Eating Freshwater Drum

[Jonny]

Eating Freshwater Drum

 

A couple of weeks ago I posted my impressions as a result of trying fried freshwater drum. Fillets from a fresh-caught 3 pounder were mild, pleasant-tasting and coarsely flaky - altogether quite good to eat.

 

I also filleted about a 7 pound drum and froze the fillets. Yesterday, we had a family fish fry and we fried up a mess of breaded pickerel, pike, and the fillets from that drum. Wow, was that a disappointment. The drum fillets were so tough you couldn't cut them with a fork. Even with two forks you could hardly pull the meat apart. I didn't think fish could get that tough!

 

Whether it was the size of the fish, or the freezing, or a combination of the two, I don't know. But I thought I'd post the information, such as it is.

[Billy Bob]

They do make a good smoking fish.........

[Rich]

They are relatives of white bass, so the freezing makes sense. White bass are best consumed fresh for the same reason.

[bigugli]

You want to have your keepers in the 2-3lb range. Some species freeze better than others.

[Spiel]

They are relatives of white bass, so the freezing makes sense. White bass are best consumed fresh for the same reason.

 

Can't say I agree with this Rich. Sheephead (Aplodinotus grunniens) are members of the Sciaenidae family and not related to White Bass (Moronidae) in any way that I'm aware of.

 

As for eating/freezing them, I've tried neither.

[Rich]

Hmm.. dad always told me they were, just believed him. lol Either way, the meat inside is identical in both fish

[CLofchik]

There's alot of Louisiana drum recipes out there, but most involve making a tomato roux or sauce and baking the fish in it. I think with a lean fish like drum it helps to almost poach it in some kind of liquid.

 

 

 

 

And I still haven't gotten the courage up to eat one out of Hamilton.

[Hooked]

My ol man from time to time uses them in chowder, he likes it.

[Billy Bob]

I think with a lean fish like drum it helps to almost poach it in some kind of liquid.

 

If you think sheephead/fresh water drum are lean you should smoke one and see the OIL drip out of this fish............this is FAR from a lean fish.

[vitas264]

Salut Guys!Last month I caught a 15 lb.freshwater drum.Has anyone tried to smoke one,and if so,how did you brine it and at what temperature did you smoke it?Thanks

[Roy]

Salut Guys!Last month I caught a 15 lb.freshwater drum.Has anyone tried to smoke one,and if so,how did you brine it and at what temperature did you smoke it?Thanks

 

If you caught it last month, a burial might be more fitting than trying to smoke it.

Welcome aboard.

[Billy Bob]

Many times I have frozen fish for months, even close to a year later smoked them........just as good as the day caught.

[dave524]

Many times I have frozen fish for months, even close to a year later smoked them........just as good as the day caught.

 

I used to use one of those Luhr Jensen Little Chief units quite some time ago, remember the instructions said that frozen fillets worked well, in fact it said that freezing actually helps by breaking down the cell structure for better brine penetration, made sense to me. Used frozen fillets once as I recall, no problem but I only did salmon and trout species in it.

Edited November 5, 2009 by dave524

[mpt]

Don't smoke. Boil in salty water ~1/2 to 1 Cup salt per gal. Then dip in butter.

[Jonny]

I won't know about smoking drum til next spring. I plan to try it then.

[pikehunter]

I caught a 15 lb.freshwater drum.Has anyone tried to smoke one

Tried it once, made the paper too soggy to light....just had to say it, sorry Hey it's only 5AM

[Bondar]

Cook drum in BBQ on cedar board !!!

throw away drum eat board

 

[Jeff Wiles]

Cook drum in BBQ on cedar board !!!

throw away drum eat board

 

Thats the same way to cook carp. :D

 

JW

[Jonny]

Thats the same way to cook carp. :D

 

There are people that say the same thing about catfish and ling.

 

But it's all about attitude I guess.