These lists of kosher and non kosher fish were prepared by James W. Atz, Ph.D., Curator and Dean Bibliographer in the Department of Ichthyology of the American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York 10024.
Special thanks to the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America for allowing us to reprint this list.
| Albacore See: Mackerels |
| Alewife See: Herrings |
| Amberjack See: Jacks |
| Anchovies (Family
Engraulidae). Including: European anchovy (Engraulis encrasciolus), North
of California anchovy (Engraulis mordax). |
| Angelfish and butterfly fish (Family Chaetodontidae).
Including: Angelfish (Holacanthus species, Pomacanthus species). |
| ama or reineta which go by the Latin name lepidotus austrais or lepidotus
raii) |
| Atlantic Pomfret or Ray's Bream(Brama
rracudas and kakus (Sphyraena species). |
| Ballyhoo See: Flyingfish |
| Barracudas (Family Sphyraenidae)
|
| Bass See Sea Basses. Temperate
basses, Sunfish, Drums |
| Bigeyes (Family Priacanthidae).
Including: Bigeyes or aweoweos (Priacanthus species). |
| Blackfish See: Carps, Wrasses |
| Blacksmith See: Damselfish |
| Blueback See: Flounders, Herrings,
Trouts |
| Bluefish or snapper blue (Pomatomus saltarix) |
| Bluegill See: Sunfish |
| Blue Marlin |
| Bocaccio See: Scorpionfish |
| Bombay duck (Harpadeon
nehereus) |
| Bonefish (Albula vulpes) |
| Bonito See: Cobia, Mackerels |
| Bowfin Bowfish, Freshwater
dogfish, or grindle (Amia calva) |
| Bream See: Carps, Atlantic
Pomfret, P |
| Brill See: Flounder |
| Buffalo Fishes See: Suckers |
| Burbot See: Codfish |
| ButterFish
(Family Stromateidae), Including: Butterfish (Peprilus tracanthus); Pacific
pompano (Peprilus similimus); harvestfish (Peprilus species) |
| Butterfly fish See: Angelfish |
| Cabrilla See: Sea Basses |
| Calicobass See: Sunfish |
| 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); Squawfish (Ptychocheilus species); Sacramento 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 whitefish (salmon), Lumpsuckers (non kosher), Sturgeons
(non kosher). |
| Cero See: Mackerels |
| Channel bass See: Drums |
| Char See: Trouts |
| Chilipepper See: Scorpionfish |
| Chinook salmon See: Trouts |
| Chup See: Trouts, Sea chubs |
| 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: Codfish |
| Cobia, cabio, or black bonito (Rachycentron canadum) |
| Cod, cultus, black, blue, or ling. See: Greenlings,
Sablefish |
| Codfish(Family Gadidae), Including: Cod (Gadus
morhua), Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus); Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus);
Pollock, saithe, or coalfish (Pollachius virens); Walleye pollock (Theragra
chalcogramma); Hakes (Urophycis species); Whiting (Meriangius merlangus); Blue
whiting or poutassou (Micromesistius poutassou); Tomcods or frostfish (Microgradus
species). |
| Coho salmon See: Trouts |
| Corbina or Corvina, See: Drums |
| Cottonwick See: Grunts |
| Crapplie See: Sunfish |
| Creville See Jacks |
| Croacker See: Drums |
| Crucian carp See: Carps |
| Cubbyu See: Drums |
| Cunner See Wrasses |
| Dab See: Flounders |
| Damselfish(Family Pomacentridae). Including:
Blacksmith (Chromis punctipinnis); Garibaldi (Hypsypops rubicunda). |
| Doctorfish See: Surgeonfish |
| Dolly Varden See: Trouts |
| Dolphin fish or mahimahis (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(Umbrina roncador); Drums
(Pogonias species, Stellifer species, Umbrina species); Red drum or channel
bass (Sciaenops occellatus); Freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens); Kingfish
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 |
| Flyingfish and halfbeaks (Family
Exocoetidae); Flyingfish (Cypselurus species, and others); Ballyhoo or balao
(Hemiramphus species). |
| Frostfish See: Codfish |
| Gag See: Sea Basses |
| Garibaldi See: Damselfish |
| Giant kelpfish (Heterostichus rostratus) |
| Gizzard shad See: Herrings |
| Goatfish or surmullets (Family Mullidae). Including: Goatfish (Mullus
species, Pseudupeneus species); Wekes or goatfish (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
or blue cod (Ophiodon elongatus); Atkamackerel (Pleurogrammus monopterygius). |
| Grindle See: Bowfin |
| Grouper See: Sea Basses |
| Grunion See: Silversides |
| Grunts (Family Pomadasyldae),
Including; Grunts (Haemulon species, Pomadasys species); Margate (Haemulon
album); Tomtate (Haemulon aurolineattum); Cottonwick (Haemulon melanurum);
Sailors choice (Haemulon parral); Porkfish (Anisotremus virginicus); Black
margate (Anisotremus surinamensis); Sargo (Anisotremus davidsoni); Pigfish
(Orthopristis chrysoptera). |
| Guavina See: Gobies |
| Haddock See: Codfish |
| Hake See: Codfish |
| Hakes(Family Merlucciidae), Including: Hakes (Merluccio
species); Silver hake or whiting (Meriuccius bilinearis); Pacific hake or
Merluccio (Merluccius productus) |
| Halfbeak See: Flyingfish |
| Halfmoon See: Sea chubs |
| Halibut See: Flounders |
| Hamlet See: Sea Basses |
| Hardhead See: Carps |
| Harvestfish See: Butterfish |
| Hawkfish(Family Cirrhitidae). Including: Hawkfish (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 |
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Back to
Kosher Lists |
| 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); Moonfish (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 |
| Lanceor Launce See: Sand lances |
| Largemouth bass See: Sunfish |
| Lawyer See: Codfish |
| Leatherback See: Jacks |
| Lingcod See: Greenlings |
| Lizardfish(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. |
| Mahimahi See: Dolphin fish |
| Margate See: Grunts |
| Menhaden See: Herrings |
| Menpachii See: Squirrelfish |
| 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: Goatfish |
| 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 |
| Needlefish (Family Belonidae) Needlefish
or marine gars (strongylura species, Tylosuru species) |
| Opaleye See: Sea chubs |
| Palometa See: Jacks |
| Parrotfishes (Family Scaridae) including: Parrotfish and uhus (Scarus
species, S parisoma species) |
| Perch See also: Temperate
basses, Drums, Cichlids,
Surfperches, Scorpionfish |
| Perches (Family Percidae) including: Yellow
perch (Perca flavescens); Walleye, pike perch, or yellow or blue pike (Sander
vitreum); Sauget (Sander canadense) |
| Permit See: Jacks |
| Pickerel See: Pike |
| Pigfish See: Grunts |
| Pike See also: Perches |
| Pikes (Family Esocidae) including; Pike (Esox
Lucius); Pickerels (Esox species); Muskellunge (Esox Masquinongy) |
| Pikeperch See: Perches |
| Pilchard See Herrings |
| Pinfish See: P |
| Plaice See: Flounders |
| Pollock See: Codfish |
| Pomfret See: Atlantic pomfret |
| Pompano See: Jack, Butterfish |
| P and sea breams (Family Sparidae). Including:
P (Calamus species, Diplodus species, Pagrus species); Scup (Stenotomus chrysops);
Pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides); Sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus) |
| Porkfish See: Grunts |
| Poutassou See: Codfish |
| 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: Scorpionfish, Wrasses |
| Roach See: Carps |
| Rock bass See: Sunfish |
| Rockhind See: Sea Basses |
| Rockfish See: Scorpionfish, Temperate
basses |
| Rosefish See: Scorpionfish |
| RudderfishSee: Sea chubs |
| Runner See: Jack |
| Sablefish or black cod
(Anoplopoma fimbria) |
| Sailors choice See: Grunts |
| Saithe See: Codfish |
| Salmon See: Trouts |
| Sand lances, launces, or eels (Ammodytes
species) |
| Sardine See: Herrings |
| Sargo See: Grunts |
| Sauger See: Perches |
| Scad See: Jacks |
| Scamp See: Sea Basses |
| Schoolmaster See: Snappers |
| Scorpionfish (family Scorpaenidae), Including:
Scorpionfish (Scorpaena species); California scorpionfish or sculpin (Scorpaena
guttata); Nohus (Scorpaenopsis species); Redfish, rosefish, or ocean perch
(Sebasters marinus); rockfish (Sebasters species, Sebastodes species); Pacific
ocean perch (Sebastes alutus); Chilipepper (Sebastes goodel); Bocaccio (Sebastes
paucipinus); Shortspine thornyhead or channel rockfish (Sebastolobus alascanus) |
| Scup See: P |
| Sea bass See also: Temperate
basses, drums |
| Sea bass (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, Goliath Grouper (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: P |
| Sea chubs (Family Kyphosidae)
including: Bermuda chug or rudderfish (Kyphosus sectatrix); Opaleye (Girella
nigrican); Halfmoon (Medialuna californiensis) |
| Seaperch See: Surfperches |
| Searobins(Family Triglidae); Searobins (Prionotus
species) |
| Seatrout See: Drums, Greenlings,
Steelhead |
| Shad See: Herrings |
| Sheepshead See: P , Wrasses |
| Sierra See: Mackerels |
| Silversides (Family
Athernidae) including: Whitebait, spearing, or silversides (Menidia species);
California grunion (Leurusthes tenuis); Jacksmelt (Atherinopsis californiensis);
Topsmelt (Atherinops affinis) |
| Sirajo goby See: Gobies |
| Skipjack See Mackerels |
| Sleeper See Gobies |
| Smallmouth bass See Sunfish |
| 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
or Orabalos (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). |
| Spadefish (Family Ephippidae). Including:
Spadefish (Chaetodipterus species) |
| Spanish mackerel See: Mackerels |
| Spearing See: Silversides |
| Splitttail See: Carps |
| Spot See: Drums |
| Sprat See: Herrings |
| Squawfish See: Carp |
| Squirrelfish(Family Holocentridae), Including:
Squirrelfish (Holocentrus species); Menpachii (Myripristis species). |
| Steelhead See: Trouts |
| Striped bass See: Temperate basses |
| Suckers(Family Catostomidae). Including: Buffalo
fish (Ictiobus species); Suckers (Catostomus species, Moxostoma species);
Quillbacks or carpsuckers (Carpiodes species) |
| Sunfish(Family Centrarchidae). Including:
Freshwater basses (Micropterus species); Largemouth bass (Microterus salmoides);
Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieui); Sunfish (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); Black Perch
(Embiotoca jacksoni); Pile perch (Rhacochilus vacca); Shiner perch (Cymatogaster
aggregata). |
| Surgeonfish (Family
Acanthuridae). Including: Surgeonfish and tangs (Acanthurus species, Zebrasoma
species); Doctorfish (Acanthurus chirugus); Unicornfish or kalas (Naso species). |
| Tang See: Surgeonfish |
| 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,
Sixfinger
(Polydactylus sexfilis) |
| Tilapia See: Cichlids |
| Tilefish (Family Branchiostegidae) including:
tilefish (Logholatilus chamaeleonticeps) Ocean whitefish (Caulolatilus princeps) |
| Tomcod See: Codfish |
| Tomtate See: Grunts |
| Tomsmelt See: Silversides |
| Tripletail (Lobotes surinamensis) |
| Trouts and whitefish (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, Whitefish 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: Surgeonfish |
| Wahoo See: Mackerels |
| Walleye See: Perches |
| Walleye pollock See: Codfish |
| Warmouth See: Sunfish |
| Weakfish See: Drums |
| WhiteFish See: Trouts,
Tilefish |
| Whiting See: Codfish, Hakes,
Drums |
| Wrasses (Family Labridae) including: Hogfish
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 |
