List of Top 10 Biggest Fish in the World (Ranked by Size)

Did you know there are more than 34,000 species of fish living across oceans, rivers, and freshwater systems around the world? Some are tiny enough to fit in your hand, while others grow to sizes larger than buses.

When people think about the biggest sea creatures, many immediately imagine the blue whale. But whales are mammals—not fish. The actual giants of the fish world belong mostly to the shark family and other massive marine species.

In this article, we explore the Top 10 Biggest Fish in the World, ranked by length and size.

Top 10 Largest Fish in the World

Rank	Fish	Length	Found In	Scientific Name	Also Known As
1	Whale Shark	18–61.7 feet	Tropical Oceans	Rhincodon typus	Gentle Giant
2	Basking Shark	26–33 feet	Temperate Oceans	Cetorhinus maximus	Bone Shark
3	Great White Shark	15–20 feet	Coastal & Open Oceans	Carcharodon carcharias	White Shark
4	Tiger Shark	10–14 feet	Tropical & Subtropical Waters	Galeocerdo cuvier	Sea Tiger
5	Giant Oceanic Manta Ray	15–23 feet (wingspan)	Tropical Oceans	Mobula birostris	Devil Fish
6	Ocean Sunfish	10–11 feet	Tropical & Temperate Oceans	Mola mola	Common Mola
7	Sharptail Mola	9–11 feet	Warm Oceans	Masturus lanceolatus	Sharp-tailed Sunfish
8	Southern Sunfish	Up to 10 feet	Southern Hemisphere	Mola alexandrini	Bumphead Sunfish
9	Beluga Sturgeon	11–16 feet	Caspian & Black Sea	Huso huso	Great Sturgeon
10	Pacific Sleeper Shark	12–14 feet	North Pacific Ocean	Somniosus pacificus	Mud Shark

1. Whale Shark – The Largest Fish in the World

The Whale Shark holds the title of the biggest fish on Earth and can grow to an astonishing 61.7 feet.

Despite its huge size, it is completely harmless to humans and feeds mainly on:

• Plankton
• Krill
• Fish larvae

Whale sharks are filter feeders, meaning they swim with their mouths open and strain tiny organisms from seawater.

Interesting Fact:

Each whale shark has a unique white spot pattern—similar to human fingerprints.

Conservation Status:

Endangered

2. Basking Shark

The Basking Shark is the second-largest fish species in the world.

Average size ranges between 26 and 33 feet.

Like whale sharks, basking sharks eat:

• Zooplankton
• Tiny marine organisms

They are commonly found in cooler temperate waters.

Interesting Fact:

During winter, basking sharks may shed their gill filters and eat very little until plankton returns.

Conservation Status:

Endangered

3. Great White Shark

The Great White Shark is considered the largest predatory fish on Earth.

Average length:
15–20 feet

Diet includes:

• Seals
• Sea lions
• Tuna
• Marine mammals

Unlike filter feeders, Great Whites actively hunt prey.

Interesting Fact:

Great White Sharks can dive more than 3,900 feet deep while hunting.

Conservation Status:

Vulnerable

4. Tiger Shark

Tiger Sharks are famous for the dark stripes on their bodies.

Average size:
10–14 feet

Diet includes:

• Fish
• Sea turtles
• Birds
• Squid

Because they eat almost anything, they are often called the garbage bins of the sea.

5. Giant Oceanic Manta Ray

The Giant Oceanic Manta Ray has one of the largest wingspans among fish.

Average wingspan:
15–23 feet

They glide gracefully through warm tropical waters while feeding on plankton.

6. Ocean Sunfish

The Ocean Sunfish is the heaviest bony fish in the world.

Average size:
10–11 feet

These unusual fish are recognised by their flattened circular body shape.

7. Sharptail Mola

The Sharptail Mola is closely related to the Ocean Sunfish.

Average length:
9–11 feet

It inhabits warm and tropical oceans.

8. Southern Sunfish

Also called the Bumphead Sunfish, this species lives mainly in the Southern Hemisphere.

Average size:
Up to 10 feet

9. Beluga Sturgeon

Beluga Sturgeon is among the largest freshwater fish.

Average size:
11–16 feet

It is famous for producing high-value caviar.

10. Pacific Sleeper Shark

This slow-moving deep-water shark lives in the cold waters of the North Pacific.

Average size:
12–14 feet

It feeds on fish, squid, and marine animals.