In a port city in Lithuania, I saw bream of 10lb+ on the slab in the fishmarket, caught from a nearby Baltic gulf. We drove out of our way to visit a small cafe in a nature reserve famous for its smoked bream. They didn't taste like mud. They tasted like smoked mud.
The people I stay with have their own small lake with tench and carp. They fish it to catch for the table. I'm happy enough to follow the directions to "go down and catch us a couple of family size carp", but I edge out of eating it. Even flavoured and baked, it's watery in texture and tastes muddy.
I'll never forget a Polish guy,Pavel,where I used to work,I said to him do you have carp for xmas dinner,his reply was 'I wouldn't eat that,it tastes like sh1t',I peed myself laughing,the face he pulled when he said it was a picture...
