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SurfRanger95 · Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 7:56 am Post subject: Big Hardheads (part 2)

Howdy y'all:

Just gave some of my employees a run down on the fishing this past weekend and they chastised me for not keeping the hardheads. They say they are great to eat. I know I am a relativly new to Texas surf fishing but I have never heard of anyone actually eating hardheads. Can anyone verify their edibility (I know some species of saltwater catfish can not be eaten)?
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"I don't wanna live on that kind of island, no I don't wanna swim in a roped off sea. It's too much for me, too much for me; I gotta be where the wind and the water are free." -- Jimmy Buffet

"GUINESS IS GOOD FOR YOU!"

mastergunner · Horse Mullet Joined: 02 Mar 2005 Posts: 264

Hardheads are very good. If you like catfish then you will love all of those hardheads with no bag limit or size limit.
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Hardheads should be the state fish of Texas

skunked · Guest

I don't know about hardheads, but I heard that small jackfish under 10 lbs is excellent as long as you bleed it and put it on ice as soon as possible. I read it in the Florida Sportsman Magazine. I'll see if I can find the link to the story. They said it was good fried, blackened, grilled & baked. One of these days I'll try it.

CatFishin · Guest

I have never ate a hardhead, but i think the reason they are hardly ever kept, is because of there size. They are realatively small compared to the fresh water catfish. A good sized one in the surf should be the same in taste as a freshwater cat. Also heard they like to eat the mullet in other states. I'll pass on them.

Zano · Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 2:31 pm Post subject:

Ranger, hardheads out of the surf taste fine. The ones out of the turn-basins, stagnent channels, brackish backwaters, arroyos, and other "dirty waters" in the bays taste like, well, use your imagination. Those from the clean waters of clean bays taste fine also. The surf hardheads are the best though. The problem with hardheads is the amount of flesh from each fish, minimal for the work involved, even from the large fish. They're just not worth the trouble in my book.

Here's a funny story. 30yrs ago, during a university wildlife course study at Welder Wildlife refuge (near Port A), one of my class mates from Plainview (TX panhandle) made a fishing trip to Port A on a day off from class, his first salt water fishing experience in his life. He came back late that night with a 48 qt. Igloo full of fillets! He was so excited, catching 100's of "channel cats"! Me being from the valley (Port Mansfield to SPI area) and the only salt water fisherman in the group, I asked him where he caught the "channel cats". He said off the jetties at Port A. I asked him if he knew what hardheads were. He said he never heard of them. I never told him, didn't want to burst his most excited bubble. Best damn fish fry I've ever eaten, each fillet was bite sized! True story. -Zano Mr. Green

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"Throughout our life, we will only meet two people with whom we can agree with 100% of the time. Ourself, which we shouldn't; and God, which we should." -Me

Erick · Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 7:19 pm Post subject:

Could they have been gafftop? Those are good eating and can get to a fairly good size.

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Erick- Cast till it MHz

Bluffer · Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 7:25 pm Post subject:

Gafftop are damm good eatin...most are afraid to mess with em though!
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Fish hard, fish the Bluff. Surrounded by water!
-A quaint little drinking village with a fishing problem-

SurfRanger95 · Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 6:24 am Post subject:

These were the good ole fashioned hard head -- a.k.a Mastergunner's nominee for "Texas State Fish". Laughing

I appreciate all the valuable insight from eveyone as always. This is one of the great things about this site. . . provides a forum to learn things that I never knew about before. Thanks again and I will post the results of the next great "San Antonio Hardhead Fry" Laughing

_________________
"I don't wanna live on that kind of island, no I don't wanna swim in a roped off sea. It's too much for me, too much for me; I gotta be where the wind and the water are free." -- Jimmy Buffet

"GUINESS IS GOOD FOR YOU!"

Guest · Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 8:40 pm Post subject:

Theres been many days i almost kept em, LOL!!!!!!!!!!
SEE YA!

Big John · Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 9:46 pm Post subject:

Yep, out of CC bay they smell of kerosene or something like it when cooking. Never tried to eat one from the surf. Have landed some monster gafstops in the surf, but few and far between. Biggest on was off Caldwell during the winter at night. Casted off the left side straight towards the rocks as far as I could with a small shark bait. Thought I had a shark it fought so hard. Must have went 30" easily, with a mouth so big I could put my fist in it.
_________________
Give a man a fish, feed him for a day.

Teach a man to fish, he'll be broke and hungry the rest of his life!

John Sullivan
Native Corpus Christian
Currently Displaced in San Antonio

SurfRanger95 · Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2006 7:15 am Post subject: Hey Big John

Hey Big John: Hows the move going? Hope ya got settled and are enjoying SA. It is a nice town, be better if it had a beach. Take er easy.
_________________
"I don't wanna live on that kind of island, no I don't wanna swim in a roped off sea. It's too much for me, too much for me; I gotta be where the wind and the water are free." -- Jimmy Buffet

"GUINESS IS GOOD FOR YOU!"

Big John · Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2006 10:17 am Post subject:

Almost settled in now. Still have about 20 boxes left to unpack. Man you just never realize how much sh*t you have until you move! Laughing

I posted a classified to give away all the bozes I have already unpacked.

At least the beach on PINS is only 2 1/2 hours out from here! Alot better than say Dallas or Houston. Razz

_________________
Give a man a fish, feed him for a day.

Teach a man to fish, he'll be broke and hungry the rest of his life!

John Sullivan
Native Corpus Christian
Currently Displaced in San Antonio

REDFISHER · Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2006 10:56 am Post subject:

Bluffer · Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2006 8:11 pm Post subject:

That sucks, you couldnt run me away from the coast....no way Im leavin!
_________________
Fish hard, fish the Bluff. Surrounded by water!
-A quaint little drinking village with a fishing problem-

carlb · Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2006 9:18 pm Post subject: Planked hardhead

On the East Coast they have what they call "planked <xxx>", where <xxx> is the fish of your choice. I've heard that this is the best way to prepare hardheads.

First, you get a (preferably) hardwood (oak, ash, etc.) plank about 6" wide, by however-your-fish-is-long, by 1/2" thick. To this you fasten the hardhead fillets, using mono leader or stainless hooks/screws/nails. You prepare a basin of marinade into which you can submerge both the plank and the fillet(s). You might have to weight this down with a plate or two. You put this in the fridge to soak overnight. You may want to add some extra garlic or tabasco, or your favorite herbs (chopped or minced).

The next day you prepare in your grill/smoker a bed of coals two thick and let them get all covered with ash, but just barely, so you get a "hot, hot" when holding your palm about 4-6 inches above. This is perfect.

Remove the plank and hardhead fillets from the marinade basin, place over the coals, and cover. Cook for 8-10 minutes.

Remove the plank from the fire, take off the hardhead fillets and discard, then chew on the plank.

Delicious!

Regards,

Carl B.
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"Hooks shined while you wait; no charge." - Mr. BaitRobber