How hungry was the first person.......

[Starman]

That ate a raw oyster ??

Think about it. A big ole' wad of slime.

Friday I had the pleasure to meet yet another forum member, Mopester.

HE is down here at Camp Lejeune for a couple of weeks and came by the marina.

So what about the raw oyster ?

Today at he marina we steamed some oysters and clams. Had shrimp, rib eye steak and King Mackerel on the grill along with some side dishes of corn bread, a delicious broccoli dish made by Chris' wife, Joy and a few "special drinks" .

Anyway, Wayne ( a friend of ours who frequents the marina ) and I persuaded Mike ( Mopester) who had never eaten an oyster to eat his first one.....RAW !!

Mike is a good sport, but I do not think he will be eating many more oysters, LOL

Not sure if he has computer access this week, but I expect he will be speaking of this " ordeal" soon as he does.

 

[skrmetta90]

My dad's a commericial fisherman, he used to dredge oysters back home in the winter. Horrible, backbreaking work. I was eating raw oysters before i can remember, I love em. And I don't care what yall Yankees will say to this, but the best oysters come from the Gulf Coast

 

[Boss Lady]

Since I am originally from Panama City Beach, FL I will second that, and there are quite a few North Carolinians who will agree, ever since I started bringing fresh PCB shrimp and oysters up here for them to try. We have some friends who now ship in Gulf oysters for their annual Christmas party! I met a guy about 10 years ago who ran a large seafood market. I saw Panama City shrimp on his price board and I asked if they were PC Florida or PC Republic of Panama' shrimp, and he said they were Florida shrimp and he sells all he can get (restraunt buyers).

 

[Passages]

And I don't care what yall Yankees will say to this, but the best oysters come from the Gulf Coast

Maybe, but for the ultimate shellfish, you can't beat a Maine steamed lobster. Add a little melted butter w/ a dash of fresh ground garlic - mmmmmmmmm.

 

[bigbill]

hey, skrmetta 90, are you related to the people that run the ship island excursions? what is your name? capt. tobb and myself were regulars at ship island before the storm [katrina] we might know you or some of your relatives... bigbill sorry about the off thread talk...

 

[thoward]

Since I am originally from Panama City Beach, FL I will second that, and there are quite a few North Carolinians who will agree, ever since I started bringing fresh PCB shrimp and oysters up here for them to try. We have some friends who now ship in Gulf oysters for their annual Christmas party! I met a guy about 10 years ago who ran a large seafood market. I saw Panama City shrimp on his price board and I asked if they were PC Florida or PC Republic of Panama' shrimp, and he said they were Florida shrimp and he sells all he can get (restraunt buyers).

Oysters are gooood. I like them grilled over an open fire. That Gulf shrimp thing is a double edge sword. While I love them, the nets destroy the Red Snapper population. While not as good, I tend to eat imports now......

 

[skrmetta90]

You got me there Passages, a Maine lobster is at the top of the list when it comes to shellfish, but we do have their little cousins, crawfish! So, are you bringing us some lobsters down for the boat show?????????

Bigbill, that is my family's business (ship island excursion). Currently, my great uncle is running it. My grandfather had the run out of Biloxi but he sold his share to his brother to consolidate the business in Gulfport. I'm Mitchell Skrmetta; I'm the oldest of the 4th generation. You may know Louis, Kenny, or Capt. Pete, all 2nd cousins of mine except for Capt. Pete, he's the great uncle. I haven't been out to the island since the storm, but i've flown over it and i've seen pictures. Camille cut is much larger now, and the island starting to get pretty thin.

 

[Boss Lady]

I never understood shrimpers. I can catch more shrimp with a can of cat food and a cast net than they do with a boat and it doesn't tear up the bottom or kill juvenile fish. Here is an example of how to catch shrimp that out performs trawling.
http://www.ncseagrant.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=story&pubid=139&storyid=210
This makes too much sense so it will probably never happen here in NC.

 

[skrmetta90]

Well, it's very intertaining to read, but I must point out a few facts. Commercial fisherman along the Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas coasts can catch up to 20,000 pounds of shrimp in a clock (24 hour period). Granted, these are seabobs (140 to the pound). They average 10,000 pounds in a clock during this season. During the regular season, they can catch anywhere from 500 pounds to 10,000 pounds of shrimp from 26-30's to 80-100's in a single clock. I was raised by the seafood industry on the Gulf Coast. We've had 3000 to 4000 pound drags, where, when we tripped the tails the shrimp roll to the top of the bullworks. I spent my summers out two weeks at a time with my Dad shrimping, watching him make his living. It's back breaking work, it's one of the reasons i went to college (not for me!!!). It's not an easy living being away from your family for such long periods, so i have the utmost respect for anyone who makes a living on the water. I'm not one to start arguments, but just because you don't understand something doesn't mean it's wrong. What do you think many sailboaters say about us and our diesel clunkers. I bet some of them don't understand why we do what we do either! Anyhow, I definitely respect everyone's opinion, as i hope yall respect mine.

Gulf Oysters are still the best

 

[Boss Lady]

we don't have the abundant resources up here in NC, we lack the bays that Florida has. The fact remains that you kill 10 lbs of juvenile fish for every pound of shrimp. This is a terrible waste of biomass. Just pull behind a shrimper and you will see juvenile sailfish, flounder, etc floating in the water. There is no where for them to hide. Better methods need to be implemented. The thing that pisses me off up here is watching the shrimpers use a stick with a nail in it to pull the blue crabs out of their catch. They kill every crab that lands on the deck. There is no justification for wasting this resource wantonly. Just ask the crab fishermen. I like eating shrimp as well as anyone else. But enough is enough. I have seen the destructive fishing methods and it is time for a change. If the industry will not regulate itself, it will be regulated. It has been proven time and again through one collapsed fishery after another that the greed will not be satiated until there is nothing left to catch. The public resources are raped for the profit of a few. There is a finite resource and it cannot sustain itself with the pressures of modern commercial fishing methods. The Europeans only harvested 15% of their Blue Fin Tuna quota this year. Now they want to do something to protect the fish. After years of giving the USA the finger, on Tuna and Bill fish harvest quotas, and taking as much as they could, the fishery is on the verge of collapse, and when they get hit in the pocket book hard for the first time, they had an epiphany. Do you think it is time to do something about protecting the fish, or shall we wait until there are none left?

I don't want to hear about "poor" fishermen, I would love to make $20K-$30K per day. I had a high school buddy who inherited a fleet of tuna boats. He was poor too, (insert sarcasm) made several million dollars profit a year and that wasn't enough so he started hauling cocaine as a side job. He finally wound up in prison, after DEA got him. I guess just being a millionaire wasn't good enough.


Anyone watch the crab fisherman show up in Alaska? The crews make more money in a week than most professionals make in a year, and they are the peons. The boats will make several million dollars in a week. At least they don't have a by-catch problem, like the shrimpers, gill netters, and longliners do.

If people want to eat seafood, they can hire a boat, buy a boat or go with a buddy who owns a boat. It would be boon to the economy in tourism, boat and equipment sales, and would increase the waterfront economy manifold in comparison to the revenue concentrated into just a few hands in the commercial fishing industry.

Off my soapbox.

 

[thoward]

Well said! Wait until you see the new Gulf grouper and snapper regs......

 

[(Nobody You Know)]

Today at he marina we steamed some oysters and clams.

Paul,

Stump Sound steamed oysters?

Best ever!

 

[Starman]

Hey Bill,

These actually came from the new river near the Sneads Ferry bridge and they were the best I ever had.

Mike ( Mopester) is now on his honeymoon and will post some pics when he gets back.

 

[Jaxfishgyd]

Mike ( Mopester) is now on his honeymoon and will post some pics when he gets back.

WOW! That could be very interesting.... But wouldn't his wife mind??

 

[mopester]

I am not sure how hungry?? I can tell you I was not! But seeing how I had never had them raw or steamed, and i can say i probably will not again, I figured I would try them. The worst is right after i ate the raw one every one started telling me how sick you can get from them!! And I former nurse proceeded to tell me in brief medical terms about the bacteria and runs!!! Needless to say i had a slight gag reaction to the sick comments (not enough to send it back out) I also would definatly not have eaten it if they told me that first.... Then i tried one steamed, not much better even with hot sauce strait on it!

The good news is we all had a great time and some laughs (at me the northerner) It was quite comical and its to bad we didnt have a camera because im sure i made some faces. I did have some great fish, shrimp, steak and beer too. Put two beers down quick to kill the slimy salt taste of the raw one.

Most of all i expierianced some of that "Southern Hospitality" I asked here if anyone was in that area, got some responses and then got invited to the seafood bake or barbecue and got to meet some really nice members of the group. I met Paul, Chris, Don, and all the friends and familys. I had a great time, and i am seriously cosidering a return trip for the "Chicken pickin" or whatever its called that i was invited to. Hope to see you guys soon and many other members.

Sorry no interesting pics from the honey moon But hilton head was nice too.

Mike.