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Frying /Eating Bluegill/Sunnies Whole? #5846920 02/14/11 04:37 PM
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BankAFish Offline OP
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I've seen some vids of peeps frying up whole panfish, looks like they scale, field dress, cut the head off and fry. What do you do with the bones, just pull em out before eating? Thx.


Recent Notables: 40lb Flathead, 30lb Carp, 25lb Buffalo.
Re: Frying /Eating Bluegill/Sunnies Whole? [Re: BankAFish] #5847010 02/14/11 04:57 PM
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Smithaven Offline
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For bigger sunfish the bones will lift off with your fork and leave you with a mostly complete skeleton, which you discard. The little bones can be picked out or just eaten.

The little sunfish can be fried crisp like a potato chip and eaten whole, bones and all.

I am always afraid of getting a bone stuck in my throat or stomach.

The best way to cook sunfish of all sizes is to fillet them with a small short very sharp fillet knife, roll them in mustard and corn meal and deep fry them until they are golden brown.


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Seventy five years of chasing the elusive sunfish.
Re: Frying /Eating Bluegill/Sunnies Whole? [Re: Smithaven] #5847030 02/14/11 05:04 PM
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craigo Offline
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Friend, you gotta fillet them. Think filleting the little guys wastes meat? Think again... I learned how to fillet bream from this video, and it's pretty simple once you get the hang of it...
Fillet a bream




I don't live for the thump, but I sure do like it.
Re: Frying /Eating Bluegill/Sunnies Whole? [Re: craigo] #5847837 02/14/11 08:36 PM
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Mark Ray Offline
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I'd never seen that vid before but that is exactly how I do BG, crappie and sandies. With one exception. I don't remove the fillet from the tail because i like to use the carcass as a nice handle after I flip over the fillet when I'm removing the skin...

Re: Frying /Eating Bluegill/Sunnies Whole? [Re: Mark Ray] #5848198 02/14/11 09:56 PM
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Fried is the best way to eat em. I have also had em grilled and baked. Filleting is the best way to clean em however I have also scaled my share. Either way they are all a very good fish to eat.


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Re: Frying /Eating Bluegill/Sunnies Whole? [Re: banker-always fishing] #5848783 02/15/11 12:13 AM
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USMC_Guy Offline
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I am picky with my fillets and that is exactly how I clean mine too. My dad showed me how and after thousands of sunfish it becomes pretty easy. I make sure to double check for bones as sometimes the two bones at the tail end of the ribcage also come off with the filet. My neighbor ended up in the hospital because a fishbone lodged in his throat so I always double check. And I need to learn how to get my knife that sharp.


Mike C.
Re: Frying /Eating Bluegill/Sunnies Whole? [Re: USMC_Guy] #5849797 02/15/11 04:12 AM
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BankAFish Offline OP
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Thx for the info, much appreciated. wink


Recent Notables: 40lb Flathead, 30lb Carp, 25lb Buffalo.
Re: Frying /Eating Bluegill/Sunnies Whole? [Re: BankAFish] #5850539 02/15/11 02:38 PM
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I do like some fried whole to get that flavor one can only get from the meat while cooked with bones intact. No difference than cooking a steak or any meat bone-in.

Scaled, headed, gutted with dorsal, anal and pelvic fins removed, tail stays for crunchy tail chips!!

I'll keep a few crappie and do the same thing. The flavor is great.

Re: Frying /Eating Bluegill/Sunnies Whole? [Re: breambuster] #5852404 02/15/11 10:29 PM
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fiSherwood Offline
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Great video! I can see I need a smaller knife for sunnies. My current filey knive is a good 12" long and is unwieldy with smaller fish like these.

Re: Frying /Eating Bluegill/Sunnies Whole? [Re: fiSherwood] #5852529 02/15/11 10:51 PM
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Does anybody have any tips on getting a super sharp filet knife? I just use one of the smaller Rapalas but just can't seem to get it as sharp as I would like.


Mike C.
Re: Frying /Eating Bluegill/Sunnies Whole? [Re: USMC_Guy] #5852592 02/15/11 11:07 PM
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Originally Posted By: USMC_Gy_09
Does anybody have any tips on getting a super sharp filet knife? I just use one of the smaller Rapalas but just can't seem to get it as sharp as I would like.


Do you use a whetstone only or finish with a good steel ? I can't show you how to use the steel here but visit a local butcher or meat processing facility and learn the technique. I rarely use a stone at all.

Re: Frying /Eating Bluegill/Sunnies Whole? [Re: Siberman] #5857793 02/17/11 02:00 AM
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Get you a diamond grit sharpener with like medium , fine and
super fine grit. Works for me on any knife.

Re: Frying /Eating Bluegill/Sunnies Whole? [Re: chascat] #5858064 02/17/11 02:58 AM
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USMC_Guy Offline
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Thanks, I'll have to look into both those ideas. Do you push the blade like your shaving the sharpener or drag it like spreading butter. I've heard both ways work.


Mike C.
Re: Frying /Eating Bluegill/Sunnies Whole? [Re: USMC_Guy] #5858864 02/17/11 12:39 PM
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Mark Ray Offline
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Lansky knife sharpening kit..

Re: Frying /Eating Bluegill/Sunnies Whole? [Re: Mark Ray] #5860197 02/17/11 06:10 PM
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Grew up on a small pond in Fla that was loaded with Bgills. Use to feed 'em leftover bread and grits. Once in a while Dad would want to have a fish fry and it was my job to catch 'em. Dad would clean and fry 'em whole w/fries out on the picnic table.
Man that was good! Now it seems fillets are the way to go easy to clean and easy to eat. Still like whole fried though.


Razzorduck
Better tighten that drag boy, He's gonna spool ya!
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