Orange catfish??

[just.me]

This weekend, I kept pulling up redish/orange bellied catfish up at Slavens pier (Mattawoman River, down 210). What is that? I thought at first it was a few sick fish or something but I saw about 50 of these in the past two days between what I was catching and others were catching... they were rather small for a cat and seemed a little green ontop, and then orangish red bellies... WTH are these???? Is this a new breed or just how they look in March???

fisteria?

 

[dems4me]

I haven't fished in years, and don't forese an opportunity to go for quite some time. But, if YOU catch these things again, give them a try.

The easiest way to cook/eat them, is basically to leave them whole minus the head, fins and tail. It's SUPER easy to de-skin/fin them. Hit them with a pipe or something to kill or knock them out. Hit them HARD the first time, otherwise, they start talking, which, if you're not prepared, can be somewhat disturbing. Slice around them just cutting through the skin behind the head, nail them to a board thru the head, grab the edge of the skin with a pair of plyers and peel it like your taking off a sock at the end of a long hard day. Cut out the top fin, lop off the head and throw them in the pan with some light breading, butter and lemon, and MMMMMmmmmmmmMMMMMMMMMM! Damn I'm hungry, and I JUST got back from Bear Creek too.

Sounds easier just to throw them back in the water.

 

[Ponytail]

Sounds easier just to throw them back in the water.

The hardest part is getting the hook out of them as you have already noted. If you throw them back, your missing a REALLY good meal. :shrug:

 

[dems4me]

The hardest part is getting the hook out of them as you have already noted. If you throw them back, your missing a REALLY good meal. :shrug:

Last time I did all this catfish preparing it didn't taste right, it was too fatty or something. Will try again though. If I cook them, I don't even have to get the hooks out! i can just throw them on some ice and then grill them right up

 

[Ponytail]

... If I cook them, I don't even have to get the hooks out! i can just throw them on some ice and then grill them right up

What do fish hooks taste like?

 

[dems4me]

What do fish hooks taste like?

I know its been a while for you but generally you hook a fish in its mouth... why bother fighting to get it out if you are just going to chop the head off :shrug: You are soo funny sometimes.

 

[2ndAmendment]

The trick to good grilled or fried fish is a good, hot fire or pan. Fish simmered in semi-hot grease is just plain nasty.

 

[jwwb2000]

All this talk of fried catfish is making me hungry for some good ol pond raised catfish fried up served with some hush puppies and fries

 

[2ndAmendment]

Last time I did all this catfish preparing it didn't taste right, it was too fatty or something. Will try again though. If I cook them, I don't even have to get the hooks out! i can just throw them on some ice and then grill them right up

If you fried them, your grease was not hot enough.

 

[gumby]

The trick to good grilled or fried fish is a good, hot fire or pan. Fish simmered in semi-hot grease is just plain nasty.

And don't put too many in the pan at one time. (cools the oil)

 

[dems4me]

If you fried them, your grease was not hot enough.

no comment

 

[dems4me]

See my profile.

That makes my eyebrows hurt.

If that's me, then I guess I just have to remember to hold onto the catfish longer.

 

[Bushy23]

I fished the mattawoman last week for perch and caught a bunch of those bullheads. Nothing wrong with them disease wise, that is just the way they are colored. Hope you had fun anyways

 

[dems4me]

I fished the mattawoman last week for perch and caught a bunch of those bullheads. Nothing wrong with them disease wise, that is just the way they are colored. Hope you had fun anyways

Also all I got were pretty small ones (the bullheads).... do they get as big as blues and channels?

 

[Ricky Racer]

Last time I did all this catfish preparing it didn't taste right, it was too fatty or something. Will try again though. If I cook them, I don't even have to get the hooks out! i can just throw them on some ice and then grill them right up

Maybe it is because your still leaving the slime coat on them.