Menhaden

There was an article in the Houston Chronicle this morning about the effects of the drought on aquatic life in our area.  It reported that flounder were being caught north of Liberty  off sandbars in the Trinity River and also mentioned that the drought was  impacting the commercial fishing for Menhaden.

I had never heard of Menhaden, so I did a little research.

This article from Texas Parks and Wildlife explains that Menhaden off the Texas Coast support a $3.5 million industry.  Most of the little fish are processed in Louisiana into fish oil or into fish meal for animal food, and some are sold as bait.

Now we’re getting somewhere.  I’ve seen them – used them as bait – but had never heard that name.  Bait shops call them Pogy, or Pogie, or Pogy Perch.