How Big were the Gar????

Some people will sell their momma for a nice big choupique . They are good but you have to put a lil more into preparing than a regular fish .

Some famous cook tryed to introduce Asian carp into our diet . But like the nutria rat , it hasn't really taken off yet . I've skinned plenty nutria and my dad used to make me cook the carcasses sometimes for my dogs , instead of just letting it go to waste . I would put 5 or 6 in a crawfish pot and boil the meat and then feed it to my dogs . Lol I would rather eat nutria than Asian carp ! It didn't smell all that bad .

Ps: The first coonass that ate the first crawfish must of been some hungry huh !

^5 Choupic I'll bet that Asian isn't as Good as thoses Mudbugs tho !!!!!

We probably caught 5 gar, but they were all on the small size. We caught 6 or 7 choupique and the smallest was probably 18'. They are an awesome fighting fish to catch. Several tore up the surface as soon as they were hooked. One I did not bring in was massive and blew up the surface when I hooked him, but his teeth sliced the line.

I have decided to bring a few home to eat next trip.

Fishfearme, is there a reason for no ice. I assume this fish is best eaten fresh, the day of catch.

I hate throwing back something I could eat because it is not popular. Sheephead is one of my favorite saltwater fish. Fried or pan seared for tacos!

If you put the choupique in a ice chest they die quick . If you put them in a wet burlap sack they stay alive longer . They can breath longer than a regular fish out of water . As long as you keep them wet in a shady place they wont die as quick as they would closed off to air in an ice chest . It's best to clean them while they're still kicking . The meat stays together better .

Redfish-BR....Use 40-45 lbs test leaders 10/12' long they have@Walmart buy pack for $3+ worth every Penny and use 2-3/0 hook

Jess

lil gator@Rigolets released safely after unhookin it

^5 fishfearme!!!!!!

Tell what else we used dem Choupique for Trapping Bait in steel traps to trap Coons&Mink, After you freeze it Whole after cutting off head it was like Paste Coons Loved it

Jls I never did use bait on traps . Every time I used bait I'd catch a stinkin ole opposum . So I'd just put my traps on well worn trails . My dad used to use bird parts , put a wing inbetween the roots of big cypress and the trap would go underneath the water just below the wing . That was his famous mink set ...

Fishfearme some folks dont know what theyre missing ! they can have those redfish . It wouldn't bother me if I never ate another redfish . Specks are pretty good though . Sounds like your paw n law was the real deal !

The swamp is an opportunistic place . You will never beat the swamp , you have to let it come to you . Sounds funny but it's true . When the old people went deer hunting and didn't see any deer they came home with bec croche , or a sack of crawfish . Same with fishing ... Maybe they went sacalait fishing and couldn't find anything but choupique . They ate choupique that night . So the old people did what they had to do to survive . Point is they didn't go hungry much once they got established and learned the land . And here we are , stuck with there old traditions and strange eats . Lol

Me and my son went rabbit hunting with some guys from bayou sorrel . We only killed like 5 rabbits but we brought home a boat load of mushrooms that grow on the bottom of the willows . They almost made me wreck the boat when they saw the first cluster of the mushrooms . Lol they didn't just figure that out on their own , it was passed down . It was my first experience with the mushrooms but they were as good as any . Theyre called oyster mushrooms . I've picked an ate them ever since . They're great fried with ranch dressing as dip !

I've caught ummmm all kinda ways Choupic w/ bait w/o bait, One day my mom told me to go check on my brother he had went to run his traps after school. So i headed in the Wood got to his trap run Followed it way then i seen him sitting by a Tree. I said hey what you doin he said come ya I walked over there he sat there on the ground w/his finger in the trap and too short of chain to get it loose, LMAO!!!! I will never forget that Day!!!!!

Find someone with a recipe for gar balls or patties. Then use the Choupique. If you can not find a recipe. Let me know and I'll email u one. Damm good eating. way better than gar.

papa check y email sent recipe we use AWESOME ON EITHER

May have to try it. We have a recipe were you mix some smashed boil potatos in the meat with all the vegs. the make patties and past them in flower before frying them. Damm good. I'm overseas now and do not have the recipe with me.

Great information, particularly the burlap sack. I will use one for sure. Would love to try some ibus or heron, but will stay on the right side of Wildlife and Fisheries on that one.

Redfish if you pour cold water or dump a lil ice on the burlap sack once you have the choupique in there , it'll last a long time in there . Just don't let them dry out and get hot .