What's for dinner?

[mellie]

Hopefully not that horrible seafood mix that some seafood shops in malls sell? Or supermarkets.
It's not fresh, never buy pre- cut seafood mixes period, the smell of it tells you that it's cut up days old fish from their window display that they couldn't sell.
Nasty stuff!!
If I can't see the eyes glistening, I refuse to buy it.
Fish shouldn't smell fishy, nor feel slimy, EVER!
If it's fresh.
These days, I only buy frozen, because it's snap frozen and likely to be less oxidised than anything else you can buy in your supermarket or suburban fish shop. If you are a coastal dwelling person, better off with a fishing co-op or at least a fish market on the water.

I usually catch my own seafood but can't paddle my kayak now because of shoulder damage so have to do with frozen staff.

BTW, for plump and juicy prawns sprinkle little bit of baking soda on them and put in fridge for 10-30 min. For firm juicy fish heavy dry salting for 5-10min or 5% cold brine for 20-30min would do the trick.

Well, frozen is next best thing, and thanks for the top tops re- baking soda especially. Can't see why baking soda wouldn't work for all frozen seafood, fish etc. It's still a salt.

I honestly would have thought it would draw moisture out, but something tells me your tips worth a crack.

I will let you know.

I've had 4 surgeries between both my shoulders, and so a basic outboard motor on an aluminium dingy ( what I had in Sydney when we had a holiday place on the Hawkesberry river) would do me . But all I ever caught in the Hawkesburry were bloody cat fish or the odd Mullet or soapy. I wasn't brave enough to go mud- crabbing like my neighbours, but I did enjoy the proceeds occasionally.

[mellie]

I am one of those people who can go fishing for hours and enjoy catching absolutely nothing lol
My mother's the same, perhaps it's because we both talk too much and scare off the fish?
My father and I would go spearfishing too, he'd catch plenty with his spear gun ( Sunshine Coast) though I was only allowed to use the dodgy old fashioned metal spear, lol, and didn't catch a thing.
I enjoyed snorkelling anyway so it didn't really bother me.

I suppose the Maroochy River would be just like the Hawkesburry by now....completely fished out.

[tllwd]

a basic outboard motor

There are small electric motors available for kayaks/canoes now but I don't like them because it becomes complicated, I use small V sail downwind, though.

[mellie]

Anyone here ever tried freshwater fish?

I live close to plenty of lakes where they stock the lake regularly with baby fish so fishing is enjoyable, however I just can't bring myself to eat it.

One of our lesser known local man- made lakes was a quarry, which sprung a leak due to machinery, so it's now a spring fed lake that is excellent for fishing, but I just have this aversion to fresh water fish, probably because I went to a trout farm once and the fish we all caught ( rainbow trout) smelt muddy, and everyone who tasted it didn't take a second bite.
The fish apparently tasted like the water which stunk like a filthy swamp.
I took my kids there for fishing and we released what we caught. Was a great day anyway, but there's nothing like the anticipation of catching a fish you can actually eat. Mullet, Jew fish, and soapies aside

Got a trick that can fix fresh water fish?

[mellie]

a basic outboard motor

There are small electric motors available for kayaks/canoes now but I don't like them because it becomes complicated, I use small V sail downwind, though.

But wouldn't you prefer to fish with friends?

Kayaks, canoes, v-sails are fun, but not really for fishing as such, unless you fish by yourself I guess.

We have boating clubs at our local lake , my daughter’s interested in trying canoeing at her new school next year.

[mellie]

We have friends who live at South West Rocks, central NSW coast, who have a creek running directly behind their house , actually it runs through their property.

Neither of them go fishing, but they throw loaves of smashed up bread into this creek and omgosh.....you should see all the bream flapping and jumping out of the water to get their share..... and they won't allow me to go fishing. These fish are apparently their pets they insist.



So..... I have been thinking, rather than bait up with live worms or other local bait, perhaps I've been wrong all these years and should bait up with a croissant or a nice teacake?

[tllwd]

I like trout and usually hot smoke it. Proper brine and apple wood smoke improves flavor, same for mullet.
As for prawns, schoolies taken from a river after rain are sweeter and better then saltwater kings or even tigers, IMHO.

[tllwd]

South West Rocks is a very special place for fishing February to April, I used to go there with Australian Kayak Fishing club every year.
One year long ago a Queensland member of the club bagged huge Black Marlin there, it was a record catch from kayak, have photos somewhere.

[mellie]

I like trout and usually hot smoke it. Proper brine and apple wood smoke improves flavor, same for mullet.
As for prawns, schoolies taken from a river after rain are sweeter and better then saltwater kings or even tigers, IMHO.

U are so right!
We used to buy icecream containers ( still hot) from the co-op on the Hawkesburry, some were a bit fiddly, but they were sweet and delicious. Best Prawns by far.

I've never tried prawning, but I'd definitely give it a crack.

I don't have a fantastic BBQ with a wood smoke attachment, I think this delicacy is a man's domain.....men do BBQs best, but I am good with gutting and scailing and pumping pippies and worms. Lol

My BBQ is more or less an electric frying pan on wheels, it's ok, but I prefer cooking on my BBQ plate ( cast iron) on my gas stove top. Better flavour than my BBQ.

Speaking of which, I should put it on fb "Ballarat freebies" used once, lol.

Seems like a lot of mucking about to disguise the flavour of fresh water fish.

Is it really that bad?

Lake Esmond is the place to catch absolutely fresh water fish if you like it.
Lake is crystal clear because it's spring fed.

Unlike Lake Wendouree which is better for boating.

I do have an outdoor firepit and it has a wrack to cook on.
Would this work, if I used the desired wood / and chips?

[mellie]

South West Rocks is a very special place for fishing February to April, I used to go there with Australian Kayak Fishing club every year.
One year long ago a Queensland member of the club bagged huge Black Marlin there, it was a record catch from kayak, have photos somewhere.

So it's not that these fish are tame and enjoy my friends companionship?

It's generally excellent fishing up there?

I was absolutely gobsmacked when I saw these massive bream flapping out in a school... of at least a hundred. At least.

Big, little, all sizes, but I didn't notice anything else. Just Bream.

And yes, we go see them in summer ... because that's when we're usually in Sydney visiting family.