Growing up, I learned how to filet a fish. Once you have the filet off the skin, you cut around the ribcage and throw that piece away. Thats how I learned and I never thought I might be wasting good meat.

Well, we had a fish fry tonight and for the first time, I kept the ribcages from both bass and a large catfish. Fried them up just like the rest of the filets and I can not believe how much I have been wasting. It was a half a filet worth of meat. And, it was not difficult at all to eat around the bones. Although, the catfish was much easier as there were more small bones with the bass.

From now on, I will not be so wasteful and will always keep these pieces of meat. You need a smaller number of fish for a fry if you keep these as well. I will however be sure to keep these seperate from the rest of the fish so my kids do not get them as they are too young to eat around bones.

So, what do yall do? keep it or throw them away?

No cut it out, then cut the filet into 3" X 2" pieces and rollin cornmeal anf deep fry!!!!

There great!!!

Mark

small fresh bass are best

Myself, when I do catch something for the table, I never filet. Mostly smaller sunfish, and yes that also means bass. I remove the head, the scales and innards. That is it. Bread and fry. Crispy tails is a fav. I compare eating the meat off the bones to that of eating pork or beef ribs. Best part of the meal.

frying tails is something Ive never tried. Had them when I was a kid and it was my favorite part. Are all fish ok to use tails from or are there certain types that should be used? Batter and fry them the same way as the rest? Thanks.

Nathan,

That is a good question.. I have always cut the rib cage out just becaue that is the way my father taught me. It has always seemed like i was wasting a lot of meat doing this but kind of figured that I would waste that meat anyway eating around it. That said, I mostly catch keeper sized cats and fry them whole. Why then would I fillet out the rib cage when I do fillet them....Hmmmm, maybe I have been doing this wrong. I am going to try filleting them next time and not cutting out the rib cage. If this bites me in the A#$ I am coming back after you though....LOL I mostly fillet the ones i do for my younger kids and the old lady.

It really depends on how much meat is on the ribcage. If there is enough there to make it worth the extra work, I'll do it. I usually stay right along the backside of the ribs, so very little meat is left anyways.

On bass, I'll take 'em off if they're over 2 lbs. or so (yes, I kill and eat good sized bass). Crappie I will sometimes to give to the cat. On catfish, it depends on how I'm cleaning 'em. If I fillet then skin, I won't unless it's around 16" or more. If I skin then fillet, I always take 'em off.

BTW...I fillet the meat off of the rib cage. Go from the inside on catfish, outside on everything else.

Ummmmmm Do I keep and eat the ribcage off of the fish I catch? Ummmmmm NO! Simple as that.

I dont care if it is a bass (Yes I slaughter the green trash fish and eat them.)Crappie, Catfish, Redfish, Tuna, Ling or whatever fish I clean. If I am filleting a fish I cut the ribcage out. The only exception is when I fry a whole crappie or Perch then I just cut the heads and gut them and scale them. Catfish I do the same and even if I fillet catfish I still save the tail. Excellent fried tails.

Yuuummmm!!! I haven't had that in years!!!

Why would keep a boney rib cage? Baby back fish ribs?????

I cut out the ribcage and chunk it.

I mostly just eat crappie, but I always cut out the ribs and throw them away. Not enough meat to fool with on those ribs.

If I plan on grill talapia or redfish on the halfshell I leave the ribcage -- it kinda helps hold the fillet together--other than that it goes in the garbage

Yep, I keep bass ribs in a seperate bag just for me. Not enough meat on the sandies bellies. It helps to be buck-toothed. I can also eat an apple through a picket fence.

I got used to removing the ribcage and any other bones when the kids were small.

Now I just do it automatically.

Crispy tails are the best!

I usually catch and release all LMB but sometimes I do bring home a few and I make bass bellies just for me - like buffalo wings. Salt, red pepper, and Tabasco.

the last few times i filet like normanl and leave the cage in there . when fried a am awrere of where its at then ipinche the off wtih two finders and put then in my mouth and suck the meat off the i turn to the other end and do the same .its working for me

The meat is fine, sometimes we save it on bass if we keep them.

There's just not enough meat on the bones to make it worth while for most people. My moto is "Cut the best and "F" the rest".

I always toss the rib cage. More work than it's worth to eat it.

I nail all the ribcages to the side of my barn.

On large cats I keep them as well as the backbone the fillets come off of. On crappie and bass I pitch them. Perch i fry them whole and eat the whole dang thing.

Nathan - you are so right! I keep all ribcages on crappie, bass and catish (channels and blues I scrap the film off them though). It is amazing just how much meat you throw away...think about the speckled trout and redfish ribcages most toss away.

I keep them for myself and fry just for me...others get the fillets. Don't want to get them any bones for sure.