Gentlemen; i believe that black bass, or large Mouth Bass have pulled the wool over your eyes. They somehow had planted the idea they are poor table fare in the minds of a lot of fishermen who then just throw them back becasue someone has spread the word they aren't as good. i think the idea has come primarily from the blood line along their side. This should be remove when they are fileted. Then they will compare favorably, in fact if cooked in a blind taste test, cleaned properly, you could not tell the difference. Just Sayin...RJS