Leopard Sharks

Do you guys eat Leopard sharks? I used to catch them all the time from the Dumbarton Pier and off the rocks at the San Leandro Marina but I never bothered to take them home. I know some people do though.
Have you guys heard the whole peeing through their skin thing? Sounds like a pain in the ass to prepare for the table. Anyhow, just wondering, thanks fellas.

Jeff

Not sure how far back but there was some pretty complete discussion on the subject on the site,

Here's my opinion,

Leopard shark is a good eating fish BUT,

I'm pretty nonchalant about mercury warnings but I have seen the data and I wouldn't eat one, and they're allot more fun to catch than to clean.

but if you want to, (yes they do piss thru their skin so to speak)

First bleed it as soon as possible, either cut the gills or cut deep into the fish a few inches behind the anal opening until you hit the artery (evidenced by allot of blood). Then after that get it buried in ice as soon as you can. Then fillet it, cut off all the dark meat and finally soak the fillets in whole milk in the refrig overnight (to get rid of the piss smell, yes this works).  THEN prepare as you would any other firm fleshed fish.  At this point it really is good, seriously it is (you can't taste the mercury).

Ive had numerous opportunity's to shoot leopard's but after swimming with them admiring them I couldn't bring myself to do so..Very majestic fishies. Try one and let us know.

Dale pretty much nailed it. Another word of advice is if it already wreaks like piss when you catch it, skip on keeping that one.

Ive had numerous opportunity's to shoot leopard's but after swimming with them admiring them I couldn't bring myself to do so..Very majestic fishies. Try one and let us know.

I know what you mean, hypnotizing they are

Ive had numerous opportunity's to shoot leopard's but after swimming with them admiring them I couldn't bring myself to do so..Very majestic fishies. Try one and let us know.

The mercury warnings are (as far as I know) mostly for the fish that are longtime residents of our bays, SF, SPB, Tomales.  I think the mercury is much less prevalent in a leopard that lives in the ocean proper.  I have no data on that though.