As a fishing community, we tend to hyper-fixate on socially desirable fish like snook, tarpon, redfish, bonefish, and permit. Pelagics like dolphin, tuna, and wahoo. Reef species like muttons and groupers. Often, we forget the value of the non-target species and what they bring to the fishing experience—the grunts, the ladyfish, the catfish—the trash can slam. These fish can be sporty and fun. They get newbies hooked on fishing, they inspire confidence in burgeoning anglers, and they even put a “Hey, we’ll take it” smile on the faces of seasoned veterans when they’ve been skunked all day.
And, for whatever it’s worth, there are environmental considerations, too. Scientists tell us that over-targeting certain species can lead to declining fisheries. Couple this with increased growth in predator populations, and it’s a…