It has one pair of mental barbels as well maxillary barbels that extend beyond pectoral fin base, and are long and ribbonlike. A close look reveals the sharp spines that support the dorsal, or back, fin and the pectoral fins on the fish's sides. Step 2: Cut the skin off the saltwater catfish from the fin down to the tail on both sides before removing the head. Gafftopsail Catfish get their name for the spiny and venomous dorsal fin that rises from their back like a sail. I never pass up an oppo. But I was surprised that the gafftop cleaning video had more views in the first week than any other video I've posted. "The most secure way to handle a sail cat, in my opinion, is to carefully put the palm of your hand on the bottom side of the catfish, advised Mahler. The Gafftopsail Catfish, Bagre marinus, is a member of the Sea Catfish or Ariidae Family, that is also known as the Gafftopsail Sea Catfish and and in Mexico as bagre bandera. My buddy Chris called me the other day and asked if I wanted to come up and fish for Gafftopsail Catfish in Sebastian inlet, Florida. Anglers should opt for light surf fishing gear. Best thing to do is when you fillet them keep up off of the skin by a 1/8-1/4 inch or maybe a bit more depending on size. Funny most people say that but I have cooked red drum and gafftop, served them side by side and the gafftop is always gone before the red drum. Both are relatively widespread and abundant along the Atlantic Coast, particularly in the Gulf of Mexico. Unlike most bottom feeding Catfish, the Gafftopsail Catfish feeds throughout . Can grow up to 10 pounds. The best way to treat a Saltwater Catfish sting is to first remove all of the spines from the affected area. In fact, these two marine catfishes share habitatsbrackish bays, sandy and muddy shores, and river mouths, and they will often school together. Brown to olive green back that fades to a silvery side then to a yellow to white belly. 3. The gafftopsail catfish, Bagre marinus, is found in the waters of the western central Atlantic Ocean, as well as the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. Gafftopsail Sea Catfish can grow up to 70 cm what is approximately 27 inches. "Put your thumb firmly underneath one pectoral fin, then put the other pectoral fin between your middle finger and ring finger." Fishing Planet Playlist Get A CatFish -- Watch live at hi all its me ronMctube and today we are fishing for catfish. The gafftopsail catfish enters turbid . the gafftopsail catfish are found from mid-atlantic to south america including the entire gulf of mexico.the gafftopsail reach a size of 42 inches average weight 15lbs.they are found inshore to water 100 feet deep.these catfish incubate their eggs and young inside their mouths.they occur largely in water 15 feet to 75feet in depth in open water, The male of the species fertilizes the eggs of the female, and broods . Gafftop catfish are common in Louisiana and other Gulf states and not too hard to catch. The first dorsal and pectoral fin rays are long and ribbonlike also, and the head is covered in rugose, bony shield. It feeds on crustaceans and other fish. Make sure you get all of the blood from the fillets when washing. Appearance: Bluish above. If you have not eaten this fish, and you are eating freshwater catfish - you need to rethink your plan. Only 2 barbels on chin. Beautiful day inshore saltwater fishing and we start the day live bait fishing for snook! Appearance. These spines are not only sharp, they're coated with toxic slime, too. Place the fillets in the sink and wash them thoroughly with fresh water using your hose sprayer on your sink. Typically growing to about 43 cm (16 in) in length, these fish usually weigh around 0.5 to 2 kg (1.1 to 4.4 lb), but with some luck it is possible to land a trophy of up to 4.5 kg (9.9 lb). Gafftopsail Catfish roam coastal flats but prefer channels and other deep areas. 4. When washing with the hose sprayer you will notice foam in the water. Of course, we rarely caught one big enough to mess with. Hydrogen Peroxide or any other antiseptic to clean with and then cover with a clean dressing, it's basic first aid. They are a good fish to eat if you can get past the slime. Beautiful day inshore saltwater fishing and we start the day live. Once you have the fillet you can then cut the remainder of the blood off. Check out our gafftopsail catfish selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. http://www.catfishedge.com/how-to-clean-catfish/ - Chad Ferguson from Learn To Catch Catfish and North Texas Catfish Guide Service shows you how to clean a c. Step 3: Remove all the skin from the saltwater catfish and cut the meat in half so there is no skin. I won't keep a giant gafftopsail because they start depositing fat right under the skin that is difficult to clean well. Grab your pesto or make your own by combining cilantro, almonds, a squeeze of lemon, garlic, salt, and oil. Maximum size is about 2 feet in length and 8 pounds in weight. If needed, it's recommended to take a few Tylenol or Advil. I fully expected a video of a Gafftopsail with an M-80 in it's mouth. Gafftopsail Catfish get their name for the spiny and venomous dorsal fin that rises from their back like a sail. It has long venomous spines which can cause painful wounds. Catfish are often found in muddy rivers, lakes, and on beaches in tropical, subtropical, and temperate waters. Gafftopsail Catfish are bluish on top and silvery below with long, fleshy filaments on the dorsal and pectoral fins. It feeds on crustaceans and other fish. Sail Catfish. I understand some folks do not prefer them. Be sure the water is clean and not polluted because they will take all of that stuff in them. In this catch clean cook video, we go inshore fishing in Stuart, Florida on our flats boat! However, my solution is different. Fishing Planet - How to catch Unique Gafftopsail Catfish at Everglades, Florida. Get off the water. They're not going to tell you what fishermen do when they get finned by a catfish to stop the sting. This species will require to be kept in a tank that is very large. It has long fleshy filaments that lie on the pectoral and dorsal fins. The fish has dorsal fins that rise from the back and contain very sharp spines that support the fins. Place catfish fillets into a baking dish and allow to come to room temperature. The best way to clean a Gafftop is cut the line and throw that nasty thing back in the Water! Salt water catfish were once widely regarded as nuisance fish, those pesky . 6) Scrub brush and antibacterial soap Before you clean catfish, it's important to ensure that all your equipment is clean. Immerse the injury in hot water. 1. Look closely and you can see the sharp spines that support the dorsal, or back, fin and the pectoral fins on the fish's sides. Dorsal and pectoral fins with long, fleshy filaments on spines. The best method to use when trying to catch these fish is surf fishing, fly fishing, or casting off of piers or jetties. Gafftopsail Catfish; Of the three catfish, only the sailcat and gafftop are the ones you hear about people eating, but even then, most anglers seem to dismiss catfish for their reputation of being slimy, having sharp fins (thus a pain to handle and clean), and because they are the ultimate bottom feeder; 2 Reviews. Do not use ice. Depends on how you cook em and the water color. Also, be *very* careful when skinning them because that top sail . Unlike most bottom feeding Catfish, the . Species Status Native; View All Species; Appearance. The male of the species fertilizes the eggs of the female, and broods them in his mouth until they hatch. People stung by catfish are usually fishing or bathing when they make contact with a catfish, usually by stepping on it or handling the fish after it has been caught. Garrett demonstrates how to fillet a Gafftopsail Catfish caught from the waters of Goodland, Florida. Average size is about 2.5 pounds with larger fish caught in the fall. Bay Animals Red Drum Spotted Seatrout Black Drum 1 specimen basically needs at least 8400cm 2 of water surface which is approximately 1302 square inch. Even if your catfish is clean, using dirty equipment will ruin your efforts. See also sail and how to clean a sail catfish Ice the fish down after they are removed from the live well. Typically growing to about 43 cm in length, these fish usually weigh around 0.5 to 2 kg, but with some luck it is possible to land a trophy of up to 4.5 kg. This video shows how to clean them quickly providing tasty fillets . FSF Staff. If the water is crystal clear ill eat catfish all day long. These fish are not aggressive. We catch jack crevalle and snook with live bait! Next wash with soap, then soak for about 30 min in warm water. Total Time: 20 minutes. When catfish is not cooked, it is not safe to eat it. The cold only makes the toxins more powerful and the pain worse. Two chin barbels and two long, flat, ribbon-like barbels at the corners of the mouth. Barbel at corner of mouth flattened, bandlike, and very elongated, somtimes reaching anal fin. Gafftopsail Catfish Bagre marinus. Bottom fishing can also be effective. It turns out over 2000 viewers have been interested how to clean a gafftop. It feeds on crustaceans and other fish. The fish is low in calories and has a lot of vitamins and minerals. Add 2-parts cilantro to 1-part mayonnaise in a bowl and blend. 2. They have a barbel ("whisker") at each corner of the mouth that is flattened, band like, and very long. Gafftopsail Catfish. I catch a giant gafftopsail catfish that we decided to keep to eat for a taste test. The gafftopsail catfish is a member of the sea catfish family. What a Doctor Will Tell You: If you get finned by a catfish clean the wound immediately with antiseptic and then cover the wound. It has two short barbels on its chin. Its common name . Yes, it is safe to eat catfish. Catfish Fingers with Cajun Remoulade Sauce. As for the taste, if you like fish they are not all that bad. Dorsal and pectoral fins have serrated spines that are coated with a venomous slime that can inflict a painful puncture wound. In this catch clean cook video, we go inshore fishing in Stuart, Florida on our flats boat! Bluish-green back, fading to a silver-white belly; Three prominent, sharp spines (one at beginning of dorsal fin and one on each pectoral fin) The three prominent spines have elongated, fleshy filaments; The pressure from the hose sprayer gets all of the blood out of the fish. To reduce the pain, hold the injured area under water that is as hot as you can stand. First time eating this . Aquarium fish photographed in the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Naples, Florida, January 2019. Add 2 cups of Oxyclean liquid stain remover and mix well. The gafftopsail catfish (Bagre marinus) is found in the waters of the western central Atlantic Ocean, as well as the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.It has long, venomous spines which can cause painful wounds. 5. You'll want to keep a close eye on the area where you were stung. Gafftop Catfish, also known as Sail Catfish, Sailtop Catfish and Sailcats, are easily identified by a tall spike on their dorsal fin that sticks up like the sail of a ship. They have a thick blood line similar to a large redfish. Silvery below. But if you can't see the bottom of the live well then just cut em up and use em as. Preheat oven to 350F. For your own safety, head to shore right away. Gafftopsail Catfish, Bagre marinus. They also have 2 barbels on the chin. Gafftopsail Catfish. Incorporating baked or broiled catfish into your regular diet can help you promote a healthy weight and reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer. They are grayish silver and clock in around 1-2 pounds, but can grow up to 9 pounds. I started flipping them into the ice chest. The gafftopsail catfish is highly pursued as a game fish. It is very fast and will fight hard when caught. Recipe | Courtesy of Pittypat's Porch. There are lots of options available for buying the right cutting board for your catfish. Since they have such a large bony plate you have to get a pretty big one to make it worth you while. Bagre marinus Gafftopsail catfish were named for the tall fin that rises from their back like a sail. ( e) Medium aquariums have at least 113 Litres (30 US Gallons). this is a short basic guide on those pesky cats on where you can find them. As for gaftop and catfish (fresh water), we kept all that were legal. Step 1: It is best to start cutting the skin of the fish from the top fin down towards the tail. 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