Thread: Question: Where do all those fish end up when numbers are caught?

Spoonminnow. I freeze alot and give alot away before I dress them too. You can be sure none go to waste . I try to keep older friends in fish that don't go anymore. Here it is a game violation to waste edible portions of game or fish except rough fish .

Originally Posted by wc870

Every year when I plant the garden a crappie carcass goes under each plant


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I bury a lot of carcasses in my garden when it is not planted.

I tried burying one small batch of carcasses in my garden, first night neighborhood dogs dug them up


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Much depends on the water I'm fishing as to the size I'm keeping.

Lots of times I'll find someone who is fishing for supper and load them up, because I know it is appreciated and won't be wasted, particularly from waters that are overpopulated.

If I'm keeping for myself, I only keep a few greater than 12". Anything under 12" or over 14" gets released. My wife doesn't eat freshwater fish.

The tournaments I used to fish either had fish frys or the contestants cleaned the catch, which was donated to charity or a local food bank.

I bury heads, bones, & guts in the garden. Occasionally, I'll toss a few on the sand bar in the creek behind the house to feed the possums or raccoons. Every now & then I'll use heads to bait a crayfish trap, if I need 'em for bait.

Jim

Cut bait works well for catfish; you can save the fatty and meaty leftover parts of the fish carcasses after filleting for the catfish jugs or catfish trolling rigs.

Now you all got me interested in cooking some crappie! I catch enough of them every time I fish a local lake I could feed a city block. The only fish that I do eat are at a restaurant, Gorton's frozen fish or take out /fast food and are always saltwater. Which is better - freshwater or saltwater fish?

IMO, the saltwater fish I've eaten all seem to have their own distinctive or recognizable flavor profile (not fishy taste) while the 3 freshwater fish I eat most (crappie, bluegill, yellow perch) are all very similar. In fact, almost indistinguishable from one another. Texture of the freshwater 3 are different but to my palate, the flavor is very mild and similar.

Originally Posted by Spoonminnow

Now you all got me interested in cooking some crappie! I catch enough of them every time I fish a local lake I could feed a city block. The only fish that I do eat are at a restaurant, Gorton's frozen fish or take out /fast food and are always saltwater. Which is better - freshwater or saltwater fish?

Throw some nice crappie on ice, rinse, scale, rinse again until all the slime is off, dry with a paper towel and fillet the next day so they become rigor mortis. Some people cut the skin off but I like the skin, also has a lot of nutrients. Salt and pepper, batter and fry and don't look back. Make sure to cut out the pin bones, I use scissors. Fillets should have ZERO fishy smell if prepped properly. Peanut oil is best but canola is also good for frying