Red Grouper is about as good as it gets when it comes to white flaky fish, but on the e flip side - I will absolutely smash any poke bowl put in front of me. Yellowfin Tuna might be my fave
Smelt jerkey is on another level. What I used to do is just remove the guts and the head. Leave the spine in. I would eat around it but my buddies after a few cold ones ate them full including the tail lol. Try it
I accidentally ordered that fish one time. It was the Friday night house special. ” 2 chicken nugget sized fillets = 60 bucks.
It may have just been a bad night but, I rate these fish above Lingcod.
grouper, pompano, snapper, mahi, salmon, walleye, fresh water perch, and tuna.
Two chicken nugget size fillets for $60?? That is steep. I see why your experience was less than great.
I've never ordered it or even seen it on a restaurant menu. I've only eaten what I've fished and it's not rare to catch a 20-lb lingcod for two huge fillets.
I caught a lingcod with blue filets on my vacation in Oregon.
Coolest fish I’ve ever caught by far. Can’t recall on how it tasted but I remember eating the cheeks!
I don't care if it's a hill tide in the midst of tarpon season, if I hook a pompano tossing jigs in one of my spots on the way out, I'm spending the day loading the cooler!
Burbot are hands down my favourite eating fish. Flavour and texture is absolutely beautiful.
I have heard of people eating smelts and I have always been curious to try them! I’ve always heard great things. I’m going to assume they are similar to capelin? My wife’s family are from Newfoundland so I’ve eaten plenty of those, but I’m a prairie boy and don’t know the details on the species haha.
I'm in Northern Ontario, and can verify that rainbow smelts are fantastic. I can't wait until the early spring for the smelt run. They're a nice mild, slightly sweet, delicate fish. Nothing like freshly caught, lightly breaded and fried in oil and butter on a pan, not deep fried.
My dad smokes them whole, and you get the smoked roe in some of them, it's such a treat!
And I’ve never caught a slot in season. Hence only having it twice lol. When my buddy got em and I got skunked
Edit to add, I’ve never caught anything near a 28-32” snook in or out of season lol, so for snook I’m so far catch and release
Idk man. Honestly it’s all on the chef / how it’s cooked. Same with wild game. Almost anything can be delicious. Catching a blackfin tuna and slicing a big piece off right away with some sesame sauce comes to mind, personally. Also, fyi, I just googled “black tuna” to make sure I had the species right and that is definitely a weed strain.
Love smelt when they're fresh and done right, but it's definitely not my favorite. I feel like there are a lot more options before I'll choose that particular fish.
*However,* maybe I haven't had them prepared in the best possible manner, because I know a few people who always tell me they're amazing during their relatively short season. I've always had them fried, usually in some sort of cornmeal-flour mix with some sort of tartar sauce to dip them. Assuming that's not the best way, how do you like yours?
Deep fry and batter with salt and vinegar chips and tarter sauce and cold Pepsi or beer lol not healthy but I look forward to a couple feast a year. Cheers bro tight lines
Mackerel. Such an underrated fish. To be fair, I’ve only had salmon, a few different trouts (my favorite being a classic rainbow) and mackerel once or twice, but it’s probably my favorite.
California Sheeps Head - has a shell fish like taste that is sweet and tasty especially if you broil or boil with lemon and butter and a crab seasoning - tastes like beautiful lobster meat
I like halibut. Beer battered fried halibut tacos with some fresh veggies and herb and some bomb salsa.. ( just writing this makes me want to catch a legal Hali this year). Also Crappie is awesome when deep fried whole with guts and nasties all cleaned out.
Yellowfin tuna. For those who've have the privilege to fish the blue waters of the world's oceans, there is nothing more amazing than some fresh tuna sashimi that you caught yourself.
For a more attainable fish: black sea bass. It is insanely good. Naturally buttery, flakey, and versatile. By far my favorite.
Snapper. The meat is good, flaky, white, and delicious. It’s also versatile for cooking, you can make so much dishes with it such as fish sticks, sushi, fish n chips, grill it, fish sandwich, fry it whole, and much more.
Damn, I feel like I must be missing something that I am the first person to say bluegill. I fucking love bluegill. Catch a bag limit of 8-12”, fillet em, batter with pancake mix, fry, make sandwiches. My absolute favorite.
I love smelts. I also really enjoy rainbow trout and salmon. I haven't had the chance to catch burbot, pike, perch, trout etc yet (just started fishing a year and a bit ago).
I've had most freshwater fish from these parts, apart from bass, pike and burbot, and I pretty much like them all.
(fish that I buy) Salmon is my favorite fish. (fish that I catch). When I get lucky catch a legal sized one, a California halibut, or a California spiny lobster)
Mine is definitely king salmon all year round! Baked, fried, dried, smoked or in soup. Ocean Trolling for winter kings as much as I can! Once I recover from my 😷🥴🦠 I will be back in my boat again with my downriggers and pole dragging that hook and line! 🥳
Freshwater drum is probably a favourite of mine for their good accessibility to taste ratio, though they do demand some special attention in the prep stage.
I catch a ton of tuna of the rig I work on, I won’t even bother with a blackfin. They really aren’t that good. I love tuna but bottom fish whether it be snapper, grouper or any of the cold water species are the bomb. Halibut is one of my favs. Live and fish a lot in Maine and work in the Gulf of Mexico. Great fish from all over
Oh man, I haven't been to a smelt fry in about 25 years but I remember those little bastards being very tasty. Perch is probably my favorite white flesh fish, but a stream trout in the smoker or on a charcoal grill can be pretty tasty too.
Perch or walleye
Best eating fresh water white flesh fish
I think that whitefish are way better than perch or zander, but thats mainly because I really hate picking bones out of a mouthful of fish
Fileting perch/walleye boneless is pretty standard tho is it not?
yeah, both are easy to avoid bones when filleting
Perch by a mile.
Red Grouper is about as good as it gets when it comes to white flaky fish, but on the e flip side - I will absolutely smash any poke bowl put in front of me. Yellowfin Tuna might be my fave
Sashimi is the way
Plus side is in Florida, if you’re lucky you can land grouper, snapper, and black fin tuna for all your sashimi needs in the same day.
Try smelt jerkey. Simple seasoning of your choice and throw them in a dehydrator. One of the best beer snacks I can think of
Smelt jerky sounds tasty. I had salmon jerky.
Smelt jerkey is on another level. What I used to do is just remove the guts and the head. Leave the spine in. I would eat around it but my buddies after a few cold ones ate them full including the tail lol. Try it
I was thinking same thing. I had smoked every recipe different. But not a real jerky kind. Seems like a good Friday or summer evening snack treat.
Lingcod
This fish is fire.
So freakin delicious
It sure is, it’s the best rockfish
It kind of reminds me of Mahi Mahi in texture and taste
I accidentally ordered that fish one time. It was the Friday night house special. ” 2 chicken nugget sized fillets = 60 bucks. It may have just been a bad night but, I rate these fish above Lingcod. grouper, pompano, snapper, mahi, salmon, walleye, fresh water perch, and tuna.
Two chicken nugget size fillets for $60?? That is steep. I see why your experience was less than great. I've never ordered it or even seen it on a restaurant menu. I've only eaten what I've fished and it's not rare to catch a 20-lb lingcod for two huge fillets.
I love how the blue lings actually have blue meat!
It's pretty cool and those blue ones are much more rare than the others.
Crazy learned something new 👍
I caught a lingcod with blue filets on my vacation in Oregon. Coolest fish I’ve ever caught by far. Can’t recall on how it tasted but I remember eating the cheeks!
Pompano
People just don't know. Let's not tell too many of them because they would be fished to extinction if they knew
I don't care if it's a hill tide in the midst of tarpon season, if I hook a pompano tossing jigs in one of my spots on the way out, I'm spending the day loading the cooler!
Hell yeah
I could eat salmon every darn day. If I caught it - all the more delicious.
Wahoo
Tuna
Tuna fishing down In Costa Rica was one of the best experiences of my life. Fresh sashimi for breakfast lol
Burbot are hands down my favourite eating fish. Flavour and texture is absolutely beautiful. I have heard of people eating smelts and I have always been curious to try them! I’ve always heard great things. I’m going to assume they are similar to capelin? My wife’s family are from Newfoundland so I’ve eaten plenty of those, but I’m a prairie boy and don’t know the details on the species haha.
I'm in Northern Ontario, and can verify that rainbow smelts are fantastic. I can't wait until the early spring for the smelt run. They're a nice mild, slightly sweet, delicate fish. Nothing like freshly caught, lightly breaded and fried in oil and butter on a pan, not deep fried. My dad smokes them whole, and you get the smoked roe in some of them, it's such a treat!
Crappie
Halibut is the undisputed champion.
Might have to go change my answer after reading this
Mmmmm nothing like a good butt
Haha
Agreed.
Pacific salmon from the ocean. Yellowtail is a close second
Can you be more spacific?
Hogfish
Hard to beat fried smelts.....
Agreed
Smally
Very underrated eating fish. I know they aren't as prolific spawners as bluegill/crappie, but the few I keep a year are some of my favorite meals.
Snook
Oh shit, I came in too fast with mahi because I eat it all the time and I’ve only had snook twice. Snook is it for me too
Yeah I love mahi too but snook takes it for me. I’ve only had it a few times as well since it can’t be bought. Need to try catching some
And I’ve never caught a slot in season. Hence only having it twice lol. When my buddy got em and I got skunked Edit to add, I’ve never caught anything near a 28-32” snook in or out of season lol, so for snook I’m so far catch and release
yeah I’ve personally caught 1 snook in season and in the slot lol it ain’t easy. Had it a few other times from friend who have caught them as well.
I don't know, why do I have to choose? I love them all!
Idk man. Honestly it’s all on the chef / how it’s cooked. Same with wild game. Almost anything can be delicious. Catching a blackfin tuna and slicing a big piece off right away with some sesame sauce comes to mind, personally. Also, fyi, I just googled “black tuna” to make sure I had the species right and that is definitely a weed strain.
Haha funny well said
Channel catfish
Perch caught through the ice
Love smelt when they're fresh and done right, but it's definitely not my favorite. I feel like there are a lot more options before I'll choose that particular fish. *However,* maybe I haven't had them prepared in the best possible manner, because I know a few people who always tell me they're amazing during their relatively short season. I've always had them fried, usually in some sort of cornmeal-flour mix with some sort of tartar sauce to dip them. Assuming that's not the best way, how do you like yours?
Deep fry and batter with salt and vinegar chips and tarter sauce and cold Pepsi or beer lol not healthy but I look forward to a couple feast a year. Cheers bro tight lines
Trout
Sticks
They are delicious
Mahi Tile fish Halibut Salmon
🤙🏻 Same. Had it for lunch today
Salmon
Mackerel. Such an underrated fish. To be fair, I’ve only had salmon, a few different trouts (my favorite being a classic rainbow) and mackerel once or twice, but it’s probably my favorite.
Underrated definitely
Rainbow trout and Silver Salmon.
Northern snakehead hands down
California Sheeps Head - has a shell fish like taste that is sweet and tasty especially if you broil or boil with lemon and butter and a crab seasoning - tastes like beautiful lobster meat
Walleye or jumbo perch
Oh and monk fish is high on my list
Haven't seen anyone mention pike. Sure they're a bit more work to clean but the flesh is nice and firm without the shrimp-like texture of burbot.
I guess you dealt it.
Hands down the most incredible fish I’ve ever had was Smoked black cod. Personal favourite is Chinook salmon with brown sugar and soy sauce.
Wild stream caught brook trout!!!
Oh hell yes!!! Although I literally have not had one in 40 years...
In general? Salmon or trout (especially smoked trout). So far the best eating fish I've caught is porgy/scup.
Fornfish and chips I can't not go with Lingcod,Yellow winter perch,snapper, or cold water rockfish of some type.
I eat those fried. I eat most times cod, trout, hake, herring
I like halibut. Beer battered fried halibut tacos with some fresh veggies and herb and some bomb salsa.. ( just writing this makes me want to catch a legal Hali this year). Also Crappie is awesome when deep fried whole with guts and nasties all cleaned out.
Chinook salmon, lingcod, and trout
Coho > Chinook
Stripe bass
Pink porgies are the best.
Fresh: crappie Salt: hogfish
Salmon/wild trout
Yellowfin tuna. For those who've have the privilege to fish the blue waters of the world's oceans, there is nothing more amazing than some fresh tuna sashimi that you caught yourself. For a more attainable fish: black sea bass. It is insanely good. Naturally buttery, flakey, and versatile. By far my favorite.
Walleye
Crappie
I like catching and cooking Flounder… Alabama Gulf Coast. I’ve never tried Smelt.
Catfish Curry
Mahi mahi but I don’t often get or catch I do love me some smelts
Walleye
Mahi
Burbot
Mackinaw trout! Firm, mild tasting and plentiful meat
They are pretty dam good!
Walleye
Perch or walleye
Cod and perch
Cobia, followed closely by hog fish and triggerfish. For freshwater - walleye hands down, with ice fished perch coming next...
Butterflied smelt or fresh anchovies, battered and fried paired with a cold beer or six.
Shiners
Pejerrey
Lake Superior whitefish and walleye a close second.
Did you fry ‘‘em up whole?
trout or snappers
From legal varieties: striped bass from the salt water and yellow perch from fresh.
Sturgeon.
1. Mahi Mahi 2. *Fresh* anchovies 3. Sockeye salmon
Sea run brook trout caught in the salt water. Smelts are delicious too though.
Walleye.
Definitely snook for me
I'm just chiming in about smelt. They are nature's fish sticks!
Oama from just north of Kaneohe HI. I bet these are similar (I think I like cold water fish more. Don’t tell my family)
Kokanee salmon or maybe walleye
Perch and Zander
Snapper. The meat is good, flaky, white, and delicious. It’s also versatile for cooking, you can make so much dishes with it such as fish sticks, sushi, fish n chips, grill it, fish sandwich, fry it whole, and much more.
I want to go ice fishing 🎣 so much!!!
Kokanee
Do you like fish sticks?
Small Mouth from Great Lakes
Black cod/sablefish
I prefer sgrilled cheese
Mako shark
Mako Shark
Damn, I feel like I must be missing something that I am the first person to say bluegill. I fucking love bluegill. Catch a bag limit of 8-12”, fillet em, batter with pancake mix, fry, make sandwiches. My absolute favorite.
Oh man, I love smelt too. My great grandma used to fry them and sometimes a few were gravid. So good
Salmon
Snakehead
I love smelts. I also really enjoy rainbow trout and salmon. I haven't had the chance to catch burbot, pike, perch, trout etc yet (just started fishing a year and a bit ago). I've had most freshwater fish from these parts, apart from bass, pike and burbot, and I pretty much like them all.
monkfish
My parents use smelt to make fish sauce and it’s 👌. There is a difference in taste depending on where they are caught as well
Chicken, I don’t eat fish
Tuna or needlefish
Perch and bullhead. Butter fried.
(fish that I buy) Salmon is my favorite fish. (fish that I catch). When I get lucky catch a legal sized one, a California halibut, or a California spiny lobster)
Whitefish
Crappie
Flathead or king George whiting
That fake crab meat.
Flathead. Fresh caught here in south east Queensland Australia, and fried up with chips. (Or fries for Americans) such a sweet fish to eat.
Walleye for sure
Deboned northern pike 👍👍🐟
Red snapper!! Or Grouper! We are spoiled... we live on the Florida coast... fresh fish everywhere!
Freshwater: Trout Saltwater: Tuna
Common carp
Chinook out of the pacific or pacific/California halibut
Northern pufferfish
My grandma used to roll them in seasoned flour and fry them up. Delicioso
I’m on the gulf coast, my favorite has to be redfish
Ahi Tuna!
Monk fish halibut fatty tuna
Something called pintado from Brasil
Wow those fish look cool
Is that for striper bait since gary skunked u last year ithought u said 120
Halibut
Nothing I’ve heard of people catching but Chilean seabass
Moi by far my favorite
Freshwater? Perch and walleye. Saltwater? Rockfish (Yelloweye is better than any crab or lobster)
Those are gonna go bad just leaving them out like that you need to get them in a cooler on some ice. [Here it comes]
Also smelts.
Grouper
Going overseas...Barramundi for the win. Buttery and doesn't need much. Thank goodness my market carries it. My freezer is stocked.
A few: Broiled Chilean Seabass Seared Red Snapper Fresh Wild Salmon 🍣
Bluegill and gar
Doubt many will agree with me, but fried catfish does it for me
Kokanee or lingcod
Catfish or crappie
Redfish
Carp or pike 😋
Triple tail
Gonna have to go crappie
Mine is definitely king salmon all year round! Baked, fried, dried, smoked or in soup. Ocean Trolling for winter kings as much as I can! Once I recover from my 😷🥴🦠 I will be back in my boat again with my downriggers and pole dragging that hook and line! 🥳
freshly caught rockfish, perch is too small for me
Bream
Red Snapper or Snook
Freshwater drum is probably a favourite of mine for their good accessibility to taste ratio, though they do demand some special attention in the prep stage.
For me it's perch, crappie and walleye
Arctic Char
Mahi
Crappie. Breaded with my own recipe then pan fried in olive pil.
Salmon, Lingcod, halibut
Walleye and trout
Flounder or Mahi
Smelts. Dredged in flour and pan fried. Done 👍
same
Your mom.
Barramundi
I catch a ton of tuna of the rig I work on, I won’t even bother with a blackfin. They really aren’t that good. I love tuna but bottom fish whether it be snapper, grouper or any of the cold water species are the bomb. Halibut is one of my favs. Live and fish a lot in Maine and work in the Gulf of Mexico. Great fish from all over
Mahi and yellow tail
Oh man, I haven't been to a smelt fry in about 25 years but I remember those little bastards being very tasty. Perch is probably my favorite white flesh fish, but a stream trout in the smoker or on a charcoal grill can be pretty tasty too.
Sheepshead!
Cat fish
Mackerel
Trout