Did you know there are over 800 species of freshwater fish in North America? And more than 10,000 worldwide?
At Panfish Nation, I focus on freshwater fish species often caught by fishermen…and I am a firm believer that understanding a fish can make you a better angler.
For example, by understanding the spawning process of black crappie I can target them during the best time of year.
Or by understanding what bluegill prefer to eat, I can choose my baits and the best lures to mimic their natural forage.
Table of Contents
Native Fish
My goal at Panfish Nation has always been to write the best fishing content possible about the most popular fish like bluegill, crappie, red-ear sunfish (shellcracker), trout, and largemouth bass.
I grew up catching these fish, and to this day it’s still my number one passion and the reason I started this site.
And, of course I’m going to cover all types of panfish like pumpkinseed, green sunfish, redbreast sunfish, spotted sunfish, and much more.
Rough Fish
I also love to cover some of the fringe species, that don’t always get the love they deserve like catfish, carp, and gar. These fish are often referred to as rough fish, and they can be just as much fun as other gamefish!
Invasive & Exotic Fish
I’m based out of Florida, so you can bet I’m going to cover invasive and exotic species too.
Some of these fish, like Peacock Bass and Oscars, have cemented their place in the fishing foray, whereas others like snakeheads are still a controversial fishery with unknown impacts on native fish populations.
Bait Fish
I love to fish with live bait, so I also have a great selection of articles on baitfish, and how they can enhance your fishing experience.
For example, I go in depth on topics like the difference between minnows vs shiners.
I share ways you can catch your own minnows for bait, how to raise them for bait and how to keep minnows alive without an aerator.
Heck, I even have a wide selection of articles on the different types of fishing worms, and give tips on how to catch your own!
Fish Terminology
Anglers are notorious for coming up with slang nicknames for fish, which can be confusing for beginners.
For example, here in my home state of Florida, black crappie is often called ‘specks‘, and when I mentioned this to my friends from New York they looked at me like I was crazy…
Conversely, I had to explain to them the difference between sunfish and bluegill and gave them quick tips on how to identify a black crappie vs white crappie.
I even have a list of freshwater fishing terms and definitions.
Fish News
More often than not these days, I’m stumbling across fishing-related stories in the news. I see this as a good thing because it brings recognition and attention to the hobby we all love.
So I try and cover those stories on this site as well, like my exclusive interview with Thomas Farchione who caught the world record Redear Sunfish from Lake Havasu Arizona.
Eating Fish
What’s better than coming home from a hard day of fishing with a cooler full of fresh fillets?
Don’t get me wrong, I practice catch and release quite often, but I also love to eat fish, and often rank the taste of popular (and sometimes controversial fish).
For example, have you ever thought about eating rock bass? What about bullhead catfish?
Are Largemouth Bass any good to eat (and should you even keep them?)
And why does everyone say White Bass taste like mud?
There is a TON of misconceptions about which fish are good to eat and how to properly prepare them. I love to dive deep into these topics, test my own personal recipes and share the results!
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a specific fish, feel free to use the search bar at the top of this page.
Or click here for a full listing of fish-specific articles.