9 Best Freshwater Fish For Eating

Fish can be a great meal if you know how to cook it right or where to find it well done. Most fish are believed to be healthy and nutritious. Discover the best freshwater fish to eat.

9 Best Freshwater Fish For Eating

When cooked well, they can also taste great. The really cool thing is that there are hundreds of different types of fish out there.

There are varieties of freshwater and saltwater fish. If you do your research, you can probably identify hundreds of different species.

However, just because you can identify a type of fish or know the name doesn’t always mean it’s actually good to eat.

What are the best freshwater fish to eat? Trout, catfish, and bass are probably some of the most well-known freshwater fish out there. However, there are several other types of fish that you can also enjoy. This is just the tip of the iceberg. The way the fish is cooked could also make a difference in flavor.

In this guide, we will share with you the 9 best freshwater fish to eat. There are several things to consider here to make a great meal.

The best freshwater fish to eat

You want to consider what it will taste like, how you can prepare it, what you can do with it, and even the nutritional values ​​to some extent. We will cover this for each of our options.

Stay with us for the best freshwater fish to eat and more!

1. Trout

Trout is a popular freshwater fish that tastes great and is easy to make. The trick to delicious trout fish is that you really want it to be very fresh.

The freshness will be a definitive factor when it comes to savoring. These are really great if you are fishing or camping and you can cook them right there on a campfire.

Of course, that’s not always feasible, so as long as you can make sure it’s fresh, you’re in for a surprise. There are different types of trout, so the best ones are actually the rainbow ones. However, brook and brown trout can also be good.

When it comes to trout, smoked trout is really great. However, it is also very tasty when grilled or fried. If you fry it, just make sure to cut it into smaller pieces .

When you’re ready to serve the trout, we recommend some long-grain wild rice and perhaps a side of steamed or roasted vegetables.

Most people prefer to cook trout with garlic, lemon, butter, and some fresh herbs. This really gives great flavor no matter what kind of trout you end up with.

2. Salmon

Salmon is a popular choice. The reason for this is that salmon can be made in many ways and is usually easy to find. People like fresh salmon, but they also enjoy things like salmon patties.

There is much you can enjoy here. Chances are, your grocery store has more than one option when it comes to salmon, too.

Just like trout, salmon is really good with butter and lots of fresh herbs. Add a little garlic or lemon and you have the perfect meal .

Salmon can be fried, grilled, baked, or roasted. Now, it’s even great in the fryer. This gives you variety with a simple fish. It is known to be nutritious and rich in Omega-3.

It has a slightly higher fat content, but that actually leads to a richer flavor. The flavor of the salmon is mild, so it doesn’t really have a big fishy effect, which is nice.

What you will find is that salmon is easy to make and there are several different options. That’s why it’s one of the best freshwater fish options out there.

You can serve it with rice or vegetables of any kind. It might even be good with some creamy pasta.

3. Bluegill

Bluegill is a fish that some people are intimidated by because they just don’t see or hear much about it. However, if bluegill is caught in the right kind of environment it can be very good. Bluegill has a reputation for being inconsistent.

This is because it can taste different depending on where it is caught. Bluegill caught in cold water locations are more likely to be tender and also taste slightly sweet .

This is the best place to enjoy it. If it’s caught elsewhere, it may not be as good or have that slight sweetness.

The great thing about bluegill is that it doesn’t really taste fishy or dirty (when caught in a cool, clean place). The meat is tender.

These are small fish, but a little goes a long way. Most people prefer fried or filleted bluegill. This is the best way to enhance the flavor.

Bluegill can also be used for more formal meals. Try using plain salt, pepper, lemon, and maybe even a touch of Parmesan cheese and bluegill breadcrumbs. It’s delicious like that! A quick butter sauce with a hint of spice also goes great.

When it comes to choosing sides to serve with bluegill, the most popular options include baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, baked beans, salad, coleslaw, or grits.

4. Catfish / chub or cachuelo / bordallo or escalo

If you’ve ever been to a great fish fry, you’ve probably had catfish. And if you’ve never eaten catfish, now is the time to try it.

This is a popular freshwater fish for people who like to catch their own fish. You can also buy it at grocery stores and butcher shops, but it’s pretty easy to catch.

This is quite a popular fish. They can become very large in some areas. We will tell you that for cooking purposes, the really big ones can sometimes have a very strong flavor.

You are best with a small to medium size when it comes to flavor, especially if you are concerned about fishy flavors.

If you use the small to medium sized catfish, the flavor is bland but it will have some fish in it. The best way to enjoy catfish is to fry it .

You’ll want to lightly season the meat and cover it with a fish fry batter. Then fry it up and you really can’t go wrong.

While that is the most popular option, there are other ways to enjoy catfish as well. Some people also like to grill, broil, or bake catfish. Just be sure to season it liberally for a really great flavor.

You can serve catfish with any number of things. It goes well with corn on the cob, coleslaw, salad, French fries, and vegetables like green beans. You can mix it up with whatever you like, but these are common choices you can trust.

Catfish can also be really good with a little cajun seasoning if you want to mix it up a bit.

5. Sea Bass

When it comes to freshwater fish, you’ll find sea bass to be another very popular choice. It is versatile and is quite easy to cook.

In most cases, the flavor of sea bass is quite mild, so it’s easy to cook it any way you like and still end up with a great meal.

Like bluegill, sea bass is sometimes known to have just a hint of sweetness in its flavor. They are not extremely fishy, ​​but you will get a fishy aftertaste .

If you want to cook sea bass, you can plan to do it in many different ways. Try browning, grilling, frying, or baking.

How you decide to cook it will likely affect how you season it and what you serve it with. For example, with baked sea bass, you’ll probably use a buttery sauce.

This works well with green vegetables or rice. Serve it with a slice of bread or a roll for a perfect meal.

If you’re frying sea bass, you’ll most likely want something like coleslaw or corn on the cob as a side. You can add a salad and rolls to tie it all together. This fish is very versatile.

Bass can be quite rich in flavor. They are a fatty fish so this adds to the richness. However, they are not too suspicious.

Because of this, you can usually just season with things like garlic, salt, pepper, and maybe a little lemon and herbs too.

6. Pike perch

Walleye is most popular near bay areas in the northern part of the US. It is also popular in Canada. The reason for this popularity is simply because that is where you can catch fresh fish.

Pike perch is quite mild. Most people compare it to something like trout or bass, but it’s even less suspicious than those.

Walleye are interesting. You have to remove some of the insides, but many people choose to cook them whole. You just need to understand the best way to prepare and cook them for this.

You can even stuff the inside with some herbs or vegetables. You can also fillet walleye, so don’t be scared by the idea of ​​having to cook it whole.

Pike perch is often served with tartar sauce. It’s very popular for grilling and grilling, but works well for fried fish too. You just need a good fish fry batter for that purpose .

If you choose to broil or broil, we recommend using herbs like rosemary and parsley. You can also add a little lemon and butter for the perfect combination of flavors.

Serve pike perch with greens, greens or a tasteful salad. You can also try roasted or mashed potatoes for something different.

7. Freshwater drum

If you’re heading to a fish market and want to know what the best option is there, look for the freshwater drum.

These are actually one of the most popular options in the fishing markets. You can’t go wrong with a freshwater drum and they taste great.

The freshwater drum is prone to cooler waters, so it may be harder to find in hot climates or southern states.

However, if you live north or east, they are very common. Freshwater drums have very little fat but still have a lot of flavor and provide tender meat .

This type of freshwater fish is popular for searing and grilling. If you are a fisherman, you will find that they are very easy to fillet and prepare.

If you buy a freshwater drum, be sure to keep it very cold until you are ready to prepare it. This will preserve the flavors.

Most people prefer to grill or grill this fish, but it can also be good for frying. You’ll find you don’t need much. Use fresh herbs, a bit of salt, pepper, garlic, and any type of citrus you like.

Freshwater drum can also look great with icing. Popular glazes include spicy tomato glazes or even a wine-based sauce.

Serve the fresh water drum with pasta, vegetables, salad or potatoes for the best combination.

8. Mojarras

If you’re from the south, you’re already familiar with crappie. This fish is a common type of fish for people who simply enjoy fishing in the nearest lake, pond, or river. They are common for sport fishing and very easy to catch.

Some occasional anglers bring back the crappie because they don’t always grow very large.

However, if you’re open to trying something new, they can taste pretty good. They have a bit of a fishy flavor, but nothing overwhelming.

Crappie is also rich in Omega-3, making it nutritious. The most common way to prepare crappie is to fillet it. From there you can enjoy a fish fry or even try grilled or baked .

In addition to frying, grilling, and baking, some people make them into fish pancakes. They are similar to crab cakes but use fish instead.

Season liberally and if you really want to spice it up, crappie can be great with cajun flavors added to the mix.

You can serve the type of fish with whatever you want. Salad, potatoes, vegetables, coleslaw, and even pasta all go great together.

9. pike

Finally, another freshwater fish to add to your bucket list is pike. These are more common in the northern states and areas because they like cold water.

You should be prepared for a slightly more fishy flavor than most of the other fish we’ve mentioned here.

However, most people fight the catch with some hearty seasonings and unique recipes. If you like seafood, you will appreciate the fishy taste .

Rich flavors and flaky meat can be appreciated, making it quite versatile when it comes to preparing croutons.

The most common way to prepare pike is in the oven. You can also grill or roast this meat and get great results. Pike is also known to mix with other seafood dishes, such as a seafood roast or even a pasta dish. And so far our list of the best freshwater fish to eat