Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

I just need to know...  Is it just me, or do you guys put your fish on ice before you clean them all?  A buddy of mine keeps them in the live well and just filets them up right from there.  

Two things... I feel bad about fileting a living fish lol...  Maybe that's just me.  But I find it easier to filet them if they're stiff.

Views: 1198

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Interesting topic.  A neighbor offered me a cooler full of red snapper and grouper caught on a party boat trip the previous day while still plenty cold the fish had lost their firm texture being submerged in ice water; and were not tasty at all.  I guess I got a mental block from the experience and now try to fillet my fish alive as soon as possible.  I mainly fish from a boat with a live well if I am not looking forward to the cleaning part they go back in the river instead of the live well.  For fish that didn't survive the trip home if rigor mortise is set in or the gill filaments (the red part) have lost their color (turning white/yellow) the fish is composted.  This occasionally happens when the fish has received a more grievous injury from hook removal.  If I notice that the fish is going to have a speedy demise I would put it on ice if available but still not delay the cleaning process.  

I like mine to be  about half frozen. To me they are easier to fillet.

To those that have problems dispatching fish before cleaning them just  bash them in the head with a fish billy,  , thats how they do it at the catfish farms down here, these are not Disney fish they are real fish , read  Genesis  1:28  in the Bible, you dont have to personify fish, they are here for us to eat , next thing you know you will feel bad about  sticking a hook in a worm, Buck up and clean those fish before you lose your Man Card !     LOFR

LOFR I always got a small ball ping hammer for the live ones. I'd rather in-compassionate them that the humane thing to do. Only take a second.

LOFR I always got a small ball ping hammer for the live ones. I'd rather in-compassionate them that the humane thing to do. Only take a second.

@Mark Stine - that's why I try not to let fish soak in water for any length of time.
Gut and clean at the waters edge, then into a dry plastic bag...THEN into ice.

Gel ice packs will keep the fish cold, without watering them down.  I get mine from the boxes of fish that come into the kitchen, but you can get them at Wally World in the camping section.

I see that very few use a priest to dispatch of them. To me it's the quickest, most humane way to do it. I then lay them on ice until I get home to filet.

RSS

Latest Activity

John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

octcbp2

"You know it ,Dick!"
Friday
dick tabbert commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

octcbp2

"Great eating fish for sure."
Friday
dick tabbert commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Had to Pause on This Evening……11/22/2024

"What a beautiful site to behold."
Friday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's group Multi Panfish
"hit a spin Jig.9""
Nov 29
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Nov 28
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's group Piscatorial Pursuit of Perch
"Fall Perch on big Crank Bait:"
Nov 26
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Nov 26
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's group Piscatorial Pursuit of Perch
"It amazes me how big a bait a late Summer/ Fall Perch will take! "
Nov 26
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

octcbp2

"It amazes me how big a bait a late Summer/ Fall Perch will take! "
Nov 26
John Sheehan commented on Wade Jones's group Crappie Crew
"2024 Crappie Fall catches from shore. Live Grubs, Gulp 1" Minnow, 2" paddle Tail Minnow…"
Nov 26
John Sheehan posted photos
Nov 19
John Sheehan posted photos
Nov 16
John Sheehan posted photos
Nov 14
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

11cupsawc

"Crappie have always impressed me with the way they look! A very fond memory is the first one I…"
Nov 13
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

11cupsawc

"More beautiful golden Fall colors on the Black Crappie…..nice fish!"
Nov 12
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

cupsawbg9bs

"Nice gill on the beetle spin!"
Nov 12
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

cupsawc

"Like the calico colors of the Fall…..nice crappie John!"
Nov 12
Bruce Tomaselli commented on John Sheehan's photo
Nov 11
John Sheehan posted photos
Nov 10
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

STCrappie

"You bet Bruce! Fishing for an hour to an hour and a half each day I 've been getting three or…"
Nov 10

© 2024   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service