Catfish...now what ???
 

I have always loved a shore lunch of walleye,pike or bass........but what about catfish?? We have some of the largest channel catfish in North America here but I never hear of people eating them....just sportfishing.I've also heard that they have to be prepared right or the flavor will suffer.So whats the secret ?....surely some of you guys/gals have some killer catfish recipies.....

RE: Catfish...now what ???
 

I had a recipe in a previous post for a batter for fried catfish...but I also liked grilled catfish. I catch channel cats up to 5 pounds and yellow and blue cats 20-30-40 pounds. I fillet all of them and the larger ones I cut into "slabs" about the size and thickness of my hand. I have several wire "baskets" with handles on them so you can put the fish in the basket, close it, and put it directly over coals or even an open campfire flame. (If you can get mesquite wood it makes a difference). With the baskets, you can turn it often enough to cook evenly and keep from burning. All the while, baste it with Italian Salad Dressing....it will be moist and seasoned well. I also sprinkle generous amounts of creole (Cajun) seasoning.
If you haven't tried catfish cooked like this you need to...it is good.
I have baked catfish in the oven like other fish and I'm not pleased with it.
Fried catfish is great anytime but grilled is plenty good too.

RE: Catfish...now what ???
 

Find yourself a Southern woman/girl - she'll know how to cook those catfish.

RE: Catfish...now what ???
 

yea...I could 'git me a little Daisy Duke 'n............OUCH !!! ....oh.....hi honey...been there long?........uummmm...I gotta go now guys......:eek::eek:

RE: Catfish...now what ???
 

For frying stick to the smaller ones.(5 lbs. & smaller) Dip in milk than roll in a mixture of flour/cornmeal/back pepper. Fry in hot lard.
Enjoy:)

The larger ones producegood smoked fish.

RE: Catfish...now what ???
 

XTP, I used fish the Red all the time. I have my "Specialist" in cats. When we caught a 15lber or so, we usually got it smoked as they are quite an oily fish like trout and salmon. Taste pretty good too. I`ve also seen people at Lockport catch smaller cats, take them off the hook, and throw them straight into a fire, and get eaten right away. I don`t think that`s your idea of a shore lunch though;).

Ron:D

RE: Catfish...now what ???
 

Filet you cats I use 20 lbs and under.
Put a sprinle of lemon pepper and cajun spice on filets
Take on box of cornbread mix add 1 cup milk,dunk filets in batter,roll in crushed crackers(ritz or saltines).
Heat oil up till 375-400 degrees,drop filets in oil and fry till golden brown.
BBJ

RE: Catfish...now what ???
 

Are you kidding me, catfish as a sporting fish? There one of the best eating fish in the lake. I never had an oily cat fish. We just filet ours like we do crappie. Batter and fry with bacon, purple onions and sliced potatoes in the skillet with them. Season with salt and pepper and place a filet, some bacon, and a couple slices of potatoe on some toast with mayo. Best sandwich known to man.

RE: Catfish...now what ???
 

OMG !!! ....that sounds good !! Think I'm goin' fishin' tomorrow...Thanx..!!!

.....and no I'm not kiddin ya about them being sporting,not sure why ya think that but.....you hook into a 25lb channel cat and it feels like you hooked a passing boat! I've seen guys fight them for 20-30 minutes and still not have landed them.

RE: Catfish...now what ???
 

I agree with the fight. I 've caught 2 way over 10 pounds and tha tis a powerful fight.

Could the taste differ from state to state. I'm from Maryland and use to eat large moth bass, suckers and catfish. Down here in Florida the bass and catfish are rather strong. The only fresh water fish I eat are the blurgills , shell crackers and crappie.

I haven't tried smoking the catfish yet and may give the channels a try like that. The bass did taste good smoked as well. I've even eatten the bluegills pickled.
Chuck

RE: Catfish...now what ???
 

Yes they are sporting to catch. I just meant we don,t release our catfish we eat um.

RE: Catfish...now what ???
 

sorry.....misunderstood your remark thats all...........:D

RE: Catfish...now what ???
 

There are a million ways to cook cat fish, and they are all great! Bests bass anytime.

RE: Catfish...now what ???
 

There are a million ways to cook catfish and they are all good... Beats bass any day..

RE: Catfish...now what ???
 

I have tried some great seasonings for catfish, trout and bass and salmon.
Try looking at http://www.bulkbeefjerky.com/store/cures-n-seasonings-c-290.php

RE: Catfish...now what ???
 

Catfish are great to eat when lightly battered ( the filets) then fried . Me and my wife (her being of a latin decent) like to eat them in flour tortillas with lettuce, any salsa, onions and tomatos. Fish tacos she calls them. They are very good ...... I use ranch dressing somtimes for a change.

There are also alot of seasonings out there to try - I would reccommend the whitefish seasoning from http://www.bulkbeefjerky.com/store/cures-n-seasonings-c-290.php

You may also want to try some of the recipes on that site as well:
http://www.bulkbeefjerky.com/store/articles.php?tPath=11

RE: Catfish...now what ???
 

Texas Deep Fried Catfish


Fillet your catfish throw it in a brownpaper bag with cornmeal salt pepper maybe papirika and throw it in the oil and take it out when golden brown

RE: Catfish...now what ???
 

fried, grilled, baked, it doesn't matter, Just don't forget the Tabasco sauce when they are cooked!! Seriously, I would agree that the smaller less than 6lbs are best for eating...

RE: Catfish...now what ???
 

Take the fillets and soak them in a hot sauce for a couple of hours and then batter them in corn flour with a little salt. Drop them in hot oil and cook them until they float. You can test the heat of the oil by dropping a wooden match in the oil and when it lights the oil is hot enough.

RE: Catfish...now what ???
 

hell yeah cats as sport fishing. someone just caught the unofficial state record here in il. something like 80 lbs. i wouldn't eat one that big but a nice 3-8 lbs. does just fine with andys red and hot oil. might be a bit more oily than some fish but damn those catfish nuggets r good

RE: Catfish...now what ???
 

Catfish - mighty fine eaten fish! I use corn meal with ample amount of garlic powder,salt, pepper and paprika. Boy that is some good stuff

RE: Catfish...now what ???
 

First,when you get them off the hook,stick a knife in them right between the pectoral fins untill blood starts to flow.This will bleed them and you'll have pure white fillets,this improves flavor a lot.Put on ice till ready to fillet.After you fillet them cut off any yellow meat,this is fat,then cut off any red colored meat on backside of fish.Bread and fry.