Another productive trip on the Severn - July 10

[ronaultmtd]

Big bluefish taste nasty- Havoline 30 weight high detergent motor oil tastes a whole lot better- fun to catch and they are terrific fighters on light tackle, but Menhaden are just as good on the table-

[Slobber Bob]

Big bluefish taste nasty- Havoline 30 weight high detergent motor oil tastes a whole lot better- fun to catch and they are terrific fighters on light tackle, but Menhaden are just as good on the table-

Have you ever tried smoking them? Done right, even the big 10 lb+ are excellent. It helps if they are properly prepared as well... bled & iced after catching, brined before smoking, and don't eat the dark meat.

[john from md]

Absolutely must be iced immediately after catching. Bleeding makes for better taste for blues and rocks.

I don't let blues into the yak for obvious reasons.

John

[Nitefly]

Would keeping them alive on a stringer also work? Then, bleed them and ice them back at the dock?

[bignose]

It is unlikely that you could get a decent sized bluefish on a stringer without losing digits.
It is also unlikely that a bluefish would survive this for long. They would continue to struggle and thrash until they died of exhaustion.
Bluefish have a very powerful digestive system, and as soon as they die it begins to break the fish down.
In this heat, they need to go straight onto ice.

[J.A. Veil]

I enjoy small to medium sized bluefish fillets for the table. But I only eat bluefish the same day, or at the latest, the following day. When eaten fresh, I prefer the flavor to rockfish. I typically prepare them in a blackened style. I have not had good success with freezing them, so I bring home only enough for one dinner.

Also, when doing the filleting, I cut out most or all of the dark red fleshy part.