Catch a Crayfish, Count the Stars: Catch a Mess of Panfish

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.

• Panfish can be caught year-round. In the northern states and across Canada, you can even catch them through the ice in the winter. But the best time of year to catch sunfish like bluegills and pumpkinseeds is in the spring, when sunfish gather in shallow, warm water near shore to dig nests where they lay eggs. To spot their nests, look for pale circles a couple of feet wide on the bottom that are much lighter in color than the surrounding area. These circles are made by the fish as they clear away muck, silt, and algae from the lake’s bottom. Place a bait or small lure near the nests and the aggressive sunfish are likely to bite it.

• During the hot summer months, panfish are likely to hang out in shallow water during the early morning and late evening hours. In the middle of the day, look for them in deeper water.

• Panfish like to hang out near underwater structures that offer them protection from bigger fish and a place to hunt for small minnows and aquatic insects. Suitable structures can include rocks, weeds, lily pads, and dock pilings.

• Many species of panfish, especially crappie and yellow perch, travel in large schools. Where you catch one, you’ll usually find more.

• Garden worms and crickets are top baits for sunfish, while small minnows work better for crappie and perch.

• Panfish have fairly small mouths, so use #6–10 bait hooks and 1/16–1/8-ounce jigs for the best results. Small marabou crappie jigs and soft plastic twister tails work well for all species of panfish.

• Suspend your bait or jig below a bobber, so that it’s suspended about a foot off the bottom. This gives the bait good “action,” meaning it will move around like something that’s alive. The bobber will also help you detect the soft bite of panfish.

• Panfish are often grouped together by size. If all you are catching are very tiny fish, look elsewhere for a school of bigger fish.

• Most panfish have sharp spines on their dorsal fin and gill plates. Handle them carefully by folding their dorsal fins down against their backs. You can also grip them firmly by the lower lip, since they don’t have sharp teeth.

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.