What sharks can you eat?
You caught a shark and are hungry, can you eat it?The answer is yes.The shark's origins go all the way back to the Ming Dynasty in China.It is a common food in many places around the globe.You can find shark in soups, grilled, barbecued, in taco, as steaks, on kebabs and even as jerky.There are a few things every fisherman should know.
I'm not a fan of long line commercial fishing vessels taking massive amounts of sharks as bycatch and I don't advocate for the disgusting and wasteful practice of shark finning.I am a big fan of hook and line angling.I believe that this alone and an awareness of how shark meat is wasted unnecessarily is an important part of protecting apex predators.
I am hoping that you will see that sharks can be a catch of their own, which will help educate fish eaters that this particular order of fish should not be stigmatized.I'm off my soapbox.
When fishing for sharks to eat, you have to prepare before you get to the beach or boat.A shark fighting your line can cause it to weaken and begin to degrade.
The taste of the meat can be affected by the amount of lactic acid and carbon dioxide in the blood and muscles of a shark.
The higher the quality of the meat, the less trauma a shark or fish goes through.You will want to reel in the shark as quickly as possible to make sure it doesn't get tired before hitting your boat or the beach.
In general, sharks prefer oily baits.It's important to get the right shark rig.There is an excellent beginner's guide at On the Water.
The urea in the shark's blood begins to break down into ammonia which is absorbed into the flesh and expelled through the skin.sharks urinate through their skin
shark meat that has not been prepared quickly and effectively can smell and taste like ammonia.
If you want to avoid ammonia taste in the meat, bleed, gut, and clean it as soon as possible.Get the fish onboard and gut it right away.Some states require whole fish to be counted.If you gut it immediately, there shouldn't be a problem with strong urea presence.
Start by cutting the spine near the front of the gills to kill the shark.Cut the shark's tail to remove the caudal arteries.Due to the shark's leathery skin, a good quality filet knife is a must.
The shark's heart slows as it pumps blood from the animal.After the shark has been bled, put it on ice.You are ready to transfer your catch to your kitchen or somewhere you want to break it down.
Do you want to keep the shark's skin on your cuts?The skin should be removed with a pair of pliers at the start of breaking down the animal.
The shark's skin should be cut a few millimeters past the skin to remove the outermost layers of the flesh which are more red and contain more blood.The shark's skin can be removed after the meat has been cooked.
If you want to draw out the flavor of ammonia from the shark's flesh, place your pieces in a pan or tub with lemon juice or buttermilk.The acid in lemon juice will start cooking the meat if you keep it in the solution for too long.
The range for soaking the shark is from 5 to 10 minutes for lemon juice and up to 24 hours for buttermilk.The fillets are ready to be cooked or placed in a bag and put in the freezer after soaking.
Some sharks don't make for good eating, but there are a few that do.
Some people think sharks in their middle years of life taste better with older shark's meat being tough and tight and younger sharks having little meat to offer.
The FDA lists sharks as having high levels of mercury.Some precautions can be taken for pregnant women when it comes to seafood.
Before fishing for sharks, it is a good idea to research the different species you are likely to catch.Some sharks are abundant and can be eaten, but others are not and should not be released.
You can hire an experienced guide to help you track your knowledge and experience.Some guides shy away from landing sharks, so research and ask questions about a specific guide's philosophy and methods.
There's no shortage of great shark recipes online, but this one is particularly on point.It calls for shark steaks with mango and salsa.This is the type of recipe that will help draw out the strong taste of fish.The health benefits of mango alone justify the recipe for fish.It works well with shark meat.
If you want to release any evidence of odor, you might consider soaking your catch in milk overnight.
Whether grilled or fried, shark meat has a firm texture.It stands up to most prep no problem, so you may want to experiment with several cuts.
Don't be afraid!If you follow the guidelines in the article, you can try shark meat for the first time.I don't like the amount of sharks that suffer in commercial nets and long lines.I hope you take an active stance in the fight for the survival of the fish.
Getting to take your catch home for dinner after fishing for sharks can make the experience even better.Although shark isn't as traditional of a meal as fish, with the right handling, preparations, and cooking, shark can become a delicious addition to your favorite seafood recipes.If someone asks you "can you eat shark", you can tell them yes.
Some people don't think you can eat catfish.Those are the people I don't like.The story should be read.