Gafftop Catfish
 

I was wondering how many keep or have eaten gafftop catfish. I've heard they were good, but never have tried them. Well today I took the plunge. I caught two 4-5 pounders today while fishing big lake. Didn't have many specks so I said lets do this. Filleted them and soaked in salted water for about an hour, cut them up bite size and smacked them in the grease. Guess what? Not bad, not bad at all. In fact they were quite good. Not sure how they would hold up being frozen for any length of time, but fresh they were good. Might just have to keep them a little more often.

I have always heard they were good eating but never kept them due to the amount of slime they leave everywheres.

Alot of people just prefer trout and redfish. Some people just have have too much fish in the freezer already. I dont have that problem because i dont have time to go enough unfortunately though. I ate em when i was young. nothing wrong in my opinion.

cooked some last night. was the first time i had kept some. they will have a place in my chest from now on.

Ask MathGeek...dude loves Gaftop

I am certainly not gonna start fishing for them, but at least now I know. Maybe someone else can taste test dem hardheads, lol.

My buddies say they are good,, I've caught some larger ones and given them away in the past, the fillets look very nice as the meat is nice and white.

Not bad fresh just not very much meat on them.

It seems like on a 5lb fish the head weights 4.5 lbs.

Gafftops are as good as channel catfish, and it's easier to catch a mess of 3-7 pound fish.

Yields are not too bad either.

Hardheads are different: way too much gut, not much on the fillets, and prone to a strong fishy taste unless trimmed vary carefully, which does not leave much meat.

Gafftops are great in any application where a milder catfish is appropriate. Hardheads need to be fried and put into po-boys with mustard, peppers, horseradish, and tobasco. They are pretty good that way.

What is the difference between gafftops and hardheads?

They are two different catfish.

Hardheads have shorter fins and smaller mouths, and only get up to 2-3 lbs.

Gafftops have weirdly long fins and are common in the 4-7 lb range and can go over 10 lbs.

In the east, particularly Florida, I have seen "Saltwater Catfish" on the menu.

if im having a bad day of fishing, the gafftops are going in the icechest. I usually don't keep them unless they are at least 3lbs. They are skinnier than freshwater cats. Don't filety through the ribs, not worth it. cut behind the ribs and filet. Shave the red meat off and tastes just like a river cat. Nuttin wrong wit dat!!!

Gafftop is harder to kill than hardhead.. I prefer to rip gills out

So true!

Sailcats: Makes a slimey mess out of everything they touch, line, deck, ice chest, bags, cleaning station. Gotta always be on the look out for the spines, which are foreign to most people unlike fins and teeth. Cleaning is a pain and yield is average at best. I've done it just like I've done sheepshead, but similarly most all the time they go back unharmed (respect for the sea, no needless killing or maiming)

Hardheads: No chance I'm ever that hard-up except maybe in a survival situation.

Soak fillets in buttermilk and trim any red meat. Rinse with water and pat dry with paper towels. Put in a bowl mix in some mustard,la hot sauce,and some of your favorite seasonings. I like to use the la fishfry lemon pepper,fry in hot peanut oil. Redfish is good the same way.

I keep them if it's a slow day. I also keep Sheepshead if it's a slow day. I don't prefer them over trout but they are not bad eating at all.

I've ate them before, to me they taste just like any other fish. They just slime everything up real good,