Pickling small perch - has anyone tried it?

[Sundancefisher]

Saw a few pickling recipes online and was wondering with all these stunted perch lakes around… is there a chance pickling you limit would make for a tasty alternative to putting them back to not grow or disposing of them elsewhere?

Legally you can’t waste sport fish… so what options are there to eat perch 3-6 inch long?

Pickling could be an option.

Anyone pickle perch? If so what is a good recipe? Any challenges? What is the taste like?

https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/a...kled-fish.html

[dodgeboy1979]

https://www.outdoorlife.com/recipe-h...northern-pike/

I pickle pike and walleye with this recipe. it tastes like the store-bought herring. I can't see why perch wouldn't taste good this way.

[JohnB]

I will have to give this a try. Thanks for posting.

[HL_transplant]

I always thought this would actually be worth a try with 6 inch perch, scaled but left whole. Probably way better than pickled herring. I did walleye like this and it was really good and added lemon peel when I jarred it..

[Sundancefisher]

Originally Posted by JohnB

I will have to give this a try. Thanks for posting.

Originally Posted by HL_transplant

I always thought this would actually be worth a try with 6 inch perch, scaled but left whole. Probably way better than pickled herring. I did walleye like this and it was really good and added lemon peel when I jarred it..

I’m thinking of cleaning them like this then pickling.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pjTlFwQb7D0

[jungleboy]

Originally Posted by Sundancefisher

I’m thinking of cleaning them like this then pickling.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pjTlFwQb7D0

That’s how we used to clean perch when I was a kid back in Ontario.

[oilngas]

K; that's exactly how we used to clean them many years ago, but they were 8" or generally bigger.

I have pickled many perch, just use a simple brine, bit of white sugar and put onion slices in the jar. Also you can vary a bit with some pickling spice in the odd jar, but not too much. We used to use the old relish / mustard BIG glass jars (114 fl. oz.?) , refrigerate for about a week or so n enjoy.

[MountainTi]

Originally Posted by Sundancefisher

I’m thinking of cleaning them like this then pickling.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pjTlFwQb7D0

That's a handy trick right there!

[4x4bowhunter]

I bought a pressure canner a few years ago. My main reason for this was to try canning pike. I am always disappointed in the amount of meat that is left behind by filleting and deboning them. I ended up cutting the fillets off the pike and removed the skin. I then filled mason jars with the boney pike meat. After the pressure canning process the bones are visible but they turn to mush as soon as you touch them. exactly like what you see in a tin of canned salmon. I added mayo, green onion and celery to the canned pike meat and made sandwiches with it. Surprisingly, the canned pike tastes very similar to tuna. I can't see why this wouldn't work with a pile of tiny perch. Just fillet, remove the skins, and can away. If anyone tries this, just make sure you are using a pressure canner and not an instant pot as the pressure required to safely can the fish is way higher than what an instant pot can reach (15 Psi for high altitude). Once I had success with the pike, I tried canned moose and elk stew. Both turned out great

[Freedom55]

No, never tried that. But I did eat a pickle one time while targeting perch. Then I tried to get pickled while my pal drove us home afterwards. Then I was in a pickle when I arrived home and fell onto the driveweay. Pickled. And no pikeral. Or perch.

Free

[Fish along]

I cant see why you couldnt pickle them,all id do is remove the head and brine them for about 16 hours and then pickle em. like you would herring.

[Sundancefisher]

Originally Posted by Freedom55

No, never tried that. But I did eat a pickle one time while targeting perch. Then I tried to get pickled while my pal drove us home afterwards. Then I was in a pickle when I arrived home and fell onto the driveweay. Pickled. And no pikeral. Or perch.

Free

We all want to know.

Did your fishing buddy pickle you?

[Sundancefisher]

Originally Posted by Fish along

I cant see why you couldnt pickle them,all id do is remove the head and brine them for about 16 hours and then pickle em. like you would herring.

I’m wondering if one should pickle them with skin on or off. I’m thinking off would look more appealing.

Maybe better texture also.

[Freedom55]

Originally Posted by Sundancefisher

We all want to know.

Did your fishing buddy pickle you?

NO. He was the wheel man. He liked a good cigar.I had the single malt but the flask was a bit small.

Free :-)

[Fish along]

Originally Posted by Sundancefisher

I’m wondering if one should pickle them with skin on or off. I’m thinking off would look more appealing.

Maybe better texture also.

Thats how i pickle herring skin on,no problem. it keeps the finish product a bit firmer as well and better tasting in my opinion.

[huntwat]

Originally Posted by Sundancefisher

Saw a few pickling recipes online and was wondering with all these stunted perch lakes around… is there a chance pickling you limit would make for a tasty alternative to putting them back to not grow or disposing of them elsewhere?

Legally you can’t waste sport fish… so what options are there to eat perch 3-6 inch long?

Pickling could be an option.

Anyone pickle perch? If so what is a good recipe? Any challenges? What is the taste like?

https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/a...kled-fish.html

Why would you keep fish this size??? Or, do they not get any bigger than this?