Okay guys. Here's the deal. I pitched a TV show concept to a major network and guess what? They seem to have taken the bait... Or maybe I should say, they are nibbling on my pile worm right now.
A producer has just contacted me and asked me to write up a list of the most fascinating fish species in North America, where they live, and how they are caught. Fresh and salt water.
The criteria are as follows (doesn't have to be a fish, necessarily. Could be invert too):
1. big (or not)
2. crazy looking/beautiful/hideous
3. exotic
4. exciting to catch
5. interesting habitat
6. off the radar of other fishing shows
7. employing an interesting type of gear (ie: harpoons for swordfish, poke poles for eels, horse heads for hagfish, etc)
The fish doesn't have to be big as long as it is notable by the above criteria, but of course lunkers are universally appreciated.
In other words if any of the above things is extreme enough the fish would be considered worthy of an episode.
I'm interested in seeing if there's anything out there I haven't thought of... so go ahead guys... knock me out.
From deep in the fish, this is Lombard of the Intertidal, signing out.
Okay, I recognize the Goblin Shark and the Geoduck, but what kind of beastie is the second picture?
Okay the original version of the list was fish that would make ME watch a show... had to revise to what I think would interest the typical once a year fisherman...
Won't go into the obvious sportfishes (Tuna, Salmon, etc) or the too obvious exotics (Oarfish, sunfish). What is left that fishing shows have majorly overlooked?
Golden Trout - I doubt that many, other than fishers, even reailze
there is such a species. I had never heard of this species
before I started fishing myself.
Sea Urchin
Sheephead
Sarcastic Fringehead
Hmm. This is a connundrum. Does this need to focus only on fish that are targetable for fishing purposes, or just bizzarre/interesting/underrepresented fish in general?
Posted by: Scott Parker | 07/08/2011 at 09:06 AM
Baitfish! For pets or meats.
Posted by: mikechin | 07/08/2011 at 11:41 AM
Kite fishing for Striped bass in the delta
Posted by: Patrick P | 07/08/2011 at 01:51 PM
A big blue Lingcod would definitely tick all those boxes, especially if caught as a hitch hiker.
Posted by: Northern Boy | 07/09/2011 at 02:34 AM
Dunkleosteus
Posted by: JohnPaczkowski | 07/11/2011 at 07:33 PM
I cast my vote for bowfin
Posted by: Finesmell | 07/14/2011 at 01:47 PM
... (that's Amia calva, btw)
Posted by: Finesmell | 07/14/2011 at 01:50 PM
look into the hawaiian fugu eaters. years ago i talked to a guy on the big island who told me about some local dudes who were spearfishing and sashimi-ing the local blowfish. it's a mashup of foraging and russian roulette.
Posted by: bob a | 08/11/2011 at 11:07 AM