Very nice story! An excellent rewrite, too. I almost wish the show had gone that direction, but we know they couldn't do that and maintain the dramatic tension.
"Fishes" is a real word, both a verb and a plural noun, but the noun usage would be in a technical or scientific context, as Ann mentioned. But you wouldn't tell someone, "I caught a mess o' fishes - four bluegill, three bass, and a really dumb trout." You'd say "a mess o' fish" instead.
Oh, "a mess of" something is an undefined amount of items numbering between three and infinity, usually used in the South in casual conversation.
