While it may be true that some 10 million salt water fish are kept as pets in the United States, saltwater fish are primarily harvested for fishermen looking to sell and eat their catch.

Besides the fact that saltwater fishing is one of the more enjoyable activities, saltwater fish are one of the more nutritionally abundant fish when compared to others (e.g. freshwater fish).

Much has been said about the benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids that are found in saltwater fish, like Salmon and Tuna. These fatty acids do wonders for the body by supplying it with the essential nutrients that can help curve the threat of cardiovascular disease and mental impairments, like Alzheimers disease. DHAa specific kind of omega-3 fatty acidis particularly important to pregnant women in a babys brain and retinal development.

But much of the good news about omega-3 fatty acids has been obscured by the risks involved in eating saltwater fish. Mercurywhich has been linked to severe birth defectsis found in saltwater fish, leaving pregnant women confused on whether fish should be eaten at all. But according to researchers out of the University of Auburn, studies suggest that the abundance of omega-3 fatty acids found in saltwater fish may counter the adverse effects of mercury.

This debate will continue to swirl, but the fact remains that the positives vastly outweigh the negatives when it comes to eating saltwater fish (tuna and salmon are two of the more readily available omega-3 fatty acid sources for Americans).

Outside of the benefits that come from eating saltwater fish, the enjoyment and camaraderie that comes from saltwater fishing is something that only true anglers can testify of. By entering saltwater fish into any web search engine will bring up a host of web sites, giving specific reports on what fish are biting and where. From the chilly waters of the Atlantic off the coast of Cape Cod, to the more tepid waters off the coast of Puerto Rico, saltwater fishermen are able to stay on top of the actionor should we say oceanon where to go for the best catch possible.