The Best Game Fish for Grilling
From Turning Points | July 2024
As summer heats up, it's time to dust off the grill and move from the kitchen to the backyard to prepare your catch. For those who love the thrill of fishing and the sizzle of the grill, there's nothing more satisfying than capping off an adventure on the water with a BBQ featuring the catch of the day. Crack open a cold one, grab your favorite Kayak blend and fire up the grill. Here are six of the best fish for grilling, along with some no-nonsense tips on how to prep and cook them to perfection.
Salmon: King of the Grill
Salmon is a go-to choice for grilling because its firm, flavorful flesh stands up to the flames. Start by filleting the salmon and leaving the skin on. Season with a hearty mix of olive oil, salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lemon juice. Set the grill to medium-high and cook the salmon skin-side down for about 6-8 minutes per side, depending on thickness. This is salmon done right.
Salmon is a go-to choice for grilling because its firm, flavorful flesh stands up to the flames. Start by filleting the salmon and leaving the skin on. Season with a hearty mix of olive oil, salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lemon juice. Set the grill to medium-high and cook the salmon skin-side down for about 6-8 minutes per side, depending on thickness. This is salmon done right.
Yellowfin Tuna: The Steak of the Sea
Tuna steaks are a backyard favorite thanks to their meaty texture and satisfying flavor. Brush the steaks with a mix of soy sauce, sesame oil, and a touch of ginger. Grill on high heat for about 2-3 minutes per side if you prefer a rare center, or longer for a more well-done steak. Tuna is best served rare to medium-rare.
Tuna steaks are a backyard favorite thanks to their meaty texture and satisfying flavor. Brush the steaks with a mix of soy sauce, sesame oil, and a touch of ginger. Grill on high heat for about 2-3 minutes per side if you prefer a rare center, or longer for a more well-done steak. Tuna is best served rare to medium-rare.
Red Snapper: Fire's Favorite Fish
Red snapper is prized for its slightly sweet, nutty flavor and firm, flaky flesh. To grill whole red snapper, clean and scale the fish, then make a few slashes on each side. Rub with olive oil, salt, pepper, and fresh herbs like parsley and thyme. Heat the grill to medium and cook for about 8-10 minutes per side in a fish basket. The skin should be crispy, and the flesh should flake easily. Serving it whole is one of many ways to cook this prized fish.
Red snapper is prized for its slightly sweet, nutty flavor and firm, flaky flesh. To grill whole red snapper, clean and scale the fish, then make a few slashes on each side. Rub with olive oil, salt, pepper, and fresh herbs like parsley and thyme. Heat the grill to medium and cook for about 8-10 minutes per side in a fish basket. The skin should be crispy, and the flesh should flake easily. Serving it whole is one of many ways to cook this prized fish.
Trout: From Stream-to-Table
Trout is a versatile and tasty fish for grilling. Clean and butterfly the trout, then stuff the cavity with lemon slices, fresh dill, and a few pats of butter. Season the outside with salt and pepper. Grill over medium heat for about 5-6 minutes per side. The skin will crisp up nicely, and the meat will be moist and flavorful. This is the catch of the day done right.
Trout is a versatile and tasty fish for grilling. Clean and butterfly the trout, then stuff the cavity with lemon slices, fresh dill, and a few pats of butter. Season the outside with salt and pepper. Grill over medium heat for about 5-6 minutes per side. The skin will crisp up nicely, and the meat will be moist and flavorful. This is the catch of the day done right.
Swordfish: The BBQ Beast
Swordfish steaks are a favorite for their dense, meaty texture. To prepare, marinate the steaks in a mixture of olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, and fresh basil for at least 30 minutes. Preheat the grill to high heat and cook the steaks for about 4-5 minutes per side, until the fish is opaque and has nice grill marks. Swordfish’s robust flavor stands up well to bold seasonings, making it a standout choice for the grill.
Swordfish steaks are a favorite for their dense, meaty texture. To prepare, marinate the steaks in a mixture of olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, and fresh basil for at least 30 minutes. Preheat the grill to high heat and cook the steaks for about 4-5 minutes per side, until the fish is opaque and has nice grill marks. Swordfish’s robust flavor stands up well to bold seasonings, making it a standout choice for the grill.
Grilling your own freshly caught fish is a rewarding experience that blends the thrill of the catch with the primal thrill of outdoor cooking. So, fire up the grill, gather your buddies, and your favorite Kayak blend, and throw a BBQ. This is what grilling season is all about.
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