[CaptDoug]

Headed out yesterday for a little King action with Gunner who won the trip donated to TOBA. On board was Mark (Gunner), Jeff and Soup. Soup and Jeff had not caught a King before so I was pumped to get them their first. We started out heading ESE to a rig that I had been on lots of Kings last month. Seas were a little bumpy and made for a not so enjoyable ride out to 14 miles. I believe it was at this spot that Mark caught a fairly nice sized Pompano. This spot wasn't producing like it has in the past so we headed SW from there to a following sea and made for a much better ride. Next stop produced Jeff with his first King, a nice approx. 22lber. Mark was playing with fish on the bottom and produced several BIG Lady fish and sone Bluefish that make real good Snapper bait. Left that area and still heading SW at next stop we finally put Soup on his first King and at around 25lbs. At this spot I had a first experience ever. While I was chumming for Kings some Snapper came up in the chum line and Mark started sight casting them. Now I have brought Snapper up to a chum line before but this was different. They seemed only to come up one at a time. We would spot them and Mark would cast to them, It seemed that all the other trash fish would get out of the way of the Snapper and the bait was his.LOL! We ended up with 5 keeper Snaps to 17". After toying with them and no more to come up we headed to the Buccaneer field. Found the middle of the 12 pile in the 288 block and proceeded to catch a bunch of little snaps and finally the King rod goes off and he was headed to Freeport in a hurry. This rod goes to Soup and after a nice battle we bring in this really nice around 30lber. a few minutes later the rod goes off again and I think Jeff brings in his twin brother. Action slows so we head back in the direction of Galveston. Hit a couple of spots on the way in looking for mister Ling but he was not to be foun d today. We get to the a rig near State waters and bring in another nice King in the 20lb class. Move to another spot on the way in, Jeff brings in a nice Black Drum and we finally get the last king to finish off our three man limit. All fish were in the upper 20 lb to 30 lb fish. Not the numbers I had been getting but all Kings were quality fish. All in all, I had a great time fishing with some great people. Mark it was a blast, and I think your two partners will be spoiled to King fishing. It will be hard to top their first Kings with nothing below 20 lbs. Oh yea some where in the stops we picked up one nice Spanish Mackrel also. Total for the day was 6 Kings, Five Snapper, 1 Pompano, and 1 Spanish, 2 Sharks 2' 1/2" to 3' (released). Mark proved to be the Ladyfish King with many big Ladies.

 

[Stay Bent]

Good catch Doug. WTG out of Galveston too. We didn't make it out this morning, but maybe next time.
Bernard

 

[makoclay]

curious

Do people really eat all the Kingfish they bring in? I know all about "balling them out" and soaking in milk and all that stuff. I am certainly not trying to kick-off another conservation thread, I am only curious.

It is one thing to clean them and put them up in the freezer with good intentions, but if you end up throwing them out after a year because you never really had the urge to eat 30lbs of kingfish meat, did you really accomplish anything?

 

[CaptDoug]

For people that don't know how to cook Kingfish, no they are not very good eating. I personally love fresh Knigfish Steaks and will be grilling them tonight. Mark has some excellent recipies for Kingfish dip and will be making steaks and the dip. I am going to try the dip also. I guarantee none of the fish will go to waste. Last time out of Galveston a friend of mine and I caught 20 Kings, kept our 2 each and released the rest. Mine have been eaten already. He had heard they were not any good to eat also. I gave him a recipe to grill the steaks and now he says they're great. I have taken them to work and broiled them, and all my co-workers say to keep bringing those trash fish they'll eat all I bring. So keep it hush-hush, I like people thinking they're trash fish.

 

[michaelbaranowski]

I ate king Sunday night. I normally eat fish atleast once a week and normally it is king.

 

[Argo]

I usually eat it 2-3 times per week and it is mixed with snapper, king, AJ, ling and anything else I can get my hands on. Fry up some fingermullet to serve with the hotwings. Those are delicious dipped in ranch.

 

[Spazm]

Well can you give us the recipe or is that against the law?

 

[Wahoo Man]

kings are very good if grill and the wifey makes a kingfish salad like tuna salad that is
excellent. the smaller kings are the best up to 20lbs.

Andy

 

[Gunner]

I think there are some recipies on the recipe forum.
Here's a simple dip:
Filet the king, leave skin on and cut in manageable pieces.
Boil in strong crab boil until done, let soak 20 more minutes off heat.
Take meat out break apart and discard skin, bones and red meat.
Put meat in bowl, add mild or hot pico digio, crushed garlic, squeeze of lime and mayo.
Chill and serve with tortilla chips.
Here's a simple grill:
Cut king in steaks - 1 to 1.5"
Cover both sides with hot/spicy mustard, let sit in fridge 3 hours of more, reapply during that time if it soaks in.
Grill until done on grill basting with more mustard mixed with lemon.

 

[makoclay]

where's Bubba when you need him???

There’s Kingfish Gumbo,

KF salad,

KF soup,

KF and potatoes,

KF a la mode,

KF sandwich,

KF and sausage

KF casserole,

KF balls,

KF rolls,

KF and rice

You can bake it, deep fry it, broil it, pan fry it, saute it, BB-Q it, boil it, stir-fry it…

 

[chickenkiller]

I don't eat Marlin i heard they aren't good to eat either.. Would these same recipes work for bill fish? Just wondering!!

 

[CaptDoug]

Here's another good recipe I use for King Steaks and other fish I am going to grill. Take King steaks or Fillet of fish of your choice and squeeze 1 or 2 limes on the meat, add lemon pepper, and hot & spicy Allegro Marinade & seasoning. Let sit in fridge for a couple hours then add KC Materpiece Spiced Caribbean Jerk Marinade and grill till done. It is delicious and am grilling ling tonight. Shiner Bock while waiting. King steaks last night. Life is good.

 

[TexasDux]

Would these same recipes work for bill fish?

GRrrrrr!

 

[Argo]

I tried Marlin in Costa Rica but I did not like the way it was prepared. I would not normally eat it or kill one myself but I was on an adventurous trip and thought I would try something new. I might try it again down there next year preped differently.