Striped Bass
Striped bass have several regional names. Known as striped bass, stripers, linesides, rockfish and other names, this fish is highly sought after as a recreational fish, as a commercial species and is even grown in aquaculture operations. Striped bass are very hardy fish, and even take to life in freshwater where they are often stocked throughout the USA.
They are hardy fish which are caught using many techniques. Rigs and baits for striped bass vary with their location and what the fish are feeding on. In some areas cut baits are used, including clams, fish, crabs, shrimp, squid, bloodworms or other baits. In other situations anglers troll, jig or cast artificial lures or use fly fishing gear.
Cooks have a variety of favorites for cooking rockfish. Whole fillets of school sized fish or steaks of larger fish are delicious fried. Other choices for cooking striped bass include grilling, broiling, fish cakes and more. For top quality striped bass or "rockfish" as table fare, it's important to take care of the fish prior to cooking. The fish should be chilled on ice and laid out flat until cleaned.
Once the fish is home, it can be rinsed thoroughly and filleted. Several cleaning methods exist and each angler learns their favorite style. The fish can be scaled and the skin left on, filleted and then skinned or the skin can be cut around the perimeter of the fish and pulled off with pliers. The skin-on version is nice when baking or grilling smaller fish. Skinning the fish before filleting has some advantages, the most important being speed. Filleting the fish and then cutting the skin off removes the most dark meat and leaves the highest quality portion, although some fish is lost in the process.
Summer Flounder
Summer flounder are found around inlets, jetties and channel edges. They also frequent ocean wrecks, artificial reefs and areas of rocky or coral bottom. Flounder are not born with both eyes on one side. During growth, the "bottom" eye migrates to the upward-facing side of its body. This allows the flounder to lie on one side, burying in the sand where it can ambush its prey. Flounder feed on a variety of small fish and crustaceans.
Flounder fishing is extremely popular along the Atlantic coast. Some anglers specialize in catching this fish almost exclusively while other choose to target them only at certain times. While no single location, technique or angler is a guarantee of success, there are a several tricks to the fishery. Most anglers drift cut or live baits, with the types of baits varying with location, time of year and local fish behavior.
Atlantic Croaker
Atlantic Croaker or "hardhead" are popular saltwater fish common along the Atlantic coast. They are known to have wild population fluctuations. The fish get their names because of the "croaking" noise the make when removed from the water. Croakers are hard fighters and prolific feeders. They are caught on a variety of baits and lures.
Spot
Spot occur along the Atlantic coast in estuarine and coastal waters from the Gulf of Maine to Florida, although they are most abundant from Chesapeake Bay south to South Carolina. Spot are fun to catch and a great fish for anglers of all ages.
Spot are caught along inlets, fishing piers and in inshore bays. Anglers use standard 2 hook rigs, using small hooks and small pieces of bait. Popular baits include bloodworms, shrimp, clam and a synthetic product called "Fish Bites" that works very well.
Speckled Trout
Speckled trout, also known as spotted seatrout are common throughout the Southeast, with nearly seven million fish harvested and released in 2006. In Florida, spotted seatrout is often the most sought after and exploited gamefish. 75% of recreationally caught speckled trout are released to grow.
Shad
American shad are among the most exciting fish to catch. Anglers fish for them using small jigs, shad darts, sabiki rigs or by fly fishing. The fish are beautiful species and extremely tough fighters, known for their ability to run and make spectacular jumps. Most recreational fishing for American shad occurs in the spring, when the fish enter rivers to spawn. Due to a decline in shad populations, shad fishing is now a catch and release fishery.
Red Drum
Red drum is one of the most popularly sought recreational fish throughout the South Atlantic. Since the 1980s recreational fishing has accounted for about 90 percent of all red drum landings. The recreational fishery is an inshore fishery, targeting small "puppy drum" and large trophy fish. Red Drum are caught in the surf, in bays and in shallow areas using live baits, cut offerings or artificial lures.
Black Sea Bass
Black sea bass are common along the Atlantic coast from New York to North Carolina. Black Sea Bass are excellent table fare. The meat is firm, white and delicious. Sea Bass are superb fried, grilled, baked or broiled. Sea Bass are easily skinned and filleted. They are best fresh and do not freeze well.
Tautog
Tautog are excellent table fare. Due to their tough and slippery skin, a sharp fillet knife is needed to fillet these delicious fish. Cut around the outline of the fish, making the front cut behind the head and pectoral fin. Then the skin can easily be peeled off by using pliers and peeling from the head to tail. Once the skin is off the fish can be filleted normally. There are a few rib bones which can be cut out after filleting. The meat is firm, white and mild flavored. Tautog is delicious fried, baked or grilled.
The author maintains several outdoor-related websites including Fresh-Seafood, Commercial Fishing and Chesapeake Bay News and Information
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