not talking the big ones 20+lbs, but more around the 14-16" ones. caught 3 today and normally i save them for shark bait, but have heard both sides of the story as for good vs garbage. ive had amberjack several times and liked that along with giant trevally and thought that tasted amazing. wondering if anyone has taken the plunge and cooked one before…or if im just gonna get the old put it on the board on the roof overnight and eat the board instead story lol.
Not sure what jack you are referring to. Amberjack is delicious just watch for parasites. Almaco jack is my favorite. Jack crevalle is not good at all. The part by the head is the best but overall pretty unpleasant. The banded rudderfish is great. All pompano is great. All of those are in the jack family.
http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/saltwater/jacks/
Karma is 360 degrees
Some got to win, some got to lose…
guess i should have been more specific i meant jack crevalle. before putting them in the freezer for shark bait i sliced off the rear half of one of the fillets and cooked it shortly after posting. i put it on the cast iron with my homemade blackening seasoning and actually prepared that way and fresh it was pretty good! definitely a firmer white meat and i didnt notice any strong taste to it at all. not looking to fill the freezer with jacks only but future baits may have a fillet removed.
As you said, shark bait. Too many better tasting fish can be caught. But hey, just read the quote from my Dad in my signature below…
-The size of a fish is directly proportional to the time between when it’s lost and the story is told. - Me
-What’s the best eating fish, you ask? I’ve found that for a lot people, its the ones that they happen to be able to catch, clean, and cook. - My Dad (1/13/37 - 9/27/16 I love you Pops)
-Until you have loved a dog, part of your soul remains unawakened. Anatole France (paraphrased)
-RIP my “Puppy Dog” 10/15/2004 - 1/14/2013. I’ll never forget him. What a special friend he was.
-Team Gonna Fish
when I was little and Dad was stationed at Tyndall we got into the Jacks and dad cleaned many up and mom cooked some. That was one of the only times I think I can remember my dad not liking a fish too well. My dad will eat most any fish… just saying.
To each there own! I like mudfish. 
“Why Bruce?”
cant say ive ever tried a mudfish, but i HAVE tried a gar before and that wasnt too bad. they are just a predator fish like trout, walleye, grouper, … after all. with the jack i didnt do anything too special to it, just throw it on ice right away and cut the red meat out like anything else i keep. not sure thats one i would want to fry, but it was definitely good on the cast iron.
even better was catching the things…i thought i had a 20"+ redfish on when the first one hit! i was drifting my kayak along a small rock jetty in north fl and after a couple hours 2 more kayaks showed up and anchored on the complete other side as me and a boat came and anchored on the same side but opposite edge (jetty runs parallel to the beach about 100 yards from the sand at high tide). i catch jack #3 with line peeling and rod bent way over and the boat moves and drops anchor RIGHT WHERE I WAS when i hooked the thing. me being me i go and anchor right where he was and proceeded to catch 2 reds (undersized, but still reds) within 15 minutes after watching them catch nothing 
even the other 2 kayaks that were completely fine started giggling when i pulled that one off
I have eaten freshwater gar as well, but it was one those drinking-camping out on the river bank-frying fish things. As well as I can remember, it was a white meat with a different texture and I agree that it wasn’t too bad. But that was MANY, MANY years ago.
Now as for a mudfish, I don’t think that there’s enough alcohol available…
-The size of a fish is directly proportional to the time between when it’s lost and the story is told. - Me
-What’s the best eating fish, you ask? I’ve found that for a lot people, its the ones that they happen to be able to catch, clean, and cook. - My Dad (1/13/37 - 9/27/16 I love you Pops)
-Until you have loved a dog, part of your soul remains unawakened. Anatole France (paraphrased)
-RIP my “Puppy Dog” 10/15/2004 - 1/14/2013. I’ll never forget him. What a special friend he was.
-Team Gonna Fish
i do remember gar having a different texture to it, but tried it once or twice not regularly. if i remember right i just boiled it and served with melted butter after seeing several google suggestions of poor mans lobster. cant say ive ever even thought about the mudfish though!
Oh the things we fried on those drunken camping trips.I can promise you though,a 2 lb mudfish out the Edisto river is fine tablefare.Just don’t save any to eat the next day.
quote:
Originally posted by smanOh the things we fried on those drunken camping trips.I can promise you though,a 2 lb mudfish out the Edisto river is fine tablefare.Just don’t save any to eat the next day.
Man… what you talking about. Next day fried mudfish is better than fresh out of the grease.
“Why Bruce?”
Fred,you would have fit right in on one of those river trips.I guess you can fry anything that’s fresh and it’s good. I’m going to try one of those small jack crevalle next time I get one.
count me in too. never said i WOULDNT try a mudfish…just that ive never thought about trying it 
since were on the line of eating wierd stuff around the campsite, ill make this a surf and turf dining experience as i have shot and grilled a groundhog over an open fire. a little tough but not bad taste wise actually.
You are a mad man Nuke.I want to party with you cowboy.