Fish University is a science-based podcast covering the latest research in fish management from the small pond to the vast ocean. This podcast is part of a larger podcast network: Natural Resources University, funded by the Renewable Resources Extension Act.
Have you ever caught a marine fish that was dressed like a convict and had goofy-looking teeth that made you think you could hear a banjo playing in the distance? Ok, maybe that was unfair to all the banjo-playing fish out there, but you may have caught a sheepshead. Sheepshead can be found along the Western Atlantic coast from Nova Scotia down to Brazil, with high abundance in the Gulf of Mexico. They are common both inshore and on barnacle-encrusted structures from as shallow as two feet of water out to the oil platforms offshore. They are tender biters, hard fighters, and even better as a table fare. Although they have mostly swam under the radar (pun intended), the word is starting to get out on this species. To discuss sheepshead biology, movement, and management, Wes teams up with Dr. Mike Andres and his graduate student/research associate Alyssa Pagel. No sheep were harmed in the making of this podcast.
Do you have questions or comments? Follow the Fish University Facebook community and chat with Wes or suggest future episodes!
Watch this episode on YouTube (here)!
17 Dec 2025
The Trophy Factory | Ep 34
Sometimes you just need to follow your dreams. Eric Mayo is a Mississippi pond owner with a small 1.5-acre pond. After complete renovation, Eric wanted something different. So, he did everything we preach against in pond management. He stocked different species, collected them from the wild, and just threw in as many unusual species as possible. The results? Eric holds nine Mississippi rod-and-reel and fly rod records, many of which came from his small pond. If you want to hear about managing for trophy redspotted sunfish and longear sunfish, well hold my beer and watch this!
Do you have questions or comments? Follow the Fish University Facebook community and chat with Wes or suggest future episodes!
Watch this episode on YouTube (here)!
19 Nov 2025
Emergency Trout Restrictions | Ep 33
The State of Arkansas is well known for its quality fishing opportunities, particularly its tailrace trout fisheries. Although Fish University has spent several episodes discussing the self-sustaining brown trout in the Little Red River, the majority of these fisheries are supported with catchable size, hatchery produced trout. Unfortunately, the two biggest hatcheries in Arkansas experienced major issues this past spring and summer, resulting in the loss of more than a million trout. With less trout available, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission had to take drastic measures. In this episode, Wes has a conversation with Trout Biologist Christy Graham to learn about what happened at the hatcheries, what it means for the rivers, and what the future of trout fishing in Arkansas will look like.
Do you have questions or comments? Follow the Fish University Facebook community and chat with Wes or suggest future episodes!
Watch this episode on YouTube (here)!
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
9 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
11 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 43 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
55
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
77
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