# Panfish > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Panfish > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Panfish.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panfish > Source revision: 1343296086 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Pan-sized freshwater fish Pan-fried fish The word **panfish**, also spelled **pan-fish** or **pan fish**, is an [American English](/source/American_English) term describing any [edible](/source/Food_fish) [freshwater fish](/source/Freshwater_fish) that usually do not outgrow the size of an average [frying pan](/source/Frying_pan). It is also commonly used by [recreational](/source/Recreational_fishing) [anglers](/source/Angling) to refer to any small [game fish](/source/Game_fish) that can fit wholly into a pan for [cooking](/source/Cooking) but are still [large enough to be legal](/source/Minimum_landing_size). According to the *[Oxford English Dictionary](/source/Oxford_English_Dictionary)*, the term was first recorded in 1796 in *[American Cookery](/source/American_Cookery)*, the first known [cookbook](/source/Cookbook) written by an American author.[1] ## Usage A typical panfish, a [bluegill](/source/Bluegill) from an [Alabama](/source/Alabama) farm pond. The term *panfish* or *pan-fish* has been used to refer to a wide range of edible freshwater and saltwater fish species that are small enough to cook whole in one frying pan. The fish species that match this definition and usage vary according to geography.[2] One early-20th-century source identifies all the following as panfish: [yellow perch](/source/Yellow_perch), [candlefish](/source/Candlefish), [balaos](/source/Balao_halfbeak), [sand launces](/source/Sand_launce), [rock bass](/source/Rock_bass), [bullheads](/source/Brown_bullhead), [minnows](/source/Minnows), [Rocky Mountain whitefish](/source/Mountain_whitefish), [sand rollers](/source/Sand_roller), [crappie](/source/Crappie), [yellow bass](/source/Yellow_bass), [white bass](/source/White_bass), [croaker](/source/Sciaenidae) and most of the common small [sunfishes](/source/Centrarchidae) such as [bluegill](/source/Bluegill) and [redear sunfish](/source/Redear_sunfish).[3] Here is one example: As a pan-fish we do not know of any better among American [freshwater fishes](/source/Freshwater_fish). We have experimented with the yellow perch and several other species, including both species of [black bass](/source/Black_bass), the bluegill, [wall-eyed pike](/source/Walleye), and rock-bass, eating each for several days in succession, and found the yellow perch the sweetest and most delicious of them all. One does not tire of it so soon as of the other kinds. Several other persons who tried the same experiment reached the same conclusion. In most parts of its range it is highly esteemed, and in many places it is of very considerable commercial importance. In the [Great Lakes](/source/Great_Lakes), the [Potomac River](/source/Potomac_River), and the small lakes in the upper [Mississippi Valley](/source/Mississippi_Valley) large quantities are taken, which always find a ready sale.[4] The following is a typical example of the term as it was commonly used in cooking taken from *The White House Cookbook* compiled by Hugo Ziemann, chief kitchen steward in the [White House](/source/White_House) in 1901: TO FRY FISH – Most of the smaller fish (generally termed *pan-fish*) are usually fried. Clean well, cut off the head, and, if quite large, cut out the backbone, and slice the body crosswise into five or six pieces; season with salt and pepper. Dip in Indian meal or wheat flour, or in beaten egg, and roll in bread or fine cracker crumbs. Trout and perch should not be dipped in meal; put into a thick bottomed iron frying pan, the flesh side down, with hot lard or drippings; fry slowly, turning when lightly browned. **PAN-FISH**. Place them in a thick bottomed frying pan with heads all one way. Fill the spaces with smaller fish. When they are fried quite brown and ready to turn, put a dinner plate over them, drain off the fat; then invert the pan, and they will be left unbroken on the plate. Put the lard back into the pan, and when hot slip back the fish. When the other side is brown, drain, turn on a plate as before, and slip them on a warm platter, to be sent to the table. Leaving the heads on and the fish a crispy-brown, in perfect shape, improves the appearance if not the flavor. Garnish with slices of lemon.[5] In most angling literature,[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] members of the freshwater family *[Centrarchidae](/source/Centrarchidae)* (also called sunfishes) are the target species most likely to be called panfish. They include: - *[Lepomis](/source/Lepomis)*, including - [Bluegill](/source/Bluegill) (*Lepomis macrochirus*) - [Green sunfish](/source/Green_sunfish) (*Lepomis cyanellus*) - [Redear sunfish](/source/Redear_sunfish) (*Lepomis microlophus*) - [Redbreast sunfish](/source/Redbreast_sunfish) (*Lepomis auritus*) - [Spotted sunfish](/source/Spotted_sunfish) (*Lepomis punctatus*) - [Pumpkinseed](/source/Pumpkinseed) (*Lepomis gibbosus*) - [Warmouth](/source/Warmouth) (*Chaenobryttus gulosus*) - *[Crappie](/source/Crappie)*, including - [White crappie](/source/White_crappie) (*Pomoxis annularis*) - [Black crappie](/source/Black_crappie) (*Pomoxis nigromaculatus*) - *[Centrarchus](/source/Centrarchus)* - [Flier](/source/Flier_(fish)) (*Centrarchus macropterus*) The term panfish may also be used for members of *[Percidae](/source/Percidae)* families, such as: - *[Perch](/source/Perch)*, including - [European perch](/source/European_perch) (*Perca fluviatilis*) - [Yellow perch](/source/Yellow_perch) (*Perca flavescens*) - [Balkhash perch](/source/Balkhash_perch) (*Perca schrenkii*) - *[Gymnocephalus](/source/Gymnocephalus)* - [Ruffe](/source/Ruffe) (*Gymnocephalus cernua*) The term panfish may also be used for members of other families, such as: - *[Creek chub](/source/Creek_chub)* (*Semotilus sp.*) - *[Cutlips minnow](/source/Cutlips_minnow)* (*Exoglossum maxillingua*) - *[European bullhead](/source/European_bullhead)* (*Cottus gobio*) - *[Dark sleeper](/source/Dark_sleeper)* (*Odontobutis obscura*) - *Three-lips* (*[Opsariichthys](/source/Opsariichthys) uncirostris*) ## See also - [Game fish](/source/Game_fish) - [Rough fish](/source/Rough_fish) ## References ### Citations 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["panfish, n."](http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/136811) *Oxford English Dictionary* Third Edition, March 2005; online version September 2011. Accessed 29 October 2011. An entry for this word was first included in *[New English Dictionary](/source/New_English_Dictionary)*, 1904. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** New Mexico Game and Fish. "Warm Water Species: Panfish" ["Warm Water Fish - Species"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070606085217/http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/recreation/fishing/warm_water_species/Panfish.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/recreation/fishing/warm_water_species/Panfish.htm) on 6 June 2007. Retrieved 9 June 2007. (accessed 3 June 2007). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Jordan, David Starr; Evermann, Barton Warren (1908). [*American Food and Game Fishes: A Popular Account of All the Species Found in America North of the Equator, with Keys for Ready Identification, Life Histories and Methods of Capture*](https://archive.org/details/americanfoodgame00jorduoft). New York: Doubleday, Page and Company. pp. [120](https://archive.org/details/americanfoodgame00jorduoft/page/120), 227, 242, 247, 263, 329, 335, 366, 338, 376, 377, 463. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Jordan, David Starr; Evermann, Barton Warren (1908). [*American Food and Game Fishes: A Popular Account of All the Species Found in America North of the Equator, with Keys for Ready Identification, Life Histories and Methods of Capture*](https://archive.org/details/americanfoodgame00jorduoft). New York: Doubleday, Page and Company. p. [366](https://archive.org/details/americanfoodgame00jorduoft/page/366). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Ziemann, Hugo; Gillette, F. L. (1901). *The White House Cookbook-A Comprehensive Cyclopedia of Information for the Home*. Akron, Ohio: The Saalfield Publishing Company. pp. 49–50. ### General and cited references - Dalrymple, Byron (1947). *Panfish: The Art and Enjoyment of Light Tackle Fishing for the Common Fishes of the United States*. New York: McGraw Hill. - Ellis, Jack (1993). *The Sunfishes: A Fly Fishing Journey of Discovery*. Bennington, VT: Abenaki Publishers. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-936644-17-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-936644-17-6). - Gruenwald, Tom (1997). *Hooked on Ice Fishing II: Panfish: Secrets to Catching Winter Fish, for Beginners to Experts*. Iola, WI: Krause Publications. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-87341-489-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-87341-489-6). - Malo, John (1981). [*Fly-Fishing for Panfish*](https://archive.org/details/flyfishingforpan0000malo). Minneapolis, Minnesota: Dillon Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-87518-208-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-87518-208-9). - Perich, Shawn (2006). *Catching Panfish: Tactics for Sunfish, Crappies, Yellow Perch and White Bass*. Chanhassen, MN: Creative Publishing International. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-58923-259-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-58923-259-3). - Rice, F. Philip (1964). *America's Favorite Fishing: A Complete Guide to Angling for Panfish*. New York: Harper & Row. [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [779677474](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/779677474). - Rice, F. Philip (1984). [*Panfishing*](https://archive.org/details/panfishing00rice). New York: Stackpole Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-943822-25-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-943822-25-4). v t e Angling topics General Angling Boat fishing Big-game fishing Flats fishing Flosser Float tube Trolling Casting Surf fishing Rock fishing Bank fishing Jet ski fishing Kayak fishing Centerpin fishing Coarse fishing Bottom fishing Urban fishing Tackle Techniques Land-based game fishing Ice fishing Indoor fishing Snagging Spin fishing Skishing Tailrace fishing Tenkara fishing Fish Bass Bait fish Carp Game fish Mahi-mahi Marlin Panfish Porgie (bream) Rough fish Shad Smelt whiting Striped bass Walleye Regulation and sustainability Fishing license Fisheries management Fisheries law Bag limits Catch and release Conservation officer Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing Minimum landing size Slot limit Tag and release Poaching Catch records Europe UK Wisconsin West Virginia Organisations Bass Anglers Sportsman Society Confédération Internationale de la Pêche Sportive International Game Fish Association Nippon Bass Club Prince Albert Angling Society Sport Fishing Association Literature Angler's Mail Angling Times Field & Stream Gray's Sporting Journal List of pseudonyms of angling authors Marlin Outdoor Life Rod and Line Book of the Black Bass Salt Water Sportsman Sports Afield The Secrets of Angling Other Angling at the 1900 Summer Olympics Ikejime Pain in fish Priest (tool) Fishing guide Tournaments Television series World Fishing Network v t e Fly fishing and fly tying Fly fishing Bamboo fly rod Float tube Fly fishing tackle Fly line Fly rod building Furled leader Dry fly fishing Fly casting Fly Casting Analyzer Reach cast Spey casting Manufacturers of fly tying materials and tools Tenkara fishing Trout bum Waders Fly waters: Blue Ribbon fishery Class A Wild Trout Waters North America Europe Artificial flies Adams Alexandra BWO Bonefish flies Brown Bi-visible Bunyan Bug Clouser Deep Minnow Copper John Crazy Charlie Dave's Hopper Diawl bach Egg sucking leech Elk Hair Caddis Flesh Fly Fully dressed flies Grey Ghost Streamer Hare's Ear Humpy Jock Scott Klinkhammer Lefty's Deceiver Mallard and Claret Mickey Finn Muddler Minnow Parks' Salmonfly Partridge and Orange Pheasant Tail Nymph Prince Nymph Popper Red Tag Royal Coachman Royal Wulff Sakasa Kebari Salmon fly patterns Stimulator Surf Candy Terrestrials Tube fly Woolly Bugger Woolly Worm Wulff flies Organizations American Museum of Fly Fishing Anglers' Club of New York Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum Flyfishers' Club Fly Fishers International Fly Fishing Team USA Orvis Parks' Fly Shop Scientific Anglers Trout Unlimited World Fly Fishing Championships Literature Bibliography of fly fishing (species related) Bibliography of fly fishing Bibliography of fly fishing (fly tying, stories, fiction) Pseudonyms of notable angling authors The American Angler's Book Blacker's Art of Fly Making Dry-Fly Fishing in Theory and Practice Favorite Flies and Their Histories Floating Flies and How to Dress Them Fly Fishing (Grey book) Fly Fishing: Memories of Angling Days The Fly-fisher's Entomology Minor Tactics of the Chalk Stream The Salmon Fly The Way of a Trout with the Fly People Dan Bailey A.K. Best Megan Boyd Drew Chicone James Deren Ted Fay Edward Fitzgibbon Jack Gartside John Gierach George F. Grant Frederic M. Halford J. Richard Harris Lefty Kreh George Selwyn Marryat Don Martinez Louis Rhead Edwin Rist Alfred Ronalds Frank Sawyer Carrie G. Stevens Ted Towendolly Lee Wulff v t e Fisheries and fishing topic areas Fisheries Aquaculture Diversity of fish Fish diseases and parasites Fish farming Fisheries management Fisheries science Individual fishing quota Sustainable fishery Overfishing Wild fisheries Fishing Artisanal fishing Fisherman Fishing vessel History of fishing Industry List of harvested aquatic animals by weight By country Commercial fishing Marketing Markets Processing Products Seafood Recreation Angling Big-game fishing Catch and release Fishing guide Fishing tournaments Fly fishing Techniques Destructive fishing practices Fish trap Fishfinder Fishing net Gathering seafood by hand Handline fishing Spearfishing Trawling Trolling Tackle Artificial flies Bait Bite indicators Hook Line Lures Rod Sinker Locations Fish ponds Fishing banks Fishing villages Marine habitats Crime Bering Sea Anti-Poaching Operations Coral poaching Freshwater eel poaching and smuggling Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing Arctic South Pacific Persian Gulf Glossary Index Outline Category --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Panfish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panfish) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panfish?action=history)). 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