Crispy on the outside, tender, flaky fish on the inside this simple pan-fried bluegill recipe is reminiscent of old-fashioned flavor and perfect for stove or campfire for your fresh catch.

We love to take the girls fishing, it’s so fun to sit back, toss in a line and watch their faces light up when their bobber starts dunking into the water.

So, we took them the other day to a local spot full of delicious bluegill. We all 5 caught a mess of them, we brought them home, cleaned them, and fried them for dinner. So yummy.

Are bluegill good eating fish?

Bluegill makes an excellent fish to eat. In fact, they’re often referred to as panfish because they’re perfect for frying in a pan over an open fire or over the stove.

These fish have one of the mildest flavors of freshwater fish, and their flesh is really flaky and firm making it perfect for breading and frying.

How to cook bluegill

This recipe can be used whether you have fillet-sized bluegill that you clean and fillet or smaller catches that you simply keep whole and eat around the bones. Whichever you choose, it’s simple to make and delicious.

We chose to fillet the fish, if you choose, you can keep them whole, remove the head just behind the gills, and eat around the bones. It’s really up to you and, well, the size of your fish. Larger bluegill are much, much easier to fillet, though we filleted all of ours.

Once filleted, keep them cold, rinse and pat dry, dip them in egg wash, dredge them in the fish fry and fry for about 5-8 minutes (depending on the size of the fillet). Drain, and enjoy.

Tips for perfectly fried fish

• Rinse your fish and pat them dry. Even though you’re going to be putting them in eggwash, patting them dry helps keep the egg adhered to the fish.
• Try to keep the sizes of fillet (or fish) fairly uniform for each batch. This helps ensure even cooking.
• Heat oil to 350°F so that the fish fry quickly enough to cook through without overbrowning on the outside.
• Use a fork to dip the fish into the fish fry and place in the hot oil to keep the fry mix on the fish (and keep your fingers clean).
• If you’re not using a campfire, especially if you have a lot of fish to fry, try frying outside to keep down on the smell inside your home.

What to make with your bluegill:

• Southern Style Hush Puppies Recipe
• Pickled Green Tomatoes
• Baked Seasoned French Fries Recipe

If you’re looking for ideas on how to reconnect with your food, nature, and the heritage way of life, you’ve come to the right place.

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