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[pwn50m3 f15h3r]

Is it a good idea to remove the scales from my catch before I remove the guts & gills? It is legal and removing the scales before the guts is easier. Should I try this the next time i'm on the water?

[dennisK]

Is it a good idea to remove the scales from my catch before I remove the guts & gills? It is legal and removing the scales before the guts is easier. Should I try this the next time i'm on the water?

If it's a salmon or trout leave the scales on. There are hardly any on the fish, It's not like a sunfish or pickerel.

[pwn50m3 f15h3r]

If it's a salmon or trout leave the scales on. There are hardly any on the fish, It's not like a sunfish or pickerel.

Salmon have relatively small scales, so they're harder to pick out when eating. I think I should rake the scales of the salmon that I catch so my family won't have to pick scales out of their food so much.

[nscoho]

When eating salmon you should learn to fillet the fish. cook skin down then one flip

[Sandman]

Simply remove the skin (and therefore the scales) before serving, it slides off easily once cooked.

[zabber]

I think I should rake the scales of the salmon that I catch so my family won't have to pick scales out of their food so much.

You certainly can, but it's just extra, unnecessary work. As others have said, the skin slides off easily once baked so you shouldn't have to pick out any scales. If you eat the skin, that's another story and -- obviously -- you'll want to scale the fish.

I don't think it's illegal to transport a scaled fish, so feel free to scrape away before slitting the belly. Regs just say:
Leave the head, tail and all fins on
your catch until you get them to your
permanent (ordinary) residence.
We suggest you immediately remove the
gills and internal organs of any fish you
keep to reduce spoilage.

[pwn50m3 f15h3r]

When eating salmon you should learn to fillet the fish. cook skin down then one flip

I prefer to steak fish, thank you.

You certainly can, but it's just extra, unnecessary work. As others have said, the skin slides off easily once baked so you shouldn't have to pick out any scales. If you eat the skin, that's another story and -- obviously -- you'll want to scale the fish.

My whole family eats fish skin.

[Sam6140]

I prefer to steak fish, thank you.My whole family eats fish skin.

starving much?

[pwn50m3 f15h3r]

Is it a good idea to remove the scales from my catch before I remove the guts & gills? It is legal and removing the scales before the guts is easier. Should I try this the next time i'm on the water?

There is a lot of nutrients in fish skin, and it is actually quite tasty if you know how to eat it.

[StillAqua]

There is a lot of nutrients in fish skin, and it is actually quite tasty if you know how to eat it.

Right you are...most high end seafood restaurants take great pride in the crispy skin they serve along with the fish. Very tasty if yoy know how to cook it at home (after scaling).

[Animal Chin]

I was thinking about scaling the fish at the river. It's a huge pain to do at home, and I don't know if steelhead are similiar, but those aren't small scales in my book.

Crispy skin is pretty damn awesome. On this cooking show I saw (can't remember which one), they claim the key to extra cirspy skin is to carefully put a couple of slits on the skin, taking care not to cut deeper than the fat layer or else the fish will dry out on the grill.

A lot of picky eaters for fishermen. I swear half the people on this forum don't like to eat fish, which seems odd to me.

[Noahs Arc]

A lot of picky eaters for fishermen. I swear half the people on this forum don't like to eat fish, which seems odd to me.

Yea... Weird. It's almost like they just fish because they enjoy the sport of fishing.

[Animal Chin]

....ahhh..forget it

[mbowers]

I think you can legally scrape away scales wherever you want on the water.  You might want to put the fish in a good plastic bag after scaling as I would guess the skin will absorb melted ice from the cooler much faster when the slime and scales are gone and probably degrade the quality of the skin for eating.  The skin will probably dry out quickly too.

Good on you for eating the skin, I know I should try fish skin more often but I just don't like it yet.

[fishtooth]

I always fry the skin in some spices, its delicious