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Regardless of what type of boating you do, you should have at least one fish book on your vessel's bookshelf. Luckily, there's a fish book to fit every need. For this article, the focus is on fish along the U.S. East Coast, Bahamas and Caribbean, but most of these books also have sister publications for the Pacific and other areas.

The National Audubon Society's Field Guide to Fishes, published most recently in 2002, is an excellent general purpose guide, intended mainly for those interested in observing the fishes in their habitats and in learning about their range, life span and cycle, habits and behavior. This would be a great book for kids who are interested in learning about fish behavior and who have an advanced reading level, because it includes the most information for any given fish. It also contains spectacular color photographs of each fish, making identification easy, and has a thorough introduction explaining fish biology. One drawback, just like every other field guide published by the Audubon society, is that the information about the particular fish is in its own section at the back of the book, separate from the photographs, so you have to look the fish up by photo and then again by page number in the back. There is also no information about fishing or edibility. This is one of the most thorough guides you will find, it covers both fresh and saltwater fishes, and it retails for only $19.95.

Paul Humann and Ned Deloach published the third edition of Reef Fish Identification: Florida, Caribbean and Bahamas, in 2002, with New World Publications. One unique thing about this book is that the fish are sorted into groupings based on physical characteristics, making it easy for a novice fish-watcher to look up an unknown fish by turning to the section, for example, on "Heavy Bodies/Large Lips." Not surprisingly, this is the section for groupers. In "Small, Enlongated Bottom-Dwellers," you would find such species as jawfish and blennies. All the fish are shown in full-color photos, and the text describing them is given beside the photos. Useful especially to divers is the information given on each fish describing how it usually reacts to divers. For example, of the great hammerhead: "Unpredictable; often move away, but occasionally make close passes. Considered dangerous, especially in the vicinity of spearfishing." Nassau groupers "tend to be curious; can often be closely observed with a slow, non-threatening approach." The rest of the textual information is useful but much less thorough than that of the Audubon book. At $39.95, this book would probably be most suited for scuba and free divers.

Idaz Greenberg's Guide to Corals & Fishes of Florida, the Bahamas and the Caribbean, published in 1986 by Seahawk Press, is a favorite among cruisers due to its simplicity, small size, and water resistant format. It's the perfect book to take out in the dinghy on a snorkeling or spearfishing adventure. Its layout is simple and easy to use, the drawings of the different species of fishes are accurate and clear, and the text describing the fishes contains only useful information, such as edibility and identifying habits. The drawbacks are that the text is abbreviated and that not all species are covered, but with 260 species represented in 64 pages, the author has done a fantastic job on a book that has proven to be timeless. It retails for $9.95.

Sport Fish of Florida, by Vic Dunaway (published by Florida Sportsman), is the quintessential handbook for anyone who wants to catch fish in Florida (or Atlantic East Coast, the Pacific, the Gulf of Mexico...these books are published for almost every region, so call or check online for availability!). The sections are organized by fish type (snappers, jacks, etc.), and each fish is accompanied by a color illustration, physical description, size information, food value, game qualities, tackle and bait used to catch it, fishing systems (trolling, drifting, etc.), range, habitat, and nicknames. The nickname information is one of the best things about this book, because sport fish tend all have two or three different names. For example, did you know that a bonefish is also called a silver ghost, a white fox, or a macabi? Sport Fish of Florida retails for $16.95, and is a necessary book on any fisherman's shelf.

Gar Goodson's Fishes of the Atlantic Coast is a Bluewater favorite, simply because it's one of the best all-around fish books on the market. At just under 200 pages long and retailing for $12.95, this pocket-sized guidebook is designed for the fish watcher who seeks to know more about the abundant and beautiful marine life of the western Atlantic Ocean. It includes the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Caribbean. No special knowledge of fishes is required to comprehend this book other than a general understanding of fish anatomy, which is explained in simple terms in the book's preface. Edibility information on each fish is included, as well as a color illustration, range and behavior, and general information. For the money and the amount of information you get, this book is one of the best available.

So whatever your purpose may be, even if it's just to impress your friends around the dock, be sure to invest in a good fish book. It's well worth the money.