Watcha eating?

[keegs]

I should have included Sea Bass on my list...it's excellent, light and delicate...

in my experience Bluefish is best smoked, it starts to go bad very quickly (very oily like the Mackerels) Swordfish is overrated IMO...

About the only fish I will eat that's been frozen is Halibut...

Not sure if it's the same for Pacific bluefish but Atlantic bluefish is about the only fish that we won't freeze.

We sometimes marinate it in milk before broiling it. But I think it does best on the grill. I haven't tried it smoked but I imagine it's pretty good done that way. It's a familiar, inexpensive and available summer game fish here in the NE. Another local game fish that I think tastes allot like bluefish is shad althought it is a bit bonier than bluefish.

 

[toppop52]

I think bluefish make excellent bait for large tuna!

 

[IslandTractor]

I think bluefish make excellent bait for large tuna!

That is what it is good for if you don't clean and cook it within a few hours of catching it. However it is wonderful when truly fresh. I don't know of any other fish that spoils so quickly though.

John Hersey wrote a book about catching and cooking bluefish off Martha's Vineyard. Title is "Blues" and it is a good quick read, available used on Amazon for just a few bucks shipped. Blues: John Hersey: 9780394757025: Amazon.com: Books It may seem odd to write a whole book about one fish but he does it very cleverly (a conversation between a newbie and an old timer who go out together every day to catch and then cook bluefish) to discuss the A-Z of bluefish biology, fishing strategy and cooking. Great read for a fisherman and all sorts of good ideas for cooking them too.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

That is what it is good for if you don't clean and cook it within a few hours of catching it. However it is wonderful when truly fresh. I don't know of any other fish that spoils so quickly though.

John Hersey wrote a book about catching and cooking bluefish off Martha's Vineyard. Title is "Blues" and it is a good quick read, available used on Amazon for just a few bucks shipped. Blues: John Hersey: 9780394757025: Amazon.com: Books It may seem odd to write a whole book about one fish but he does it very cleverly (a conversation between a newbie and an old timer who go out together every day to catch and then cook bluefish) to discuss the A-Z of bluefish biology, fishing strategy and cooking. Great read for a fisherman and all sorts of good ideas for cooking them too.

You guys that have ready access to truly fresh fish and seafood give me a ... well, if not a pain, then a pang of jealousy. I love my state, but we are undeniably landlocked. Up until the time of our vacation to the Gulf Coast many years ago, I would not eat any fish except for fresh channel cat of maybe a bass I caught myself. I had the fortune...or misfortune...depending on your perspective, to eat some truly fresh Red Snapper. My life has never been the same; I have ordered it in restaurants and it could not compare to the fresh stuff... so, I look forward to our rare trips to the coast where I can enjoy some truly FRESH fish, oysters and lobster. There's nothing better than fresh seafood and nothing worse than some of the stuff we get here.

 

[IslandTractor]

You guys that have ready access to truly fresh fish and seafood give me a ... well, if not a pain, then a pang of jealousy. I love my state, but we are undeniably landlocked. Up until the time of our vacation to the Gulf Coast many years ago, I would not eat any fish except for fresh channel cat of maybe a bass I caught myself. I had the fortune...or misfortune...depending on your perspective, to eat some truly fresh Red Snapper. My life has never been the same; I have ordered it in restaurants and it could not compare to the fresh stuff... so, I look forward to our rare trips to the coast where I can enjoy some truly FRESH fish, oysters and lobster. There's nothing better than fresh seafood and nothing worse than some of the stuff we get here.

Yes being near the ocean is an undeniable advantage for seafood, but those beef cattle are all worn out and tough by the time they walk all the way from Texas and Oklahoma to New England so you guys have some advantages too.:thumbsup: And, with regard to Bluefish, it is really just a summertime treat as they migrate up the coast. We get them for a month or so on the way up and then a couple of months later on the way back south.

I would think that oysters, clams and lobster would be quite fresh in OK given that they are shipped live. This is a fabulous time to buy lobster as the prices are as low as I've seen in twenty or thirty years. Too bad for the fishermen but we can all help out by having a clambake or two. Best and easiest way to eat lobster IMO is a simple lobster roll. A boiled shelled lobster, cut to bite size pieces and mixed with maybe a couple tablespoons of mayo, a little diced celery and the best slightly toasted fresh hot dog roll you can find. Yum.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Yes being near the ocean is an undeniable advantage for seafood, but those beef cattle are all worn out and tough by the time they walk all the way from Texas and Oklahoma to New England so you guys have some advantages too.:thumbsup: And, with regard to Bluefish, it is really just a summertime treat as they migrate up the coast. We get them for a month or so on the way up and then a couple of months later on the way back south.

I would think that oysters, clams and lobster would be quite fresh in OK given that they are shipped live. This is a fabulous time to buy lobster as the prices are as low as I've seen in twenty or thirty years. Too bad for the fishermen but we can all help out by having a clambake or two. Best and easiest way to eat lobster IMO is a simple lobster roll. A boiled shelled lobster, cut to bite size pieces and mixed with maybe a couple tablespoons of mayo, a little diced celery and the best slightly toasted fresh hot dog roll you can find. Yum.

I rarely eat oysters any more, after a couple of MAJOR bouts of "severe gastric disturbances" from eating oysters on the half shell; mostly afraid to buy them...and the canned variety are mostly products of China or Korea, so I don't buy them any more. I didn't realize that they were shipped live; maybe I'll get brave and buy some and have Sharn Jean fry them up...I do love them.

We do enjoy lobster frome time to time, (frozen) but for some reason we have never purchased a live one...probably because we wouldn't know what to do with it...and also, as I recall, they run $20 or more a pound. As uncouth as it may sound, Sharn Jean fixes them in the microwave and they are pretty good. We have a local market where we can buy American wild-caught shrimp, and so far it's about as fresh as it gets here.

As for beef, it's pretty darned expensive any more, so we don't eat as much of it as we used to. I will admit, that good beef is easy to come by here if you can afford it; a prime bone-in rib eye will run from about $14.98 to $23.98 per pound, but it's not so bad once a month, and Sharn Jean and I will share a steak an still have enough left over for lunch the next day. I would think that good beef would be plentiful in your neck of the woods; I would imagine that a Kosher meat market would have it. I prefer aged beef, but I think some states may prohibit aging beyond a certain point.

 

[mjarrels]

I think Joe Patty's seafood in Pensacola Fl. still ship live oysters (if Joe's surrived the last typnoon).

mark

 

[toppop52]

Honestly, being raised 30 minutes from the Outer Banks, I've had bluefish cleaned, prepped and cooked in every manor imaginable, I didn't like any of them. I was good friends with several of the Danials boys that own and operate a huge seafood business fleet of fishing boats and number of restaurants. They're famous for their seafood, I still didn't like it!
On the other hand a wahoo is heaven on a plate! Catfish is way better than bluefish in my book. In fact catfish is dam# good eatin'!

 

[dmccarty]

I grew up on strange sandwiches:

- P-nut butter, banana, mayo
- P-nut butter, rasions, mayo
- Cream cheese and green olives

mark

I like bananas, mayo and bread but have never before this moment ever heard of that threesome together. Sounds weird. I prefer to substitute crunchy peanut butter for the mayo but I will, someday, give the mayo banana sandwich a try.

I will admit I was baiting econometrics with the banana and mayo sandwich. :laughing::laughing::laughing:

I was waiting for his response, which I think it is safe to say would have been, YUCK! Then I was going to suggest peanut butter, banana and mayo.

The Chief beat me to the punch.

My dad and I used to eat both variations. :thumbsup:

Raisins is a bit odd but the cream cheese and green olives seems fine to me. Well any olive and cream cheese sandwich sounds eatable.

I really don't hold econometrics Mayo Hating against him. Though drinking Pearl Light is pushing things a bit.... :laughing::laughing::laughing:

Later,
Dan

 

[mjarrels]

A jar of sliced ripe papaya in orange & passion fruit juice. Origional priced at $3.99 at the local Martins store... marked down to $1.99 as a discontined item. Very good stuff, about the closest thing to sweet ripe mango that I can find in central Va.

mark

 

[IslandTractor]

I rarely eat oysters any more, after a couple of MAJOR bouts of "severe gastric disturbances" from eating oysters on the half shell; mostly afraid to buy them...and the canned variety are mostly products of China or Korea, so I don't buy them any more. I didn't realize that they were shipped live; maybe I'll get brave and buy some and have Sharn Jean fry them up...I do love them.

We do enjoy lobster frome time to time, (frozen) but for some reason we have never purchased a live one...probably because we wouldn't know what to do with it...and also, as I recall, they run $20 or more a pound. As uncouth as it may sound, Sharn Jean fixes them in the microwave and they are pretty good. We have a local market where we can buy American wild-caught shrimp, and so far it's about as fresh as it gets here.

As for beef, it's pretty darned expensive any more, so we don't eat as much of it as we used to. I will admit, that good beef is easy to come by here if you can afford it; a prime bone-in rib eye will run from about $14.98 to $23.98 per pound, but it's not so bad once a month, and Sharn Jean and I will share a steak an still have enough left over for lunch the next day. I would think that good beef would be plentiful in your neck of the woods; I would imagine that a Kosher meat market would have it. I prefer aged beef, but I think some states may prohibit aging beyond a certain point.

Lobster should be WAY less than $20/lb. under $10 around here last time I checked.

I was joking about the beef. We do get good beef from the Midwest. I'm a fan of the butchers at Costco myself.

 

[J F]

Now you guys got me hankerin' for some good seafood. About the only thing we do semi-regularly is some grilled or baked salmon.

I almost forgot: pickled herring in sour cream and onions on a fresh warm bagel.

Good way to make sure no one will be invading your personal space. :laughing:

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Lobster should be WAY less than $20/lb. under $10 around here last time I checked.

I was joking about the beef. We do get good beef from the Midwest. I'm a fan of the butchers at Costco myself.

We don't have Costco because (or so I'm told) our liquor laws won't let them sell wine. We need someone to give Sam's a run for their money.

 

[keegs]

Honestly, being raised 30 minutes from the Outer Banks, I've had bluefish cleaned, prepped and cooked in every manor imaginable, I didn't like any of them. I was good friends with several of the Danials boys that own and operate a huge seafood business fleet of fishing boats and number of restaurants. They're famous for their seafood, I still didn't like it!
On the other hand a wahoo is heaven on a plate! Catfish is way better than bluefish in my book. In fact catfish is dam# good eatin'!

toppop...have you tried raising/farming catfish?

 

[sixdogs]

Now you guys got me hankerin' for some good seafood. About the only thing we do semi-regularly is some grilled or baked salmon.
...
..

We lived in Maine for a lot of years and got used to fresh, cold water fish. Very, very little of that in the midwest.

Best bet for a close second "ALMOST" cold water fish is to buy frozen cod at Sam's Club. Also frozen Pacific NW Sockeye Salmon or frozen halibut ($20/ lb) at either Costco or Sam's Club. It tastes close to "off the boat" as you can find. Frozen haddock if you can find it is great. This is where the good fish is---frozen.

The key here is to not let it thaw on the way home and I mean even 1% is unacceptable. I buy frozen fish on a cold winter's day early in the morning and often put it right in the cooler in the store. I drive like a mad man to get home ASAP and plunk it in the freezer until needed. Then bake or broil, don't overcook, maybe add a little paprika and have fresh lemon handy. That is what fish is all about and we're talking plain frozen fish and no battered or marinated or fish sticks or whatever..

The reason it's good is the big tralers catch, clean and flash freeze it within moments of being caught. It doesn't have time to degrade and that's what makes it good. .

Maybe if I grew up with warm water fish it would be OK but it seems all of it is deep fried and that's more about the deep frying than the fish.

 

[J F]

A buddy of mine shops at Sam's regularly, I'll make a note to ask him to pick some up the next time he's coming over. :thumbsup: (I'll mention the "driving like a mad man" thing too :laughing

 

[txdon]

toppop...have you tried raising/farming catfish?

Thanks for reminding me. I need to feed the fish with the food I got at TS yesterday, The neighbors freshly stocked pond got flooded in 2010 and I got all his fish. Catfish and bass.

Edit: No fish came for food. the Herons must have got them.

 

[sixdogs]

A buddy of mine shops at Sam's regularly, I'll make a note to ask him to pick some up the next time he's coming over. :thumbsup: (I'll mention the "driving like a mad man" thing too :laughing

If they thaw even 1% my fresh fish seal of approval is void. This friend better understand smokin' the tires and running all the lights.

 

[J F]

:laughing: I'll keep the warranty parameters in mind. He tends to drive a bit conservatively these days.

He has been known to take a cooler full of ice with him to the store though. (mostly for beer , but it would work for the fish too.)

 

[toppop52]

toppop...have you tried raising/farming catfish?

Never really looked into it.