{"id":6462,"date":"2018-06-01T20:58:40","date_gmt":"2018-06-01T20:58:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lakehomes.com\/info\/?p=6462"},"modified":"2026-03-10T09:16:52","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T14:16:52","slug":"know-the-difference-game-fish-vs-non-game-fish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/lifestyles\/know-the-difference-game-fish-vs-non-game-fish","title":{"rendered":"Know the Difference: Game Fish vs. Non-Game Fish"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"A Guide to Understanding Freshwater Game vs. Non-Game Fish | Lake Homes Lifestyles\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Vf1PdgQYaNQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Want more videos like this one? Subscribe to our\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@LakehomesRealty\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">YouTube channel<\/a><\/strong>!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Fishing is one of the most popular lake activities. To some, it&#8217;s a relaxing pastime. To others, it&#8217;s a highly competitive sport that requires massive amounts of technique and patience. The art of angling isn\u2019t as simple as it looks, however. In the eyes of a fisherman, not all game is the same. Traditionally, there are two categories of fish: game, or sport, fish and non-game fish. We\u2019ve created a general, freshwater guide on the difference between the two so you can <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/lakehomes.com\/info\/articles-and-news\/finding-perfect-fishing-spot\" target=\"_blank\">fish with confidence this summer<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-game-fish\">Game Fish<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Recreational anglers tend to pursue sport fish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These species are targeted commercially and typically rank high in palatability and table quality. In laymen\u2019s terms:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/lakehomes.com\/info\/articles-and-news\/fresh-fish-recipes-youve-got-try\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">they\u2019re yummy<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Significantly larger than non-game fish, game fish are known to put up a good fight. This means they\u2019re often pursued in competitive sport due to how vigorously they resist being caught.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-largemouth-bass\"><strong><em>Largemouth Bass<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nas.er.usgs.gov\/XIMAGESERVERX\/2019\/20190614115656.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Photo courtesy of the <\/em><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"U.S. Geological Survey (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/nas.er.usgs.gov\/queries\/factsheet.aspx?SpeciesID=401\" target=\"_blank\"><em>U.S. Geological Survey<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Characteristics: <\/strong>The largemouth bass is a species of black bass in the sunfish family, native to North America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They\u2019re extremely common in freshwater environments and can be found anywhere in the world, as they\u2019ve been introduced to waters everywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The largest of the black bass family, they&#8217;re popular among anglers who seek them out for their fight capacity. Largemouth bass are known to become airborne in efforts to escape the hook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The best type of bait used to hook this fish are plastic worms, spinnerbaits and live bait such as minnows or crawfish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Max. Adult Size: <\/strong>29.5 in. (75 cm), 25 lbs<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-crappie\"><strong><em>Crappie<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/crappie-5110219_1920-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25657\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/crappie-5110219_1920-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/crappie-5110219_1920-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/crappie-5110219_1920-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/crappie-5110219_1920-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/crappie-5110219_1920.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo courtesy of <a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/users\/michasekdzi-16296060\/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=5110219\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Michal Dziekonski<\/a> from <a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/\/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=5110219\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pixabay<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Characteristics: <\/strong>Crappie, also known as speckled perch, are among the tastiest freshwater species and are a highly regarded pan fish (edible game fish small enough to fit in a frying pan).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Like the largemouth bass, they also belong to the sunfish family and are native to North America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The white crappie is lighter in color with vertical black stripes, while the black crappie has a darker hue with patterns of black spots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If populations aren\u2019t controlled, crappie can overrun small bodies of water rapidly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This species is characteristically fertile, with females laying between 5,000 and 60,000 eggs each summer. The eggs take less than a week to hatch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Populations of this fish exist in every state in the continental United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Max. Adult Size: <\/strong>19.3 in. (49 cm), 5 lbs<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-lake-trout\"><strong><em>Lake Trout<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/5\/5f\/Lake_trout_fish_in_hands_salvelinus_namaycush.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo courtesy of <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Lake_trout_fish_in_hands_salvelinus_namaycush.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wikimedia Commons<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Characteristics: <\/strong>Lake trout, closely related to salmon and char, tend to inhabit the cold, well-oxygenated waters of North America. Most trout can be found in the lakes and rivers of Canada, Alaska and the Great Lakes region of the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When temperatures rise in the summer months they migrate to deeper waters, sometimes to depths of 200 feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Due to their popularity as a food fish, trout are often raised on fish farms and sold commercially. They&#8217;re also an important source of food for brown bears, eagles, hawks, and other animals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While they\u2019re slow to grow, their recorded longevity is impressive: they typically live beyond 25 years, with the oldest lake trout recorded at 60 years old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The maximum recorded weight for lake trout was 102 lbs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Max. Adult Size: <\/strong>50 in., 102 lbs<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-non-game-fish\">Non-Game Fish<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Non-game fish are any species not specifically categorized as game, with the exception of those considered endangered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They typically have no commercial value because they aren&#8217;t appetizing, often thanks to larger scales and more bones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Non-game fish are significantly smaller than sport fish and are therefore frequently used as bait. However, they serve a vital role in their ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not only do they help to clean debris from the waterway floor, but they serve as an irreplaceable food resource to larger fish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-freshwater-eel\"><strong><em>Freshwater Eel<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"924\" height=\"615\" src=\"https:\/\/lakehomes.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Capture.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10986\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Capture.png 924w, https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Capture-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Capture-768x511.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 924px) 100vw, 924px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><em>Photo courtesy of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tankarium.com\/how-long-can-a-fish-live-out-of-water\/\">Tankarium<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Characteristics: <\/strong>The American eel has a slender, snakelike body coated with a thick layer of slime and microscopic scales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They\u2019re bottom dwellers, usually found hiding in masses of plants, burrows or tubes. Their diets consist of small fish, aquatic insects, and small crustaceans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While eels live in freshwater and estuaries, they leave their natural habitats and travel to the Atlantic Ocean during spawning season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One female eel can lay up to 4 million eggs a year and dies shortly after giving birth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In most parts of the world, it isn&#8217;t kosher to consume eels, as they are highly poisonous to humans. Fishermen frequently use this species as bait for sport fish like the striped bass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Max. Adult Size: <\/strong>4 ft, 17 lbs<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-carp\"><strong><em>Carp<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pexels-thirdman-5538270-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25659\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pexels-thirdman-5538270-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pexels-thirdman-5538270-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pexels-thirdman-5538270-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pexels-thirdman-5538270-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pexels-thirdman-5538270.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo by Thirdman via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/man-in-black-leather-jacket-holding-yellow-fish-5538270\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pexels<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Characteristics: <\/strong>The common carp is native to Europe and Asia, but has made its way to every part of the globe except the poles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unattractive and slimy, carp isn\u2019t palatable. However, some fishermen enjoy the challenge of capturing them due to the power and tenacity of their fight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Carp are one of the most destructive invasive species worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the case of an absence of natural predators\u2014northern pike, largemouth bass and predatory birds\u2014they&#8217;re able to significantly alter their environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Due to their habitual feeding upon bottom sediments for food, they can destroy submerged vegetation, which causes real damage to various populations of duck and fish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Max. Adult Size: <\/strong>47 in., 88 lbs<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-skipjack-shad\"><strong><em>Skipjack Shad<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/9\/9f\/Brycon_rubricauda_%2816609679980%29.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo courtesy of <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Brycon_rubricauda_(16609679980).jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wikimedia Commons<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Characteristics: <\/strong>Skipjack shad, also known as blue herring, are North American schooling fish often found in large rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They&#8217;re long, thin and bright silver in color, and are often seen leaping out of the water while feeding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fishermen prefer to use them as bait for both striped bass and catfish. Plankton, minnows and larvae make up the bulk of their diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Max. Adult Size: <\/strong>20 in., 3.5 lbs<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ready to put your fishing knowledge to the test but unsure where to start? Read &#8220;<\/strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Finding the Perfect Fishing Spot (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/lakehomes.com\/info\/articles-and-news\/finding-perfect-fishing-spot\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Finding the Perfect Fishing Spot<\/strong><\/a><strong>&#8221; or <a href=\"https:\/\/lakehomes.com\/info\/?s=fish\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"click here (opens in a new tab)\">click here<\/a> for more fishing advice and tips.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Fishing is one of the most popular lake activities. To some, it&#8217;s a relaxing pastime. To others, it&#8217;s a highly competitive sport that requires massive amounts of technique and patience. The art of angling isn\u2019t as simple as it looks, however. In the eyes of a fisherman, not all game is the same. Traditionally, there are two categories of fish: game, or sport, fish and non-game fish. We\u2019ve created a general, freshwater guide on the difference between the two so you can fish with confidence this summer. Game Fish Recreational anglers tend to pursue sport fish. These species are targeted&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":25659,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12055,15978,12053],"tags":[8736,733,8734,8737,345,9152,9151,8732,8735,9150,729,8733,736],"class_list":["post-6462","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lake-activities","category-lake-trivia","category-lifestyle","tag-angling","tag-crappie","tag-difference","tag-fish","tag-fishing","tag-freshwater-anglers","tag-freshwater-fishing","tag-game-fish","tag-guide","tag-lake-trout","tag-largemouth-bass","tag-non-game-fish","tag-sport-fish"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Know the Difference: Game Fish vs. Non-Game Fish<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The art of angling can get complicated, and not all species are equal in the eyes of a fisherman. We&#039;ve created a general guide on the difference between game fish, or sport fish, and non-game fish to help you cast your line with confidence at any time of the year.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/lifestyles\/know-the-difference-game-fish-vs-non-game-fish\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Know the Difference: Game Fish vs. Non-Game Fish\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The art of angling can get complicated, and not all species are equal in the eyes of a fisherman. We&#039;ve created a general guide on the difference between game fish, or sport fish, and non-game fish to help you cast your line with confidence at any time of the year.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/lifestyles\/know-the-difference-game-fish-vs-non-game-fish\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Lake Homes Realty Articles and Info - LakeHomes.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/LakeHomesRealtyLLC\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2018-06-01T20:58:40+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-10T14:16:52+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pexels-thirdman-5538270.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1280\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Staff\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@lakehomesrealty\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@lakehomesrealty\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Staff\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lakehomes.com\\\/info\\\/lifestyles\\\/know-the-difference-game-fish-vs-non-game-fish#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lakehomes.com\\\/info\\\/lifestyles\\\/know-the-difference-game-fish-vs-non-game-fish\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Staff\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lakehomes.com\\\/info\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/18730c9252085337e0d1a7f52b47ede8\"},\"headline\":\"Know the Difference: Game Fish vs. Non-Game Fish\",\"datePublished\":\"2018-06-01T20:58:40+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-10T14:16:52+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lakehomes.com\\\/info\\\/lifestyles\\\/know-the-difference-game-fish-vs-non-game-fish\"},\"wordCount\":989,\"commentCount\":5,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lakehomes.com\\\/info\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lakehomes.com\\\/info\\\/lifestyles\\\/know-the-difference-game-fish-vs-non-game-fish#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lakehomes.com\\\/info\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/02\\\/pexels-thirdman-5538270.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"angling\",\"crappie\",\"difference\",\"fish\",\"fishing\",\"freshwater anglers\",\"freshwater fishing\",\"game fish\",\"guide\",\"lake trout\",\"largemouth bass\",\"non-game fish\",\"sport fish\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Lake Activities\",\"Lake Trivia\",\"Lifestyle\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lakehomes.com\\\/info\\\/lifestyles\\\/know-the-difference-game-fish-vs-non-game-fish#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lakehomes.com\\\/info\\\/lifestyles\\\/know-the-difference-game-fish-vs-non-game-fish\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lakehomes.com\\\/info\\\/lifestyles\\\/know-the-difference-game-fish-vs-non-game-fish\",\"name\":\"Know the Difference: Game Fish vs. Non-Game Fish\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lakehomes.com\\\/info\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lakehomes.com\\\/info\\\/lifestyles\\\/know-the-difference-game-fish-vs-non-game-fish#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lakehomes.com\\\/info\\\/lifestyles\\\/know-the-difference-game-fish-vs-non-game-fish#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lakehomes.com\\\/info\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/02\\\/pexels-thirdman-5538270.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2018-06-01T20:58:40+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-10T14:16:52+00:00\",\"description\":\"The art of angling can get complicated, and not all species are equal in the eyes of a fisherman. We've created a general guide on the difference between game fish, or sport fish, and non-game fish to help you cast your line with confidence at any time of the year.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lakehomes.com\\\/info\\\/lifestyles\\\/know-the-difference-game-fish-vs-non-game-fish#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lakehomes.com\\\/info\\\/lifestyles\\\/know-the-difference-game-fish-vs-non-game-fish\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lakehomes.com\\\/info\\\/lifestyles\\\/know-the-difference-game-fish-vs-non-game-fish#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lakehomes.com\\\/info\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/02\\\/pexels-thirdman-5538270.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lakehomes.com\\\/info\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/02\\\/pexels-thirdman-5538270.jpg\",\"width\":1920,\"height\":1280},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lakehomes.com\\\/info\\\/lifestyles\\\/know-the-difference-game-fish-vs-non-game-fish#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lakehomes.com\\\/info\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Know the Difference: Game Fish vs. Non-Game Fish\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lakehomes.com\\\/info\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lakehomes.com\\\/info\\\/\",\"name\":\"Lake Homes Realty Articles and Info - LakeHomes.com\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lakehomes.com\\\/info\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lakehomes.com\\\/info\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lakehomes.com\\\/info\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Lake Homes Realty\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lakehomes.com\\\/info\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lakehomes.com\\\/info\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lakehomes.com\\\/info\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/10\\\/LHR-Logo-Primary.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lakehomes.com\\\/info\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/10\\\/LHR-Logo-Primary.png\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":250,\"caption\":\"Lake Homes Realty\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lakehomes.com\\\/info\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/LakeHomesRealtyLLC\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/lakehomesrealty\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/lakehomesrealty\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/lake-homes-realty\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pinterest.com\\\/lakehomesrealty\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/lakehomesrealty\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lakehomes.com\\\/info\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/18730c9252085337e0d1a7f52b47ede8\",\"name\":\"Staff\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/19d6a53e71debddec8d8241fbadca5298616168d46dd207190b5bebbeefa097f?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/19d6a53e71debddec8d8241fbadca5298616168d46dd207190b5bebbeefa097f?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/19d6a53e71debddec8d8241fbadca5298616168d46dd207190b5bebbeefa097f?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Staff\"},\"description\":\"Lake Homes Realty staff writers and market research team members.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.LakeHomes.com\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lakehomes.com\\\/info\\\/lifestyles\\\/author\\\/staff\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Know the Difference: Game Fish vs. Non-Game Fish","description":"The art of angling can get complicated, and not all species are equal in the eyes of a fisherman. We've created a general guide on the difference between game fish, or sport fish, and non-game fish to help you cast your line with confidence at any time of the year.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/lifestyles\/know-the-difference-game-fish-vs-non-game-fish","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Know the Difference: Game Fish vs. Non-Game Fish","og_description":"The art of angling can get complicated, and not all species are equal in the eyes of a fisherman. We've created a general guide on the difference between game fish, or sport fish, and non-game fish to help you cast your line with confidence at any time of the year.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/lifestyles\/know-the-difference-game-fish-vs-non-game-fish","og_site_name":"Lake Homes Realty Articles and Info - LakeHomes.com","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/LakeHomesRealtyLLC\/","article_published_time":"2018-06-01T20:58:40+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-03-10T14:16:52+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1920,"height":1280,"url":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pexels-thirdman-5538270.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Staff","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@lakehomesrealty","twitter_site":"@lakehomesrealty","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Staff","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/lifestyles\/know-the-difference-game-fish-vs-non-game-fish#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/lifestyles\/know-the-difference-game-fish-vs-non-game-fish"},"author":{"name":"Staff","@id":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/#\/schema\/person\/18730c9252085337e0d1a7f52b47ede8"},"headline":"Know the Difference: Game Fish vs. Non-Game Fish","datePublished":"2018-06-01T20:58:40+00:00","dateModified":"2026-03-10T14:16:52+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/lifestyles\/know-the-difference-game-fish-vs-non-game-fish"},"wordCount":989,"commentCount":5,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/lifestyles\/know-the-difference-game-fish-vs-non-game-fish#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pexels-thirdman-5538270.jpg","keywords":["angling","crappie","difference","fish","fishing","freshwater anglers","freshwater fishing","game fish","guide","lake trout","largemouth bass","non-game fish","sport fish"],"articleSection":["Lake Activities","Lake Trivia","Lifestyle"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/lifestyles\/know-the-difference-game-fish-vs-non-game-fish#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/lifestyles\/know-the-difference-game-fish-vs-non-game-fish","url":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/lifestyles\/know-the-difference-game-fish-vs-non-game-fish","name":"Know the Difference: Game Fish vs. Non-Game Fish","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/lifestyles\/know-the-difference-game-fish-vs-non-game-fish#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/lifestyles\/know-the-difference-game-fish-vs-non-game-fish#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pexels-thirdman-5538270.jpg","datePublished":"2018-06-01T20:58:40+00:00","dateModified":"2026-03-10T14:16:52+00:00","description":"The art of angling can get complicated, and not all species are equal in the eyes of a fisherman. We've created a general guide on the difference between game fish, or sport fish, and non-game fish to help you cast your line with confidence at any time of the year.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/lifestyles\/know-the-difference-game-fish-vs-non-game-fish#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/lifestyles\/know-the-difference-game-fish-vs-non-game-fish"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/lifestyles\/know-the-difference-game-fish-vs-non-game-fish#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pexels-thirdman-5538270.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pexels-thirdman-5538270.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/lifestyles\/know-the-difference-game-fish-vs-non-game-fish#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Know the Difference: Game Fish vs. Non-Game Fish"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/","name":"Lake Homes Realty Articles and Info - LakeHomes.com","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/#organization","name":"Lake Homes Realty","url":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/LHR-Logo-Primary.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/LHR-Logo-Primary.png","width":1000,"height":250,"caption":"Lake Homes Realty"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/LakeHomesRealtyLLC\/","https:\/\/x.com\/lakehomesrealty","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/lakehomesrealty\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/lake-homes-realty","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/lakehomesrealty\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/lakehomesrealty"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/#\/schema\/person\/18730c9252085337e0d1a7f52b47ede8","name":"Staff","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/19d6a53e71debddec8d8241fbadca5298616168d46dd207190b5bebbeefa097f?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/19d6a53e71debddec8d8241fbadca5298616168d46dd207190b5bebbeefa097f?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/19d6a53e71debddec8d8241fbadca5298616168d46dd207190b5bebbeefa097f?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Staff"},"description":"Lake Homes Realty staff writers and market research team members.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.LakeHomes.com"],"url":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/lifestyles\/author\/staff"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6462","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6462"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6462\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29393,"href":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6462\/revisions\/29393"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25659"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6462"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6462"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6462"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}