OK so this being my first post and all, I have to say that I am not really a huge angler. That being said I do enjoy relaxing on the river or lake or even heading down to POC whenever I get a chance. I really like catfishing and thats my main goal when I go down to the river. I've been catching quite a few of these fish so they must be fairly common, but I can't seem to find a good identification picture anywhere. So can someone that knows more about fish than I do please let me know what I'm catching?

carp???

no, looks like a fw drum

sheepshead

freshwater drum

Thanks for the help. Now my next question. Are they worth eating?

I say no

Some people will say yes

Freshwater Drum!

And yes, they're very good eating. As good as white bass if you ask me, and they fillet up just as easily.

They're a little firmer then white bass or catfish. After all they're very closely related to the Red Drum, a delicious ocean going fish occasionally imported into freshwater. So they have a texture that's firmer then many freshwater fish, more like a saltwater fish, and not everyone likes that.

They always go home with me though. I've sliced them up into chunks, breaded and fried them along with chunks of white bass, and no one knew the difference lol.

Drum are pretty good !!

Drum are pretty good !!

Ol' Gasper

Gaspergoo or freshwater drum are considered good table fare.

I'd like to catch a good one for some cut bait for catfish, and cut the rocks out of the head.

Wow nice to know guess i'll start keepin them. I switched to using smaller hooks and started catching them pretty regularly.

Great answer, Starless. Thx.

STARLESS DRAGON

Bait!

My money is on Starless Dragon!!!!

Yes but they have alot of small bones.

Drum all the way.

drum
ok food
pretty good cut bait

Catfish?

They have no more bones than a crappie, or to put it better, no more than a redfish, speckled seatrout, or any other fish in their family.

They are fantastic fish to eat, and my choice (freshwater) fish for chowder.

Right. Don't confuse Drum with fish of the minnow family ( Carp ) or sucker family ( buffalo. )

Drum literally fillet up just like a crappie, or white bass. No more bones then either of those species.

good cut bait.

I haven't ever eaten freshwater drum, but I love redfish so it's gotta be decent.