No Such Thing as Trash Fish

Some of my favorite and most memorable fishing experiences have been where I targeted (or inadvertently caught) species many anglers consider beneath them. For example, in 2013, chasing an article for Boat US Angler Magazine, we went fishing for blue catfish on the Potomac River. We didn’t go far, the fish weren’t exotic by any means, and we got covered with virtually unwashable slime – but it was FUN. It didn’t hurt that the fish were giant (Hanna’s biggest pulled a spring scale to 59 pounds) and fought hard, but mostly it was just that it was something different.

All too often we get caught up in what makes a fish desirable or “sporting” rather than just enjoying what makes it unique or fun. I’m guilty of it, too. When we’re chasing roosterfish in Panama and we end up with big Jack Crevalles, I have a split second of disappointment before I remember that the fish is bigger and fought more brutally than any smallmouth I’ve ever caught, and I’ve spent thousands of dollars and thousands of hours in pursuit of the latter.

There’s nothing wrong with having favorites, but simply ruling a fish unworthy because it’s not your top choice is dumb.

Here are some articles making that case:

• Backyard Brawlers

• The 10 Most Underrated Freshwater Fish

• Top 13 Underrated Saltwater Species to Target on Fly

• Why Travel For Great Lakes Carp?

• Cermele: Talking Trash

• Your Guide To Garbage Fish That You Can Be Proud To Catch

• Ask the Experts: What’s the Most Underrated Game Fish?

• Second Fiddle: Five Underappreciated Species

• The Most Underrated Fish in Florida: The Jack Crevalle

• Chum Salmon On The Brain, Alaska’s Underrated ”Secret”

Someday I’ll catch a Char above the Arctic Circle, a GT, and a Napoleon Wrasse, but in the meantime there are plenty of non-charismatic species I’ll be proud to winch in.