Walleye and yellow perch for the win, flatheads and crappie runner up, high fin blues and bass honorable mention.

I believe you're trying to stir the pot a little. hahaha

From what I've experienced I much prefer my reds, trout, flounder, and snapper from the coast than I do the catfish, white bass and rainbow trout I've had from up in the DFW area.

In my opinion, the textures and flavor of the saltwater fish are much better than the fish up here.

Flounder and trout ( fresh caught,never frozen) from the salt. Crappie and, to be very specific, bass under 15 inches from water below 55 degrees are my favs out of fresh water.

Yellow perch(lake erie) or where ever I can find them..
wild rainbow or small broen trout.
Flounder ,deep fried whole
Crappie fried
Sand Bass ,small filets baked

white bass out of fork............

Any catfish, crappie, hybrids

This +1

fried crappie and fried bluegill, both tied for #1

If the 500 mile rule was stretched to 600
I would put small wild brook trout broiled on wood coals as #1 ahead of my other choices.

Lol exactly what I was thinking since the post originally said within 500 miles of DFW. But heck what do I know.....

Except for rainbows those can be caught within that distance. I don't know about pike either I saw mentioned though.

I've had crappie and catfish growing up so thats all I'm familiar with. But they taste ok to me.

1)Fillet size red-ear brim
2)Crappie

2-3 pound black bass filets,,, heat the grease

Crappie or red snapper

+1

I've never had freshwater drum, but if it's anything like red drum it should be added as well.

Freshwater Drum and gasper Gou are alright. Bass and Crappie are great tasting but I am not that experienced with yellow perch, walleye or pike.