A Mississippi catfish inspector describes the taste of catfish as sweet, like a pecan. Noted food critic Craig Claiborne swears farm-raised catfish are the finest freshwater fish in North America. In fact, catfish have been served to numerous dignitaries ranging from Prince Charles to assembled Western Leaders. Jumpin' Catfish! The modest southern catfish must have jumped on the popularity bandwagon!
All through the South, cotton and soybean farms have been turned into catfish farms where genetically superior catfish are cultivated for size, flavor and texture. Once mature, they are loaded live from the ponds and released in the processing plant, still swimming. Now that's fresh!