Bluefish Freezing Question

[blackadder]

Hello,

Well it looks like the wife is going to let me go fishing next weekend if I get my Honeydo list done this weekend. I want to take my kids Bluefishing for the first time. Since I will more likely (hopefully) catch more fish than we will eat or can give away and I have heard from numerous people that bluefish meat doesn't freeze well for eating my questions is would it be worth freezing some pieces with the skin on to use as Fluke bait next season or will it be ruined and not worth the effort? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Regards,

Chris

[IrishAyes]

If you want to freeze bluefish for bait get rid of MOST of the meat. You only need a little sliver of meat (if any at all) on the skin for it to be effective for bait.

When I skin bluefish for those who want to take the meat home to eat, I salt the skin down and bag it up for the freezer. When thawed it still had the oily content and flutters well in the water. The salt toughens it up so it's not mush when it's thawed.

[Luna Sea 5]

I would vacuum pack each piece separately. This way you won't have to thaw and re-freeze unused fillets.  If you put a tight, air seal on it, the meat will be fine all winter.  I would soak a skinless fillet in salt water, then bag it, then vacuum pack it.  If you don't have a professional packer, put the bag in a large pot of water.  The water will take all the air out of the bag.  leave the very top of the bag out of the water and seal it with all air out.   

[blackadder]

Hello,

Thanks for the tips hopefully we'll have a good trip and have a couple of dinners and some good bait for next season.

Regards,

Chris

[Kenny]

Good luck and have a great time with your kids Chris

[blackadder]

Hello,

Sorry to bother but one more question. The boat I will be going out on is anchoring up and chumming on the bluefish grounds. When I fluke fish I like to get there early and get a spot on the front of the boat is that still a good idea or should I get a different spot like the back?

Thansk for your time

Chris

[Offshore Madness]

GO FOR THE STERN good luck

[Luna Sea 5]

I like the stern.  When the mates chum the water from the bow, it will drift to the stern, keeping the stern in the chum slick longer then if you were on the bow. 

[wb]

stern

or tie a dingy off the stern and fish from there

[blackadder]

Hi All

Thanks for the info I will have to get there early and get the stern.

Regards,

Chris