Fish top speeds...

[John F]

I was bored... so looked up the web to check on what sort of top speeds fish can attain... data from www.speedofanimals.com, BBC. Add up if you find more data.


Black marlin 128 km/h
Sailfish 110 km/h
Swordfish 97 km/h
Striped marlin 81 km/h

Wahoo 77 km/h
Bluefin tuna 70 /h
Flying fish 56.5 km/h
Barracuda 44 km/h

Mako shark 50 km/h
Great white shark 40 km/h
Tiger shark 32 km/h

[Half-Pint]

Interesting ... I wonder what sort of distance that's over?

I'm pretty sure the night Kumz left a crayfish in my sleeping bag I covered the 1m from bed to floor at a speed of 300000000mph

[WalkersKiller]

Interesting Marcos, link doesnt seem to work?

What about freshwater fish, any info on that?

Interesting ... I wonder what sort of distance that's over?

I'm pretty sure the night Kumz left a crayfish in my sleeping bag I covered the 1m from bed to floor at a speed of 300000000mph

One of the best moments of my life!

[SAfish]

Interesting but I always thought the Sailfish was the fastest.
Having said that, a Black marlin at 128 mph will be difficult to beat . . . even with my car. 

[John F]

oops.... sorry! Corrected! It's all km/h...

These speeds would be very short termed... no idea how long but judging from the strikes of many fish it would probably be up to 3-4 min...

[John F]

Interesting Marcos, link doesnt seem to work?

What about freshwater fish, any info on that?

Link sorted. The "s" was missing.

Didn't look at freshwater fish...  will see if I can find some info

[FishStyx]

I was also under the impression that the Sailie was the quickest... But some interesting info there.

[sebatiaanc]

Interesting topic. 

[LGF]

Interesting info Marcos, PS on Wikipedia they stated that the record speed for a black marlin was 129km/h so it's even faster😂😂😂😂


I couldn't believe the speed the flying fish reaches, just nuts!


The fastest freshwater fish is said to the the Rainbow Trout at 8m/sec that translates to 28.8km/h, not nearly as fast as most saltwater species.

[John F]

Thanks! Makes sense that freshwater fish are slower... all about the habitat and the way they feed. My guess is the tigerfish must be 9ne of the fastest... predator (piscivore) and strong forked tail... build for chasing bait.

[Rory mundy]

Must be a fast swimming marine biologist to keep up with those fish to measure there speeds

[John F]

Lol Rory.... not sure how they do it... they must use some sort of echo location device... or maybe they do it old school... measure how fast these fish spool a reel when hooked up... will look it up...

[LGF]

Haven't checked the tiger's speed but just read a very interesting study on largemouth bass that states although their speed has not yet been studied in depth it is commonly accepted that they swim about 2,5 times their body length which translates to a 50cm Bass reaching 19,31km/h, also pretty sure it cannot sustain this over distances as long as those in the salt, but then again they're ambush predators and don't have to necessarily have to hunt down their prey like ocean hunters over long distances!

[LGF]

Lol Rory.... not sure how they do it... they must use some sort of echo location device... or maybe they do it old school... measure how fast these fish spool a reel when hooked up... will look it up...

The Wikipedia info noted that it was the speed the line was stripped form the reel that translated to the 129 of the Marlin (black).

[LGF]

Perhaps the exact reason there is so little info on freshwater predatory species cause they don't swim that long so that line speed could be established.

[LGF]

Can you imagine we were fishing   for Peregrine Falcons with dive speeds recorded well over 300km/h

[Half-Pint]

Lol Rory.... not sure how they do it... they must use some sort of echo location device... or maybe they do it old school... measure how fast these fish spool a reel when hooked up... will look it up...

The Wikipedia info noted that it was the speed the line was stripped form the reel that translated to the 129 of the Marlin (black).

That's interesting as then without the drag of the line in water (even on freespool) the fish would be even faster

[travelmember]

I am not convinced and recall this being a hot topic some years ago in one of the sportfishing mags.


Assume the simple rules of physics and using a vertical velocity equation - if that black marlin could reach 129km/h (36m/s) then assuming it did that for just 5 seconds in a vertical plane (it was trying to jump!) then it would jump 35 metres high.
IIRC, the real numbers were close to 40km/h - and that was measured over a minimum distance of 10 metres and was measured via tag feedback.

[LGF]

I hear you, but if one visualizes and watches video of say a Cheetah and a Gazelle, it sort of sounds fair, looking at the shape of its body (if a rainbow trout can reach 28-29) then this further lends me towards thinking it's not that impossible, also remember it's not trying to do a high-jump but rather just trying to throw the hook, not sure, maybe I am completely wrong, but maybe just maybe it could be?