Eating UL Catfish

[TroutFool]

Thanks to the help of kind fellow fisherman, I've been introduced to catching kitties at UL. Those of you that eat catfish, how does size affect the quality of the fish? Also, what are some of your preferred ways to prepare and cook your catfish?

Thanks!!
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[Tin-Can]

The BEST Man on this site to tell you about catching and cooking and eating Catfish would be TubeDude. But I have caught and eaten many kitties out of UL in the past 11 years.
In my opinion the best eatin size of Channel Cat is at and under the 3 lb. range. I have caught bigger ones, and they seemed to be kind of "mushy". Maybe it was because they were older.....(I've gotten a bit mushy myself as I get older..[:/] )
But my favorite way to prepare is filleted, cleaned, rolled in corn meal (season however you prefer) and put in hot peanut oil. In about 3 to 4 minutes take them out, drain t he excess oil on a paper towel, and depending how many you are cooking, put them in a warmed oven to keep warm. Serve with whatever you want. I like them with lemon and salt (you can keep the tartar sauce) and some good south Georgia coleslaw, or Butter Beans, or mac salad.... almost anything goes good with Catfish......including more Catfish. [fishin]

In fact, have been thinking about heading to UL this weekend. Haven't been there in several years, and I just may run into TubeDude or BLK.
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[TubeDude]

"In fact, have been thinking about heading to UL this weekend. Haven't been there in several years, and I just may run into TubeDude or BLK."

[#0000FF]Not me. I have 7 day weekends so I don't go out and play with the amateurs. Would like to meet up with you someday though. I think we could tolerate each other's company.[/#0000FF]
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]As I have proclaimed loudly and often, catfish take more cooking than most other fish. And it is almost impossible to overcook them. If you don't leave them in the heat until they shrink a bit from moisture loss they will be undercooked, mushy and not as good tasting. However, if you cook them to crispness there are few better fish on the table.

Here are a few things to review and you can make your own decisions.


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[TroutFool]

Thank you gentleman for the tips! Can't wait to get back out there and have a delicious kitty fry!
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[fish_fear_me2]

I too use to think catfish came out mushy. TubeDude steered me in the right direction. I simply wasnt cooking catfish long enough. Since I have followed his sage advise I found catfish to be outstanding table fare. I also use his smoking method.
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[fishinggranpa]

Great Post!! I am always amazed at how many people think they do not like catfish just because they had them either under cooked or not properly trimmed before cooking. I have even had people tell me they would only eat catfish from a good restaurant but never one they caught in a lake or river.

Just like fishing it's self, the proof is always in the preparation. Thanks for teaching the details of the preparation. Great fishing and great eating, it doesn't get much better than that.
[fishon]
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[Tin-Can]

Hey Granpa, first welcome to BFT, and I just became a grandpa on the 6th. So right away we have something in common.
I have eaten Catfish for most of my life. And I am quite sure TD is right on the $ when he says cook it longer. Maybe that is what I've done incorrect all this time. My dad showed me to get the oil hot (and use Peanut oil because it has a higher flash point) put the fillets in, when they float, turn them over, and when they float, take them out. Now that was probably more than 50 years ago, and it is quite possible I have either mixed up that instruction with some other type of fish (that's how I cook all my fresh water fish) or I have forgotten some bit of detail that went with it specifically for Cats. But next time I get a cat in that bigger range, I will give it a shot. Won't be this weekend though. I do want to get to UL tomorrow and maybe spend the weekend. But I won't be set up for cookin and won't be taking any home either. Just doing the CPR thing.
(And NO, you southern guys, I won't be hijacking any of your bigger UL kitties for the Cat Contest, I swear!)

I'll photo them, but not on the bump board.

Maybe see ya somewhere sometime. I'm in a 14foot Lund with 15HP Merc. Always have my American Flag flying from the stern anchor lite pole, and my BFT Flag from the bow.
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[Tin-Can]

Well, Pat, unfortunately, I am still in that mode that I work to live and live to fish, but can't do one without the first. Weekends are only time I can make the trip to UL. And since this weekend is a 3 day-er for me, thought I would take advantage of it. But I do understand the not wanting to compete with the amateurs (or the power squadrons).

Maybe another day. Have a great Fathers Day.
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]Not trying to make you feel bad or rub it in that I no longer have to limit my play times. Believe me, I put in a lot of hours and a lot of miles (vehicles and body) doing what was necessary to eventually be able to shut down and go fishing more.

The advice I freely give (nobody would pay for it) to younger folks is to always do your best to do the jobs you need to do...to keep a job and put funds away for later fishing times. And don't wish your life away. The last years of your life seem to go by so much faster than the first ones.

They say that youth is wasted on the young. All too true some times. We of the "aging" generation would gladly give up some of our "freedoms" just to be able to once again enjoy the health, strength and stamina we had when we were counting down to retirement.

And just for the record, I've been known to fish with good friends on weekends. I might whimper and whine a lot but I usually manage to find some way to enjoy myself and not be too burdensome on my fishing companions.
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