are Nurse Sharks good to eat?

[myerslake]

I'm new to the Florida Gulf and have caught a couple of Nurse Sharks.  One of the fish books I bought says in the authors opinion it is one of the best eating shark however my neighbor says they taste terrible.  What do you folks think.  Is the Nurse Shark good to eat?

[oneshotonekill]

Nurse sharks are pretty high in uric acid/ammonia concentration (as many sharks are) if not cooked properly they will taste like urine.

[Chesapeake Troller]

Like with any shark if you immediately bleed, then gut and ice the shark it will taste the best it can. A lot of the guys I know think the nurse is one of the best on the table.

Good luck!

Chesapeake

[ratherbefishin]

I don't know about the uric acid levels but I do know  some people eat dogfish and they claim they are ok as long as they are soaked in lemon juice.Why some one would eat a dogfish I don't know, but I understand they sell them in Britain and Austrailia under the name''rock salmon''

[Donna]

ratherbefishin - is a dogfish another name for a nurse sharks? and why did you mention uric acid levels and what is it?

Donna

[Chesapeake Troller]

Dogfish are not the same as nurse sharks, Dogs are smaller, 3-4 ft max, while a nurse can get up to 9 ft or more. Dogs became very popular in "fish n chips" over in GB and their population levels dropped to very danagerous lows because of it. All sharks also when stressed release lots of uric acid into their tissues and even after being caught continue to release it. That is why you need to kill, clean, and ice them asap for the best favor to the meat.

CT

[ratherbefishin]

if the supply of dogfish dreid up in the UK, I would be more than happy if they resupplied their market from the coast of British Columbia-we have an unlimited supply and every salmon fisherman would be more than happy to see them gone.At times you have to give up on a spot because of dogfish, they will go through a box of anchovey's in no time.Switching to artificials is OK if you are afer coho, but if you are targeting the big springs, anchovey is the bait of choice and dogfish know it

[Zachary]

There is a book that says that Nurse sharks are excellent, probably due to their big shellfish diet.

Other than that, I don't know.  But I too have caught quite a few Nurse sharks here in South Florida.

Zachary

[Rustyinfla]

As was said above, it's all in the care you take with the catch. Bleed 'em, Gut'em and ice'em fast and you'll be OK. It's also a good idea to stay with the smaller ones.

             Rusty <><

[motor]

that's right Rusty, bleed them as soon as you catch them, put em on ice and keep only the smaller ones.. i have eaten a bunch of em and in fact i have some in the freezer now..like any other fish they are good eating if fixed right..