BSIBC FISHING CLUB

CARING FOR YOUR CATCH

Nothing is tastier for dinner than fresh fish that you arrive back at the dock after a great day on the water fishing. Regardless of the species a little time spent planning how you will handle and prepare your catch will further enhance your favorite fish recipe.

" The first step toward good tasting fish starts before leaving the dock. A clean fish box with an adequate supply of clean ice is absolutely essential.
" Figure about a pound of ice per pound of fish for a day trip for summer time fishing and a little less in winter.
" Allowing a fish to flop around on a hot deck until it dies is not a good plan. Take your photos and get the fish in the box quickly.
" For fish like Mackerel, Amberjacks, Barracuda, Cobia, Tuna bleeding before placing it in the box will result in much better taste.
" Gutting all fish quickly results in better table quality. Sharks MUST be gutted and cooled quickly if they are to be eaten or ammonia from their bladder will permeate the flesh and also foul other fish in the box.
" Any of the Tunas should be gutted and cooled ASAP because they have sort of an internal heater and will spoil rapidly.
" When you catch additional fish, try to rotate them to the bottom to get them right on the ice so that they will cool quickly also.
" Here is the step that most folks skip. Drain the water from your fish box occasionally. Don't allow your fish to soak in fresh water all day.
" Rinse your fish, clean the table and knives before using.
" Wash cleaned fillets and fish in water sparingly to much fresh water results in soft flesh. It is better to rinse the fillets in a pan of cold (ice cold) salt water before packaging or cooking.
" Fish bought at the market will be much better if they are rinsed in cold salt water also. This results in whiter and firmer fillets.
" Freeze your catch fish in Zip-Lock freezer bags, after removing as much air as possible. If the fish is to be kept more than a month, wrap the bags in freezer paper. Better still vacuum pack them your catch will stay fresher and last longer frozen. Major retail stores in our area have at Vacuum Packing appliance with bags for $90. Be sure to date all packages.

Note: If you keep your catch in the live well unto you return to the dock gut them and then place them in your refrigerator for a few hours and they will fillet a lot easier. Then follow the steps outlined above.

Len Harris

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