Top Pigfish Fishing Countries

Pigfish (Orthopristis chrysoptera) are a species of grunt found primarily in the western Atlantic Ocean, especially along the southeastern coast of the United States, the Gulf of Mexico, and parts of the Caribbean. Recognized for their silvery bodies with subtle blue and yellow stripes, pigfish are popular as both food fish and live bait, particularly in recreational fisheries. The United States, especially states like Florida, North Carolina, and Texas, leads in pigfish harvesting due to the species’ abundance in coastal waters and estuaries. While commercial harvests are relatively modest compared to larger finfish, pigfish play a vital role in local bait fisheries and small-scale commercial catches. Other countries in the Caribbean and Gulf region, such as Mexico and the Bahamas, also harvest pigfish, though typically on a smaller scale, often for local consumption or bait rather than large-scale export.

Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.