Gar, Bowfin, Carp... how do they taste?
 

Just curious how these types of fish taste. Looks like I'll get the chance to do some bowfishing in early July, and was curious what to do with a load of these types of fish? Are they good for smoking, deepfrying, pan frying?

Any tips on bowfishing these critters?

RE: Gar, Bowfin, Carp... how do they taste?
 

ABM, i've shot a lot of carp with my bow many years ago and we used to take a few of them to get smoked. The guy that would smoke them for us always said never bring him gut shot fish, cuz the juices ruin the meat and to get him the smaller carp, maybe 8# at most. He said those have the best and firmest meat. they are pretty darn good smoked, just like smoked chubs !!!!

RE: Gar, Bowfin, Carp... how do they taste?
 

ABM my grandfather had a recipe for carp. First you get a pine board the same size as the carp, gut the carp and nail him to the board with the gutted side up. Fill the cavity with fresh horsemanure then put it in the oven for 3 days at 400 degrees, remove the carp from the board and throw it away and eat the board. My grandfather did not like carp!!! I have never tried it nor any of the others you mentioned.

The Tazman

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RE: Gar, Bowfin, Carp... how do they taste?
 

Taz

<font size=6>WHAT ?</font id=size6>

RE: Gar, Bowfin, Carp... how do they taste?
 

Could you add hickory to that pine board? <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

RE: Gar, Bowfin, Carp... how do they taste?
 

Carp out of lakes in the winter are fine to smoke, but river and lake carp shot in the summer, in my experience, are horrible. Never tried bowfin, but I've heard that gar and buffalo fish are better than carp.

&quot;Playing under the table and dreaming&quot;

RE: Gar, Bowfin, Carp... how do they taste?
 

ABM I would imagine hickory would be fine, it might actually be a little better than the pine, but it is more expensive and a terrible waste of good hickory.

The Tazman

RE: Gar, Bowfin, Carp... how do they taste?
 

They taste like chicken....

RE: Gar, Bowfin, Carp... how do they taste?
 

sounds about right taz! Dunno about the gar, if I remember right I think the bowfin is also an eelpout is also a burbot....I'll have to do some digging...either that or its a mudpuppy!