SAND DABS - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

sasha · 09-02-2012, 06:23 PM

Well while I'm doing some home repairs for my parents my dad went fishing. He just came back with about a dozen sand dabs one nice white fish and 4 rock fish.
What is the best way to clean and prepare sand dabs??? and white fish???
Rockfish I might just filet and fry with butter and garlic...
Any ideas any of you folks might share..

pchen911 · 09-02-2012, 06:56 PM

Super easy to clean and prepare.

Scale if you want using a non-serrated knife, it adds a few seconds to the prep.

Cut the top side (the side away from the guts). From the edge to the spine, sever the spine. Leave the gut cavity intact.

Then just grab the head and pull out the entire content of the gut cavity.

(Roe will remain in the gut cavity, this is fine. ) I leave the bone on... not enough meat to fillet.

This is how I clean trout... Cut the back up to the spine, grab the head and pull out content.

To cook.

Salt and let rest for 10 minutes.
Pat with flour
Pan fry with enough oil to cover the fish.

Eat around the bone... You can probably eat the small bones and fins, they turn crispy after frying.

Hope that helps.

wade · 09-02-2012, 07:01 PM

sasha · 09-02-2012, 08:02 PM

Thanks guys, Just got done cleaning the fish. The sand dabs were real easy to clean following those instructions. tomorrow it would be cooking time..
Thanks again

Rufus · 09-03-2012, 05:17 AM

Or instead of frying, how about saute them in butter? MmmmMMm!

A little lemon juice and a teaspon of capers on top and you have a gourmet meal.

sasha · 09-03-2012, 09:24 AM

Rufus Its funny you said that. Thats how I were thinking of making the Dabs but the cappers are a great idea thanks.

taggermike · 09-04-2012, 12:54 PM

Sand dabs are super tasty. Just don't over cook them. Mike

sasha · 09-04-2012, 06:08 PM

Wow the sand dabs were gone sooo fast. everyone liked them better then rock fish or anything else.. I think its the new favroit fish of the family. Now i need to figure out where to catch them..

09-02-2012, 06:23 PM	#1
sasha Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 275	SAND DABS Well while I'm doing some home repairs for my parents my dad went fishing. He just came back with about a dozen sand dabs one nice white fish and 4 rock fish. What is the best way to clean and prepare sand dabs??? and white fish??? Rockfish I might just filet and fry with butter and garlic... Any ideas any of you folks might share..

09-02-2012, 07:01 PM	#3
wade Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oceanside Posts: 1,214	__________________

09-02-2012, 06:56 PM	#2
pchen911 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 218	Super easy to clean and prepare. Scale if you want using a non-serrated knife, it adds a few seconds to the prep. Cut the top side (the side away from the guts). From the edge to the spine, sever the spine. Leave the gut cavity intact. Then just grab the head and pull out the entire content of the gut cavity. (Roe will remain in the gut cavity, this is fine. ) I leave the bone on... not enough meat to fillet. This is how I clean trout... Cut the back up to the spine, grab the head and pull out content. To cook. Salt and let rest for 10 minutes. Pat with flour Pan fry with enough oil to cover the fish. Eat around the bone... You can probably eat the small bones and fins, they turn crispy after frying. Hope that helps.

09-02-2012, 08:02 PM	#4
sasha Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 275	Thanks guys, Just got done cleaning the fish. The sand dabs were real easy to clean following those instructions. tomorrow it would be cooking time.. Thanks again

09-03-2012, 05:17 AM	#5
Rufus Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Ocean Beach Posts: 90	Or instead of frying, how about saute them in butter? MmmmMMm! A little lemon juice and a teaspon of capers on top and you have a gourmet meal.

09-03-2012, 09:24 AM	#6
sasha Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 275	Rufus Its funny you said that. Thats how I were thinking of making the Dabs but the cappers are a great idea thanks.

09-04-2012, 12:54 PM	#7
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	Sand dabs are super tasty. Just don't over cook them. Mike

09-04-2012, 06:08 PM	#8
sasha Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 275	Wow the sand dabs were gone sooo fast. everyone liked them better then rock fish or anything else.. I think its the new favroit fish of the family. Now i need to figure out where to catch them..