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Cleaned, Cooked and Ate a Needlenose Gar
#6229162
03/19/16 03:08 PM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,185
Misfire
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OP
Pro Tracker
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,185 |
I killed a nice needlenose last weekend and decided to carry it home and try it out. Cleaning it was a pain but straightforward. Using tinsnips, I cut the "shell/exoskeleton" along the spine from the head to the tail. Once it was split, I simply skinned the shell free from the fish and filleted the meat off the spine and ribs EXACTLY like you would the backstrap from a deer. Like I've heard from others, the meat was white, clean and free of bad smells or textures. As far as preparation, I found a salt brine recipe online and brined the meat for a couple of hours in the fridge. Looking back, I could probably have skipped this step because it did make the meat a bit saltier than I really wanted. After brining, I washed, dried, cut into 2" long chunks, breaded and fried the meat just like any other fish. The consistency is a little chewy, more like a beef steak than the flaky meat you normally associate with fish, but it didn't take away from the edibility. The short of it is that it made a pretty good meal and I will most likely do it again. If you've never tried it, you are missing out on some pretty decent table-fare. .
"I wanna go fast" -Ricky Bobby
"Mind bottling isn't it?" -Chazz Michael Michaels
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Re: Cleaned, Cooked and Ate a Needlenose Gar
[Re: Misfire]
#6229209
03/19/16 03:57 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416
bill oxner
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416 |
I had it while I was growing up. It was fine.
Quail hunting is like walking into, and out of a beautiful painting all day long. Gene Hill
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Re: Cleaned, Cooked and Ate a Needlenose Gar
[Re: Misfire]
#6229357
03/19/16 06:52 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 18,543
NewGulf
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 18,543 |
Good job! I really like it off the pit.
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Re: Cleaned, Cooked and Ate a Needlenose Gar
[Re: Misfire]
#6229393
03/19/16 07:49 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,549
redchevy
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Posts: 39,549 |
They are definitely edible but there is much better eating fish to be had. It's not a flakey fish and tends to have a mushy texture.
It's hell eatin em live
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Re: Cleaned, Cooked and Ate a Needlenose Gar
[Re: Misfire]
#6229395
03/19/16 07:50 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 22,630
Cast
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 22,630 |
Sounds as if might do well on a smoker.
Cast I have a short attention spa
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Re: Cleaned, Cooked and Ate a Needlenose Gar
[Re: Misfire]
#6229413
03/19/16 08:08 PM
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 28,031
skinnerback
THF Celebrity Chef
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THF Celebrity Chef
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 28,031 |
It does better on the grill, like shark and tuna steaks.
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Re: Cleaned, Cooked and Ate a Needlenose Gar
[Re: skinnerback]
#6229819
03/20/16 02:47 AM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 65,526
SnakeWrangler
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Posts: 65,526 |
It does better on the grill, like shark and tuna steaks.
I believe in science and I’m an insufferable [censored] Actually, BBC is pretty damn good "You Cannot Simultaneously Be Politically Correct And Intellectually Honest!"
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Re: Cleaned, Cooked and Ate a Needlenose Gar
[Re: SnakeWrangler]
#6229902
03/20/16 03:56 AM
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 28,031
skinnerback
THF Celebrity Chef
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THF Celebrity Chef
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 28,031 |
It does better on the grill, like shark and tuna steaks. I should have also said pan seared. I seared a big black fin tuna steak in the skillet last night with a big pile of seasoned rice on the side, filled in the cracks with some BB Buttered Pecan Ice Cream and slept like I had been drugged. I am almost out of tuna steaks, gonna be a while before I get some more. Have one more bag of yellow fin steaks
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