The biggest fish ever caught with a rod and reel was an incredible 17-foot-long, 3,400-pound great white shark. It was landed by a charter boat captain named Frank Mundus in 1986 in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Montauk, New York. Mundus’s nickname was “Monster Man,” and for good reason. Catching that big shark was the equivalent of pulling in a pickup truck with a mouth full of razor-sharp 6-inch teeth! While that was a truly remarkable haul, bigger isn’t necessarily always better, especially if you like eating the fish you catch.
Some of the tastiest fish in the water rarely measure longer than a 12-inch ruler. These smaller fish are called panfish, and besides being very good to eat, they’re also a ton of fun to catch.
What exactly are panfish, though? They aren’t one particular kind of fish, but rather a large group of different species of relatively small fish. American fishermen have been using the term “panfish” for a couple of hundred years to describe just about any freshwater fish that can fit inside a frying pan. In fact, there’s no better choice for a fish fry. Even though they’re small, most of these species are extremely popular among fishermen of all ages and experience levels because they are found in plentiful numbers throughout North America. Panfish species you’re most likely to encounter include rock bass, white bass, bullhead catfish, white and black crappie, yellow perch, bluegills, pumpkinseeds, and many other members of the sunfish family.
With so many species to choose from, you can be sure to come across some type of panfish regardless of where you live. They can be found in a variety of aquatic environments, from small ponds on golf courses and parks to large lakes, reservoirs, and rivers. You can do some advance scouting by visiting your state’s fish and game agency website. These websites will often publish reports that outline the availability and abundance of catchable fish species in local waters. If you can’t find any information online about a particular body of water, don’t be afraid to just give it a try. Part of the fun of fishing is unlocking the mystery of what’s lurking below the surface of the water.
Despite their small size, it can be pretty easy to catch enough panfish to feed your whole family if you’re fishing the right spot at the right time. Here are some tips to help you fill up a stringer with a mess of panfish.
Excerpted from CATCH A CRAYFISH, COUNT THE STARS: Fun Projects, Skills, and Adventures for Outdoor Kids. Copyright © 2025 by MeatEater, Inc. Excerpted by permission of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House, LLC. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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