After having been on Ocracoke for almost a month, we finally were able to do a little fishing. Now unfortunately we still have not made it out to the Gulf Stream; but, we did at least get off the beach to look for some cobia and troll for Spanish mackerel. Keith has done a bunch of work on "Lab Cab", the borrowed center console boat we plan to fish with this summer. Dave Hawley was even kind enough to come over for two days to help with some of the boat projects. It is ready and working and we have even got a few fish into the boat. Our first fish came curtesy of Russ Reynolds. Keith, Dr. Mike, and I fished just off the beach one day in Russ's boat and we caught several Spanish mackerel.
Keith and Dr. Mike also took "Lab Cab" out one afternoon. They hooked up with a citation Spanish mackerel. The marina staff said they had not seen one that big in several years.
The citation Spanish mackerel (6 lbs)
With all this fish, we knew we had to get our brand new smoker going. Last fall Keith purchased a smoker in anticipation of smoking fish this summer. So we were excited to get her going.
Our cute , little electric smoker
I took the cleaned filets and brined them overnight. The next morning I rinsed the filets and patted them dry with paper towels. Then I put them in the refrigerator to dry for a bit before going in the smoker.
Fish rinsed of the brine and ready to go back into the refrigerator to dry for a few hours before smoking.
Filets brined and dried loaded into the smoker
We smoked the filets for 3 hours and they smelled WONDERFUL. I made smoked fish dip with the filets. It was an enormous hit. I gave some to the marina staff, kept some for Dr. Mike and served some to Russ and Dave Hawley.
The guys enjoying a cocktail and smoked fish dip on the back of Southern Style
Hopefully this is just the beginning of a great boating/fishing summer. The weather is still being a bit challenging, but I have high hopes things are about to turn for the better.
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