Trash Fish Bucket List?

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

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?

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

I'm familiar with Oscars in aquaria. I assume the ones you
refer to are the same, released?

[Lord of the Fly , Rods]

Had a friend had some huge Oscars in an aquarium, we fed them crawfish, and they always tore the pinchers off first, they were big and meaty and thick and looked like they could bend a rod and put up a good fight, they looked like huge bluegill on steroids. I always wanted to cook one and see what they tasted like, anybody ever try to eat one?  LOFR

[Slip Sinker]

I heard they are the number 1 gamefish in the everglades and heard they were excellent eating.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Id like to catch one

[Mark]

ok so this is not a fish, and i am not sure what you could do to catch them but i know some fun could be had and many states and the govt would be pretty happy. zebra mussels . they are an invasive little rat that will ruin fishing and boating as we know it and also hurt the economy. they are spreading fast, many lakes in texas now have them. will not be long till other states have them in lakes rivers bays you name it.

[Slip Sinker]

If we can only get shellcrackers to eat them! Ive actually seen a lake turn from a worthless mud pit into one of my favorite lakes. Caught many trophys from it the past year. The problem was sunlight never reached the bottom of this lake anywhere. Hardly any fish eco system at all. The water has cleared up and there is now a decent sizable fish population. Officials dont want to admit it but i believe it turned lake st clair and lake erie into fishing hotspots

[Tony Livingston]

Actually, redear will eat zebra mussels. The problem with using them as a control method stems from the fact that the mussels propagate more rapidly than the RES can consume them, and zebra mussels will flourish in cooler water temps, while RES are a warmer water fish. (The cooler water temps are one reason why the great lakes have problems with zebra mussels). Once the water temp hits the mid eighties, zebra mussels will begin to die off.

[Allen Morgan]

RES are the only fish that eat Zebra Mussels.  So will Blue Catfish and Drum, probably a few other fish as well.  Ever look down the throat of a drum at the crushers in the back?  Next time I catch one, I'll try to get a shot.....

The hole that I typically wade-fish is becoming severely infested with Zebras.  So much so, that this year, I'm actually snagging Zebra Mussels.  Last year, I would wade out to my spot, and see crushed shells EVERYWHERE!  The trash fish are having a huge banquet!

One of the Okie-State biology undergrads is working on a theory that Zebra Mussels are being transported not just by boats, but by Blue Catfish.  The cats swallow the mussels, but since they don't have crushers, have to swallow them whole.  The mussels don't die inside the catfish, and instead, get pooped out, still alive, wherever the fish swam to, downstream or upstream.

[Mark]

I learned a little bit about the zebra mussels a few years back, when it was a new topic in my area. one thing they do that may be an upside is clean up the water. they act like little filters. but at the same time are still damaging the eco system. I keep thinking that most Texas water is some what warm all year and that will stop them from getting out of control. I have seen them stop large vessels and shut down diesel main engines at houston and galveston in the past, love to see the sf eat them up that would be a win win. less zebra mussels and bigger fish for us. 

[Allen Morgan]

I think folks need to look into the increase in sales of fishing gear, guided fishing trips, etc, in the Great Lakes.  The water cleared from the Zebra Mussels, and another invasive, the Goby, turned into an incredibly important food source.  Smallmouth Bass, which once struggled to top 4 lbs, are now hitting 7 lbs regularly.  LOTS of folks are trying to chase these monsters....

[Dan Bippus]

In florida  ..1)--Bowfin ( catch about 1 a year, they're a blast!)

                  2)--Tilapia  ('bout like a gill,  only a little stouter)

                  3)--Oscars (haven't fished far enough south yet to get one)

In my previous life up north I  targeted  big river carp ,  channel cats,  and drum.

All 'trash' fish   and a lot more fun than  LG Bass.  I catch and release anyway,

so I never cared how they taste.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Have caught bowfin in FL. FIrst time I ever saw one it scared hell outta me! I thought it was gonna eat my hat.

Would very much like to catch a tilapia and Oscar