As the saying goes, fish, like guests, start to smell bad after three days. That being the case, if any of the fish you're considering at a fish market seem a trifle strong, avoid them. Ideally, the fish in the market will be very fresh, and laid out on ice; if they're rank, something's not kosher.

Most of us don't have the good fortune of living in a city with a fish market. However, these days most supermarkets have a small fish market tucked away somewhere near the meat case and the deli. The selection won't be huge, and much of the fish will be frozen, but you can still get some good deals.

In most grocery store fish markets, you'll find a few basic fish on offer: tilapia, catfish, and salmon usually round out the selection, since they're popular and easily farmed. However, if you keep your eyes open, you can occasionally find other fish, and even lobster, crabs, and clams available.