Memory Lane: Eating Shovelnose

[jrodda]

Being that I just took home a fish from shore to eat for only the second time ever, it reminded me of the first time. Just felt like reminiscing on this story. I wish I had pics real bad for this one.

So one of the guys on SCSF posted, peculiarly, complaining that shovelnose had completely invaded one of his favorite corbina haunts. He was a respected fly fisherman, always a thoughtful and witty poster. This time he said, "f@ck these things, go to **** beach at dawn with squid and kill as many as you can. Get them out of my sight!!!" I found his frustration amusing and his call-to-action undeniable as a 17 year old. And as a youth seeking approval from the elders, this seemed like a straightforward mission for a social promotion.

For whatever reason, I thought it would be a great time to bring along a friend who had never fished before. Maybe because we always enjoyed putting together absurd missions, like sneaking out and sitting in a local shopping mall elevator all night, just to say we did. Killing a bunch of shovelnose seemed like it would appeal to my friend Twiggy.

I felt like maybe I could teach him in a couple of hours at the park how to cast a conventional reel, but that lasted 1 cast, when 300 yards of 40# mono turned into 50 yards of usable line, fast, in one amazing back lash.

The next morning I picked him up at 0400 so that we could arrive at the AO at dawn. Twiggy had not slept at all, and laughed about it. On the way, a highway patrolman flirted with pulling me over as I was on cruise control at 78mph, as he continuously got on and off the freeway, then pulled up to me. Nerve wracking, considering I was in the "probationary period" of my drivers license where I couldn't drive friends, and 4am was technically outside of curfew hours for the city, something upon being charged with, the police would call your mommy and make her deal with the situation. This happened at least once in our previously aforementioned late night elevator excursions.

We arrived in time at the AO with 2 rods and a pack of squid. The sand crabs were abundant and it was clear why so many wiggles were gathering here.

What proceeded was in fact, the most wide open Wiggles bite of my life, all in less than 20 minutes. I immediately hooked and landed one, braining it and dragging it onto dry sand. I casted again and hooked up instantly, handing it off to my friend. I grabbed the other rod and caught my own, unhooking both of ours, braining and putting them with the first.

The bite left as quickly as it came, and with the morning light on us, we had 6 twitching shovels, 30-42", piled up on the sand.

The two sleepless 17 year old minds, collectively producing no more than a few Monster-addled brain cells, proceeded with plans, or the remarkable lack thereof, that confuses me to this day.

Since to that point, I'd never filleted fish at home, and my parents had drilled into me that it was a no-no at home, I had to figure a way to fillet these beasts, with no tables available to me. I grabbed my dad's sh!tty fillet knife from the garage and started at the local park on a picnic bench, quickly grew frustrated, and headed to Twiggy's house, holding hope that his parents' naiveté would eek out beyond the time it took to slaughter 6 shovels.

It worked. The skins were tough, the meat perhaps limited, but more importantly: the parents clueless.

One of the clearest memories I had from this whole debacle was washing the fillets. As I wetted one in preparation to put on ice for the rest of the day, it jumped out of my hands. I flinched and dropped it into the grass. In a sleepless state I could barely comprehend what happened. I picked it back up and squeezed it, and again it wiggled in my hands! Mr. Wiggles never dies, I realized.

We napped off the morning, and in the afternoon put our inadequate cooking skills on full display, throwing the fillets in lemon and butter in a pan, and then into hotdog buns. The meat was honestly good, arguably one of the best inshore fish I've had, based on texture, firmness, and light flavor.


I think about this day regularly. In essence, entertaining. So many failed parts of a plan, that are so simple. Trying to fillet shovelnose at the local park? With that old dull knife? Freshwater on saltwater fish fillets? Hot dog buns? If I were in the car with my past self and my friend, I would grab them by their ears so many times and lead them a different way, but overall it was a classic instance of boys being boys. And I learned that shovelnose ARE good eats, just hardly worth the effort.

[Latimeria]

Since to that point, I'd never filleted fish at home, and my parents had drilled into me that it was a no-no at home...

So you graduated to Thresher Sharks and filleted them on your dining room table.  LOL

Great Read Jeremy!  It's funny that I somehow remembered something about you keeping a few to eat back in the SCSF days.  Having them on a hot dog bun is even more classic!

Bravo on the old memory, sir!

[Tim524]

Just like Rattle Snakes.... They keep moving 

Fun write up, brings back memories of my childhood as well  

[jrodda]

Since to that point, I'd never filleted fish at home, and my parents had drilled into me that it was a no-no at home...

So you graduated to Thresher Sharks and filleted them on your dining room table.  LOL

Made up for lost time! Exactly what I was thinking while writing this.

I probably omitted a couple of details when I posted this 10+ years ago as I was waiting for the statute of limitations to expire...