Went fishing last night (Sorry Notaro my friend gave me "fool proof" directions on how to get there, but turns out they were just a fool's directions, ended up fishing at the other place) caught 30" 12# striper.
The thing is when I got it home an hour later, the head was almost bone white and the scales on the back and side were a very light light gray where they are usually a darker color. I'm pretty sure it didn't look like that when I pulled it out of the water.
I have never had a striper that looked like that. Is it safe to eat? Any input would be appreciated....:(

How did you store the fish?

On ice in a cooler, w/ cold packs in a cooler, or in bag in your trunk w/out aything?

Fish losing colors happens quickly depending on how its been store. Many times fish gets reddish on the side it lays - blood settles - no big deal. If fish as blotchy red sores/spots - I wouldn't eat it. ;)

If it looked "normal" when it came out of the water then its probably OK to eat. I typically remove the innards/guts and be sure to tear out the gills - let is bleed out. Rinse out fish again in water to remove blood. Seems to help taste IMHO.

Lots of people dislike Bluefish, but if you bleed them out and keep them in ice it makes a world of difference. Removing the dark meat along the lateral line also helps w/ flavor.

It was pretty cold last night so just threw it in a cooler and only stayed maybe a half hour after....but it was just kinda freaky when i went to grab him and throw him in the fridge cause the whole head was almost silver white like the belly, looked like a different species of fish starin back at me:confused:

You killed it. Eat it :mad:

No need to be like that Eben was just lookin for a little advise, only started striper fishin last year and was hopin some of the more experienced members could tell me about as I haven't had a striper turn ghostly white on me an hour after I catch them, lose color yea but never like that.

Youngmoon,


:) When you die, you'll lose color too. ....:laughs:



...like Maddogg said,...if it looked fine coming out, it'll taste fine going in.....or something like that. ;)

Originally posted by Eben
You killed it. Eat it :mad:

Or make love to it. :laughs: :love:

U guys are bad. ;)

FWW - u sick dude!

FWW - that made me :laughs: and :yak6: :yak4:

both hysterical and very distrubing

I think we need to settle this issue and see a picture of said fish... Personally, I have never seen a fish turn ghostly white... at least not enough to scare the daylights out of me... then again, ice in the cooler goes a long way...

Some people use the insulated fish bags, but those seem like they'd get stinky very fast...

Youngmoon74, the fish is just fine, I have landed and kept many stripers that will lighten up after being caugth, that fish should be just fine!!! Cod fish do the same thing after sitting in a cooler or box for a while. Stripers will be different shades also if you caught it in a sandy area they will be lighter. If they come out of deep water or sometimes dark structure they will be darker. Get it fillet and enjoy!!!

Don't just stare at it, eat it
http://www.cinema.com/image_lib/18_poster_thumb.jpg

youngmoon, did u catch a stripah at where i was fishing? i left early. i losy my patience. i got skunked.

FWW-:laughs: :laughs: :laughs:

Nah my friend gave me retarded directions had me drivin all ova quincy didn't even see the water, so i left and went to my spot, bitin real light, had to be fast on the draw

PS thanks for the info everybody sorry no pics taken on 35mm camera, don't have a digital:eek:

Originally posted by bloocrab
if it looked fine coming out, it'll taste fine going in..... but how will it taste going out? :yak:

youngmoon, maybe we can hook up another time, any place on haba. ps, yakers caught five schoolieshalf a mile away from the shorebound guys...