Steve caught a Red Fish!

And, it was the proper size for keeping. This Red Fish was 21-1/2" long, so he kept it and prepared it for us for dinner -yum! Not all of the fish we catch in the Braden River are tasty . . . . we do not usually keep catfish (hardheaded and gafftopsail) or Jack Crevalles. There's some dispute over the Jacks - if they are trash fish or treasure fish . . . but Steve only keeps them if he needs fish to feed the Blue Crabs he's keeping in an underwater pen he made. He has a crab trap where he catches crabs. He saves the males only (let the females go - more crabs!), and cooks only the larger males to make a yummy crab dip! He secures them in the pen he made, held to the dock in the braden river, until he has enough to work with.

I believe there are other kinds of catfish found elsewhere that can be good to eat, but what we have here in the brackish water of the tidal Braden River is not worth it! For one thing, the gafftopsail catfish has a number of slime covered barbs and the hardheaded has some along it's fins. I know for sure the gaff catfish barbs are poisonous - argh! Steve carefully unhooks them & throws them back. 

But anyway, this was much enjoyed. It met all the rules of "in season" and size and tastyness! Steve said it was not much different than the talapia we buy at the store . . . but I thought it was great!! Extra pics of the preparation and happy smiles after dinner!