Top fish catches in metric tons from the latest year with data available, 2022. Data from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
| Rank | Fish Species | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Freshwater fishes nei | 11,880 |
| 2 | Round sardinella | 9,980 |
| 3 | Bigeye grunt | 9,160 |
| 4 | Black catfishes nei | 8,015 |
| 5 | West African croakers nei | 7,925 |
| 6 | Bonga shad | 4,080 |
| 7 | Sardinellas nei | 3,870 |
| 8 | Yellowfin tuna | 3,336 |
| 9 | Atlantic chub mackerel | 2,650 |
| 10 | Skipjack tuna | 2,266 |
| 11 | Dagaas (=Kapenta) | 2,260 |
| 12 | Bobo croaker | 2,140 |
| 13 | Atlantic bumper | 2,080 |
| 14 | Largehead hairtail | 2,020 |
| 15 | Jacks, crevalles nei | 1,960 |
| 16 | Bearded brotula | 1,770 |
| 17 | Barracudas nei | 1,625 |
| 18 | West African ilisha | 1,590 |
| 19 | Marine fishes nei | 1,370 |
| 20 | Little tunny(=Atl.black skipj) | 1,293 |
| 21 | Royal threadfin | 1,240 |
| 22 | Tonguefishes | 1,170 |
| 23 | Torpedo-shaped catfishes nei | 1,150 |
| 24 | Mullets nei | 1,050 |
| 25 | Freshwater crustaceans nei | 975 |
| 26 | Lesser African threadfin | 955 |
| 27 | Porgies, seabreams nei | 805 |
| 28 | African bonytongue | 770 |
| 29 | Madeiran sardinella | 765 |
| 30 | Atlantic bonito | 687 |
| 31 | Sompat grunt | 680 |
| 32 | Giant African threadfin | 530 |
| 33 | Nile perch | 445 |
| 34 | Scads nei | 420 |
| 35 | Stingrays, butterfly rays nei | 400 |
| 36 | Bigeye tuna | 386 |
| 37 | Rhinofishes nei | 360 |
| 38 | Elephantsnout fishes nei | 340 |
| 39 | West African ladyfish | 320 |
| 40 | Tilefishes nei | 315 |
| 41 | West African Spanish mackerel | 312 |
| 42 | Sea catfishes nei | 310 |
| 43 | Snappers nei | 305 |
| 44 | Cunene horse mackerel | 300 |
| 45 | Pandoras nei | 295 |
| 46 | Tropical spiny lobsters nei | 280 |
| 47 | Cassava croaker | 255 |
| 48 | Upsidedown catfishes | 245 |
| 48 | Blue shark | 245 |
| 50 | Guitarfishes, etc. nei | 225 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.