March on Oak Island. The water temperature is below 60 and there's not much biting but puffer. That's great news! It's true that puffer don't put up much of a fight, unless you like the feeling of dragging in a football. However, they do make excellent table fair! I know what you're thinking, "You eat those things? I thought they were poisonous." This is a common misconception. The Japanese puffer, found in the Pacific Ocean can contain the neurotoxin tetrodotoxin, an extremely potent poison. However, the puffer we catch in the surf of North Carolina is the northern puffer which is not poisonous at all. Video: Puffer & the Pirates Deck How to Clean Puffer In this video above, we take a look at how simple it is to catch and clean puffer. We also stop by the Pirates Deck to check out their four pepper wings! However, if you're only interested in learning a quick and easy way to clean puffer, skip ahead to 7:30. Catching Puffer Catching puffer is reality easy. You can purchase a store bought double drop rig or make your own. Fishing with a small, #1 circle hooks will work fine, though some people prefer to use a j hook. Fresh shrimp is always best when fishing but puffer aren't all that picky. Puffer will eat frozen shrimp, squid and even cut mullet. Pay Attention to the Rod. Unlike whiting or bluefish, puffer don't make a big initial hit. Instead they sort of suck on the bait. Sometimes, if you are not holding your rod, they can take the bait without you even knowing they were there. Because of this, it's best to pay attention to your rod as opposed to leaving it in a sand spike. When you feel the tap tap, reel it in. At first you won't feel much. Puffer don't put up much of a fight. Then, the rod will feel very heavy, as if you have snagged a large clump of seaweed. This is because the puffer will puff up as you reel it in, making it feel very heavy. Video: How to Make Fish Tacos with Puffer
Cleaning and Cooking Cleaning puffer is easier that you might think. As mentioned earlier, Watch the first video, scroll to the end, around 7:30, to see how to clean the puffer. Unlike most fish, there is no need to filet them. Instead, a fork is used to peel the meat away from the rest of the fish. Fried puffer is very tasty! You don't need to worry about the bones. They come out in one single piece, more like cartilage than tiny bones you find in other fish. Fishing on Oak Island, NC
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Ian SandsFish along with Ian Sands of 'Sands in the Surf' on beautiful Oak Island, NC. We’re fishing the surf and surrounding areas targeting everything from puffer, to blues, to black and red drum, to sharpnose and bonnetheads. Archives
February 2021
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