What does black bass taste like

[catman529]

Yeah I could just go catch one and cook it up, and I probably will, but does anyone have a good description of the taste/texture. and don't say fish, lol. I can't remember what a largemouth tastes like and don't think I have ever had smallmouth. I like bluegills and cats and need to give crappie another try. I am just in the habit of releasing bass, but they have more meat on them than bluegills, and they are in the same family, so should I bring some home to cook up?

 

[Trapper John]

That entire tub was cooked at a fish fry last April. Several friends and myself spent a day fishing for the sole purpose of cooking them.

If they come from cool water they're similar to bluegill, but I'd say with a firmer texture. Maybe a slightly stronger taste. I have no problem eating largemouth. The 12-15 inch ones are best for me, but that's just an opinion.

 

[GRAMPS]

That is a good eating size. The larger ones have a stronger taste which can be helped by removing the skin.

I don' eat bass much anymore as I prefer walleyes and sauger. When I was younger, we ate every fish we caught no matter the species.

 

[bowriter]

From .75 to 2 pounds they are fantastic. Taste a lot like smallmouth. I still keep the smaller ones which is why I oppose anything other than a slot limit. I am forced to eat fish I should be throwing back and I throw back fish I would life to eat. A 12-14 inch bass is my preferred size for eating.

These are ready for the knife. Most of them are larger than I like but I wuz hongry.

 

[Headhunter]

For me, 10-12" is a great eating bass.

 

[McNasty]

Gramps, you cook fish with the skin on?

Bass is not bad. Its a little firmer than crappie. Not alot of flavor in the meat itself. There's not much "fishy" taste to it. I burned out on it because we ate it two or three times per week when I was growing up.

 

[Football Hunter]

Havent eaten a bass in so long,cant remember,we always talk about keeping some spots,just never do.

 

[easy45]

They taste great, on of my favorites, they taste alot like bluegill to me

 

[Big J]

Taste like chicken!! LOL

 

[moondawg]

I cut mine into fillets. Then season with lemon pepper, a dash of salt, a pat of butter and a lemon. Then wrap in foil and put it on some coals for about 6 minutes, and then turn it over for about 7 minutes. I cooked it this way one time and my wife raved about it. It was the first time she had ever eaten a bass. She still raves about it to this day.

 

[McNasty]

My neighbor says it tastes just like what it rhymes with.

 

[KSbuck2]

Like Mud - I'd just throw them back.

 

[bowriter]

They are superb seasoned and cooked for about three minutes on a George.

 

[Trapper John]

This brings back my angst towards the size limit on Priest. I'd much prefer a slot to that 15 inch garbage.

 

[rsimms]

Tastes great... less filling...

 

[kdxdude]

My neighbor says it tastes just like what it rhymes with.

grass?? LOL!!

 

[shopson]

One of the 4 fish I eat regularly along with walleye, crappie, and sauger. They are all good eating.

 

[vanleerbuckbuster]

i loves me some bass. i think they taste like crappie. i fillet mine and season some flour/cornmeal with old bay and fry them up.

 

[Headhunter]

Don't know if you have ever heard of "poor man's lobster" but bass are one of the best fish for that.

Boil fillets for about 3 minutes. Have plenty of Zatarin's (spelling?) crab boil mix. Put in water for boiling fillets.

I use a teflon pan, preheat oven to 325, have melted butter, Zatarin's crab boil and lemon juice in pan, after boiling bake about 4 minutes per side. One of my favorites.

 

[catman529]

Don't know if you have ever heard of "poor man's lobster" but bass are one of the best fish for that.

Boil fillets for about 3 minutes. Have plenty of Zatarin's (spelling?) crab boil mix. Put in water for boiling fillets.

I use a teflon pan, preheat oven to 325, have melted butter, Zatarin's crab boil and lemon juice in pan, after boiling bake about 4 minutes per side. One of my favorites.

sounds pretty good.

I actually brought home a smallmouth the other day. Just made up a beer batter and fried it and it was good. I think it would go well with some good seasonings to bring out the flavor even more. We got some old bay but I haven't used that in forever.

 

[Zombie Bandit]

My neighbor says it tastes just like what it rhymes with.

They usually do. Especially smallmouth. Id rather eat carp. As far as largemouth, Small ones from cold clear water are edible, but if you want fish to eat I'd stick to crappie, bluegill, walleye or sauger, and catfish. Once you have had one of these fish you won't want to eat bass. White bass are decent, but black bass are nearly the worst tasting freshwater fish there is.

 

[Winchester]

Small bass are decent eaters but not even close to Walleye and Bluegill, Crappie!

 

[catman529]

My neighbor says it tastes just like what it rhymes with.

They usually do. Especially smallmouth. Id rather eat carp. As far as largemouth, Small ones from cold clear water are edible, but if you want fish to eat I'd stick to crappie, bluegill, walleye or sauger, and catfish. Once you have had one of these fish you won't want to eat bass. White bass are decent, but black bass are nearly the worst tasting freshwater fish there is.

dang man I have not eaten a carp but you must have had some nasty bass.... Smallie I cooked up tasted fine

 

[Zombie Bandit]

I've tried to eat it several times. Just cant. The smaller largemouth are okay, but I'd rather have crappie any day. The smallmouth are just terrible regardless. Taste like they smell before you cook em to me. Might try rubbing the cooked fillets with one Jimmy Houston's wonder bars to see if it will remove that taste. lol

 

[Headhunter]

To all the guys who claim how bad bass is to eat, I get it, you want them released. They are a great tasting fish, smallmouth and largemouth both. I prefer a smaller size fish, but absolutely great to eat. Is it the same as crappie, walleye, bluegill, sauger, etc.? No, not even close in some ways. But bass are a great freshwater fish to eat, especially 10-12" long or so. I have ate tons of crappie, bluegill, sauger and walleye. To me, walleye is king, especially when in Canada in the clear water there, but smallmouth is not far behind. As far as freshwater fish go, most of them are not even close to saltwater fish.

 

[catman529]

black bass are in the sunfish family and it did taste similar to a sunfish, just with more meat.

 

[drrxnupe]

I'd take a mess of fileted LM or spots any day! Can't speak for SMs as keepers are too big to my liking.

 

[catman529]

I'd take a mess of fileted LM or spots any day! Can't speak for SMs as keepers are too big to my liking.

you referring to a lake that has a high minimum length for smallies? if you live in nashville just hit up the harpeth river, or possibly richland creek (never been there myself), little harpeth river, etc and you can get some good eating smallmouth.

 

[rrhoghead]

Lol they taste like Chicken (everything always taste like chicken )

 

[Djustice]

They taste like tarter and lousiana hot sauce, same as every other fried fish.