Fish guts are a by product of cleaning fish. The fish’s insides, skin, head, and fins need to be disposed of. If you just chuck the guts in your garbage can, they will begin to rot and stink. If you clean your fish on Saturday and the trash man doesn’t come until Tuesday, you will end up with an Offal, smelly, rotten mess.
Offal stink is worse in the warmer months. During the Winter, the guts will freeze. Just make sure that the guts are in a bag on something that will keep them from freezing to the bottom or sides of the trash can.
During the warmer months, use the freezer to help control the stink. Put the Offal into a sealed bag and freeze it solidly. When it is trash day, place the frozen remains into the garbage can. This will prevent the stink, insects, and unhappy neighbors.
Mulching fish offal is a good idea but bury them deep. The rotting mess will attract critters that will attempt to excavate the buried guts. Pets in your yard will do the same. They love to roll in the rotten mess. Rotten offal can make your pets sick so find a way to contain the guts. Use a fence or plenty of overburden to contain the guts and minimize any stink.
Some anglers will clean their fish along the river or lake where they caught them. The Offal ends up leaving a mess for all to see until the Ravens and trash pickers show up. Ice fishermen leave their offal by the holes. Eagles and Ravens will quickly clean this mess up, but you are giving away the location of your honey hole.
At least chuck the guts into a hole or out of sight. Diseases can be spread easily by contaminated offal. The stink will also attract bugs and insects. When I clean fish afield, I use the boat to transport them offshore. A rock in a grocery bag will sink the nutrient laden leftovers. The plastic store bags have cornstarch in them which will help them to decompose.
Ice anglers also shove the guts down the ice hole. It looks bad but at some point, the raptors will clean up the mess. Offal is full of nutrients and can be useful in more sterile lakes.
Fish guts may also be perfect for chumming. A frozen block of fish parts can be dropped off the side of a boat to attract other fish. Halibut anglers use this trick to bring in hungry Butts. Catfish and other bottom feeders can be attracted to the tasty stink.
Your filets may also have a muddy or strong taste to them. Try sweetening the fish filets using a bath of cold water and teaspoon of Baking Soda. After soaking them for an hour, or overnight, rinse them and enjoy.
Serve with lemon and a tasty side sauce.
Montana Grant
