Deep Sea Fishing – Page 3

I know a few of my angling friends that would never pass the opportunity to try and bag a Tarpon. The massive glistening silver fish with a mouth like a cave looks like it can be as delicious to eat as well, but I haven't seen them on many seafood menus, so can you eat Tarpon? Tarpon is not the best saltwater fish to eat. It is not inedible, but it has a powerful fishy smell and taste that is off-putting to most seafood lovers. The Tarpon has a very bony structure with hundreds of small bones in between the meat. Tarpon meat takes a culinary expert to prepare correctly. Tarpons are not typically eaten when caught because the tiny bones between the flesh make it a little risky to serve in a restaurant. Tarpon is considered a prized game fish, and it is usually caught for the sport and awe. The laws and protocol would be to catch and release them after taking a few pictures. What Does Tarpon Fish Taste Like? Tarpon has an extreme fishy taste, a very pungent odor for a gamefish. They are eaten in certain countries like Cuba and Nicaragua, but that is because they are abundant and food there is scarce. I haven't had the opportunity to taste Tarpon but personally prefer oily, succulent weakfish meat like Seabass, so therefore I will give the Tarpon a miss. In the countries and regions where Tarpon is eaten, they prepare the meat to make fishcakes from the deboned meat. This way, the chances of ingesting a small bone are eliminated, and the seasoning can successfully hide the fishy taste. Are Tarpon A Protected Species? Tarpon fishing is highly regulated in United States waters. The regulations around Tarpon catching extends even into federal waters. The limit For Tarpon is one fish per boat or vessel unless it is during the annual bonefish tournament where the limit is suspended. You are prohibited from transporting or shipping more than one Tarpon per person on a vessel, especially during angling competition. What Makes The Tarpon Different? The Tarpon is an impressive fish, with a large sleek silver body and enormous mouth. They are a welcome prize on the other end of the line. Here are some interesting facts about the Tarpon you might not know? Tarpons Can Breathe Air Tarpons can breathe air by gulping air on the water surface through their specially developed swim bladder. That is connected directly to its esophagus. Tarpons Have Teeth With such an enormous mouth, you would think they have teeth to match. Unfortunately, that’s incorrect. Tarpons have villiform teeth. That means the teeth are small and very densely packed on the jaws, the palatines, tongue, vomer, and the skull base. Tarpons Roll On The Surface After A Fight Catching one of these silver sea monsters is not an easy task. Tarpon will give you a fight to remember for a long time. Tarpons have a habit of coming to the surface after a long, tedious battle and roll on the surface, gulping air. They do this to get extra oxygen to the swim bladder. Can You Legally Keep A Tarpon? In Florida, the Tarpon regulations extend into the federal waters, as we touched on earlier. Any Tarpon over 40 inches in length has to be returned to the ocean unharmed. You are allowed to pose with the catch and take pictures, measure the catch for length and grith. How Hard Is It To Catch A Tarpon? Tarpons are a more difficult fish to catch partly because of their extraordinarily bony and hard mouths. This means you have to have a large, very sharp tri-hook to stand a chance of setting a hook successfully. What Is The Best Way Of Catching A Tarpon? The best way to catch a Tarpon would be trolling bait behind the boat using live bait or dead bait, for example, fish heads like Mullet. You can cast a line with bait in the inlets to use dead bait used for bottom fishing. What Is The Best Way To Cook And Debone Tarpon? If you feel like trying Tarpon, you will need to follow the following steps to thoroughly clean, cook, and prepare the fish to get rid of the bones. How To Cook And Debone Tarpon Step 1- Fill your most giant pot with 2 qt chicken broth on high heat Step 2 - Cut the fish into small to medium pieces Step 3 – After bringing the broth to a boil, turn the heat to medium and put the fish in the pot. Step 4 – Cook for 10 to 15 minutes and remove from the heat. Remove fish from the broth and set aside to cool. Step 5 – Once the fish can be handled by hand, start manually separating the meat from the bones and set aside. How To Make Tarpon Fish Cakes Step 1 – Use a food processor and grind the deboned meat fine for a few seconds. It needs to be fine pieces but not like a paste. Step 2 – Add the following – One large finely chopped onionA large green pepper finely chopped3 pounds mashed potato already slightly seasoned4 – 5 egg whites1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard1 teaspoon garlic powder1 teaspoon paprika1 teaspoon cayenne pepperSalt and pepper to taste Mix the fish and mash thoroughly with a large spoon until well blended. Step 3 – Use flour to dust a work surface and then scoop a spoon full of the fish mix and roll it into a ball. Press down on the ball slightly to flatten them. Step 4 – In a frying pan, heat some oil and place the cakes in the hot oil. Fry each side of the Tarpon cake for 3 to 4 minutes until golden brown and heated thoroughly. Step 5 – Serve with a salad, mango slices, and enjoy Helpful Hint Like many fatty gamefish, Tarpon can also retain contaminants in the fatty tissue surrounding the meat and in the skin. Before you attempt to cook a Tarpon, you have to be well prepared to clean it and remove the skin. Fish needs to be very well cooked, just like chicken. According to the US department of health, it needs to reach at least 145 deg F. The Tarpon meat will begin to appear flaky and matte. Related Fishing Resources Can You Eat Blue Marlin [Is it Safe?]Can You Eat Starfish?Can You Eat A Barracuda?When Is The Best Time to Go Crabbing? Conclusion While eating a Tarpon might not be on your to-do list of things, it is an unforgettable fish to catch and fight. If you have to keep the Tarpon, make sure you have the correct permits on hand; otherwise, you are required to release it back into the water. If you want to eat Tarpon, the best advice I have is to eat with your hands and chew very slowly before swallowing.