"The Fisherman" > wrote in message
news
> On Mon, 19 Mar 2007 08:59:23 -0400, Dan Logcher
> > wrote:
>
> >> Here in Florida, some folks fillet the wings from a large ray, skin
> >> them and punch out "scallops" from them using a tool that is almost
> >> always hand made. I've seen 2" steep pipe used that has been sharpened
> >> at one end. The meat is then cooked in any recipe that calls for
> >> scallops. It really doesn't taste like scallops, but it's very good. I
> >> eat it whenever I catch one. I just cut it into small squares. It
> >> makes a very good chowder also, if pan seared, then simmered in butter
> >> until added at the very last to the chowder.
> >
> >Sounds good to me too. Ok, I will keep the next skate I catch.
>
> From reading your posts, I'm pretty sure you're going to like it. If
> you use your favorite dipping sauce for scallops, it'll make it even
> better.
>
> >> I moved to Florida because of the fishing. Within 10 miles of my
> >> house, I have the ocean, backwaters, several fresh water lakes, many
> >> ponds and the St. Johns river.
> >>
> >> I love this place! If it swims in water, it's somewhere here, (no
> >> salmon, sorry). Gator, turtle, rattlers, deer, wild pig, all of that
> >> is regular fare here too, for the locals.
> >
> >I've had rattlesnake before, it was good. Not sure I'd want to clean
> >a snake though. Last time I caught a conger eel, I took it to the sushi
> >bar and they took care of it.
>
> Once the head and skin is off, they are much less intimidating.
> Rattler isn't easy to clean. I've never cleaned an eel, (as much as I
> love eating them). Having cleaned and prepared hogs before, I don't
> think anything else will ever bother me. After cleaning a hog, it's
> almost impossible not to look like a serial killer.
>

I've cleaned eel more times than I can remember. If you're used to cleaning
fish in general
it's easy in principle. The only difference is the degree of slime which
requires that the head be nailed
to the cutting board. Also the fact that an eel caught 6 hours ago is likely
to be
still alive and is going to do everything it can to avoid getting nailed to
that board.
I can imagine that cleaning a hog must be a mess. I've cleaned deer about
10-15 times and I know what
you mean by ending up looking like a serial killer.

> >> I go to the dock when the tourist fishing boats pull in and get all
> >> the deep sea fish I want for a dollar a pound. Sometimes it's still
> >> wiggling. Got a sweet little Blackfin Tuna a few days ago. Awesomely
> >> good. Ate half of it raw and the other half seared and simmered in
> >> butter.
> >>
> >> Did I say I love this place? It really is fisherman's heaven.
> >
> >Too hot for me.. I would love the fishing, but flat and hot doesn't
> >work for me. I'd consider North Carolina first. Good fishing of
> >Cape Hateras, its not as hot.. But I doubt I'll ever leave New England.
>
> The secret in Florida is early morning fishing. I get up before dawn
> and have a pole in the water before first light. By 8am, I'm usually
> home cleaning the fish. Nothing much moves fast here in the heat of
> the day. The tourists look like their on "fast-forward".

Yes, I would imagine that you'd have to do early morning fishing all year
round.
Up here in New York we have to do that May through November.
In the colder months the fish are more active during the warmer hours.

M