Casting a line on the beautiful waters of British Columbia is the best part of a visit to Sointula Lodge. Dining on your catch once you get home is a close second.
Each day, after you’ve reeled in a few salmon, halibut, or cod, our experienced guides will help you snap a few photos for bragging rights when you get back home. Next comes the weight in—that’s an important part of the fish stories you’ll tell after your trip is over! Finally, they’ll clean and cut your fish, chopping it into smaller chunks and rinsing it with fresh water before vacuum sealing it.
From there, it’s into the freezer, where they’ll stay until you’re ready to leave. Your bags are packed into wax boxes on your final day at the Lodge. The frozen fish insulate themselves, keeping your catch cold until you get back home. If you’re flying, you’ll be able to check your wax box full of fish as checked luggage! If you’re driving, you’ll want to bring along a cooler to put your fish in to keep them cold if you have a longer road trip ahead of you.
Once you get home, the real fun begins; enjoying your catch. But first, you have to decide how to prepare it. Grilled, broiled, poached—you have plenty of options. Keep reading to learn a few tips for prepping the fan-favorite, salmon, and for serving it up.
Keep Your Catch Frozen
To avoid spoiling your fresh catch, toss it in the freezer as soon as you get home. Once there, it’s best to enjoy your fish within two to three months. That is if you can wait that long!
When you’re ready to cook your salmon, take it out of the freezer the night before. Remove the fish from the plastic wrapping and place it on a rack over a baking sheet with an edge or in a colander over a bowl. That way the liquid can drain away without leaving a mess.
Check for Pin Bones
While our staff will fully clean and prep every fish you catch, you should still check for pin bones before you start cooking.
Pin bones are tiny, flexible, sharp bones that run the length of your salmon filets, spaced about ½ inch apart from one another. Because they are so small, it’s always possible that our staff miss some. Luckily, they are easy to spot on your own at home. Simply run your finger up and down the center of the fillet. If you feel a sharp little poke, there’s a bone there. You can use your fingers or a pair of tweezers to easily pull them out.
The Best Ways to Cook Your Salmon
There is an endless number of ways to cook and prepare salmon. From salads to bruschettas to grilled or baked varieties topped with decadent sauces, the sky is the limit!
Of course, your fresh-caught salmon is delicious entirely on its own. If you want to enjoy those natural flavors, it’s best to keep it simple.
Because of the high-fat content of salmon, it’s excellent for throwing on a grill. Just be sure to heat your grates ahead of time and keep them well oiled to keep your salmon from sticking.
Pan-fried or baked are also popular ways to enjoy your salmon catch. For a touch of fresh flavor and a simple meal, check out this recipe for a pan-fried salmon with lemon butter. Want something even easier to prepare? Try this recipe for a foil-baked salmon meal.
Don’t Be Afraid to Go Rare
When you’re cooking up store-bought fish that you aren’t sure the origin of, it’s always a good idea to cook it thoroughly, just in case there are any bacteria present. But fresh-caught and properly handled salmon is entirely safe to eat cooked medium-rare. This is a great way to enjoy the fish’s succulent taste without the distraction of any burnt edges!
Wild salmon cooks very quickly. If you’ve never grilled, baked, or otherwise cooked salmon before, follow this simple rule of thumb; no matter how you’re cooking it, you’ll want to cook it for between 8 and 10 minutes for every inch of thickness to your filet.
Enjoying Your Souvenir
The best part about bringing home a box of fish is the chance to extend your vacation fun long after you’ve returned home! Share with friends while you tell a few fish tales, or enjoy the spoils of your hard work on the water all by yourself. There’s really no bad way to enjoy your tasty salmon—the pride of knowing you caught it yourself makes it that much better!
Ready to learn more about the fish you might catch during your Sointula Lodge adventure? Check out this blog next.
