Sheepshead

[pushbutton]

have a few lakes nearby that have good populations of the fish and for the first time went out and targeted them. i have never been a big fish eater and am not brainwashed by the cult of the walleye gods. having said that i did smoke and deep fry these

for the smoker i used a lower salt brine and basted with a mixture of:

1/2 cup oyster sauce

1/4 soy sauce

1/4 cup water

juice of one lime

freshly grated ginger

for the deep fryer i breaded in a corn flour mixture containing

1 cup corn flour

2tsp paprika

2tsp onion powder

1tps garlic powder

1tsp black pepper

1tsp cayanne

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cumin

1/4 tsp majoram

then double dipped in an egg wash into crushed fritos/corn chips

i know there is a another thread for walleye fish tacos....but when in doubt as i found my self when serving a unknown fish......this is the ticket!

sauce:

1 cup sour cream/yogurt

1/2 cup mayo

3 green onions

rip off a hand full of cilantro....chop it up

at least 2 cloves garlic

2 tsp oregano

1 tsp salt

1tsp black pepper

juice of 1/2 to 1 lime

layer fish over a bed of cabbage....add salsa/pica de gallo

[prov1900]

Looks pretty good. How did the smoked one's taste? Thanks for the pics as well. Made me hungry.

[DonBo]

That's the question. It all LOOKS good, but how where those Drum?

[pushbutton]

first off had never fished for or even caught one before so i just figured i would try a few on the smoker. the meat is not oily at all so you do have to be carful smoking them. as for table fare.....it is seriously a clean, flakey white meat. used 2 to 2 1/2lbers for the smoker and 3/4 to 1lbers for the fryer. snicker if you want, but if you didn't tell people that they are eating sheepshead a head of time...i guarantee they would like them. did get them out of a lake, don't know if that makes a difference, but seriously... good smoked or fried. would think they would also be suitable for fish cakes.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I've been telling people they're good for years. It's seriously great meat! Just don't overcook them, or they get tough.

[DTro]

I’ve heard that Drum are very good and they are very easy to catch on the MN river here. I’ve always wanted to keep a few to eat, but what concerns me is that some of the studies I’ve read, the Drum are very sensitive to pollutants and usually test on the high side for the bad stuff. I imagine this has a lot to do with their diet (clams, mussles, crayfish, etc).

Looks like good eats though!

[pushbutton]

not trying to be a poster child for the sheepies, but also looked into that before eating them....found that fat soluble toxins like pcbs can be an issue, and ironically mercury bulidup is rather low...really think it depends the system from which they are taken and how big the fish are being consumed....wouldnt want to eat larger crappie, walleye or pike taken from known contaminated waters either. this all started when i was on the wilmar forum looking to catch a a few fish that i had never caught before.....then mr. wiggum chimes in "you have to try e'm"...so i did as mentioned earlier, i don't eat a lot of fish and think there are more than just walleyes to fish for and eat. just trying to have a little fun!!!

[Ralph Wiggum]

Norway and Games are full of 'em! Just wish I could convince my brother-in-law that they aren't trash, being that his drum:walleye ratio is about 15:1

[FishLocker]

Norway has them but are much smaller than Games (Spicer MN). I am brining a batch for pickles right now, but saved out 2 for the smoker and will use PushButtons smoker baste above as that sounds absolutely great.

True, they are tasty but be very careful as noted in previous posts, not to over cook in the least or (like Calamari) they get rubbery and tough.

Great pickled and smoked.

They are fun fighters for the kids to catch too. The signature thump thump thump drives the kids wild!

[Ralph Wiggum]

Norway has them but are much smaller than Games (Spicer MN).

I guess I have never noticed a size difference between the two lakes.

[Jim Uran]

being that his drum:walleye ratio is about 15:1

Too darn funny!!!!

I imagine it's the same syndrome when it comes to Rock Bass? I've never eaten them and people always say yuck when you mention keeping one and trying it out. So the next time I catch a rockie, I'll keep it and rate it.

[buddha]

Gotta try drum, only I need to get them out of a nice lake. Rock bass are just fine, they can get a little soft in the warm part of the summer but we have used them in fish frys here and there and people never know the difference. There are very few fish that don't taste good, most of it's perception on a good vs. bad tasting fish.

[Cooter]

A local outdoors show filmed a show with Ted Peck on the Miss and they were keeping small to mid-sized sheepshead for the pan.

[pikestabber]

Upper Red is loaded with Sheepshead and they are nice ones when you get them. I take all kinds of flack for targeting them (this being walleye and crappie country), but I challenge you to fry them with 'eyes or crappies and tell the difference. Great table fare. MUCH BETTER FIGHTERS than walleyes or crappies, too.

[BLACKJACK]

I think about all the sheephead that I've thrown back on Red!!!!

[pikestabber]

I hear ya, Blackjack, I had thrown hundreds back before I got the nerve to try one... All those good meals swimming around free, now...