Keeping your catch

[fishsmith]

All this talk about regulations got me thinking about keeping fish, and what others do to fish before filleting them.
The only fish I know of that has to be kept intact during transport are Stripers.
Here's what I do-
Cod: I gut them almost immediately then toss them in the cooler (to me guts=chum, plus I like to see what they're eating).
Bluefish: I alway bleed them immediately if I'm going to eat them, then toss em on ice.
Stripers: Get them on ice.

What does the rest of the board do?

[Clammer]

put them back/////////////////////////////

[Billyboy]

I bleed stripers, tuna and cod. Don't keep the bluefish unless I'm going sharking. Fluke I throw in the livewell and try to keep alive as long as possible. As long as the gills weren't damaged and keep water moving, they stay pretty good. Winter flounder I do the same thing. Cherrystones I wash good in saltwater and put in a colander in the fridge to drain



Bill

[Scotch Bonnet]

Billyboy, I will post a bluefish recipe a little later that I gaurentee if you try it you will Never throw another blue back in the water.

[Billyboy]

SB,

Put it up I'll try anything once. Now that I think of it, I do keep a couple of blues every year. I try to get 6-8 cocktail blues, which I bleed and scale, my father puts it in the smoker, which is good. I also keep a few for the landowner who lets me deer hunt on his property. He thinks they are great. Other than that, I like white meat I think salmon and trout are fishy tasting. Groundfish are the best. Post it, I'll try it. My family usually eats fish 2 times a week. Hopefully getting out winter flounder fishing on sunday.


Bill

[JohnR]

All this talk about regulations got me thinking about keeping fish, and what others do to fish before filleting them.

I usually release them - I'll keep a few fish over the year but most go back...

[chris L]

set them free !!!! so someone else can catch and eat them !