Kudos to Fresh Fish--Catching, Cleaning, and Cooking

Kudos to Fresh Fish--Catching, Cleaning, and Cooking

24 February 2020

A good haul of blue cats for an extended family fish fry in the late 1980's.  Smithland Lock and Dam, Kentucky with my sons Scott and Matthew.

I like to catch and release fish. I also like to catch, clean, and eat fish. Fishing is not cheap. People who spend $20 on fuel, another $20 on bait, and have untold thousands tied up in tackle, boats, rods and reels who fish, but never clean and cook their catch for assorted reasons---but, then go to restaurants and eat a single piece or two of fish at $15-$20 a plate--are a real oddity to me.

For those that don't like fish to eat, I get it. But, if it's because you don't like the thought or exercise of cleaning fish, or cooking fish---well, you fall a couple of split-shot shy of a full bag in my book. Your hooks may have points, but they aren't real sharp.

I guess I'm just a country boy. I like small fish, beheaded and gutted and scaled, and fried whole. I also like larger fish, filleted and done the same way, as well as grilled, blackened, and baked, blackened, and sauteed. Did I say blackened twice? Well, that's probably because--along with fried--I prefer them this way twice as much as any other. Sauteed with a little white wine, butter, lemons and capers works for me, too. And the grill is simple and sure takes a lot of fuss out of things.
I've spent the day fishing with people that like to fish, put their fish in the live well, but I've never seen them clean and cook their catch when it's time to culminate the deed..They pretend offer to help, but are always thrilled to head into the house for a shower or have to be somewhere when it's time to get morbid and bloody with the corpses of their murders. They will commit them to the gallows, but won't release the guillotine.
I never stock the freezer more than a meal or two ahead with fresh water fish. And what I keep and eat depends upon my cravings. Five inch sunfish to be fried whole have their place (best eaten fresh), as do whole catfish and "double-filleted" catfish fillets or strips. You can't beat crappie fillets. and striped bass-especially rockfish (land-locked striped bass) or small yellow striped bass--wrapped in tinfoil with a little salt and pepper and Cajun seasoning with a few lemon wedges is hard to beat.

Some people I've known claim they don't want to harm the fish, but have no qualms about eating fish when in a restaurant or when someone else prepares them. I guess those fish committed suicide and threw themselves willingly into cornmeal and hot oil.
It ain't hard. and it sure isn't as big a deal as some people make it out to be. Let's go fishing. Can't wait for the first fresh fish of the season, and all that goes with the complete outdoor angling experience.



Comments

  1. AnonymousFebruary 24, 2020 at 6:42 PM

    I am one of those who tend to cut a trail when it comes time to clean fish(as he is keenly aware by this point in our lives.) In my defense, I don't consume very many of the scaly buggers. I still love a day of fishing with my little brother, so I guess he will just have to take me as I am, warts and all.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Keith RaganFebruary 26, 2020 at 9:52 AM

    In regard to my fishing partners, I do make exceptions to my favorite people. But, your cover is blown. Ha!

    ReplyDelete

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