Cabezon

[lokidog]

Caught this on way back from town. Unfortunately,  a half inch short. Had to get one try in before end of season....

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[JKEEN33]

How do you usually cook these? I was halibut and ling fishing last year out of Neah Bay and caught a really large one. I thought the meat was really mushy when I was cleaning it and gave to a friend. I’ve since heard they are really good, but that was the only one I have ever caught.

[lokidog]

To me, a Cabezon is like eating a fish made completely out of Lingcod cheeks....   

I prefer them dipped in egg and cornflake crumbs then deep fried.  I try to keep my pieces  less than an inch thick in at least one dimension.

[NRA4LIFE]

Oh man, bummer.  To me, that is one of the best tasting creatures in the sea.  We just licked up our last from the freezer a couple weeks ago.

[Alchase]

Deep fried with some French fries!
Yum!

[DOUBLELUNG]

I am developing an odd urge to catch one of these magnificently ugly things

[lokidog]

I am developing an odd urge to catch one of these magnificently ugly things

I wish I could target them more specifically, just happened to be the first fish I caught, while trying for them.     I also released four really nice Rockfish after tagging the two Coppers.

Here is my biggest, caught this summer.  18 pounds and 30 1/2" long, twas a beast.

[Alchase]

18 lbs and 10 lbs of it is head!
That thing is a beast!
Some good fillets out of that one.

[Cap.Silver]

  Ed, how is the new boat running ? Miss you guys .

[lokidog]

Ed, how is the new boat running ? Miss you guys .

It's been great, though it drinks a lot more gas than the old one.

18 lbs and 10 lbs of it is head!
That thing is a beast!
Some good fillets out of that one.

The state record is 23 pounds, probably only four or five inches bigger.

[Fishstiq]

To me, a Cabezon is like eating a fish made completely out of Lingcod cheeks....   

100% this!!

As delicious as they are ugly!  I got one 2 weeks ago inside one of my crab pots, a nice 22 incher.  Never caught a fish in a crab pot before, but man was I happy to see it  . 

I like to bake them as well.  Usually in an oven safe dish, I cover the top of the fillet with a mixture of mayo, butter, panko and parmesan cheese (about 3 tbsp mayo, 3 tbsp butter, 3/4 cup panko, 3/4 cup parmesan, mixed well).  Maybe a dash of hot sauce and a squirt of lemon in there too.  Then bake 'em at 425 for ~10 minutes.  Good stuff 

[jagermiester]

I am developing an odd urge to catch one of these magnificently ugly things

I wish I could target them more specifically, just happened to be the first fish I caught, while trying for them.     I also released four really nice Rockfish after tagging the two Coppers.

Here is my biggest, caught this summer.  18 pounds and 30 1/2" long, twas a beast.

That fish is probably 10 years old. Takes them a long time to get that big. That's awesome.

[lokidog]

It's probably older than that. One CA study shows that 24" Cabezon are generally over 9 years old including a 26" at 12yo and a 28" at 13 yo.

[jagermiester]

That's so cool.
Some rock fish in the sound live like 60 years right?

[lokidog]

That's so cool.
Some rock fish in the sound live like 60 years right?

Yes, the Canary and Yelloweye grow slow for a long time.