Took the boat to Clarks hill last weekend to run it a little since we haven’t been out in a few months. Took a few rods to goof around with. Can anyone ID this fish? Almost looks like a pike.
Sea Hunt BX 21
150 Yamaha
Jackfish aka Chain Pickerel. Close relative of the pike
Thanks
Sea Hunt BX 21
150 Yamaha
Careful with that finger in it’s mouth!
Very good eating fish, just full of “Y” bones. There are some videos for filleting around the Y bones but you need a very large fish to make it worth while. Or… You can scale the fish and fillet off both sides and then using a good knife cut towards the skin in several close X patterns Batter and deep fry Hard. Then you can just eat the bones and all. Surprisingly delicious.
I did some reading up on them after figuring out what it was. Many said it was surprisingly good table fare. Obviously we released it having no idea what it was.
Sea Hunt BX 21
150 Yamaha
They are good table fare. Problem is they Have a “y” bone that makes them hard to clean. They are better pickled. Also do not slip your finger through the gill. You will wisk you never done that.
A wise man once said “Do as I say not as I do” Good advice when I tell you that.
My Dad used to bake them until the bones were soft enough to eat. Same with shad. I never liked baked fish very much myself.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
quote:
Originally posted by Cracker LarryMy Dad used to bake them until the bones were soft enough to eat. Same with shad. I never liked baked fish very much myself.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
Never had baked Jack fish, but I can honestly say I would have to be very hungry to eat anymore baked shad. I believe baking brings out the worst in a strong tasting fish.
I’ve never heard of anyone eating them. Always been told they were trash fish.
quote:
I would have to be very hungry to eat anymore baked shad. I believe baking brings out the worst in a strong tasting fish.
Me too. But when I was growing up we ate what was put on the table and didn’t complain about it. Haven’t ate a pike or shad since I moved away from home:smiley: Rather eat a peanut butter samich myself:smiley:
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
quote:
Originally posted by Cracker Larryquote:
I would have to be very hungry to eat anymore baked shad. I believe baking brings out the worst in a strong tasting fish.
Me too. But when I was growing up we ate what was put on the table and didn’t complain about it. Haven’t ate a pike or shad since I moved away from home:smiley: Rather eat a peanut butter samich myself:smiley:
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
Cracker, don’t put pike and shad together. That’s like putting pin fish and trout together. Although I like pin fish better than shad. I’d have to say that as far as “trash” fish the common carp “suck fish” hits the top of the list for me. Had to cook one for my daughter years ago because she caught one. Yuck and double yuck.
As with most a lot of fish, it’s all in the preparation. Guaranteed I could make you a fish stew with some so called “trash” fish and you would most likely enjoy it. 
Would not have carp or shad in it. Then we could go gourmet and do a fish stew with some Dolphin, spot tail, cobia, and a few other firm flesh fish. Dang now I’m hungry again.
As previously mentioned, other than the pain in the azz Y bones,They are great eating. The colder the water, the better the meat, as they firm up.
I have caught Pike in the north and their southern cousins down here.
Very tasty, but fried crisp is the best, IMO.
One of the freshwater fish you don’t want to lip like a Largemouth tho:smiley:!
NN
07, 23 Key West, Twin 115 Yammys
“Coastal Bound”
A buddy of mine in Hanahan pickles the meat…he swears by it but I wouldn’t know…i’m allergic to eating fish so i’ll stick to my shrimp crab and lobsters! Oh and oysters too!
Fishing Nerd
“you win some, you lose some…but nothing beats getting some!”
A buddy of mine from Delaware catches a bunch of them and cuts the belly meat into strips for flounder bait. Works better than Gulp!
I have poached them, then made fish cakes.The meat just flakes right away. I have done this with their larger cousins the Northern Pike as well.These are quite tasty with a roasted red pepper tartar sauce.