Fish ID question, and PSA about Saba (Pacific Mac) Sushi
 

Hey All,

I was out fishing in the stretch of coast that shall not be named, and had a pretty wild experience....

In the 150+ column, I was getting bit on the flat fall almost every drop by these little guys. First time in 3 years. *looks* like a white seabass, though I've never caught one and heard they have stripes when juvenile.

Also, I caught a couple of salami sized greenbacks on the flatfall as well, and decided after seeing a recent Outdoor Chef Life to try prepping them for sushi.
Bled and spiked, right before putting on ice. Then a 1 hour salt cure + 30 min vinegar cure.
I couldn't get the pinbones out like he did, so I just opted to cut out the bloodline altogether. Waaay milder without it.

A lot healthier than most of the fish we pull up, and easily at the top for sustainability.
I must say it was *surprisingly* good. 10/10. My favorite was with a little yuzu ponzu and minced scallion.
Also served over shredded jicama for a "necessity is the mother of invention" play on spiralized daikon for a garnish.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CEcLSN4B9ot/

damnit it dropped my photo for some reason for the Fish ID:

Tomcod
 

As I thought. Looks definitely like a Pacific Tomcod

https://www.pierfishing.com/wp-conte...od-770x480.jpg

White croaker is your mystery fish.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_croaker

I eat mackerel all of the time, you are right though. Kill and bleed then on ice. Cut out the blood line. I filet and pan fry and have never had a complaint and my wife is picky about which fish she eats.

mackerel is got dang delicious.

White Croaker

Is this what me and my buddies used to catch off the pier in the way back long ago and call "ronkies"?

Yep. White Croaker. Some call them one and the same, but the picture Ben found looks more like yours.

As a kid I called them sewer trout.

X2
 

It was on list for not recommend to eat. How did the mackerel recipe work out?

White Croaker does have a nice fillet, but have been known to have high levels of toxins. They were on the do not eat list decades ago.

Now I know to keep my baits that get lazy. I got a monster saba yesterday, probably 14-15" long, maybe the biggest I have ever caught. Sounds like I cold have turned him into food instead dragging him around on a hook for and hour or 2.

Saba Sushi
 

I also did some mackerel sushi recently based on the Outdoor Chef's Life video ... also after coming home empty handed I think my wife was beginning to think I had a girlfriend :)

Brought home 10 macks - the 6 largest went towards sashimi and nigiri and the 4 smallest baked in the oven with salt, lemon and olive oil

excellent, was your wife happy?

And more importantly - how did the girlfriend feel about you taking all the fish for your wife?

Ha! I don't think I could handle a wife AND a girlfriend and still expect to have enough time to get out on the water. Maybe in retirement.

And yes, wife was happy with macs, although still skeptical that the benefit > investment

go quail hunting, she will think all fish come cheap.

Perfect WSB size bait.... :wsb:

That's an amazing looking spread, and I feel ya. I'm definitely guilty of pushing the needle too far when I'm not working on too many days on the water and having to make up for lost time at home :D

Agreed on the amount of work that goes in too. Definitely feels like one of those where it's less tedious if you have a good number to assembly line, but if it's just 3 or 4, it's a bit of work for a snack :)