King Mackeral
 

Guys, I feel it necessary to report this on here in hopes of saving someone else the trouble. I don't care for smoked kings at all and have not tried to eat one in 20 years. Well, last week a guy in my office from the great state of Texas was telling me how good kings were if cleaned and cooked properly. I listened very well and even made notes since I wanted to try it since we catch them all the time while snapper fishing. Up until now, I thought of them just as "cut bait".

Sure enough, we catch a 30lber on Saturday so I was quick to ice it down in the box and looked forward to trying his reciepe out. I cleaned the fish as instructed, insuring all the "red" was removed. Got home and put a tube of Ritz crackers in the food processer, added a little Tony's, then soaked the filets in egg wash. Then battered the fish in the Ritz dust, and fried the filets until golden brown.

Not sure what this guy was thinking, but that was the worst fish I have ever eaten. It was horrible texture and tasted like an old catcher's mit. Dang, it even smelt bad!!! I will now resort to doing what I do best with them and use them for cut bait!

100% agree....A blast to catch, but the worst tablefare I've ever had...Not appetizing when cleaning them either...That dirty ashtray looking meat turned me off of them right away...I've heard about blood letting them and such, but I'm just not game for that....Cut bait or release is the only thing I'd do....

My Paw-n-law lives in Apalachacola, they smoke them all the time and love it... Not my bag :shaking:...

To each their own...

Hydro

I like king personally. I like to cook em the day I catch em. I just batter the balls in flour and fry.

Agree, don't care for king or Spanish. Meat is dark gray, strong in taste, and very oily.

Kings
 

2x

Dang, that was nasty! You two can have all we catch. I even commented while cleaning them that there was no way the fish could be tasty. That flesh reminded me of some molded jello! lol - to each his own.

I like Spanish macs fresh ....ill eat those over trout anyday

Never ate a king

Same here, I thought dey was delicious. And spanish even better!

I will eat spanish but kings are nasty nasty IMO

I will fix King Mackerels in a sauce piquante. The strong tomato and jalapeno pepper flavors go good with the strong flavor of the Kings.

If I catch any Spanish.... I will cook them up fresh when I get home.

I think they are nasty as well but they make some good cut bait.

Spanish macs is called the breakfast fish by the old timers. We eat them with fried with eggs in the morning. Great stuff just have to get the red line out.

I like Kings. FOTI don't know how to cook them. Does Foti Cook @ ALL?????

Take a small legal king. Ball him or fillet him. Make sure the blood line is out. Cuting into bite size pieces or small chunks. A little mustard. Italian dressing, cajun power, lea and perrin, garlic powder, cajun seasoning.

You can broil it. or deep fry it. Serve with a good cole slaw. Its awesome.

Or you can also use the same recipe as a GAR. Making patties.

GOOOODDDDDD.

Biggun

PS. Foti!!! Just Kidding!!!

smoked king mack is awesome...i make a dip with mine.....it is great smoked because it is an oily fish and wont dry out as bad as a white meat fish.....i wouldnt eat it fried..