Fishes of the Okefenokee Swamp

Book excerpt: The Okefenokee Swamp, located in southeastern Georgia and northern Florida, is the largest freshwater wetland in the United States. In this illustrated guide to the fishes of the swamp, Joshua Laerm and B. J. Freeman provide descriptions and drawings of thirty-six species, ranging from the American eel to the speckled madtom, chain pickerel, and blackbanded darter. For each fish, the authors include latinate, common, and variant names and discuss differences from similar species, local habitats as well as occurrences beyond the Okefenokee, and feeding and mating patterns. With each entry Laerm and Freeman also relate brief comments and tips borrowed from the folklore of the swamp and the experience of fishermen and cooks. The guide thus notes the variety of bait--from kernels of corn to rotten liver--that will hook a catfish; discusses which fishes are more easily taken by gigging; reveals the sport involved in catching the flavorful American eel; and identifies those fishes, such as the swamp darter, that are common as aquarium pets. Providing descriptions, drawings, and scientific and general information, Fishes of the Okefenokee Swamp is a complete handbook for the angler, naturalist, and scholar.