Ate some Spoonbill fish

[mikeandronda]

I just tried some Spoonbill or paddle fish for the first time just now and Im really impressed. Im really picky about how my fish is cooked and Im really not into big thick pieces of fish. The breading was really awesome and a little spicy. This was so weird cuz it was like in between chicken and fish but it was not too fishy tasting....They are monstorous fish and look like a blast to catch now I know why these people go crazy for them.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Ate some Spoonbill fish

Wow thanks for reminding me. I have not had spoonbill since I left MO in '93. They are fun to catch and do taste good.

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Ate some Spoonbill fish

Them's some uckin fugly fish! :% click

 

[mikeandronda]

Re: Ate some Spoonbill fish

They sure are weird and after I tasted them Im even a bit more freaked out. I mean it really did taste alot like chicken......Or maybe a fishy chicken....or a chickeny fish......I cant even understand how a fish can taste like meat but it really did.........And yes one weird ugly fish......And big.

 

[stevieray]

Re: Ate some Spoonbill fish

Did you cook it yourself or did you eat at a restaurant?

 

[mikeandronda]

Re: Ate some Spoonbill fish

Someone at my wifes work cooked it......He is a master at all wild game and he did a really good job. I dont like catfish and I heard it was alot alike. This was not. I would like to eat some more.

 

[stevieray]

Re: Ate some Spoonbill fish

If you can get the recipe - please post!

 

[mikeandronda]

Re: Ate some Spoonbill fish

Well I will get my wife to ask but you know how things are I hope he will give it to me and I sure will

 

[rwise]

Re: Ate some Spoonbill fish

yep caught one of those (hooked in the mouth, 21 lbs, just a little one), never caught another and was told they do not bite because they eat only plant life and such. Easy to clean, make nice steaks d

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Ate some Spoonbill fish

You can see from the video how they feed. They use their tail motion to stir up plankton. Then they swim through it with their mouths wide open and let the gill rakers strain out what's there. If you ever catch one, it's usually an accidental snag.

 

[LadyFish]

Re: Ate some Spoonbill fish

Where do you catch these fish?

 

[mikeandronda]

Re: Ate some Spoonbill fish

There in the rivers and lakes here. I saw one last year that was 70+ lbs......And it was a little lady who caught it. They motor up and down the rivers and snag them with huge snag hooks and big giant fishing poles.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Ate some Spoonbill fish

They are common in MO below the dams in the lake of the Ozarks.

I am not sure of the regulation now but back in the day (1993) the minimum length was 36" and it was prohibited to remove them from the shore line without cleaning them out (gutting them).

Since they do not bite anything we used to catch them by snagging them with a huge treble hook (about 3 inces long by 2 1/2" wide) and a heavy sinker. Once you snag one they start to body roll and when you do land them ..... theay are normally a tangled mess!