Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

Here's something only my fevered mind would dream up.
Every angler wants to catch the big name fish. Big bass, Massive salmon, trophy bluegill, arapaima in South America (my personal quest), and so on.

But what about those other fish, the "trashy" ones we don't admire nor talk much about? If you were to target them, which ones would you go after?

In other words, what would a "Non-game Fish Bucket List" look like?

Views: 5471

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

While it may be true that I no longer fish for anything other than Bluegill and their cousins, I am surprised that no one else has added a Paddlefish to their bucket. I used to think I would enjoy snagging one.

I have never caught a Paddlefish on purpose, but have hung several by chance. Mostly on spinning or bait casting gear.. but once while I was Sand Bass fishing in Keystone Lake I stuck one with a Deep Clouser Minnow. Got it to the boat twice... I got a little cocky (and impatient, I was young then) and pulled just that smidgen too hard and popped the tippet. It was pinned to the spoon close enough to the mouth to be a legit catch but it was not to be. It was in the forty inch range.

I had thought of the paddlefish, Tony. I know Bob Garner gets them where
he is.

yea we have a ton of silvers here , you will be going along then the next thing these dang fish start jumping all over and scare the crap out of ya

Growing up on the Mississippi River, I have caught longnose gar, dog fish, quill back buffalo, common buffalo, carp, red horse, moon eyes, skip jacks, and paddlefish. I would like to catch a silver carp, and a snakehead. I have eaten all the above except for a skip jack, dog fish and moon eyes. 

Vince- Aren't Skipjacks a hoot to catch?! Super jumpy... a shad with teeth!

Eaten them? I like your style!

Alligator Gar

Spoonbill - actually land one!

Carp

Buffalo

Bowfin

Snakehead

Redhorse Sucker

Bourbot

I have inadvertently snagged several Spoonbill.  Haven't landed any of them.  The latest one, this past Spring, I should have landed, as I was using my surf rod.  Only problem, is that it turned broadside to the current and took off.  I got it stopped, and it promptly wrapped my line around a rock.  I had to break off.  Bummer.

I am on the hunt for some carp and then some gar on the fly. There just are not any of either in the small warmwater creeks that I have been fishing. My life is finally starting to settle back down and I will spread out my fishing waters with the used fishing yak I bought last spring.

 

I would also like to get into some drum, suckers, and other rough fish. I catch and release so I just want a bend in the rod. I have a line on some stripers if I can get up to the area one of these days. The fella told me I needed a 9wt and I had better get control early or they would line me since they are in some current. I am looking forward to the challenge.

great topic dave.... the ones i havnt caught but would like to is snake head oscar and tilapia. hopefully this winter these guys will keep me busy when i go down to florida..

What part of Florida you going to I might be able to help out with some spots I lived there for over 35 years but now I'm in Illinois but I know of a lot of great spots to go fishing at

charles i got friends and relatives on the space coast and port charlotte... but would like to find a place close to the peacock bass action.

RSS

Latest Activity

Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Nesting Pair of Ospreys......

"Yeah most nests are not this close to the water and this river is remote with alligators and large…"
yesterday
John Sheehan commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Nesting Pair of Ospreys......

"Guess the Osprey knew it was a great spot too. The Cormorants up here are murder on the stocked…"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Nesting Pair of Ospreys......

"This was a great fishing spot for me until the osprey nested……I’ve seen chicks…"
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

So many spots to place your bait...

"These cypress trees are now in the water….still producing great fishing…"
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

The big Cypress downed by a Hurricane.....

"This is a good example John…..I posted this picture in 2012 and a couple weeks ago I caught…"
Sunday
John Sheehan commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Found a Few Hibiscus not Quite Bloomed…..7/5/2025

"Thanks John…..being in the south we’re always drawn to cypress trees and the…"
Sunday
John Sheehan commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Found a Few Hibiscus not Quite Bloomed…..7/5/2025

"Nice info, Jeffrey! Up here my main Crappie habits have been wood cover near deep water and willow…"
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

My Dad Doesn't know Where to Cast Next.......

"This is my dad who loved fishing…..this cove is similar to the one with all cattails but in…"
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Found a Few Hibiscus not Quite Bloomed…..7/5/2025

"I think all fresh water fish like to relate to cattails…..the most cattails I’ve ever…"
Sunday
John Sheehan commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Found a Few Hibiscus not Quite Bloomed…..7/5/2025

"Up here the Pickerel can be found by Cattails and other tall reed areas. The first spawning…"
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Found a Few Hibiscus not Quite Bloomed…..7/5/2025

This is always a great spot with cypress, cattails and now a blooming hibiscus..next time I’m there…
Saturday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Fish Attractant in the Coastal N.C. Marsh…..7/4/2025

"Thanks John…anytime you get close to them there’s hundreds of different insects…"
Saturday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Joe Struck Copper on a Sand Bar….7/5/2025

The wind was building on the main river so we splashed back to the ramp after 42 gills, 1 bullhead…
Saturday
John Sheehan commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Fish Attractant in the Coastal N.C. Marsh…..7/4/2025

"Good work on finding fish habitat!"
Saturday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Pretty Masked Copper Shallow ……7/5/2025

Preparing for next week’s buck moon on 7/10……
Saturday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Saturday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Saturday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"Up early this morning, heard we were going to have a tropical storm in the Carolina’s…so Joe and I went and burned some crickets…"
Saturday

© 2025   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service