BigBendFishing.Net

The following is taken from a fish identification document at http://www.marinefisheries.org (http://199.250.30.114/marine/fishinglines/fish_id2.pdf):

GAFFTOPSAIL CATFISH - Bagre marinus
Family Ariidae, SEA CATFISHES
Description: bluish above; silvery below; dorsal and pectoral fins
with long, fleshy filaments on spines; barbel at cornor of
mouth flattened, bandlike, and very elongate,
sometimes reaching anal fin; only 2 barbels
on chin.
Size: to 60 cm (2 ft.) and 2.5 kg (5 to 6 lbs.).
Where found: continental waters; enters brackish
waters; usually less common than the hardhead catfish.
Remarks: commonly caught by anglers along bridges,
piers, and catwalks; a good food fish, but not much used.

Do any of you ever eat saltwater catfish? Do you cook them just like a freshwater cat? I've never talked to anyone who eats them. But we've thrown back a few big ones.

My granddaddy used to eat 'em. I don't want 'em. I don't know why, I just don't. I guess I figure I could stay home and chunk some liver out and catch all I want and it's the last thing I want to bring home from a flats trip. I give 'em a good stick in the gut with a cut-bait knife and turn 'em loose. Aggravates me to catch one!

Have heard of people eating them but never tried them myself. Not at all on my favorit list to catch but man will they ton a topwater bait,sounds like someone dropping a 5 gallon buccket of water from a airplane. And on mank accacions they don't make it to the boat in whole condition. Sharks have gotten them have caught a couple cobia and jumped a tarpon reeling them to the boat. On the back side of St.George Island they will school up and start dimpling yhe water like little brim and yes I will admit I toss a worn out topwater plug to em just to see the hit and watch what follows before I lift it out of the water. But YUK what a slime.

Have eatin Sailcat, but none of the others, was fine to eat.

I would not mind tring one, if I just didn't have ta put the slimmy buggers in my boat I have talked with several folks who actualy target the cats for eating

Like DS, I've eaten the Sailcats but not the hardheads. Split a hardhead open sometimes, and you'll see a yellow streak of meat along the backbone. Doubt if it's true, but my grandaddy used to say iodine(spelling?) built up in that area. He always said the hardheads would make you sick if you ate them too often.

I think the same document said the hardhead was "edible, but generally not eaten". Maybe I'll try a sailcat next time I go out. They are kind of fun when you're expecting another spotted short and instead the big lug grabs it and tries to take you around the boat.

Yea Gator, just don't put the nasty "lug" in your net. They do know how to roll up in it don't they.

Anyone heard of the trick when you get stuck by a hardhead . And you either have or you will and its usually the little suckers that get ya I was told to rub the fish as long as you can take it on the spot where you get popped. Sounded crazy But it WORKS it was 5 or 6 years ago when I was told and unfortunatly I have had more than a few chances in putting it to the test. I think its a anti-toxin in the slime. Taking younguns fishing and first time slinging catfish in the boat it IS tried and tested. Got one spine burried in a knuckle and I mean buried pulled it out with pliers and went to work with that fish. Could tell that I had been stuck but no burn and affter a few hours nothing at all I know before somtimes you could feel that thing for weeks. Esp. if it was around a joint. Bad thing is getting popped and losing the fish and trying to catch another one;quick to do your trick. Just try it next time and YOU TO WILL SEE IT WORKS

Hey nitro,

Man you oughta get a write up in the Medical Journal I will sure try that trick the next time (but hope there aint one ya know!). I can sure back you up about get'n one in the knuckle Sure wish I had known about this when that one happened Thanks for the tip

Thats Dr. Nitro. Sounds pretty cool but think I will stick to doctoring on cars for a living. But I am tellin you IT WORKS Ya'll have a good one. Its FRIDAY!!! I owe I owe its off to work I go

Nitro, my ole grandaddy believed in it. He fished for a living out of the Aucilla. He used that as a back-up though. He always carried a bottle of white vinegar in the boat. He'd pour it over a stick and it would stop the stingging right away and wouldn't be as sore later. I've seen his mullett net have hundreds of little hardheads in it in one strike. Took hours to shuck the critters.

I had always heard that sailcats were good so I kept one day to fry it up. You ever had fried jello? Well its worse than that. The best thing to put on a catfish wound is gasoline. It'll take the sting right out of it. And if you light it, you'll forget all about how bad the catfish sting hurt.

Yea Tom, That's kinda like the method I've heard for getting rid of the "Crabs' ain't it. (not the kind you eat)

I wouldn't know anything about that CS, how would you???