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How To Cook Barred Sand Bass — The Easy Way

Barred sand bass is a fish to clean and cook. All you need are the following:

We recommend using olive oil for a hearty meal. Maybe a little know-how, as well, to save minutes of your time and energy in figuring it out.

More often than not, the edibility of a fish will depend on where you fished them from. It is important to research your fishing spot to ensure they are not polluted with mercury and other heavy metals that fish may absorb.

Listen to more cooking tips on the Cast & Spear Podcast

Also, remember to always check your states’ fishing regulations before you head out to catch a barred sand bass

how to cook barred sand bass
Barred sand bass are typically easy to clean and cook. Source: Antonyuk ART

How to Clean Barred Sand Bass

In cleaning your catch, it is important to have a sharp knife. This way, you can avoid exerting too much-uncontrolled pressure when you cut and clean the fish. Using a fillet knife if you want to fillet your sand bass would be helpful, as well.

Additionally, if you want to really taste the fish, consider icing and bleeding it out beforehand. Afterward, you may proceed with the cleaning process as follows:

  1. Gut the fish
    • Rest the fish on the cutting board. Be careful on the fins as they are sharp and may puncture you as you clean your catch.
    • Insert the tip of the knife and keep it shallow while you cut into the belly so as not to puncture the intestines. Move the blade up along the belly until the head.
  2. Spread open the body and remove entrails and gills with a spoon or by hand. 
  3. Rinse the cavity by putting it under streaming water and wash the skin
  4. Removing the head is optional, but if you want to, you may cut it off, especially if you plan to make bass fillets.
  5. Make sure to clean your working or cleaning area and free it from residues from the guts, heads, and scales. 

How To Cook Sand Bass

Cooking your sand bass catch can be done in multiple ways, and many recipes are available for it. Whether you want bass fillets, baked bass, or deep-fried chunked bass, being experimental and creative can help you enjoy a delicious meal.

You will need to use seasonings, which is up to your preference of what taste you are going for. Lemon, pepper, and garlic salt are just a few of what you can use.

In cooking a barred sand bass, you will essentially need to heat a pan, butter it up, or put in olive oil. After a minute or less, when the butter or oil heats in the pan, put in your seasoned sand bass fillets.

Initially, the fillets should cook for a few minutes. If you want your fillets to be a little bit crispier, you can coat them with flour before putting them in the pan. 

Frequently Asked Question

What is the best bait for barred sand bass?

Live squid is considered the best, but they are hard to get hold of in certain seasons. If they are not available, small live mackerels with dead mackerel pieces prove to be good enough for catching sand bass. Anchovies and “brown baits” can also entice a sand bass to get out of hiding. 

Jon Stenstrom
Founder & Angler
Jon Stenstrom is a fishing enthusiast. He has over 25 years of fishing experience, and 6 years of spearfishing experience, and is currently learning how to boat. Jon has his Open Water PADI Certification and FII Freediver Level 1 Certification. Jon has traveled the world to fish and dive, most notably in the Great Barrier Reef, Baja Mexico, Thailand, and Malaysia. More Articles
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