Beer-Battered Spanish Mackerel

A couple weeks ago I was out fishing with my boss in the Northwest side of the Bay near Niceville, FL. It was ridiculously slow that day. Their was a slack tide while we were out there, so their wasn't much water movement, which usually sucks for fishing. We couldn't get them to hit anything! I literally tried everything in my tackle box (which is just a milk crate with a couple clear Plano plastic boxes for my lures and hooks and such), but the fish wouldn't have any of it. We were fishing a hole back up in one of the bayous where we always have success, but nothing this day. So, just because I had tried everything else I had, I threw a sabiki rig out into the water, said "this is my last cast," and jigged it back in. Right as I was reeling it up to the boat, wouldn't you know it, this Spanish Mackerel actually took it! I pulled him in the boat and we went to another spot. Later that day I caught a couple Speckled Trout and a Flounder on a chartreuse DOA shrimp, but I was especially thrilled about the mackerel I had caught earlier. They're great on the plate.

Today I took this fish out of my freezer and decided to Fry It Up! Here is how I cooked it.

Beer-Battered Spanish Mackerel

Ingredients:

1 Spanish Mackerel - filleted
3 strips of bacon
1 banana
1 apple - quartered
2 cans of beer
2 eggs
2 1/4 cup flower
1/4 cup corn starch
1 table spoon of cajun spices
coconut oil

Mix the 2 eggs, 1 1/4 cup flower, the corn starch, the cajun spices and 1 can of beer (I chose Busch because it's as clear and bright as mountain air) Mix until there are no lumps. It will take a few minutes. Then let the batter stand for about 30 minutes.

Dump enough of the coconut oil in a pan to cook your fish and heat at a medium-high heat. I used a pan that is shaped like a wok. I don't know what the hell it's called, but it's good for frying stuff.


 Pat your fillets dry and then submerge them into the batter. On a separate plate dump the rest of the flour. Hold the fillets out of the batter and let excess drip back into the bowl. Then coat with the flour on the other plate.



Once the oil is hot cook your fish. I couldn't tell you how long. Just cook it until it's done, flipping it a few times. When your finished with it place it on a plate lined with paper towels to soak up the excess oil.






Now once I made the batter for the fish, I realized I made WAY more than I  needed. So I stuck my head in the fridge and pulled out an apple and a banana (gotta keep it healthy). I also pulled out 3 strips of bacon (again, healthy. Plus I'm on a bacon binge). So I battered and fried them up, too. 





Now once it's all done and the excess oil removed, serve hot with hot sauce. Now your probably saying, "Hey, what about that second can of beer?"........drink it, silly!