While Crabbing...

[DC_SeanTaylor21]

Hey today I set my first crab pot in the Indianalantic, FL I put two big leg/thigh pieces of chicken. I don't know how long I should leave them out there for though. I checked them after 4 hrs and 2 of my 3 pots were empty and one had a blowfish, a few hermit crabs, and a spider crab i think it was. Is it ok to leave it out for 3 days or should I check it tomorrow? Also I cough this fish I think it is a trout but I am not too sure because I don't see spots. It was 18 Inches but I put it back and cough another one shortly after I included a picture. I know this is a crabbing site but I am just curious what type of fish that is?

[Joe Crabs]

Looks like a snapper, baby bluefish.

[cedar999]

Looks like a snapper, baby bluefish.

I've caught a lot of bluefish and snappers, and I don't think so, looks like something else to me.

[realcraw]

I think its a Lady fish,

[Mr. Breeze]

I think its a Lady fish,

Yes,  I think so too.  Known as 'poor man's tarpon'

[Titan1051]

That is a lady fish.   Use to catch them regularly in that area   

[John WAsmuth]

Yep, thats a Lady Fish, fun to fight with on real light tackle.

[spoggy]

Yup, ladyfish. My brother and I can catch them all day long on silver Johnson Sprites all through the mangroves around Sanibel Island.

Steve

[DC_SeanTaylor21]

Yea, I was using light tackle they love to run with it. So is a 18 inch "Lady Fish" a keeper? Would that one be considered small? Are they good to eat?

[spoggy]

They're actually quite tasty, but they have about a billion little bones that are next to impossible to get out. I've thought about running them through a grinder (like gar) and making fried fish balls out of them, just never tried yet.

Steve

[DC_SeanTaylor21]

Do you know the size requirement to keep them?.I tried to Google it but none of the sites say

[slotr1]

According to this site there are no regulations at all on this fish.

http://www.thebaitbox.com/Regulations.htm#ladyfish

[trent]

there is no size restrictions on ladyfish in florida. some people use them for cut bait. they get up to around 5-6 pounds in size.

 it's true they taste pretty good but there is a trick to cleaning and preparing them. filet as with any fish but leave the skin on - then take a spoon and gently scrape the meat off the skin leaving the million or so hair-like bones stuck to the skin.

the scraped meat will have a sort of a mushy consistancy but you can make it into soup or better yet mix it with bread crumbs, veggies and spices for some tasty fish cakes (although crab-cakes are better in my opinion).

trent

[rpbayly]

it's true they taste pretty good but there is a trick to cleaning and preparing them. filet as with any fish but leave the skin on - then take a spoon and gently scrape the meat off the skin leaving the million or so hair-like bones stuck to the skin.

the scraped meat will have a sort of a mushy consistancy but you can make it into soup or better yet mix it with bread crumbs, veggies and spices

trent

second on the bread crumbs and spices - look for a gar-balls recipe (in gravy)

[John WAsmuth]

True, not bad eating whe you use it for fish cakes. Cleaned as stated above it is good also in gumbos and etoufee's.

[Crabslayer]

Awww, you caught Mr. Limpet's lady friend. Now what's he going to do?

[Crabs_R_Yummy]

cool lookin fish nice catchhh haha