Every angler I know keeps a running list. It might not be written down, but it’s there in the back of your mind when you’re flipping through old trip photos or watching a fishing film that gets under your skin. Some fish earn a spot because of how they fight. Others because of where they live or how rare they are. A few make the list simply because they represent a challenge. These aren’t fish you stumble into on a casual weekend. These are fish that require commitment, a bit of planning, and sometimes a lot of luck.

What follows is a list of ten American game fish that are absolutely worth chasing. These are fish that offer something extra. Whether it’s size, attitude, or the environment they live in, each one is unforgettable in its own way. If you’re the type of angler who plans trips around species and seasons, and you get as much out of the chase as the catch, this list is for you.

Steelhead

Steelhead have a way of pulling anglers in and not letting go. These sea-run rainbow trout are born in freshwater, head to the ocean to grow, and return to their natal rivers to spawn. It’s a life cycle that shapes everything about them. In the Pacific Northwest, steelhead return to rivers that are often cold, fast, and full of structure. They don’t show up in huge numbers and they don’t bite easily. But when you finally connect, there’s nothing quite like it.

Fishing for steelhead is as much about rhythm and patience as it is about casting. Swinging flies through classic runs, or dead-drifting nymphs under ice shelves, the process is meditative. And then it happens. The take is sharp and unmistakable. The fish is chrome-bright and full of life. They jump, they run, they bulldog. A single fish can make your entire trip. Steelhead aren’t easy, and that’s the point. They make you earn it, and that makes them unforgettable.

Tarpon

Tarpon fishing has its own rhythem. You start early, often before sunrise, poling a skiff through quiet backcountry water or scanning the ocean-side flats for movement. When the light is right and the conditions line up, you see them – rolling, flashing, or cruising just beneath the surface. The moment a tarpon eats your fly or lure, everything explodes. They go airborne immediately, six feet of muscle and silver crashing through the surface, shaking their head violently before peeling off across the flat.

They’re strong, yes, but it’s their presence that makes them unforgettable. These are old fish. Some live more than fifty years. They migrate long distances and return year after year to certain haunts. The Florida Keys, especially in late spring, are the center of the tarpon world, but they show up all along the Gulf Coast and even into parts of the Carolinas. Tarpon fishing is not about volume. One fish can make your week. Every encounter feels personal, and once you’ve had one, you’ll want another.

Permit

Permit are something else entirely. These are fish that mess with your head. They tail on flats like bonefish, but they don’t behave like bonefish. They’re cautious, easily spooked, and maddeningly inconsistent. You can spot a big fish, make what feels like the perfect cast, and still get nothing. Or you can blow your shot before you even have a chance. When you do get an eat, it happens fast – a sudden turn, a flash of movement, and then you’re on.

Once hooked, permit pull hard and deep. They don’t jump like tarpon or race off like bonefish. Instead, they grind you down with sheer force. What keeps anglers coming back is the challenge. You don’t catch permit by accident. It takes preparation, focus, and a bit of obsession. The Lower Keys, Mexico’s Yucatán, and parts of the Gulf Coast are all permit country. Catching one, especially on fly, feels like solving a riddle that’s been giving you grief for years. It’s always worth it.

Chinook Salmon

Chinook salmon, often called kings, live up to the name. These are the largest of the Pacific salmon, with some fish topping thirty or forty pounds on a good year. They return to rivers from the ocean to spawn, often traveling hundreds of miles upstream. When they hit freshwater, they’re full of strength and resolve. Hooking one in a tidewater pool or mid-river run is like grabbing onto a freight train. They pull deep, shake hard, and test every part of your setup.

Alaska is the place most anglers think of when it comes to Chinook, and for good reason. Rivers like the Kenai and the Nushagak see some of the biggest and strongest runs. But there are good fisheries in Washington, Oregon, and Northern California as well. You can swing flies, back-troll plugs, or drift roe, depending on where you are. However you fish them, Chinook feel consequential. There’s a weight to them, both literally and figuratively. When you catch one, it feels like part of something much bigger.

Muskie

Muskellunge are a fish that can drive people a little crazy. They’re not overly common, and they’re not especially forgiving. You can spend days casting huge flies or baits without a single follow, and then suddenly have one appear like a ghost beneath your lure. Sometimes they eat. Sometimes they just fade away. It’s that unpredictability that keeps musky anglers grinding. When you finally do get one to eat — especially on a figure eight next to the boat — it feels like a small miracle.

What sets musky apart is how visual the whole process is. You’re often fishing in clear water, watching every move, and tracking fish right up to the leader. The takes are sudden and violent, and the fight is pure power. These aren’t long, running battles. They’re short, heavy bursts of chaos. Northern Wisconsin, Minnesota, and parts of Appalachia hold some of the best musky waters in the country. They’re not numbers fish. They’re a test of focus and persistence, and they leave a lasting impression.

Bluefin Tuna

Bluefin tuna are all about power. These are ocean fish built for speed and endurance, and they use both. You don’t just drop a bait and hope for the best. Bluefin often require long runs, detailed intel, and serious gear. They can hit a popper like a depth charge or crush a live bait and immediately sound 300 feet straight down. You’re not just fighting a fish, you’re in a full-on physical contest that can last over an hour.

The Northeast, especially Cape Cod and the Outer Banks, is known for its bluefin bite, particularly when the schools come close to shore. On the West Coast, long-range boats chase them off California and into Mexican waters. These fish range in size from 50 to over 300 pounds, and the big ones are in a class of their own. You’ll need heavy gear, a strong back, and plenty of patience. But when you finally get one to the boat, it feels like landing a piece of ocean itself.

Alligator Gar

Alligator gar feel like something out of a different time. They’re prehistoric, toothy, and tough – the kind of fish you don’t expect to see in American waters unless you know where to look. Texas and parts of the Deep South are home to some giants. They live in murky rivers and backwaters, surfacing now and then with a gulp of air before sinking back down. These fish can grow to over six feet long, with armored scales and jaws full of sharp teeth.

Fishing for them isn’t fast-paced, but it is intense. You usually use heavy gear and cut bait, waiting patiently for a bite before setting the hook hard. The fight is more like wrestling than reeling. They pull hard, roll, and use their body weight against you. Catching a big gar isn’t about numbers or elegance. It’s about pursuing something raw, wild, and completely different from the average freshwater experience. It’s a reminder that there’s still mystery in American rivers.

White Sturgeon

White sturgeon are in a league of their own when it comes to freshwater fish. They’re true river giants, often stretching well over six feet long and weighing hundreds of pounds. These fish have been around since the time of the dinosaurs, and they still patrol rivers from California to British Columbia. The Columbia River and parts of the Fraser drainage are prime sturgeon territory, with catch-and-release fishing keeping populations healthy.

The typical sturgeon bite is subtle. You’ll be anchored up with heavy gear, watching your rod tip for that slow, rhythmic tap. When you set the hook and feel the weight, everything changes. These fish pull like submerged tractors, and the bigger ones will come up for a few jumps just to show off. Sturgeon fishing is a waiting game, but when you finally connect with one, the size and age of the fish adds a gravity that few other freshwater species can match.

White Seabass

White seabass have a kind of mystique. They’re not flashy like yellowtail or as common as calico bass, but when conditions line up — cool water, squid inshore, and light surf — they can make for some of the most memorable days on the water. Found primarily along the Southern California coast, they’re often caught at night, especially around Catalina and the Channel Islands. The bite can be subtle, but the fight is anything but.

White seabass hit hard and pull with real authority. They have broad shoulders and an attitude to match. You might be fishing live squid in a slow drift or casting swimbaits through kelp lanes at dawn. Either way, the payoff is a fish that’s prized both for its meat and its mystique. These fish aren’t always around, and that unpredictability is part of the draw. Locals revere them, and those who’ve landed a true tanker, 50 pounds or more, wear it like a badge of honor.

Pacific Halibut

Pacific halibut don’t win beauty contests, but they’re all muscle and fight. These flatfish live deep, often over rocky reefs or muddy flats, and when they eat, it’s with intent. The initial hit feels like a snag until it moves, and then the fight begins. It’s all weight and stubbornness as they use their entire body to stay on the bottom.

Alaska offers the best shots at big halibut, with some fish breaking the 100-pound mark. You’ll need stout gear, patience, and some endurance. The battles aren’t flashy, but they’re gritty. Halibut hold their ground and make you earn every inch of line. They’re not a glamour species, but they’re reliable, rewarding, and impressive in their own right. Add in the fact that they’re one of the best-eating fish in the ocean, and you’ve got a perfect mix of sport and substance.