Gurnard Gourmet

[Fugazi]

I managed to spend 8 hours Saturday anchored on what previously had been a Bass hot spot, but we only managed to catch small Bream and Gurnard. Having read that the Gurnard is highly prized by the French to eat, I thought I

[Paul D]

You must be barking mad eating a Gurnard

[plaicemat]

Either you didn't have a red gurnard or you cocked up the cooking somehow. Not for nothing is the gurnard known as the chicken of the sea. If I ever catch a decent sized specimen, I'm highly delighted. I enjoy cooking and eating and do know what good food tastes like, and gurnard is exceedingly good.

 

Terry.

[Newboy]

They are delicious (no doubt Alun will come up with a recipe).

 

Try gutting it asap, the gut tend to rot quickly. they have small bones along the lateral line so try filleting it into 4 qtrs (2 really as the 2 underside is so small it's not really worth the effect unless the fish is a decent size).

 

I found the flesh is really sweet, better than black bream, similar to red bream.

[Swainiac]

Why bother filleting?? Simply clean the fish, slit the back bone, each side of the bony ridge, squeeze in some lemon, pop a few herbs inside the cavity, wrap the whole lot in foil and bake it. They are delish!!! I think I've only five left in my freezer!!!

 

Rich

[Fugazi]

Well the one I had was quite big sort of brownish with blue edges to the pectoral fins so I assume it was a red gurnard? It was gutted on the boat and cooked as instructed, but I think in future I'll stick to the bass, bream etc and leave these 'chickens' for the French.

 

Gordon H

 

[Mike Fox]

Might have been a tub gurnard Gordon...

[plaicemat]

I think you're correct, Mike. There is no doubt about a red gurnard being red; it is not 'sort of brownish'.

 

Terry.

[plaicemat]

Not sure if this is going to work but did it look like this?

 

[plaicemat]

Hoorah, it did work. That's a Tub Gurnard. Hopefull, this is a Red Gurnard.

 

 

 

 

Terry.

[Swainiac]

Terry.......which one is Bernard the Gurnard???

 

Rich

[duncan]

Bernard is currently away with his mate Herbert.

 

right pair of bank robbers

[plaicemat]

I'd heard Bernard and Herbert had spent a night in jail after too much sherbet.

 

Terry.

[Fugazi]

Brilliant pictures Terry, I now know what a Tub Gurnard is, something you don't want to eat.

 

Gordon H