The 10 Best-Tasting Wild Fish According to the Internet
OutdoorHub Reporters 07.24.18
How good any particular fish tastes is highly subjective, so if you ask 10 different anglers what their favorite wild fish to eat is, you’re likely to get 10 different answers. We’ve scoured the internet looking for a definitive answer or a poll, but surprisingly, it seems that there is no consensus. The closest we’ve gotten to an answer is on the polling website shareranks.com, which, with more than a thousand virtual votes, came up with fish that deserve a place on your table. Here is their list of ten best-tasting wild fish, along with a few tips for preparing your wild-caught fish to make the experience all the better.
Given that the source material being an internet poll, the answers tend to generalize and several large families of fish have been grouped together. The polls results also tend to favor more popular fish, but the number-one answer did surprise us.
Do you agree with this list? What do you think is the tastiest wild fish out there?
10. Halibut
Many of you may be surprised that halibut ended up so low on this list, especially as many anglers familiar with halibut would have rated it much higher. By itself halibut has a very mild, subtly sweet flavor. Its lean, flaky meat is very versatile and can be cooked in a number of ways, and halibut cheeks are especially prized as the most tender part of the fish. Halibut is a versatile fish to prepare, too. Our all-time favorite came from a small shop out on the Spit in Homer, Alaska. They used a beer-batter mix and deep fried it fresh off the boat. If you’re lucky enough to have some halibut on hand, try squeezing out a little fresh lemon juice on it, dip it in batter and deep fry it. It doesn’t even need tartar sauce.
9. Perch
Good old perch. Many people count white perch among their favorite fish for its flaky texture and and mild taste. They are a lot of fun to catch, too. We like to pan-fry perch with a mild breading. We like to use a deep frying pan with olive oil for a tangy taste that’s also good for you. Be careful not to overcook it, too.
8. Red snapper
Oily, moist, and fairly mild with a sweet flavor, the red snapper is a fish that is hard to mess up. One of our favorite ways to prepare snapper is by melting butter mixed with a splash of Worcestershire sauce and some fresh garlic. Mix in some salt and pepper and some chives. Take a glass baking dish and place the snapper in it, and then pour the butter sauce over the top. Bake it for a short time at 400 degrees and you’ll love it.
7. Yellowfin tuna
Yellowfin tuna, or ahi, is one of the more coveted fish on this list, especially by chefs specializing in sashimi. If you haven’t tried this fish, it’s about time you did. If you’re like us, and you want to try making your own sashimi and sushi, there’s help. There is a great book. The Complete Guide to Sushi and Sashimi, that can take you through each step with color images to help you.
6. Trout
The poll doesn’t differentiate between different species of trout, which is curious, since there is a world of difference in taste between each. Some anglers keep away from lake trout, which they describe as “muddy” and too oily for the effort, while others love them. Of course, rainbow trout often ranks among one of the tastiest fish to keep.Folks who are lucky enough to catch them, often rave about the mild flavor of the brook trout, too. There are so many ways to prepare trout, but our favorite has to be pan searing it in a cast iron skillet. If you don’t have a skillet, you need one.
5. Sea bass
High in fat and low in the dreaded fishy flavor, sea bass is best grilled, poached, or steamed. if you like sea bass, and who doesn’t, you owe it to yourself to get a copy of Tasty Sea Bass Greats. It is full of great recipes to try and enjoy.
4. Walleye
Much like halibut, walleye is incredibly versatile and can be made into pretty much anything. Fans of this fish often compare it favorably to chicken and say it is very easy to prepare. Walleye is especially popular in Minnesota, where the fish is eaten more than any other state in the United States. There are so many great ways to eat walleye, and the fact that it’s only at #4 on this list says they didn’t ask enough midwesterners. We will eat Walleye any way we can, but it you fry it in beer batter, we’ll eat until we’re sick. To many of us, walleye is the best tasting fish.
3. Salmon
It’s not surprising to see salmon in the top three of this poll. Possibly one of the most overused fish in the country, salmon still enjoys a stellar reputation for its firm, flaky flesh and mild flavor. For the best flavor, only get wild-caught salmon instead of farm raised. trust us. For even better flavor, do wha we do – Go up to Alaska to the Kenai River and catch it for yourself. Of the five species of Pacific salmon, we like sockeye or coho the best. If you want a real treat, get a Camp Chef Pellet Smoker and carefully smoke your salmon to perfection.
2. Mahi-mahi
Dorado – or mahi-mahi – is a great-tasting fish that has lean pink meat with a mild sweet flavor. They are also prized by anglers for their acrobatic prowess on the line. We have a friend that goes down to the Florida Keys four times a year just to catch these wonderful fish. He cooks it in many ways, but our favorite is when he takes a sharp fillet knife and makes slits across the meat. Then he glazes it with sweet chili pepper sauce and bakes it. Delicious!
1. Whitesaddle goatfish
You might not have heard of this one before, and frankly we were a bit surprised to see it on top of the poll. We would have figured one of the more familiar fish, such as salmon or mahi-mahi, would win. However, the whitesaddle goatfish took the title of best tasting fish, according to this poll.
Also known as kumu, one of the few places you could fish for this species is Hawaii, and spearfishing is generally preferred.
They are apparently unique among fish because they taste a lot like shrimp. They are also pretty expensive, so it might be better to dive for your dinner instead.
What is the tastiest fish you’ve ever caught? Let us know in the comments.
