RPT - Russian Gulch 2025-1-23 Sanddab Fishing

nice, looks like a productive day.  I've always thrown them back as I'm not sure how to  clean them, If I fillet them, doesn't seem like I would get any meat?  how do you prepare them?

Thanks,
Brian.

nice, looks like a productive day.  I've always thrown them back as I'm not sure how to  clean them, If I fillet them, doesn't seem like I would get any meat?  how do you prepare them?

Thanks,
Brian.

I like them to be 6"+.  I used 5/0 hooks to minimize catching small ones.  I remove the scales, cut the head partially off, and pull the gut out.
I like pan fry them.

Paul

Hey Paul,
Did you go out at RG?

Hey Paul,
Did you go out at RG?

Yes

Flour and butter golden brown and crunchy ummm

nice, looks like a productive day.  I've always thrown them back as I'm not sure how to  clean them, If I fillet them, doesn't seem like I would get any meat?  how do you prepare them?

Thanks,
Brian.

Paul thanks for the report. Looks like a productive day. Anecdotally speaking I think sole go deeper in the winter, but I’m probably wrong.

Brian I prepare them like Paul suggests as well. Diagonal cut from shoulder to behind anal cavity. Head, guts, everything as one piece. Then scale and remove fins if desired.

Keep the heads and guts by using a vac sealer. There are no spikes so it will seal up nice and store well for crab bait.

Paul thanks for the report. Looks like a productive day. Anecdotally speaking I think sole go deeper in the winter, but I’m probably wrong.

Thank you, John.  I heard a similar story from a local commercial fisherman.  I am not specifically targeting soles.  I fish from 100'-200' depth sandy bottom area.  As I fish more sanddabs, I hope to learn more about sole behavior.

Paul

Scales come off with with a hose nozzle, and when that small and you fry them the bones are edible!  I like having some fried dabs a couple times a year.  They are very tasty! 

I fry mine in butter but the bones don't get that soft. The annoying perimeter fin bones scrape free with a fork and then the rest of the meat comes away from the bones pretty cleanly. Very tasty. In Monterey every dab comes with an extra crunchy isopod or two in the gills.