How to salt herring to preserve them ?

[Hotrod]

 Anyone?

[Bucktail]

Herring are pretty mushy fish (even when salted).  If you'd like to try it, first fillet them and dip each side into some kosher salt (like you are breading chicken cutlets).  Then freeze immediately.  If you can vacuum pack them, it would be better. 

Even so, I'm not sure they would hold up very long on your hook when thawed.  

Maybe others have had better results with them and can add their tips.    

[catfish hunter]

to eat or for strip baits? for baits fillet them and cover in kosher salt ,layer them in a tuper ware container. use plenty of salt and they wont go bad

[IrishAyes]

Catfish has it right. PLENTY of salt is the key. Let it sit over night, drain any liquid that may accumilate on the bottom and add more salt. I usually wrap them in foil, 6-8 fillets per foil.

Stop by my house in the spring. We will be hitting the Delaware every chance we get for herring. 

Need a lot of it for bait if the macs don't show up.

[Hotrod]

Thanks Guys.

This question was emailed to me through the site.

[Fishin Dude]

I hope the Macks do show up. They make for a fun trip and loads of bait. I salt them like the herring fillets and then pack in bags of 6 or so, great strip bait.    <'((((><

[IrishAyes]

When the macs come in, I will be going out for them. Any one hears of mac action, please give us a heads up. 

[Pfishingruven]

I have always salted on drying racks...the fluid leaks down below and makes a mess!  I am going to try the tupperware or aluminum foil trick, thanks!  Will the tupperware or aluminum foil work for clams too...I don't see why not, just curious if anyone else does clams that way?

Thanks

 

[IrishAyes]

Here is what you do to eliminate the mess.

Get two rectangular tupperware or similar containers of the same size.

Check to see how they fit when they are stacked on inside the other. There typically is a gap between the two.

Drill holes in the bottom of one of the containers.

Put this container inside (on top) of the other container.

Put your strips on the hole-drilled container and salt them down.

The liquid will drip into the second (lower) container leaving you with little to no mess to clean. Just empty the lower container.

[Bucktail]

Joe, I like the idea making a container to drain them.

When I had the B&T we used to fillet truckloads of (not herring) but bunker and mackerel!  Then we would salt them as I said previously and lay the fillets in tubs.  We would let them settle overnight, as the others have said.  That is important.  I miss-spoke earlier when I said to freeze immediately. 

My bad.  That's what I get when I try to post from work.  

The next morning we would take the fillets and vacuum seal them in small packs and stick them in the freezer. 

[Luna Sea 5]

very mushy bait, reguardless, unless fresh

[Pfishingruven]

very mushy bait, reguardless, unless fresh

Yeah, it is...my father eats salted pickled herring(a European thing).  It does not look appetizing!

 

[ped579]

Pickled herring is great, especially with saltines and a few beers, ummmmm...

[Pops Soul]

I have used Capt.Joe's Method and it works great It's also a great way on practicing and improving on your knife skills 

[Hotrod]

Just found out.

This is to Eat Them.

[ped579]

Here is an old recipe from 1796 that sounds great.

Mrs. B.P. Benet, Lathrop Lodge, Swindon, Wilts.Her Book of Recipes from about 1796.

Take fresh Herring, gutted & take out the Belly's, then sprinkle Salt upon 'em & in 'em; & let 'em lye 3 days; then take a Quart of Clarette, & a Pint of white Wine Vinegar, & when they are drained well season 'em with Salt, Pepper, Cloves, Mace & Nutmegs. Put 'em close in a Pot. Boil your Pickle, & pour it boiling hot upon them, covering 'em close 8 or 9 days. Stop 'em close & tye a leather over the Pot, & let 'em not be opened for a Month or 2. The quantity of Pickle will bear 2 doz: Herrings.

I would put them in a Bell Jar for sanitation purposes today.

This is close to what my grandmother's recipe was she used the jars as well.

Good luck