Something different...herring!!!

So being lazy I went to Whittier. Trolled spinners around the cove looking for kings. No love. Had a couple of sabiki rigs so I went by the ferry pier. Had to stay on the edges of the shore casters, but in about 2 hours I managed to jig up 5 gallons of herring. Mainly blue and purple tray herring size.

They aren't bait herring since they are too oily meaning soft and they shed their scales. But I'm trying to brine them in saltwater to firm them up.

If they firm up, they should make great bait at least for halibut. Otherwise they are some pretty good eats as well!!!
http://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ykR_fWtiXLM/U7obvCppu1I/AAAAAAAAFNA/356899916_Q/s1024-no/IMAGE_752.jpg
http://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-H30p3BKQATE/U7obybxMGyI/AAAAAAAAFNI/j7raOWOfJd8/s1024-no/IMAGE_753.jpg

http://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-nbwrFWPabiQ/U7ob2wI3frI/AAAAAAAAFNQ/84Ez7eWGgQg/s1024-no/IMAGE_754.jpg

Nice! Yah i need to try that sometime

I wonder how long you would need to keep them alive until they burn off their fat and oil? That's what they do with the bait ones right?

I wonder how long you would need to keep them alive until they burn off their fat and oil? That's what they do with the bait ones right?

Too long.  I think when I lived near Westport, WA they were penning them for a week or more.  These herring sure look good...even without the scales.  They probably wont' freeze that way though.  Hoping they will be firm enough for halibut bait. 

mmmm... Love me some Pickled Herring! There's easy recipes on the internet. I've Been wanting to try this with other types of fish myself. Ill bet they smoke up good whole too! ... Or flour and fry like smelt!