5/30/2025 IF YOU LISTEN YOU CAN HEAR THEM PURRRRRING ON THE FUNKY T RIVER!! MEOW!

Well, Austin and I hit the Funky T to make a meat haul and the cats were very cooperative. We filled the ice chest and the live well in 3 hours and we didn't start the outboard motor. Just trolled from spot to spot. Water temp 86 and tide was falling till around 11. The bite slowed down but didn't turn off. We left them biting.
FYI. All fish pictured were killed and eaten by family, neighbors and friends. The slain were caught on old frozen shrimp, dead crawfish saved from previous crawfish boils, and large worms... Really didn't matter they were eating and we were feeding.


Another Paw Paw ADVENTURE in the BOOKS!!


BONTEMPS!!

Wow, that's a haul in anybody's book! I'll bet that was some fun........
I'm not up on my catfish breeds; are those all channel cats or a mixed bag? Regardless, that's a lot of freezer filler for sure.

Awesome :highfive Now that’s getting it done! Good job, good eats.

Yeah, Bon Temps was texting us to see if anyone wanted to help clean Kitties...........I sent back my bride hates Catfish.

Bud y'all had fun for sure, thanks for the pictures earlier I save them when you send some. Also opened up the Pasta recipe you sent, it is very easy. I will see what to throw in one soon.

All blue cats. They are so thick here that while fishing for crappie it’s not unusual to hook a blue cat. Bigger ones can strip a lot of line before popping it or worse break a 10 plus ft pole

Austin and I got them all fileted and gave a good bit to needy neighbors that are too old to fish and will put them to good use.
BON TEMPS!!

Lot's of fun and good eating there. I'm sure the neighbors appreciated the extra fillets. Catching them is a lot more fun than cleaning them.

Wow, that's a heck of a haul. Busy beavers for sure, great job. :cheers2

We snip off the 3 fin spines before we put them into Davey Jones ice chest once home we hose them off and immerse them in an ice slush for a few hours. Cold firm fish just cleans easier in my opinion.
Once good and stiff we pull them out one at a time, quick hose washing to minimize that nasty slime, skin and filet with a good 6 inch flexible blade.
We cleaned them all and cleaned up our mess in less than 2 hours.

It is a lot more fun catching them than cleaning them but these cats are real clean tasting since they live in a river that although it is tidal it has a continuous flow of rain run off entering it.

Bon Temps!!

Flatheads are my favorite but the Blues can be real good also. We fillet them , remove all the red meat and fat. Then cut into small steaks , Sure fry up nice. The meat washed really good comes out snow white . You must have made friends happy with that haul.:HandsClapping:HandsClapping:HandsClapping Ever tried just drifting down stream bumping bottom ?

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Originally Posted by 6poundtest

Wow, that's a haul in anybody's book! I'll bet that was some fun........
I'm not up on my catfish breeds; are those all channel cats or a mixed bag? Regardless, that's a lot of freezer filler for sure.

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Easiest way to tell on the difference between Blues and Channels is annal fin. Remember, curved is Channel and straight is Blues . Number of rays in fin also different.

Attachment 505815

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NIMROD

Easiest way to tell on the difference between Blues and Channels is annal fin. Remember, curved is Channel and straight is Blues . Number of rays in fin also different.

Attachment 505815

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Bud thank you for posting this, I didn't know the difference.

Bon Temps is on Point but I would like to add it has to be a Tidal Flowing Estuary to produce such clean tasting fish in general. As just flowing like a river you still get the particulates suspended in the water. Our Tidal waters get gin clear at times, for long periods of time, flow in 2 directions without loss of clarity. It produces the best catfish on the planet but no need for me to bring any home unless I plan on eating every bit. :Rofl

I shot a limit of squirrels right after we got married and she ask "where are you planning on cooking those?" I answered by pointing towards our kitchen. She immediately exclaimed "Not In MY Kitchen!". Well last squirrel hunting I did. Not a issue I was willing to pick a fight about.

Needless to say she is Not from The South.:Rofl

That’s a good mess and good on you both for taking care of those that can no longer go. Folks sometimes won’t say much beyond a thank you but it makes a big difference to them. I’m up in my 60’s and I’ve never cleaned or filleted a catfish. Maybe one day. Good job, both of you.

a young fat high fin blue is pretty darn good eats , right up close to a crappie in lack of fishee flavors, older catfish tend to be from a star wars episode though ....
they run with Hans solo , and they be the copilot ...... "chewy " ..... :Rofl
looks like a fun time chasing them kitty fish , congrats and
KABOOM

Awesome post!

Years ago I used to fish KY Lake w/ friend. He could really fillet a catfish with his electric knife. I have one now and pretty decent with it. I never could skin a catfish with a hand fillet knife. I can with the electric. Speeds up the cleaning time.

Nice meat haul! We just did a big fish fry and jambalaya cook for my son's baseball team that wiped me out completely. Im going to have to make another meat haul soon. I saw the same results on Bayou Lacombe not long ago in Glockners Place bend. They were stacked up and hungry.