

82

Rough Silverside

U/K

U/K

91

Skipjack Herring

72

U/K

84

Spot

U/K

U/K

99

Tidewater Silverside

U/K

U/K

93

+ indicates higher temperatures possible.