Collars and belly fins

[Encore 280]

Whatta ya do with your salmon collars (tips) and belly fins? Ever try brining them with the rest of the fish and throwing 'em in the smoker? Give it a try. Norwegian candy, I'm tellin ya.  Been doin it for years. I hate wasting good parts of fish.

[Caliber]

Yep, I do the same on ocean salmon and springers, summer runs.  Also, will take the whole filleted carcass and throw it on the barbie.  You would be surprised how much good stuff you can get off of it!!

[Encore 280]

After I fillet 'em out, I save the backs and cut into about 4" pieces and flour and salt then fry the backs. I also cut the cheeks and dip them in flour and salt then fry 'em up. Only thing left is to try the head and I don't see that happening real soon. I'll just keep using them for crab bait.

[Hyde]

Smoked carcasses are the best.  I hoard them for myself.  I'm not great at filleting fish, which is nice!  The belly strips and gill collars are great in the smoker too. 

[Ripper]

I might have to try smoking those parts. I've seen a couple post about it. I usually use those pieces for crab bait. Thats what I did today, filled the bait containers with humpie pieces.

[gotshot]

When we would get salmon down in Eureka my wifes uncle would always throw them away until my brother-in-law showed him how to smoke them. Now he filets and cuts the belly strips off a little bigger and keeps them for himself. They also sell the belly strip smoked at Johnnys seafood in Tacoma, The sell as fast as they get them.