I had to filleted a fish tonight

[gonefishie]

I went out fishing tonight and was throwing a pop-r. There was quite a bit of ripple on the surface. I looked away for a second, turned back and didn't see the bait anywhere. I scanned the area, still nothing so I thought it must have snagged some weeds and sunk. I never heard or felt a thing. I started reeling in, it felt heavy then my rod bended. I swung him in the boat, lipped him and thought to myself how the heck am I going to get my lure back. After considering my options, I kept him since he's going to die anyway. There is no way he going to pass that lure through his system. I have seen bluegill, shad, crawfish and worm hook in bass throat but never an artificial lure. Thanks to some instructional videos on youtube, I successfully performed my very first fillet job.

This 15 incher should have chewed before he swallowed.

The red dot is the head of my pop-r

Another shot

Got the stomach open after filleting

Not bad for a first timer and I got my lure back.

 

[Landscaping Wiz 808]

Re: I had to filleted a fish tonight

Why are those fillets in ziplocks??

Yo need to eat it while it's fresh!!

BOB

 

[fishon13]

Re: I had to filleted a fish tonight

I find it best to still have a little wiggle in them when they hit the pan. My live well keeps em alive till I get home Then they sit in my sink full of the spring fed water until I fillet them. Who said water is'nt free was wrong.

 

[HAV2FISH]

Re: I had to filleted a fish tonight

We were on vacation one year and i caught a bass like that. It was 17.5" long and the lake we were on had a slot limit of 11" to 18". It was the only fish i kept since i mostly just catch and release. Well at the dock the local game warden was checking everyone so when he saw my only fish with the crank bait still deep inside him he measured it told me i had to let it go because it was under the limit. So i did just to watch it float away with my crank bait because it was about dead. As i turned around he gave me a fat $125.00 ticket. Most expansive crank bait and fish combo i never got to keep.

 

[SuzukiChopper]

Re: I had to filleted a fish tonight

We were on vacation one year and i caught a bass like that. It was 17.5" long and the lake we were on had a slot limit of 11" to 18". It was the only fish i kept since i mostly just catch and release. Well at the dock the local game warden was checking everyone so when he saw my only fish with the crank bait still deep inside him he measured it told me i had to let it go because it was under the limit. So i did just to watch it float away with my crank bait because it was about dead. As i turned around he gave me a fat $125.00 ticket. Most expansive crank bait and fish combo i never got to keep.

I don't care what the law is, but that was just ignorant of the guy. What if a bigger predatory fish decides to eat the one you just killed and tossed back and it ends up with a lure in its gullet. That one is now dead. Wow, unreal.

BTW gonefishie, nice job! Hope you didn't freeze it though, should have had a nice fresh fish snack while you had the chance.

 

[Starcraftguy1]

Re: I had to filleted a fish tonight

Them hooks would have rotted away in time,probably after the fish died.lol.Good thing,at least you are planning on eating it,after all,he would have been fine if you were not fishing.Good job.

 

[pecheux]

Re: I had to filleted a fish tonight

A bass that size would end up in my frying pan for sure ... I favor catch and release ... but I allow myself a good meal when I want to ... against all opinions ...

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: I had to filleted a fish tonight

I love different fish for different reasons. Baked bass is uniquely delicious!

Melt 1/2 stick of butter, blend with 1/4 cup olive oil, low simmer in small pan with 1 or two cloves of fresh garlic very finely chopped for a couple of minutes- don't let it get hot so the garlic toasts or browns! Just simmer it to get the essence. Then brush it on your fillets, both sides, and powder up a little with bread crumbs and rosemary. I don't like crushed rosemary, I like the whole leaves, and I take a good pinch and powder it in my palm by rolling between my fingers. The bake at 325 for a few minutes- usually takes about 10 mins or so, but it varies. (It is done when the fats in the fish are bubbling a little and the meat is no longer translucent but flaky all the way through and still moist.)

Well I know you didn't ask but you got me thinking about bass and I haven't eaten one since last summer, so I thought I would share.

 

[gonefishie]

Re: I had to filleted a fish tonight

The fillets are in ziplock bags cause it was 10 pm and I wasn't going to cook anything. They've been in the freezer since. Are they no good now? I have never intentionally killed any fish. The ones that died were going to die anyway.

Thanks for the recipe Mark. I was going to look/ask for one.

 

[SuzukiChopper]

Re: I had to filleted a fish tonight

The fillets are in ziplock bags cause it was 10 pm and I wasn't going to cook anything. They've been in the freezer since. Are they no good now? I have never intentionally killed any fish. The ones that died were going to die anyway.

Thanks for the recipe Mark. I was going to look/ask for one.

They'll still be good. Assuming you got most of the air out of the bags before the freezer they'll still have some freshness to them. They just won't be as tasty as if they went right to the pan.

I once heard a trick from a buddy that if you fill the bags with water before freezing, the fillets stay fresher longer. Not sure if it's really true though, I'd think vacuum bagging or getting the air out of zip lock bags should be as good as anything.

 

[Landscaping Wiz 808]

Re: I had to filleted a fish tonight

The fillets are in ziplock bags cause it was 10 pm and I wasn't going to cook anything. They've been in the freezer since. Are they no good now? I have never intentionally killed any fish. The ones that died were going to die anyway.

Thanks for the recipe Mark. I was going to look/ask for one.

No, they're fine. If you leave them in the freezer too long they may get freezer burn though. Personally I would eat them for breakfast, but I have weird taste.

Every time I look at that picture of the bass in the sink I start singing "bring me that fillet-o-fish, bring me that fish".

BOB

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: I had to filleted a fish tonight

The fillets are in ziplock bags cause it was 10 pm.....Are they no good now?.....Thanks for the recipe Mark. I was going to look/ask for one.

That's how my fish wind up in ziplocs! Fillets should be fine for a short time in freezer, for a few days in frig. I like to throw in some rosemary or basil and fresh garlic sometimes, and the flavor gets into the meat like marinating.

I freeze a fair amount of fish for winter eats... The freeze-in-water thing keeps them from drying out, but like others have said, if you get the air spaces out there won't be any place for the moisture to go!

Glad you liked the recipe- I think you'll like it better when you cook it . And don't feel bad about it- bass are prolific enough that taking a few smaller and mid-size fish for the table now and then will not hurt the populace of the fishery.