Eating Largemouth Bass: I have never been in a restaurant that had Bass on the menu or been in a grocery store that had Bass in the case. I might be wrong but as some here have said...

FinFisherman Loc: Born in Ohio - 40 yrs Florida- Clearwater,Fl

I have never been in a restaurant that had Bass on the menu or been in a grocery store that had Bass in the case. I might be wrong but as some here have said they're so GOOD why haven't I seen them. I've almost eaten everything out of the water at least once and I'd put Bass in with Carp. Trigger fish is tops, than Rainbow Trout, Spotted Sea Trout, Scamp Grouper, Perch and even Sea Bass. If ya gotta cover da fish with condiments to make it palatable why bother. Just mix some flour or corn meal and your condiments together an deep fry it. I've eaten Rainbow Trout cooked over an open fire on a stick and thought I was in heaven. Even a Sunfish wTights great that way. Gotta say once I cooked a trout on sagebrush fire on sagebrush limb and that changed the flavor so much if I didn't know what kinda fish it was I wouldn't have been able to tell you.

Tight lines to all

Gordon Loc: Charleston South Carolina

FinFisherman wrote:

I have never been in a restaurant that had Bass on... (show quote)

It's against the law to sell game fish. At least in my state. Never see crappie, brim or bass on a menu

Charlie H Loc: Greer, Arizona

Same here. Illegal.

doc alden

Gordon wrote:

It's against the law to sell game fish. At least in my state. Never see crappie, brim or bass on a menu

I believe it's illegal in all states to sell wild-caught game fish. And if you can't sell it, restaurants can't buy it. If restaurants can't buy it, they can't sell it. Bass are considered game fish, along with just about all of the sunfish and crappie. Catfish are non-game fish and many restaurants in the South and the mid-west have them on the menu. Hatchery trout raised in captivity are also on the menu in some Northern restaurants. Yellow perch dinners are popular in the Great Lakes region with fraternal and civic groups as fund-raising events. But bass, no.

Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA

I believe you all are correct. So how come a lot of restaurants back in the mid-west have walleye on the menu? Are there walleye farms? That is aa good tasting fresh water fish as there is, in my opinion.

JustRight Loc: Hernando, FL

Yes, there are walleye farms, just like there are catfish farms. Very little comparison to quality of flesh in either; its just hard to beat wild stream caught fish. At the risk of being obnoxious, the original question is mute. Previous answers are absolutely correct; you cant sell gamefish. Commercially grown catfish are more easily raised than largemouth bass, therefore, no commercial bass farms for food fish. Bass are obviously farmed for stocking putposes.

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

Spiritof27 wrote:

I believe you all are correct. So how come a lot of restaurants back in the mid-west have walleye on the menu? Are there walleye farms? That is aa good tasting fresh water fish as there is, in my opinion.

I believe the walleyes and perch are commercially fished in Canada and sold to restaurants. The bluegills are farm raised from what I know. We sure appreciate this as Friday fish frys are a tradition around here. Now that Lent has started we get them on Wednesday nights, too. I have never seen crappies on the menu, but can’t wait to catch some of those for the dinner table. Best eating in my opinion.

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

The Indians may commercially fish some lakes in the Northern regions of the U.S. and sell them.

Welcome to the Forum, FinFish. You forgot to mention the snapper family of fish. They are right up there with the best. Carp & bass

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

flyguy wrote:

The Indians may commercially fish some lakes in the Northern regions of the U.S. and sell them.

You are correct

Rusty Halo Loc: NE Indiana, Auburn in DeKalb County

Albright's Grocery in Corunna, Indiana (northeast corner) sells bluegill. As I remember, it is quite expensive to buy --- yet when I figure in the expense of boat, equipment, gas, etc., what I bring home is not cheap either! But, more fun! I'd be surprised if bluegill are farm-raised. Seems like they are so plentiful.

Jplovich Loc: Gillespie Illinois near St. Louis MO.

Well said Gordon
Amazing so little known by some but that is why people like you are on to inform ones who don’t know and is how they can upgrade their
Knowledge.
Thank you.

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

Rusty Halo wrote:

Albright's Grocery in Corunna, Indiana (northeast corner) sells bluegill. As I remember, it is quite expensive to buy --- yet when I figure in the expense of boat, equipment, gas, etc., what I bring home is not cheap either! But, more fun! I'd be surprised if bluegill are farm-raised. Seems like they are so plentiful.

Bluegills are farm raised, too. Apparently WI ranks really high for farm raised fish of numerous species (I had no idea). I forgot that fish frys are so regional, my apologies. If someone opens a restaurant in WI they had better offer a decent fish fry or they won’t make it.

MAS fish Loc: Peoria,IL

Most walleye that is sold, is actually Alaskan Pollock and the bluegill that I have seen in Illinois Kroger stores says, product of CHINA. Don't want anything from there right now...

JimRed Loc: Coastal New Jersey, Belmar area

Years ago in our area if you caught a Striper you could bring it to the back door of one of the many seafood restaurants and collect a cool dollar a pound. It is now illegal for Stripers to be a menu item.

Damikey Loc: Burnsville, MN

I’m sorry but I have to disagree. I don’t ever recall pollock being sold as walleye, or hearing of it. At least not here in Minnesota. I have heard of many species being generically labeled “whitefish”. I like pollock, but you couldn’t fool me, or very few people from Minnesota on the taste.