What are pelagic fish?

Pelagic fishes inhabit water columns (not below or near the shore), coasts, open oceans, and lakes.

pelagic fish

Pelagic fishes can be classified as coastal and marine fish, depending on their water depth. Coastal pelvic fish deepen sun water to about 655 feet, usually atop the continental shelf. Examples of species include forest fish such as anchovies, sardines, sheds, and menhaden and predatory fish that feed on them. Oceanic pelvic fish usually inhabit water beneath the continental shelf. Examples include large fish such as swordfish, tuna, mackerel, and even sharks.
The sea has no distinct boundary from sea water, so some sea fishes become partial inhabitants of coastal waters, often during different stages of their life cycle. However, true oceanic species spend their entire lives in the open ocean.

Pelagic fish get their name from an area they call the pelagic zone. The Pelagic Zone is the largest habitat on Earth with a volume of 330 million cubic miles. Various species of pelagic fishes are found throughout the region. The number and distribution vary regionally and vertically depending on the availability of light, nutrients, dissolved oxygen, temperature, salinity, and pressure.