Blog

What’s on your mind when you get back to the dock after a fishing trip? Maybe you’re thinking, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice to spend 3 hours and dirty a bunch of dishes to turn this fresh fish into a mediocre dinner?’.

No? Didn’t think so!

Along with the bragging rights of winning tournaments and the excitement of reeling in the big one, another main draw of fishing is savoring a delicious meal prepared from your catch. When you return from a long day on the water, it’s be tempting to just take the fish home and throw some fillets in the freezer, but why not make the most of your weekend and whip up a fresh dockside dinner?

We’ve pulled together quick, easy, galley-friendly recipes to take your favorite fish from ocean to plate all in the same day. You don’t even need a bunch of specialty kitchen appliances. Ready to get cooking? First up we have:

Hogfish Sandwiches

The delicate taste and moist, flakey texture of hogfish is a signature culinary experience of the Florida Keys. Drink in the tropical vibe and enjoy your hogfish catch like the locals when you put together delicious hogfish sandwiches.

Food So Good Mall’s hogfish sandwich recipe makes it easy for you to turn your catch of the day into an amazing dockside dinner with just some basic ingredients and a few secret extras.

Stock your galley with:

• Yellow onion
• Mushrooms
• Sliced Swiss cheese
• Fresh Cuban (or French) bread
• Cracker meal
• Self-rising flour
• Buttermilk
• Kosher salt
• Black pepper
• Tomato
• Lettuce
• Tartar sauce
• Lemon (for a photo-worthy garnish)

Catch:

• Enough hogfish for an 8-ounce fillet per person

Total prep and cook time:

• 23 minutes

Mackerel Pesto Pasta

Some freshly caught fish have a shorter shelf life than others, and mackerel is definitely one to eat quickly while it is still at its best. You don’t even need to wait until you get home. If you have a galley and a few basic ingredients, you can whip up a tasty mackerel dish for your crew as soon as you hit the docks.

Gordon Hamilton, a long-time fisherman and cook, has put together a delicious and simple recipe for pan fried mackerel fillets served on a bed of pesto pasta.

Stock your galley with:

• Pasta noodles of your choice
• All-purpose flour
• Sea salt
• Black pepper
• Pesto sauce
• Olive oil
• Fresh basil for garnish (if you want to be extra fancy)

Catch:

• Enough mackerel for 1-2 small fillets per person

Total prep and cook time:

• 15 minutes

Marlin Tropical Grilled Steaks

Savoring the light, delicate flavor of freshly caught marlin is the perfect way to wrap up a hot summer day on the water. You don’t even need to heat up your galley to create  these delectable tropical grilled marlin steaks from ClubFoody.

Catch your marlin in the morning, then tie up at the dock to clean the fish and marinate the fillets in the afternoon.As sunset approaches, fire up the grill, uncork a bottle of your favorite pinot grigio and unwind with a private dinner for two.

Stock your galley with:

• Pineapple juice
• Grapeseed oil
• Sesame oil
• Low-sodium soy sauce
• Fresh garlic
• Fresh ginger
• Black pepper

Catch:

• Enough marlin for 1 steak per person

Total prep and cook time:

• 10 minutes + 1.5 hours for marinating

Striped Bass in Creamy Mushroom Sauce

The rich flavor of striped bass is enhanced by a creamy mushroom sauce in the Food Network’s simple yet delicious striped bass with mushrooms recipe. White wine, shallots and thyme provide bright notes in a simply decadent dish.

Add a bed of wild rice to help soak up every last bit of this memorably amazing sauce.

Stock your galley with:

• Unsalted butter
• Shallots
• Fresh thyme
• Kosher salt
• Black pepper
• Mushrooms
• Olive oil
• Dry white wine (both to drink and use in the recipe)
• Heavy cream
• Fresh parsley or chives for garnish (if desired)

Catch

• Enough striped bass for a 6-ounce fillet per person

Total prep and cook time:

• 35 minutes

Time to get cooking!

Are your taste buds watering yet? Remember, no matter what you caught today, you can easily turn it into an amazing dinner with just a little time and a few pre-planned ingredients.