BajaNomad

Fillets vs the rest of the fish!

redhilltown - 6-29-2009 at 11:59 PM

Greatings Nomadians. My fishing/camping amigos always give me grief, but I love to eat all of the fish we catch as opposed to just the fillets. To be truthful, I find a lot of it better than just the fillets but the storage and ice chest problems usually dictate just bringing back fillets. I envy all of you living down there who can eat what you want without worrying about storage!

So, does anyone have some favorite recipes for the "other" parts? Some of my faves are ribs dredged in flour/salt & pepper and pan seared...whole heads rubbed in oil and baked (cheeks anyone?) and as of yesterday after catching some bruiser yellowtails off of San Clemente island, I discovered the joys of fresh yellowtail belly broiled (after sniping off some of the best for sashimi.)

Anyone have their own fave recipes for the "leftovers"???

fishbuck - 6-30-2009 at 03:18 AM

I only eat the fillets. No tail or belly meat. Only sushimi. But I know what you mean.
Some of my fiends love to steam the cheek. Or cook the head for soup. I hear the eyeballs are very good!
Anyway, you went to San Clemente? Do you have a boat? Or did you go from the landing?
How many yellows did you catch?
I'm thinking dropper loop with a live 'dine.
Or casting to a kelp patty?
Bruiser yellowtail? 25lbs. plus?

For anyone that doesn't know. San Clemente Island is 50+ miles off the beach.

[Edited on 6-30-2009 by fishbuck]

Cypress - 6-30-2009 at 05:17 AM

Depends upon the size and species. :D

Skipjack Joe - 6-30-2009 at 05:56 AM

Whole, deep-fried smelt is delicious. Top smelt, that is. A 4-inch fish.

Fish chowder made from scropionfish heads is also real good eating.

smelt...mmmmgood..

Pompano - 6-30-2009 at 06:09 AM

..and make great bait for much larger fish, including salmon, pike, and muskie.

NEVER throw away the filleted fish carcass. There are countless ways to enjoy fish head chowders, soups, cheeks, fins, ribs, etc.

One of my earliest fish recipe recollections comes from a trip to Lac la Ronge, Saskatchewan in the early 60's. Back in camp one afternoon, I could smell a great aroma coming from the cooktent and could not resist peeking inside. A half-dozen lake trout heads floating in a superb soup...still one of my favorites dishes Up North..and equally good in Baja from cabrilla or jurel.

For a real treat, try some fatty smoked eel (roket al). Think Norsk!

[Edited on 6-30-2009 by Pompano]

DENNIS - 6-30-2009 at 07:14 AM

I was invited over to a neighbors house here for a fish-fry and they cooked in oil some whole, plate sized fish, don't know what they were.
Anyway, we sat to eat .... a whole cooked fish was on each plate and my neighbor proceeded to eat the quarter-sized eyeballs from the sockets. YUMMY

shari - 6-30-2009 at 07:26 AM

Any nomads who know me...know my weakness for fish eyes! Everyone gets a kick out of me as I ONLY eat the head while I make tacos for people out of the fillets and the spine and bones i boil and the meat I save to make fish machaca...yummy. Juan and I are such a good pair...i get the eyes (they are sorta like oysters...real sweet), he loves the lips and tongue! It's always fun to see who will dare to join me in a fish eye!!

Kevin spoils me by bringing me fish heads every few days from his kayak fishing...calico heads are my all time favorite.
Sheepshead heads are magnificent in stew too.

DENNIS - 6-30-2009 at 07:59 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by shari
It's always fun to see who will dare to join me in a fish eye!!




Hate to mention this, Shari, but I once had uncooked cow eye mixed in with the cooked brain. :barf:

It's a long story. [ thought I told it here once ]
Next time I see you, I'll tell it again over a box of beer.

shari - 6-30-2009 at 08:17 AM

hmmm...sounds good...I'm always up for new culinary experiences...accompanied by a box of beer of course.

I am always a bit worried about sharing my eyeballs with friends in case they turnn out to love em like I do...then I'd have to share them.

drzura - 6-30-2009 at 08:29 AM

Just out of curiosity, how do you prepare the eyes? Do you eat them raw, boil them, fry them?? They might be good on some bread too.

Martyman - 6-30-2009 at 08:33 AM

Any fish head soup recipes? I've never made it. I always give my de-filleted fish to the pelicans and seagulls. Sometimes those little bastardos get the fillets!!

shari - 6-30-2009 at 09:08 AM

fish eye prep depends on how you are cooking the fish...although i have been known to eat on raw on a bet or to gross people out....i enjoy them cooked...any way..boiled, baked, fried...whatever....they are just an incredible juicy, sweet, slightly slimey delicacy.

rpleger - 6-30-2009 at 09:26 AM

No thanks on the fish eyes. eeeeh

Sharksbaja - 6-30-2009 at 09:29 AM

Ok Shari. I am starting a fisheye collection for you. This outta be good!:lol: Say, have you tried Humboldt Squid eyes?:o

shari - 6-30-2009 at 09:32 AM

squid eyes:light: never tried em....have you? might be worth LOOKING into:lol:
Fish eyes are one of those...dont knock it till ya try it...type things.

redhilltown - 6-30-2009 at 09:37 AM

Hey Buck...dropper loop with live squid seemed to do the trick. Caught four of them with one 12-15 pounds and the rest easy 25+. I was with some real hard core sportfishing guys (I'm not) and we headed out to the tuna grounds but stopped an hour out of SC when we saw massive amounts of birds and sure enough, the beautiful sight of bluefin tuna crashing the surface...you've never seen grown men scream so loudly.

As for fish eyes Shari, perfect!!!! Just the thing I'm looking for. Fishhead soup out of Sculpin is a good one too...though I know the fillets are outstanding.

Hope the ideas keep comin!

Cypress - 6-30-2009 at 09:41 AM

A lot of folks won't eat sculpin, think they're poison. :?:

DENNIS - 6-30-2009 at 09:44 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Martyman
Any fish head soup recipes?


http://www.recipezaar.com/Roly-Poly-Fish-Head-Soup-253857

shari - 6-30-2009 at 09:50 AM

for those of you rushing out to try fish eyes...they scoop out nicely with a spoon...i remove the plastic like ring and white lense....and dont forget to salt it lightly...provecho! (like bon apetit)

DENNIS - 6-30-2009 at 10:00 AM

....................................................:barf:......................................................

Natalie Ann - 6-30-2009 at 10:01 AM

shari -
Do you remove the ring and white lens before or after you cook the eyeball? Is there a particular way of cooking them which which renders them less slimy?

I'm wanting to give 'em a try but am somewhat put off by the slime.:rolleyes:;D

Nena

tripledigitken - 6-30-2009 at 10:04 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
Whole, deep-fried smelt is delicious. Top smelt, that is. A 4-inch fish.

Fish chowder made from scropionfish heads is also real good eating.


Igor,

One of the best preparations of deep fried smelt is in your own backyard. Duartes Tavern in Pescadero. I would eat there every week if I was as close as you are!

Ken

DanO - 6-30-2009 at 10:18 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Cypress
A lot of folks won't eat sculpin, think they're poison. :?:


Good, that leaves more for the rest of us. Get stuck with one of those spikes, though, and you'll cry for mommy.

Whenever I have a carcasses -- fish, lobster shells, crab, whatever, I make a stock, adding water, onions, celery, carrots, black peppercorns and a bay leaf. Simmer for an hour, strain, and then use as a soup base or freeze for later.

Natalie Ann - 6-30-2009 at 10:19 AM

My parents and their friends used to go fishing in a nearby lake for crappie and bluegill, bring home a big batch of them. I remember how mom mixed a batter and fried some of them whole. For the rest, she seasoned them and put the whole fish over charcoal until all nice and crispy.

My lord those little fishies tasted delicious - I'd eat every bite and beg for more. So I guess I have eaten fish eyeballs and not known it. But they were very teensy eyeballs.

Nena

shari - 6-30-2009 at 10:21 AM

atta girl Nena!!! i just throw the whole head into the steamer or boil it for just a few minutes...longer is less slimy...it's not real slimey...less than an oyster...a spoon gets the whole thing out intact...then i just pick off the ring and eyeball part...or just put the whole thing in my mouth and spit out the ring and ball after...chewing it enables you to savour the flavour!! let me know what you think....the salt is important and they should be fresh and hot when you eat it. A three day old fish head just wont do.

[Edited on 6-30-2009 by shari]

Natalie Ann - 6-30-2009 at 10:24 AM

Thanks shari - and I will let you know what I think. Likely gonna have to wait until tequila Friday, though, in order for me to work up to that chewing part.:biggrin:

nena

Sharksbaja - 6-30-2009 at 10:33 AM

Eye carumba!:lol:

shari - 6-30-2009 at 10:40 AM

be brave nena...i wouldnt lead you astray amiga...do the chew!

Cypress - 6-30-2009 at 11:05 AM

DanO, Yea I like 'em also.:yes:

Skipjack Joe - 6-30-2009 at 11:12 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by tripledigitken
Quote:
Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
Whole, deep-fried smelt is delicious. Top smelt, that is. A 4-inch fish.

Fish chowder made from scropionfish heads is also real good eating.


Igor,

One of the best preparations of deep fried smelt is in your own backyard. Duartes Tavern in Pescadero. I would eat there every week if I was as close as you are!

Ken


Thanks Ken! I'm going.

Alex played on their little league team this spring. They owe me!

The area around there is great for photography. I like to shoot in the morning and then stop at Duarte's for cream of artichoke soup (with french bread and a coke). A fine ending for a fine day.

Duarte looks Portuguese in her pictures. There are many of them here on the coast. Portuguese know a thing or two about seafood. That's for sure.

[Edited on 6-30-2009 by Skipjack Joe]

shari - 6-30-2009 at 11:45 AM

Juan just came home from abalone fishing and brought me 3 cabrilla heads...good thing.....i was jonesin for some eyes. Here is one of the 6 I just downed.
the lense and ring are pictured too

DSC02564.JPG - 24kB

tripledigitken - 6-30-2009 at 11:47 AM

Shari,

You are one fun girl!;)

Ken

shari - 6-30-2009 at 11:47 AM

this is the baby who is now stuffed with garlic, onion, my cherry tomatoes, wrapped in foil and ready to bake for a little nomad din din this evening...wonder who I can get to eat the eyes?
PS: ladies...how sexy are those hip waders eh...always did like black rubber...oh oh...fishbuck bait.

DSC02562.JPG - 23kB

Skipjack Joe - 6-30-2009 at 12:13 PM

Little known added benefit: they improve your eyesight.

P.S. I have a picture of a lady in hip waders like those. But perhaps it's better that I don't post it here.

redhilltown - 6-30-2009 at 12:24 PM

Shari: That eye pic is totally twisted and wonderful! Love it. I would assume you can't eat rock cod eyes after they have exploded on the way up?? (actually, with your eye addiction, I'm not gonna assume anything!)

Sharksbaja - 6-30-2009 at 01:08 PM

:bounce::!::bounce:

DENNIS - 6-30-2009 at 01:23 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by shari
Juan just came home from abalone fishing and brought me 3 cabrilla heads...good thing.....i was jonesin for some eyes. Here is one of the 6 I just downed.
the lense and ring are pictured too



BLECH PUKE BLECH BLECH VOMIT.. gasp..RALPH BLECH UPCHUCK PUKE

duke62 - 6-30-2009 at 11:47 PM

Had the best whole fish Easter weekend at "Cocina Familiar Erendira." Ya know, if you have been to Ejido Erendira, it is on the main drag, with the handpainted hamburguesa sign? If you fish, they will cook your catch any way you want. The eyes were the best. Cheeks, tongue, also magnifico!
The rest was excellent as well. Only bones were left.

The only eyes I have had a problem with (hope this will not hijack the thread) were the goat eye tacos at a TJ taco stand mi hermano demanded we go to (of course late one night). Their size and the poppage (is that a word?) of fluid when biting in did not sit well. I love birria, but that.....

Esteban

BajaNuts - 7-1-2009 at 12:08 AM

Shari-
you and I haven't met yet, but some day........we'll put andrew zimmern to shame!!!

Ann ( BajaNuts!)

shari - 7-1-2009 at 08:16 AM

woooo hoooo...bring it on Ann...cant wait!
thanks Duke...glad to see I'm not the only eye nomad.

Last nights baked stuffed cabrilla was superb...yup...the eyes are best baked...freaked out on of our guests though...he thought i was totally kidding when I asked who wanted the eyes and when there were no takers I popped that lovely ocular wonder down the hatch!

vandy - 7-5-2009 at 07:17 PM

Look up recipes for shad roe, then try it with other fish. Dorado roe sacs are delicious quickly fried in bacon fat.

The only poisonous roe I know of is from cabezon

redhilltown - 7-5-2009 at 11:31 PM

The dorado roes sounds good......is this is God's way of telling me I need to catch some dorado soon??!!!

I've had barracuda roe sacks sauteed in olive oil and some soy sauce as well as rock cod roe...both excellent. Because of the "finality" of catching rock cod I feel an extra impetus to use all of the fish.......um.....except the bulging eyes which do NOT look like "ocular wonders"!