This question was recently posed to me, and I am now curious to see what other people’s answers are. Some people have the luxury to have been to many places around the world and chase the exotics. Other people have barely left the region that they were born in. So, if you knew your time was coming up, and you had that one opportunity, What is the one fish that you would like to catch before your time is up?
I know this is fudging but it would be a toss-up between Atlantic Salmon
and tarpon. I’d be happy fishing for either!
bobbyg 
A 5-pound bluegill.
Ed
I second the 5lb bluegill. Wow, one species? I dunno, I think it would be a matter of place more than species for me. I’d like to fish western Canada/Alaska, but it wouldn’t matter if it was salmon, trout, or whatever.
5lb bluegill…I’ll 3rd that! 
I think I’d go for something BIG, EXOTIC…but I love freshwater fishing…so…
ARAPAIMA!
Saw some of these at the Omaha (Henry Doorly) Zoo several weeks ago…UNBELIEVABLE!
I think I would like my last fish to be a huge wild brook trout in full spawning colors
To me , the what , or even the where , would be secondary to ’ who with?’ and that still would be a difficult question. My wife, one ( or all ) of my kids/grandkids, close friends ? Not having a ready answer, I’m going to fish with all of them every chance I get, just in case I don’t that ‘your time is almost up’ warning.
Tough question for sure. There are a lot of fish from around the world I hope to catch before my time comes. Just to name some of the more exotic, taimen, giant trevally, tigerfish, and golden durado come to mind. I think if I had to pick one I’d go for the tigerfish and hopefully take care of an African safari while I was over there.
Dang Joe…I hadn’t thought of that! You’re making me consider changing my answer! 
or…if not a spawning Brookie, then maybe a big ol’ spawning Char? Those are definitely both beautiful fish!!
For me, it would have to be a time and a place, rather than a specific species.
Wading a white sand flat under a warm mostly clear tropical sky nearing sunset.
The horizon layered from magenta to blaze orange and just a breath of a breeze stirring up an almost unnoticeable slow swell. Birds working to small bait that are dimpling at the surface. Quietly sight casting like sized baitfish patterns with my favorite seven weight to chasing predators ranging to double digits.
Apres la peche, kicking back in the sand, watching the last few moments of daylight slip away, it’s all good.
I’d want to go back to Harker’s Island one more time during the albie run. Birds going crazy, baitfish exploding out of the water, albies zipping around like neon torpedos, the backing on your reel disappearing so quickly you actually worry about whether that arbor knot you tied is going to hold.
Regards,
Scott
It would have to be taimen.
Tarpon.
5lb blue gill would be fun.
Here’s one a bit smaller. But pretty darn big.
I’m with you on this. if I got diagnosed with something terminal and I was given the opportunity, I am going to catch at least 1 Taimen before I kick the bucket. That’s one fish that I would want to cross off a list.
I see other peoples answers, I see what they are saying… who you are with etc. But if implicitly speaking, which is the one fish you want crossed off your list before you go, Taimen is right up there. How, where, and with whom, is something completely different.
A payara from the Amazon but I’m not sure if you can catch those on a fly also a giant trevally, tarpon and bonefish.
Sorry but I forgot to add one more and for this one I don’t have to travel half a world away…I’d like to catch a thresher shark with my 10 wt, when the kids are old enough and don’t drive mama crazy (lol) I will go fishing half a day (I can’t even do that right now) and catch me one.
I would have to make a trip to the Amazon to fish for giant Peacock Bass. I’d take the time to fish for everything else that swims while I was down there and just enjoy the trip.
Jim Smith
I’d have to go with a 12-14 inch brookie in spawning colors also. Mostly because there are no brookies here. Second would be some of those football smallies.
Vic
–I love 'gills & a 5 pounder would be great, but REALISTICALLY…
From North Carolina’s Outerbanks, a 35 lb Mahi Mahi (citation size) & a false albacore on the fly.
Mike
Ill second that one. Always wanted to have one of those explode on the end of my line.
I would also consider going for Taimen.
Salmon in Alaska. Never caught one and never been to Alaska, yet.