Fish that have been dead for any length of time should not be sold. Fish quickly spoil at water temperatures used to hold catfish, and sale of an inferior product will quickly ruin a producer's reputation and business. Fish that are freshly dead, with clear eyes, can be dressed and iced for home consumption. Selling dressed fish requires facilities that meet Health Department regulations. Sales and Service Fixed dates and times of sales allow for operating as a part-time business.
Customers can count on the store being open and plan their visits accordingly.
Customers will call asking for fish at other times of the week when the store is not regularly open. There will be fluctuations in demand on a seasonal basis, with spring and fall peaks in sales and little demand around Thanksgiving and Christmas. A number of live fish markets operate seasonally to avoid these slow periods. A certified scale should be used for weighting fish, and this should be done in front of the customer. People may want to select their own fish or they may desire particular sizes of fish.