Ranking the Best Eating Fish (Bluegill for the Win)

What’s the best eating fish that swims? That’s a debate for the ages, and one that just about every angler will have at some point, whether on the water or in the kitchen. Bottomline, fish of many sorts are delicious, and they can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. From a shore lunch in Canada to a pop-up sashimi gathering in the Caribbean, it’s easy to turn any conversation about fishing into one about favorite recipes and epic meals.

Ask a room full of fishermen what the best tasting fish is and answers are sure to be varied and passionate. Image by Mironov Vladimir

But really, which fish is the very best to eat? I used to think I had it all figured out. As a young man growing up around the Great Lakes, I believed that nothing could top yellow perch. Sure, walleyes scored extra points due to poundage. It doesn’t take as many ‘eyes as it does perch to really fill the freezer. But serve walleyes against my beloved Michigan “yella-bellies” and it was no contest in terms of which one was the best to eat.

For a long time, the author ranked yellow perch from the cold waters of the Great Lakes as his favorite fish. Image by Rocksweeper

West Coasters (of Michigan, that is) swear by their salmon. But can you really count landlocked salmon as true salmon, in terms of flavor? Alaskans might disagree with that. It’s like saying your favorite red meat is buffalo, harvested from a buffalo in a pen. Yes, technically you’re eating a buffalo, but it’s not the same as a piece of free-ranging bison cooked over a fire a few centuries ago. The same goes for alligator, most of which is farmed. But I’m getting off subject.

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In some regions, rather obscure fish species get the nod as being favorites. In the upper Midwest, smoked whitefish has a big following, enough to warrant roadside stands that serve it smoked fresh. But that’s cheating. It’s pretty hard to beat any fish served right off a smoker. Even smoked carp is popular and pretty good. Enough said.

Burbot are a favorite fish in places where ice cover seems to last forever. I can’t imagine handling a burbot, let alone cleaning one, but I guess the same thing could be said about catfish. Many northern anglers turn their noses up at catfish. But the longer I live in the South, the more I like them, especially the little crunchy bullheads fried whole as “fingerlings.” They’re way better than fillets, if you ask me.

Many of the same hardy northern folk who love burbot also consider pickled pike to be a delicacy. But I don’t think it’s fair to compare a pickled fish when compiling a best-of list. Same for fish dip. At that point, it’s not even fish.

Saltwater fish are often considered top-tier, even though many still prefer those species with flaky white meat and a mild flavor over those that “taste like fish.” Yet, I’ve learned that poor preparation is often the culprit behind fish that tastes fishy. With proper preparation and good cooking techniques, the strongest flavors can be the most rewarding. Mackerel is a perfect example.

Saltwater fish with flaky white meat ranked higher in the list. Image by Fotoluminate

OK, you came for a list of favorite fish to eat, and you’ll get it. But this isn’t just a list according to Joe Balog. Heck, I don’t even agree with the order of the results here! But I wanted to do a fair comparison, and so I asked a wide selection of people to provide me with their own lists of favorite fish to eat. The highest finisher on each list got 10 points and so on down the list. Afterward, I combined the lists, calculated the totals, and came out with these collective lists below. Did the computation require the latest in AI technology? No, but I did interview a bunch of anglers, charter captains, and everyone on Realtree.com’s content staff.

The author interviewed a wide selection of anglers, charter captains and just about everyone on the Realtree Content Staff for their favorites. Image by Michael Pendley

All of these men and women spend a lot of time on the water in a variety of places, and they consume more wild-caught fish than most. Still, I believe the preferences do show a little regional flair. As a Midwesterner transplanted to Florida, my personal favorites may have shifted, but I haven’t forgotten my roots. I still really enjoy eating yellow perch. It’s just that according to the list, they’re not quite No. 1. Bon appetite.

Bluegills and other sunfish like this shellcracker ranked at the top of the freshwater list. Image by Joe Balog

10 Favorite Freshwater Fish:

1. Bluegills (to include shellcrackers and other bream)

2. Yellow Perch

3. Walleye

4. Small bass

5. Smelt

6. Crappie

7. Flathead catfish

8. Whitefish

9. Great Lakes salmon

10. Blue and channel catfish

10 Favorite Saltwater Fish:

1. Tripletail

2. Hogfish

3. Sheepshead

4. Mangrove snapper

5. Swordfish

6. Wahoo

7. Pompano

8. Yellowfin tuna

9. Red drum

10. Mahi-mahi

How did we do? Be sure to tell us. I already have room to complain. Bluegills are good, but do I think they are the best eating freshwater fish? Heck no! But, according to my ratings system, they earned the top spot.

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For the swimmers of the salt, it’s very hard to choose a favorite. Give me properly cooked hogfish and I swear I’ve found a favorite. But if I clean a nice tripletail the next day, throw it on a cast-iron skillet with a little butter and Old Bay, I might just change my mind.

While hogfish ranks at the top of the author’s favorite saltwater fish, a nice tripletail gives it some tough competition. Image by Joe Balog

Luckily, there are lots of fish in the sea. And plenty of them in our fresh lakes, rivers, and streams, too. We like them all, and if your favorite changes over time, well, you’re not really breaking any major rules.

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