smoked catfish- skin on or off

[maddowg1192000]

Just wondering when you smoke cats if you leave the skin on or take it off? I normally leave the skin on when smoking other kinds of fish and this is my first time doing cats

[Steve Foss]

I'd leave it on. I've never smoked any fish with the skin off. Cats have more flesh oils than many species, but not more than lake trout or cisco, for example, and I always smoke those skin on.

[Brad B]

when I do catfish I always leave the skin on. it keeps the meat from stiicking to the rack of the smoker. it also has the oil in it like steve said. this seems to keep the meat moist. I do how ever add a small pan of water to give it alittle more mositure.

[pushbutton]

Have always done mine without the skin. Was told the key to a good fresh filet was to bleed it, cut off the dark/belly meat(on larger fish), and make sure that all the silver tissue/lining was cut off; so just carried this philosophy over to the smoker as well.

[eyeguy 54]

the best way to smoke fishies :>)

[UncleKes]

I am not sure catfish would make a good fish for smoking?? I suspect you will have to baste the fillets a lot during the smoking process.

Years ago, I remember and old timeer explaining to me that fish fell into two catagories. Dry Fish an d Oily Fish. Oily Fish are the ones that you traditionally smoke. (like Trout, Salmon, Carp, Buffalo, Tullabees, etc.) Dry fish are those like Walleyes, Pike, Catfish, etc.

I am not saying you cannot smoke catfish, mind, just that I suspect you are going to have to baste the fish a lot during the smoking process or it will burn or get very dry.

[pikestabber]

I am not sure catfish would make a good fish for smoking??

On the contrary, they are one of the best smoked fish there is. I prefer them to salmon, and that is saying a lot. Skin on for me.

[Big Dave2]

I am not sure catfish would make a good fish for smoking?? I suspect you will have to baste the fillets a lot during the smoking process.

Years ago, I remember and old timeer explaining to me that fish fell into two catagories. Dry Fish an d Oily Fish. Oily Fish are the ones that you traditionally smoke. (like Trout, Salmon, Carp, Buffalo, Tullabees, etc.) Dry fish are those like Walleyes, Pike, Catfish, etc.

I am not saying you cannot smoke catfish, mind, just that I suspect you are going to have to baste the fish a lot during the smoking process or it will burn or get very dry.

In my opinion, I would put Catfish in the "oily" category.

[bobbymalone]

the best way to smoke fishies :>)

I held my tongue (or typing fingers??) on the obligatory, "I have always wanted to smoke catfish, but I could never find papers big enough" joke.

ba dum bum tsssss

[eyeguy 54]

I held my tongue (or typing fingers??) on the obligatory, "I have always wanted to smoke catfish, but I could never find papers big enough" joke.

ba dum bum tsssss

as you can see... no papers needed ;>)