Fish sticks are an excellent way to use up low quality, broken up fish leftovers that can’t be used any other way . . . except perhaps as cat food. As a kid, I loved fish stick Fridays in the school caf. I also loved that distinctive funky taste of canned spinach (the smell, not so much). These were things we never got at home.
Try Cioppino. Our local fresh fish shop and restaurant will sell bags of assorted fish too small to sell on their own. Very reasonable price