Cat Fish Question

We were visiting some friends yesterday, and they live on a salt water canal. I went back there with a light outfit and some frozen squid, and proceeded to bring in some nice sized salt water catfish. As EVERYONE knows, they are inedible, but nobody will admit to actually trying to prepare them. As I was getting ready to release the second one, a gentleman from Senegal said " NO! They are delicious! Do not throw it back!" He says he will clean and cook them for us. So now he is outside cleaning 3 of these things. Has anyone actually tried these? Probably the easiest fish to catch, and they put up a pleasant fight, but are we going to die a horrible death because we ate one? Again, looking for actual experience here. Thanks.

Haven't heard a thing about 'em. Tell us how you came out.

Some quick googling says you only risk a bad taste in your mouth.

I too am curious about the flavor of these fish. Last week I caught maybe a dozen while fishing in Louisiana.

Eating a bottom-feeder seems like a bad idea to me.

pinchvalve wrote: Eating a bottom-feeder seems like a bad idea to me.

Counterpoint: Tilapia.

GameboyRMH wrote:

pinchvalve wrote: Eating a bottom-feeder seems like a bad idea to me.

Counterpoint: Tilapia.

Flounder

A long joke, short: Prepare catfish with many spices and herbs on a cherry board. Bake fore 15 minutes on 350°F.

. . . . Throw fish away and eat the board.

Although it's just a joke. Is it good?

http://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/country-health-profile/senegal

Up here, in fresh water, we call them bullheads. delicious.

Q: What's the difference between a catfish and a lawyer?
A: One is a bottom feeding scum sucker. The other is a fish.

If you purge the fish in fresh water, like a big cooler full of tap water, they will purge all the grossness out of them before you cut them up. If you let the fillets sit in milk for a little while, it will pull the nasty taste out also. Done a lot here with venison and wild hog/boar to get the gamey taste out of the meat. If done correctly, it should be pretty good.

Let us know!!!

Woody wrote: http://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/country-health-profile/senegal

The top three causes of death: 1 Influenza & Pneumonia

2 Malaria

3 Tuberculosis

I guess as long as he doesn't cough on the fish you should live.

pinchvalve wrote: Eating a bottom-feeder seems like a bad idea to me.

Pfft, Crabs and catfish are delicious. Yew be wrong.

I see catfish on the menu in too many restaurants to categorically assume they all taste bad.

Years ago I used to work with some folks from South Dakota. Up there, people eat carp like there's no tomorrow. Don't here, no way. Seems the lakes in SD may have sandy bottom and the water is clearer, so the fish tastes "cleaner".

When I was a youngster, the only way we ate catfish was in a stew with a lot of stuff the cover the taste. Then I moved to AL where pond raised catfish is a veritable delicacy. I was skeptical until our company held a series of fish fries for clients and got to taste some. hhhhmmmm. tastes like chicken!! It ruined eating bass and bluegill for me.

If you can eat an oyster, you should be able to eat a catfish.

Hmm... no further responses from cwh. Hope it didn't kill him!

Wally wrote: The top three causes of death: 1 Influenza & Pneumonia 2 Malaria 3 Tuberculosis

Four: Catfish

The National Institutes of Health funded study [that] looked at the favorable omega-3 fatty acid content and unfavorable omega-6 contents of commonly eaten fish and found that while catfish and tilapia contain both, they contain a high amount of unfavorable omega-6 fat.

They report that a 3-ounce portion of catfish or tilapia contains 67 and 134 milligrams respectively of the bad fat (the same amount of 80 percent lean hamburger contains 34 milligrams, and bacon 191 milligrams).

Wally wrote: The top three causes of death: 1 Influenza & Pneumonia 2 Malaria 3 Tuberculosis I guess as long as he doesn't cough on the fish you should live.

None of those would be spread to you by coughing on the fish, although he he coughed on the fish, handed it to you, you touched the fish with your finger and then, say, stuck your finger up your nose, the Influenza might.

Just tryin' ta hep.

What kind of catfish are you talking about?

Hardhead catfish?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardhead_catfish

Brett_Murphy wrote: Hardhead catfish?

Yup. Durn near impossible to teach them critters a durn thing!

In reply to Brett_Murphy:

That's what I'm thinking of, horrible little bait thieves that taste like crap. I guess if you can stand the taste it probably won't kill you.

We had heard the same about barracuda until our guide in the Bahamas kept and cleaned the one that tried to snatch our snapper and got caught when he came back for the head. Supposedly the meat can be poisonous, buy he said as long as the flies land on it, it's ok to eat. He also retreived the snapper from said cuda's belly, filleted it and took it home with him too, so I guess it takes all kinds.

I have nothing to contribute other than any catfish i've ever eaten has been amazing, albeit freshwater.