Barrelfish Fishing Charters

The Barrelfish is an underappreciated deepwater gem that has become increasingly popular on party boats offering deep drop fishing trips. Found at extreme depths of 600 to 1,500 feet along the continental shelf edge, these fish inhabit rocky outcroppings, deepwater wrecks, and submarine canyon walls.

Barrelfish get their common name from the juvenile fish that are often found sheltering under floating barrels, crates, and other debris at the surface. As adults, they migrate to extreme depths where they form loose aggregations around structure. Their oval, compressed body is typically dark gray to brownish-black, with large scales and a blunt head.

Targeting Barrelfish requires specialized deep drop tackle, including electric reels capable of reaching 1,000+ feet of depth. Party boats and headboats equipped for this style of fishing use heavy weighted rigs with cut squid, fish strips, or whole small fish as bait.

The eating quality of Barrelfish is outstanding and often compared to grouper or swordfish. The firm, white, moist flesh holds up well to any cooking method and is considered a delicacy by those fortunate enough to catch them. A 20-pound Barrelfish yields generous, thick fillets that are among the best table fare available from deepwater fishing.