You can pay well above minimum wage and still not get an american to take the job. Just how much do you think an unskilled worker should be paid to gut a catfish???
I wonder if this mindset is part of the reason we are in the situation we face in our economy? There are more than a few companies that have discovered that there is more to "compensation" than money and insurance: employees with skin in the game in general work harder. This goes under the guise of "profit sharing", "employee ownership", "product/process/cost improvement bonus", and similar methods to reward hard work, particular if that hard work brings in more.
Who knows, that catfish gutter may come up with an idea to increase productivity, product quality, and profitability. Encourage him to speak up, and reward him appropriately.
There are few takers. Why do you think that is? The pay is excellent for this area of the country. Please explain to me why people won't take that work. I anxiously await your answer and solution.