bottom fish

noun

any of certain fishes that live at or near the bottom of a body of water, as certain of the cod and related species, the flatfishes, and catfishes.

Also called ground fish.

bottom-fish

[bot-uh m-fish] /ˈbɒt əmˌfɪʃ/

verb (used without object)

to fish with a weighted line for fish that feed close to the bottom.

Origin

1840-50

Examples from the web for bottom fish

However, these bottom fish primarily are used to make fertilizer and fish oil vitamin supplements.
No bottom fish or reef fish are allowed to be targeted, and any that are accidentally caught are to be immediately released.
Other marine bottom fish are generally available year around.
For example, sandy estuarine habitat often provides critical nursery grounds for the juveniles of many species of bottom fish.
Offshore bottom fish are available but with the good pelagic action, few are fishing for them.
Groundfish are also called bottom fish or demersal fish.