canned tuna recipes: July 2008

Amazon Piranha Fishing - Video

Piranha are, arguably, one of the most well known fish in the world. There is such mystery and folklaw attached to these fish they probably have more false stories circulating about them than true stories. I am sure you have heard stories of these man eating fish tearing shreds off swimmers and overtured ferries with packs of piranhas eating everyone that doesn't get out of the water fast enough. These stories make good Hollywood movies, but they are far from the truth as they are generally non violent.

There are about about 33 species of piranha (no one really knows exactly) and most make for very good fishing and eating. They respond aggressively to lures and flies and will attack a bait hard. In the following video the anglers use meat for bait and the piranha just love it. I love the old school fishing rods (or trees should I say?). It is well worth a watch.

This video also shows how to cook, clean and fillet a piranha which might be useful for someone I guess - enjoy.

Knotless Knot - Hair rig (carp fishing knots)

Fishing knot posts probably make up the highest percentage of this blog - and there is a very good reason for that. Tying good knots can make the difference between landing or losing that fish of a lifetime. Ever since I lost a huge Spanish mackerel to a dodgy knot I have been on a crusade to help others with their knot tying.

The knotless knot (also called the hair rig because it is more of a rig than a knot) is very popular with carp anglers, but many other types of anglers are starting to see the benefit of this knot in other forms of fishing. I have used it fishing for many freshwater fish and it also works in the saltwater equally as well. It is easy to tie with a bit of practice and can be tied with most types and diameters of line such as braid, fluorocarbon and monofilament.

If you are a carp angler then this knot is one that you should have in your arsenal, but don't discount it even if you never plan on catching a carp as it is more versatile than people realize.

The following video shows how to tie a hair rig.

Wii nunchuck controls fishing canoe

Reading one of my favorite tech blogs today (yes I am a geek) I came across a crazy video of a guy who has modified his kayak with two electric motors and given himself the ability to control it with a wii nunchuck. For those that don't know, a Wii is the latest video game console from Nintendo and the nunchuck is the little thing that fits in your hand with a control stick (think joystick) attached.

It is equipped with 2 golf cart batteries and can travel at 4 miles an hour top speed. It is almost a boat rather than a canoe and the maneuverability is absolutely amazing! This video is well worth a watch just to marvel at the engineering, but the trailer they have built for it is also very cool! The enginuity of some people is really quite amazing!

I hope you enjoy the video and if you have something you want to say about it please leave a comment!

History of Fishing Rods

In the last few decades fishing rods have undergone a transformation from the heavy beasts they once were to light finesse rods we now take for granted. While heavy rods still have their place most anglers are switching to light graphite models.

The earliest fishing rods can be dated back to ancient Egypt, China, Greece, Rome and medieval England (they were called angles which is where we get the word angling and angler). The first accepted pictures of angling with a rod date back to 2000 BC from Egypt. These early fishing rods were made of wood, bone or stone. The simplest rods were made out of a tree branch.

By about 800 BC fishing with a rod, line and hook was a common practice and is well recorded. The rods were made of different types of wood that was tied or bound together. The line was made from horsehair or finely woven flax. There is even evidence that a form of lead sinker was used at around this time. This is also around the time that fly fishing was developed after anglers learned that certain fish would eat flies off the surface of the water.

Throughout the years fishing rods changed very little until the 17th century when a wire loop was added to the tip allowing the line to be let out and back in very easily. By the end of the 18th century rods with guides along the length of the rod were common and this lead to the invention of the fishing reel.

In the 20th century rods underwent their most important transformation when the commonly used bamboo was replaced by fiberglass and, the lighter, carbon fiber.

Wahoo Recipes

Wahoo Fish Recipe

You can find the other recipes for wahoo at my previous post saltwater fish recipes

The wahoo is well renowned as one of the fastest, if not the fastest, fish in the ocean. However, it is also well known for its superb eating qualities and for this very reason is a very popular fish with tropical water anglers. The flesh is suitable for many different types of recipes and is also popular as sushi with many anglers keeping a bottle of wasabi sauce on the boat for the ultimate sushi experience.

This recipe is a Hawaiian dish, which works really well for a tropical fish like the wahoo.
For this dish you will need:

Wahoo fillets (or steaks)
Pineapple
Onion
Red Bell Pepper
Ginger
Soy Sauce

To prepare this dish:

Simply cut up the pineapple and onion into rings and the bell pepper into flat peices ready for grilling.
Grill the ingredients on the BBQ for about 10 minutes
Peel the bell peppers and cut the ingredients into smaller peices
Add the fish to the ingredients with some soy sauce and leave to marinate
Cook the fish on the grill until ready
Heat the other ingredients to reduce the marinade
Plate the fish and pour the marinade over the top of the fish

For video instructions you can follow the link to youtube - Wahoo Recipe

Giant Catfish - Fishing Video

The catfish we get here in Australia can get big, but nothing like the sizes of the giant catfish caught in other locations around the world. Our catfish even have poisonous spines that can kill you which means that Australians like catching catfish about as much as catching a cold. However, since writing this blog, I have come to realize that catfish are a prized catch in certain parts of the world and if you are in any doubt as to why then just watch the fight from the catfish in the video!

I have written about catfish before such as the biggest catfish ever caught, catfish noodling video and night fishing for catfish as well as the strange story of the catfish that swallowed the basketball. As this is my fifth catfish post I decided to try and find a really interesting video of a giant catfish to mark the occasion. This video of a guy catching an awesome giant catfish and is well worth a watch. This huge fish puts up a strong fight (take a look at the bend in that rod) and it was really great to see it released after capture. Enjoy!

Grinner Knot - Fishing Knots

The grinner knot is not a knot I am very familiar with although I use variations of this knot for attaching braided lines to a swivel. It is reputedly one of the best ways to attach all the different line types (monofilament, fluorocarbon and braid) to a swivel or hook and in some cases lures. This makes it a very versatile knot and coupled with the knot strength (which is very high) the knot is certainly one all anglers should have in their arsenal.

This knot is fairly easy to tie and after a couple of practice knots it became quite easy to tie quickly. I also found that the knot was surprisingly strong as when I got snagged it was very difficult to break! The knot is one of the most secure fishing knots I have used and it just does not slip. It is certainly worth a try.

Healthy Fish Recipe

In these days of fast food, instant meals and processed foods it is hard to know which foods are good for us. Luckily most anglers realize that fish is one of the best foods you can eat as it is high in good oils (omega 3 and 6), protein and is low in bad saturated fats. There are suggestions that eating fish can lead to a healthier heart and brain function!!

One of the most popular ways of eating fish is deep fried, but this cooking method often uses saturated fats and reduces the health benefits of the fish. Fortunately there are many great healthy fish recipes which provide all of the benefits of eating fish without losing that great taste.

The following video shows one of the best methods of cooking fish for your health and is a personal favorite of mine.

For this recipe you will need:

Canola Oil
Cumin
Lemon Pepper
Paprika
Thyme
Salt
Fish Fillets

Finding cool fishing games

When the weather turns poor, its raining (hailing and snowing included), the boat is in the shop or other commitments keep you away from the water, fishing games can be a great way to pass the time. Fortunately the fishing game enthusiast is blessed with a number of games to choose from these days on a variety of platforms. The Playstation, Nintendo Wii and Xbox all have some fantastic fishing games that can be great fun to play. However, for choice and variety you cannot really go past the humble PC when looking for a fun fishing game.

I was always a fan of the bassmasters classic fishing games and I have spent countless hours wiling away the windy days with these games. There are also some great free options available and a quick search of google can turn up some real gems that are far too addictive for their own good. Most of the games are centered around bass fishing, but there have been other ones produced catering for saltwater sportfishing species like marlin and sailfish.

While they can't substitute for a real days fishing, fishing games can be a lot of fun! If you have a favotire you would like to tell me (an others) about please leave a comment.

Black Drum Fishing Video

The black drum is very similar to one of the famous fish we catch where I come from (Australia for the new readers out there) so I have a bit of a connection with these great fish. They fight hard, grow big and taste great (in the smaller sizes) so it is little wonder they have a small, but dedicated following.

The black drum gets its name from the weird sound it can produce and from its black color (obviously). They are capable of producing tones to 501 khz as a mating call.

World record black drum
The biggest black drum ever caught was recorded at a whopping 113lbs (51kg for the metric folk out there). I can only imagine the fight that a fish that big would produce!

Black drum fishing video
This is certainly an amateur video and it is quite short, but it certainly captures the charm of these wonderful fish. Enjoy.

Baked cod fish recipes

When it comes to cooking I have a simple motto that goes something like this - "the simpler the recipe the less mistakes I can make." Fortunately when cooking fish there are hundreds of simple recipes that even I can't get wrong. Fish also has the added benefit of being very quick to cook and if you add to that the health benefits of fish oils, protein and low saturated fat content it makes sense why so many people are making the switch for traditional red meats.

Simple baked cod recipe
This recipe follows all of my rules. It is simple, quick to make and absolutely delicious. For this recipe you will need:

Cod (or other fish) fillet
Diced tomatoes
Chopped Leaks
Bell Pepper (green)
Minced Garlic
Cooking Spray
Salt and Pepper
Breadcrumbs
Parmesan Cheese
Crushed potato chips
Paprika
Cayenne
Melted Butter

The following video will show the process for this fish recipe and is only 2 minutes long. Enjoy

If you do try this recipe feel free to leave me a comment.

Funny fishing quotes

I thought I would take a break from the usual "instructional" type posts and try something a little bit different and hopefully fun! Enjoy these funny fishing quotes:

"The fishing was good; it was the catching that was bad." - A.K. Best

"My Biggest worry is that when I'm dead and gone, my wife will sell my fishing gear for what I said I paid for it." - Koos Brandt

"Today she met me at the door, said I would have to choose, if I picked that fishing pole today, she'd be packing all her things and she'd be gone by noon....well I'm gonna miss her!" - Brad Paisley

"Fly fishermen are born honest, but they get over it." - Ed Zern

"Three-fourths of the Earth's surface is water, and one-fourth is land. It is quite clear that the good Lord intended us to spend triple the amount of time fishing as taking care of the lawn." - Chuck Clark

“There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot.” - Steven Wright

"Catch and Release fishing is a lot like golf. You don't have to eat the ball to have a good time." - Anon

"I knew my tippet was too big when the willow tree I'd hooked on my back cast came flying over my head." - Jimmy D Moore

"I don't exaggerate... I just remember BIG!" - Anon

"The two happiest days in a boat owner's life are the day he buys the boat and the day he sells it." - Avery Wiseman

* I have tried to attribute these quotes to the correct author. Any corrections are needed please leave a comment

How to catch trout

Trout fishing was one of my favorite pastimes until I made the move to tropical Australia where the only trout fishing available is coral trout on the tropical saltwater reefs (not that I am complaining though!)

There are a few species of trout that are caught recreationally, but the most important recreational trout species would be the rainbow and brown trout. Both species grow big, fight hard and take flies, which makes fly fishing the most popular form of targeting these magnificent fish.

Fly fishing for trout
There is much written on the subject of fly fishing for trout so I wont go much further into the area. Basically fly fishing for trout has been around almost as long as the trout itself and is not only a traditional method of catching these fish, but can be great fun too! The basic premise of fly fishing is to present a recreation of the natural food the trout are eating in fly form to entice them to bite.

Other forms of trout fishing
While dedicated fly anglers may find this sacrilegious, there are many other ways to catch trout and some can even be more successful than fly fishing at times. Many anglers use natural baits to catch trout (either under a float or on the bottom) and there is a growing number of anglers using soft rubber baits and hard body lures.

Whichever method you decide to use the pursuit of these wonderful fish will take you to some of the best locations in the world with the awesome scenery you are unlikely to forget!

Removing fishing line from your reel

As I was getting the boat ready for tomorrows fishing trip with my old man I spent quite a bit of time replacing old line on one of our many rods. Removing fishing line from the reel is one of my least favorite activities. As I was doing it today I spent some time thinking that there must be a better way and when I got back to my place decided to do a google search. I found a great little video of a product that fits into your drill and removes the old line in seconds.

It looks like it would be fairly easy to make something similar for yourself with an old bait casting reel and a drill attachment. I know that there are some fancy electronic line removers that tackle shops use, but this method would be cheap, fairly easy to make and be very easy to use.

If you do watch the video and/or have any grand ideas feel free to drop me a comment and tell me all about it.

(sorry for the poor video quality)

Heli Fishing (Helicopter Fishing)

Traditionally heli fishing is about using a helicopter to get to remote locations that not many people fish. People who have undertaken this type of fishing tell stories of some of the best fishing and remote locations on the planet. Some heli fishing operations are set up exclusively for fishing, but many anglers simply hire a helicopter and pilot for the day. The second option will only work if you know exactly where you want to fish as only the specialist heli fishing operations will take you to the hot spots they have already found.

Advantages of helicopter fishing

Fish almost untouched locations.
Get to remote locations in comfort.
Superb views from the helicopter.

Disadvantages of helicopter fishing

Cost - it can be very expensive (get a group of mates together and split the cost!).
Generally heli fishing charters are shorter than a mothership based charter.

If cost is really a problem for you then you should check out this video below. It is heli fishing with a difference and is absolutely hilarious! A must watch video!

Loop Knot (Anglers Loop) - Fishing Knots

My wife decided it would be a good day to have a walk along the beach and a bit of a fish and then some breakfast (I wasn't going to argue). As I was setting up for tomorrows fishing trip I was experimenting with a new rig and remembered a great knot for attaching lures which I thought I would share with my readers.

The loop knot or "anglers loop" is one of the most popular methods of attaching a lure to a monofilament or fluorocarbon leader. It is extremely popular because it allows the lure to swing freely which means the lure can swim with a more natural action. A lure with a quality action often leads to more bites and more fish!

How to tie a loop knot
The loop knot is quite simple to tie with a bit of practice and is absolutely essential if you are an avid user of lures. It is a sufficiently strong knot and can be tied in both light and heavy line strengths. This instructional video shows the process very clearly.

Salmon Sushi Roll - Fish Recipe

Before I start explaining this one I must admit that I am not a great fan of sushi. I love fish, but just can't stomach it sushi style. Fortunately you can use smoked salmon with this recipe and I have had no trouble with it. I can highly recommend it to all the sushi wary people out there!

This is one of the simplest salmon roll sushi recipes out there and even I made it for my wife to test it before posting it. You will need some sticky rice (cook it with 25% more water), salmon (smoked it ok), soy sauce, wasabi, ginger and Saki. It takes virtually no time to make and the longest part of the preperation work is cooking the rice.

How to make Salmon Sushi Roll
Fortunately, for you and me, there is a great video I have found showing the process of making this recipe which is very easy to follow. It is supposedly a romantic dish, but I am not sure why, maybe it just sounds better that way! Enjoy!

How to Bridle Rig a Live Bait.

Bridle rigging a bait is one of the most popular methods of rigging a live or dead bait. It is a method most often used for trolling for large game fish like marlin and sailfish, but can also be used for live baiting from a drifting or anchored boat.

Bridle Rigging is a popular method of hooking a live bait because the baits can swim naturally and often live for much longer than other rigging methods. As this method requires a needle through the eye socket of the fish it is considered a slightly gruesome method of attaching a bait by some people. This has lead to the common occurrence of hooking the bait through the tough "nose" area in front of the eye.

This technique also works well for rigging skipping dead baits for trolling. This method can be used with any small baitfish, but is generally used on large baits (skipjack tuna) for slow trolling for big fish!

How to Bridle Rig a bait

You will need:

A hook (circle hooks are best)
A rubber band
A bait needle

The following video shows the correct technique