YT Collars and Bellies - Smoked - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

seaquinn · 08-03-2014, 08:33 AM

Wow, what an amazing summer! Guys, for years I have appreciated each and every fish I catch. And I have figured out many delicious recipes from this board and friends. But only recently did I discover a MAJOR find, for me.. some of you already know this.

A few years back I made a post about smoking YT and there were many great ideas, but I just want to remind those into smoking of what I have found:

1. Don't skip the collars or bellies! Oh My God.... I am gonna have smoked YT bellies for breakfast and throughout the day again. And the collars! Such good meat there! I went on a Party Boat last week, and I kept so many bellies that others just don't know about. And I have a silly amount myself.

2. For years I smoked at 225 degrees, and in an hour or less, they were done, and very good..... but now, OMG again, I smoke at under 200, such as 190, for 1.5 times as long.... SO MUCH BETTER! Much more moist, and smoky.

3. Maybe the biggest improvement is the "brine". I use to just slather fish in Teriyaki or soak for an hour or so..... but now with a real brine, maybe equal parts brown sugar and good salt, plus a little molasses which the kids love, and a good red ale, plus water.... soaked at least an hour, then rinsed off, then slow smoked..... this is BY FAR the best smoked fish I have ever been eating.

Try a smoked YT belly some time, and see if it ain't the best piece of fish you have ever tasted. Well, some salmon is hard to beat, and others are good, but I just wanted to share what has turned me from a fish "cook" to more of a "gourmet chef".

Catch 'em, then savor 'em, too worthy of a fish and resource to not enjoy 100%!

Cheers all!

YakDout · 08-03-2014, 08:43 AM

When I first started posting on BWE I had searched for a good smoked yellow recipe. I found one and haven't turned back. I have tried a few alterations to it but the original is hard to beat. When I take multiple batches of this stuff to a party or BBQ I have to make sure that I eat a little bit on the way because when I lay it out for others, I blink and it's gone. But I do have just as much satisfaction seeing others smile about it. It makes people talk to me less and eat more.

Originally posted by stevoooooo a while back.

I am quoting him here because he definitely deserves credit for this one

"Smoked Fish Dip
1 ½ cups crumbled smoked fish
1/2 cup milk
8 ounces light cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup finely minced onion
1 stalk finely chopped celery
1 tablespoon finely minced fresh parsley
3 teaspoons sweet pickle relish
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce (or to taste)
Cayenne, salt and pepper to taste

Put the smoked fish in a medium bowl and add the milk. Cover and chill for 30 minutes to an hour. Stir in the cream cheese, onion, celery, parsley, relish, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and cayenne, salt and pepper to taste. Cover and chill for 2 to 3 hours until flavors have blended. Serve with your favorite crackers."

I also have tried his brining method for smoking the yellowtail and also comes out great. I smoke between 160-170 for 3 hours. That part of the equation will never change for me.

Nic D · 08-03-2014, 11:14 AM

just bought a smoker and I cant wait to try it...

thanks for the inspiration guys...

question,,, what kind of chips are you using to smoke with?

-Nic

YakDout · 08-03-2014, 11:32 AM

mesquite and hickory work well with fish. The key is to soak overnight to prevent flareups and to get the most smoke before they ash. Also keep adding wood about every hour or so depending on heat to get the best smoke flavor.

Nic D · 08-03-2014, 12:57 PM

thanks bud.

IN2DEEP · 08-03-2014, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nic D

just bought a smoker and I cant wait to try it...

thanks for the inspiration guys...

question,,, what kind of chips are you using to smoke with?

-Nic

Applewood chips for me
Soaked in water for a 1/2hr
Use only one pan of chips for enough smoke flavor (don't get carried away with the smoke)

Yes, bellies are better than the loins for smoked fish
Need to give the collars a try

Lipripper92592 · 08-03-2014, 02:49 PM

It sounds like your dialing in your technique. Slow and cold is the way to go for fish. On your next batch, air dry your fish for 24 hours until a pellicle forms on the surface.

(Before cured foods are smoked, they should be allowed to air-dry long enough to form a tacky skin, known as a pellicle. The pellicle plays a key role in producing excellent smoked items. It acts as a kind of protective barrier for the food, and also plays an important role in capturing the smoke’s flavor and color.
Most foods can be properly dried by placing them on racks or by hanging them on hooks or sticks. It is important that air be able to flow around all sides. They should be air-dried uncovered, in the refrigerator or a cool room. To encourage pellicle formation, you can place the foods so that a fan blows air over them. The exterior of the item must be sufficiently dry if the smoke is to adhere)

Waiting for this to form, you'll notice the meat become translucent and the pellicle will form on the surface, then throw in the smoker. This will make a world of difference in your end product.

Nic D · 08-03-2014, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lipripper92592

It sounds like your dialing in your technique. Slow and cold is the way to go for fish. On your next batch, air dry your fish for 24 hours until a pellicle forms on the surface.

(Before cured foods are smoked, they should be allowed to air-dry long enough to form a tacky skin, known as a pellicle. The pellicle plays a key role in producing excellent smoked items. It acts as a kind of protective barrier for the food, and also plays an important role in capturing the smoke’s flavor and color.
Most foods can be properly dried by placing them on racks or by hanging them on hooks or sticks. It is important that air be able to flow around all sides. They should be air-dried uncovered, in the refrigerator or a cool room. To encourage pellicle formation, you can place the foods so that a fan blows air over them. The exterior of the item must be sufficiently dry if the smoke is to adhere)

Waiting for this to form, you'll notice the meat become translucent and the pellicle will form on the surface, then throw in the smoker. This will make a world of difference in your end product.

thanks bud

bwana · 08-03-2014, 11:00 PM

For fish it's best to use a milder wood such as Alder, cherry, apple, or most fruit woods. I use a basic brine soaked overnight, then rinsed well, and experiment by adding seasoning and marinades.

I learned from Yani to add a glaze during the last hour of smoking. Talk about taking your smoked fish to the next level - thanks Yani. Last time I coated the fish with a mango habanero jam which left a hint of a sweet but hot aftertaste. I must have done something right because a fellow BWE member donated pounds of YT, BFT, and YFT so long as I smoke and return some. Good deal for all.

Just ordered 2 large jars of the mango habanero jam and 2 of raspberry jalapeno jam from www.jackiesjamsandjellies.com out of Rochester NY. This lady makes incredible jams with ingredients I would have never thought to combine.

I get lazy making dip - mayo with sriracha hot chili sauce.

nacho66 · 08-03-2014, 11:29 PM

I just put some Sockeye Salmon in a dry brine tonight, going to smoke tomorrow. 2 Cups Brown sugar, 1/2 Cup of Kosher Salt, 1/2Tblsp Fresh Ground pepper. Will smoke for 2-2.25 hours using either alder, or apple. Last half hour baste with Apricot Jam mixed a pinch of my ground Scorpion Peppers.

Lipripper92592 · 08-04-2014, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nacho66

I just put some Sockeye Salmon in a dry brine tonight, going to smoke tomorrow. 2 Cups Brown sugar, 1/2 Cup of Kosher Salt, 1/2Tblsp Fresh Ground pepper. Will smoke for 2-2.25 hours using either alder, or apple. Last half hour baste with Apricot Jam mixed a pinch of my ground Scorpion Peppers.

Smoked salmon...oh so good...ever made Indian Candy? Should give it a try sometime.....

nacho66 · 08-05-2014, 09:37 AM

Have not tried Indian Candy however My Salmon turned out pretty

Aaron&Julie · 08-05-2014, 10:20 AM

Thanks for the tips, Cliff.

ctfphoto · 08-05-2014, 11:55 AM

Cliff, thanks for the tips, tuna, and yellowtail

Your brine is similar to mine except that I have not used molasses or ale, but I will in the future as they sound like awesome additions.

One question, why did you "rinse" the brine off the fish?

Most likely will see and fish with you on the water tomorrow bro ....

EntropyFletch · 08-05-2014, 03:31 PM

I smoked some YFT loins Sunday and they came out great. Brined for about 4 hours then quick rinse and sit in fridge for 2 hours then smoked at about 195 for a couple hours over alder.

I've got a question for you guys, I can't get smoke below 195 or so, so how do you cold smoke at 170-180?

YakDout · 08-05-2014, 03:32 PM

less charcoal more venting

seaquinn · 08-05-2014, 06:20 PM

wow, excellent comments and suggestions all!

I like this:

- Applewood chips for me
- Soaked in water for a 1/2hr
- Use only one pan of chips for enough smoke flavor (don't get carried away with the smoke)

As to "why" to rinse off the brine, I'm not sure, but I did a quick rinse. Maybe so it is not too salty?

I also have read about setting for awhile after the rinse, to set the "pelicule", all great ideas! Experiment and fine-tune, and keep experimenting. And drink very good beer along the way!

bwana · 08-10-2014, 02:42 PM

Smoked 3 batches of YT, BF and YFT today for a fellow BWE member. Here is a picture of the YT and BF bellies smoked using Cowboy chunk coal, apple wood and coated with Raspberry Jalapeno jam:

Using a homemade slow cooker/smoker with infinite vent control:

And my 9 week old helper that makes finding time to fish a little harder these days.

08-03-2014, 08:33 AM	#1
seaquinn wishin' I was fishin' Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Blossom Valley (near El Cajon) Posts: 148	YT Collars and Bellies - Smoked Wow, what an amazing summer! Guys, for years I have appreciated each and every fish I catch. And I have figured out many delicious recipes from this board and friends. But only recently did I discover a MAJOR find, for me.. some of you already know this. A few years back I made a post about smoking YT and there were many great ideas, but I just want to remind those into smoking of what I have found: 1. Don't skip the collars or bellies! Oh My God.... I am gonna have smoked YT bellies for breakfast and throughout the day again. And the collars! Such good meat there! I went on a Party Boat last week, and I kept so many bellies that others just don't know about. And I have a silly amount myself. 2. For years I smoked at 225 degrees, and in an hour or less, they were done, and very good..... but now, OMG again, I smoke at under 200, such as 190, for 1.5 times as long.... SO MUCH BETTER! Much more moist, and smoky. 3. Maybe the biggest improvement is the "brine". I use to just slather fish in Teriyaki or soak for an hour or so..... but now with a real brine, maybe equal parts brown sugar and good salt, plus a little molasses which the kids love, and a good red ale, plus water.... soaked at least an hour, then rinsed off, then slow smoked..... this is BY FAR the best smoked fish I have ever been eating. Try a smoked YT belly some time, and see if it ain't the best piece of fish you have ever tasted. Well, some salmon is hard to beat, and others are good, but I just wanted to share what has turned me from a fish "cook" to more of a "gourmet chef". Catch 'em, then savor 'em, too worthy of a fish and resource to not enjoy 100%! Cheers all!

08-03-2014, 11:14 AM	#3
Nic D Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Clairemont Posts: 813	just bought a smoker and I cant wait to try it... thanks for the inspiration guys... question,,, what kind of chips are you using to smoke with? -Nic __________________ instagram - @DRAGO619

08-03-2014, 12:57 PM	#5
Nic D Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Clairemont Posts: 813	thanks bud. __________________ instagram - @DRAGO619

08-03-2014, 11:29 PM	#10
nacho66 Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Chula Vista, Ca Posts: 85	I just put some Sockeye Salmon in a dry brine tonight, going to smoke tomorrow. 2 Cups Brown sugar, 1/2 Cup of Kosher Salt, 1/2Tblsp Fresh Ground pepper. Will smoke for 2-2.25 hours using either alder, or apple. Last half hour baste with Apricot Jam mixed a pinch of my ground Scorpion Peppers. __________________ 2013 Dune PA-14 2014 Slayer Propel 13 Navy Senior Chief Retired

08-05-2014, 09:37 AM	#12
nacho66 Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Chula Vista, Ca Posts: 85	Have not tried Indian Candy however My Salmon turned out pretty __________________ 2013 Dune PA-14 2014 Slayer Propel 13 Navy Senior Chief Retired Last edited by nacho66; 08-06-2014 at 10:55 PM.

08-03-2014, 08:43 AM	#2
YakDout Brandon Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,345	When I first started posting on BWE I had searched for a good smoked yellow recipe. I found one and haven't turned back. I have tried a few alterations to it but the original is hard to beat. When I take multiple batches of this stuff to a party or BBQ I have to make sure that I eat a little bit on the way because when I lay it out for others, I blink and it's gone. But I do have just as much satisfaction seeing others smile about it. It makes people talk to me less and eat more. Originally posted by stevoooooo a while back. I am quoting him here because he definitely deserves credit for this one "Smoked Fish Dip 1 ½ cups crumbled smoked fish 1/2 cup milk 8 ounces light cream cheese, softened 1/4 cup finely minced onion 1 stalk finely chopped celery 1 tablespoon finely minced fresh parsley 3 teaspoons sweet pickle relish 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce (or to taste) Cayenne, salt and pepper to taste Put the smoked fish in a medium bowl and add the milk. Cover and chill for 30 minutes to an hour. Stir in the cream cheese, onion, celery, parsley, relish, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and cayenne, salt and pepper to taste. Cover and chill for 2 to 3 hours until flavors have blended. Serve with your favorite crackers." I also have tried his brining method for smoking the yellowtail and also comes out great. I smoke between 160-170 for 3 hours. That part of the equation will never change for me.

08-03-2014, 11:32 AM	#4
YakDout Brandon Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,345	mesquite and hickory work well with fish. The key is to soak overnight to prevent flareups and to get the most smoke before they ash. Also keep adding wood about every hour or so depending on heat to get the best smoke flavor.

08-03-2014, 02:49 PM	#7
Lipripper92592 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 516	It sounds like your dialing in your technique. Slow and cold is the way to go for fish. On your next batch, air dry your fish for 24 hours until a pellicle forms on the surface. (Before cured foods are smoked, they should be allowed to air-dry long enough to form a tacky skin, known as a pellicle. The pellicle plays a key role in producing excellent smoked items. It acts as a kind of protective barrier for the food, and also plays an important role in capturing the smoke’s flavor and color. Most foods can be properly dried by placing them on racks or by hanging them on hooks or sticks. It is important that air be able to flow around all sides. They should be air-dried uncovered, in the refrigerator or a cool room. To encourage pellicle formation, you can place the foods so that a fan blows air over them. The exterior of the item must be sufficiently dry if the smoke is to adhere) Waiting for this to form, you'll notice the meat become translucent and the pellicle will form on the surface, then throw in the smoker. This will make a world of difference in your end product.

08-03-2014, 11:00 PM	#9
bwana Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: El Toro, CA Posts: 244	For fish it's best to use a milder wood such as Alder, cherry, apple, or most fruit woods. I use a basic brine soaked overnight, then rinsed well, and experiment by adding seasoning and marinades. I learned from Yani to add a glaze during the last hour of smoking. Talk about taking your smoked fish to the next level - thanks Yani. Last time I coated the fish with a mango habanero jam which left a hint of a sweet but hot aftertaste. I must have done something right because a fellow BWE member donated pounds of YT, BFT, and YFT so long as I smoke and return some. Good deal for all. Just ordered 2 large jars of the mango habanero jam and 2 of raspberry jalapeno jam from www.jackiesjamsandjellies.com out of Rochester NY. This lady makes incredible jams with ingredients I would have never thought to combine. I get lazy making dip - mayo with sriracha hot chili sauce.

08-05-2014, 10:20 AM	#13
Aaron&Julie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Spring Valley Posts: 1,400	Thanks for the tips, Cliff. __________________ "Never say die"

08-05-2014, 11:55 AM	#14
ctfphoto Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 901	Cliff, thanks for the tips, tuna, and yellowtail Your brine is similar to mine except that I have not used molasses or ale, but I will in the future as they sound like awesome additions. One question, why did you "rinse" the brine off the fish? Most likely will see and fish with you on the water tomorrow bro ....

08-05-2014, 03:31 PM	#15
EntropyFletch Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: San Diego Posts: 37	I smoked some YFT loins Sunday and they came out great. Brined for about 4 hours then quick rinse and sit in fridge for 2 hours then smoked at about 195 for a couple hours over alder. I've got a question for you guys, I can't get smoke below 195 or so, so how do you cold smoke at 170-180?

08-05-2014, 03:32 PM	#16
YakDout Brandon Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,345	less charcoal more venting

08-05-2014, 06:20 PM	#17
seaquinn wishin' I was fishin' Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Blossom Valley (near El Cajon) Posts: 148	wow, excellent comments and suggestions all! I like this: - Applewood chips for me - Soaked in water for a 1/2hr - Use only one pan of chips for enough smoke flavor (don't get carried away with the smoke) As to "why" to rinse off the brine, I'm not sure, but I did a quick rinse. Maybe so it is not too salty? I also have read about setting for awhile after the rinse, to set the "pelicule", all great ideas! Experiment and fine-tune, and keep experimenting. And drink very good beer along the way!

08-10-2014, 02:42 PM	#18
bwana Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: El Toro, CA Posts: 244	Smoked 3 batches of YT, BF and YFT today for a fellow BWE member. Here is a picture of the YT and BF bellies smoked using Cowboy chunk coal, apple wood and coated with Raspberry Jalapeno jam: Using a homemade slow cooker/smoker with infinite vent control: And my 9 week old helper that makes finding time to fish a little harder these days.