Herring

[A Norfolk Boy]

Went fishing last night as unfortunately I can't get out this next couple of days when the wind will be up. Few decent whiting and a nice plump dab.

 

Anyway, got back and found I'd had 60 herring delivered, caught a few hours earlier. 10 are drying off after curing and going in the smoker any minute now, another dozen are salted ready for pickling, the rest gutted and in the freezer for bait. They are a decent size and are 6 for a quid. At that price nobody should complain that good fresh fish is too expensive. Apparently there's plenty out there but they're obviously not fashionable.

[wurzel]

Hello NorfolkBoy

Quote

the rest gutted and in the freezer for bait.

 

Why gut them?

[DoubleShotDamo]

Hello NorfolkBoy

Quote

the rest gutted and in the freezer for bait.

 

Why gut them?

 

 

They freeze/thaw better if guts are removed. Thought you, being a commercial bloke, would have known that!

[Gillies]

Up here in the Western Isles, they take your arm of for Herring .... one of my favourite fish on the plate, and of course when smoked (kippered) .....mmmmm getting hungry. Hope you enjoy !!!!!!!!!!!

 

Had a lot of Thornbacks on Herring as bait this year.

 

Gillies

[wurzel]

Quote

They freeze/thaw better if guts are removed. Thought you, being a commercial bloke, would have known that!

 

I know that they fish a lot better with the guts in, you are throwing away all the juicy bits. It might not make so much difference if you are cutting the fillets in to stips but if cutting them in chunks, best bait for rays, then guts in are much better. They do need to be frozen with in hours of being caught, the next day is no good.

[A Norfolk Boy]

Roger that Wurzel. Mine is for strips for the beach but come the back end of the season I'll put some whole ones down.

 

Just had the roes, smoked, mashed up to get the eggs out, added to some mayonnaise and on a thick bit of toast. Lovely.

[DoubleShotDamo]

Quote

They freeze/thaw better if guts are removed. Thought you, being a commercial bloke, would have known that!

 

I know that they fish a lot better with the guts in, you are throwing away all the juicy bits. It might not make so much difference if you are cutting the fillets in to stips but if cutting them in chunks, best bait for rays, then guts in are much better. They do need to be frozen with in hours of being caught, the next day is no good.

 

Fair enough, but down here in Sussex whiting is about your lot if you use herring!

[five bellies]

all my winter thorn backs in the thames eastuary Taken on herring to the exclusion of all else Top Bait untill Its peeler time.

[sam-cox]

Herring out fished squid 10 to one for me on the thornies from febuary until may.

[Norm B]

Herring out fished squid 10 to one for me on the thornies from febuary until may.

I love fresh herrings both for eating and bait. Unfortunately the 'fresh' herrings we get here are days old and good for nothing except dogfish bait.