An alternate to brining is to sprinkle 3 tablespoons of kosher salt on a large filet, refrigerate 1-2 days, and then pat dry before the fan treatment.

Love your story, Yaker. A small baitfish trap loaded with yummy chicken livers sounds like a great plan, if you are inclined to get some crayfish snacks. Like you, I can't wait til open water comes 'round.

All of the above replies are really helpful. I can only add a few tips: 1) brine the meat or fish overnight up to two days in the fridge. Cheese doesn't need brining. 2} dry the product for 1 hour in front of a window fan or the like. Place the meat on a rack so the smoke penetrates the top and bottom. 3) Hot smoking is defined as 250 degrees or above. Cold smoking is in the range of 90 - 120 degrees, the latter takes longer and is generally for trout or salmon. It also takes longer- that's why lox is around $38/ lb. Happy smoking.

Judging by the headed look, you and uncle are teaching him to either catch and release or eat and enjoy. Good show.

I am building a rowboat and it will welcome anyone who prefers sweat equity to noise and gas consumption. I am in Mid Maine, and cn go to the coast like Belfast or to the Kennebec and Androscoggin tributaries.

Just ask them or nearby fisherfolk.

Congrats. At least you have no "ice out" contest in your neck of the woods.

Congrats Brad. I either fry the filets hard (Over cook?) or pickle the filets to deal with the bones. Add more sugar to your pickling recipe to make pickled fish more edible.

Didn't know whiting was popular enuf to fish for. And in the surf at that. Congrats. So. Carolina has a lot to offer over Maine, where I fish, but u gotta take what you get nearby. Happy tight lines brother.

Being the outlier that I am, I am happy to paddle in my solo 12' skin on frame canoe, designed by Platt Montfort of Brunswick, ME. It cost $80 in materials and some free time. Sweat equity never can replace a good paying job, but it's a realistic replacement.

Wishing for a three axle trailer to tug your boat is like wishing to own an elephant. I don't want the elephant. I just want the money. lol.

There's nothing like changing strategies to get what you want. Congrats on the hunch. The best fishermen always switch gears if things are not working. Great job!

Try contacting the manufacturer and ask if acetone, xylene, toluene, respectively, will dissolve the body. Also try simple green. If the manufacturer is no longer in business, try dabbing paint remover/stripper, and remove the old paint little areas at a time. Finally, lightly sand and then prime. Good luck.

Last Wednesday I took the boat out about 30' with one banana. Skunked for 4 hours. On Thursday, I did the same but took one orange. Skunked again. On Friday, I took an apple out, same 30' out spot. Nothing. It just goes to show you that you can't compare bananas, apple, and oranges. It also helps to bring the ice auger.

Suckers are edible in winter or early spring. They taste really muddy and fishy in the summer.