I've eaten more sunnies, bluegills, etc, this summer than I ever have. The wife and I (and guests) have been really enjoying them. I've harvested them from a variety of sources, and they all have tasted literally incredible. Very sweet, light, etc. One thing I'm doing different this year is freezing them in a block of ice by adding water to a zip lock bag and then freezing them. We've also been eating them whole for the most part. (scale, head off, gut, cook) I also let them sit in some 7up or lime soda for a while before cooking them. Then we just pan fry in our iron skillet. I really don't know if it's the freezing method or the lime soda, but the fish has been tasting great this summer. Do sunnies, gills, always taste good? I've never taken fish from small creeks, or waters with little flow, but I'm wondering if they would taste as good? Thx.

Doesnt get any better in my opinion. Delicious white meat that doesn't fall apart on you. I was raised in Indiana and my family always said crappie was a soft/soggy meat that would fall apart. I disagree now, but didnt know any better then, although I still prefer bluegill/sunfish over crappie.

As far as prepping them, I prefer to filet and skin them just like you would any other fish, mainly due to the ease of cleaning them, but I used to scale them and then filet for a little different taste. Cornmeal and a little spice and drop them in oil, in an iron skillet of course!!

Super post.

Hey Dmunsie, i got a beautiful pond full of big greenies and decent sized long ears. We need to get together so i can show ya! Haven't seen you post in a while good to see you on here.

Rudy

Man they are fine however you fix them! I freez them in plastic containers cause the fins will puncture plastic bags and you lose all your water...I've been frying them a little different the last couple of years... I use peanut oil, but I don't use any meal, just put them in the oil and fry them crisp.when I pull them out off the oil I dust them with seasoning...This seems more healthy to me because there is hardly any oil absorption...if you haven't tried yet those little yellow bass or bar fish are very good eating also.

I think you're doing it right with the water in the bag, some people will say that doesn't make a difference. I'll have to try the seven up thing. I'm from Michigan and most of the people I grew up fishing with think that bluegill are the best tasting out of the fish targeted in smaller lakes like crappie, perch, bass. Down here, crappie seems to be king, more bluegill for us!

We use to use milk cartons full of water to freeze fish. Never found a better method. I fillet though. If fresh fish fry, I cook them whole.

Next to Crappie and White Bass,sunnies are right up with them. They are great just about anyway you cook them.

Hey Guys! I haven't posted in a long while but had to when I saw this thread. I love bluegills! I found a recipe a while back for Bluegill cakes, kinda like crab cakes. Looked really good! I'll try to find it again and add it.

Bluegill cakes
1/3 Cup Mayonnaise

� Cup Red Onion (minced)

1/3 Cup Red Pepper (minced)

2 Tablespoons Celery (minced)

1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice

1 Egg Beaten

1 Cup Cooked Flaked Blue Gill Filets

1 � Cup Panko Breadcrumbs (divided)

3 Tablespoons Butter

Combine mayo, onion, pepper, celery, lemon juice, egg, Blue Gill, and � cup Panko breadcrumbs, mix well. Form into patties dredge patties in remaining breadcrumbs. Put butter in frying pan, place patties in pan and fry until golden brown. Serve with sauce and parsley.

Sunfish will beat all other fish for taste if they are caught from clean water. Click here for my sunfish blog recipe page.

I love fried sunfish! However White Bass are my number one followed by Crappie and Catfish! Sunfish would be number 4.

I freeze them whole after scaled. Have started putting them into a plastic grocery bad then into a gallon plastic bag adding water to cover them. This seems to keep them from puncturing the gallon bag.

Use the paper milk carton containers that juice comes in to water freeze fish. Reusable too. Hot water rinse and the ice block slides out.