Fried Herring ???? Why the negative responce's?

[scunge]

On a Fishermans blog almost all responded to the eating of fried herring with disgust to say the least. It's been pickle and only pickle the catch. The pictures of the fired fish ,well I have to say look darn appetizing. So why the reaction ? Thanks

[EWSflash]

My mother was one of those people to whom fish that tasted like fish was 'beneath' her. We never ate "that kind" of fish when I was growing up. My dad liked smelt, though, and would fry some up for breakfast occasionally and no doubt with much complaining.
I don't remember the exact moment when I realized that I love strong-flavored fish, but I do love it, it may have been a can of kipper snacks that a friend offere to me.
Spanish mackerel at a sushi bar (saba) was one big culinary revelation to me. The angels sang.
And I'm the only one in my family that likes anchovy on pizza- don't normally order it, but sometimes it just hits home and I have to have it.

[mpjmph]

Fried herring is a classic dish in NC/VA coastal areas. I know it brings back memories of hard times for a lot of old-timers who relied on herring, cabbage, and potatoes pretty heavily during the Great Depression and WWII, but they still line up at the handful of herring shacks still operating during the Jan-Apr season in NC. Fried fresh herring is definitely an acquire taste, due to the strong fish flavor as well as the bony presentation. I prefer fried salt herring fillets, but also enjoy fresh.

[LJS]

Okay, I admit I know WAY more about cod than I do about other fish (I am a Newfoundlander) but surely sardines are herring? and sardines are good grilled...whats the dealio?

[The Dairy Queen]

Same family, but different fish.

~TDQ

[Cherylptw]

Dried & salted herring is my mom's favorite fish; it's delicious fried crispy until you just about eat the entire thing bones and all. Don't know why it's not liked more here in the US

[EricMM]

It may just be that they don't really like herring. Right now, herring seems to be the only fish to catch from shore, and striped bass season ends Wed. These guys are just die-hard fisherman (I give up when it gets this cold), and its not like herring are hard fighting fish, to admire and release afterward. In fact, when temperatures are below freezing, it may not even be possible to release a fish, as it may freeze when it comes out of the water. (I remember reading years ago that whiting were so plentiful that people would walk along the shores of Coney Island on exceptionally frigid days..the whiting would get washed up in the surf and freeze solid when they were left on the beach.) So they go fishing, only to come back (if lucky) with a pailful of fish they don't really like. So its either freeze for bait, or pickle them up.

[scunge]

I believe that's the case ".Fish snobbery" As a boy when I told my non Italian friends I enjoyed squid and whiting they reacted as such .Also there was a Brit who had a show on "cookery" who would often remark on how the fisherman from the U.K would sell off some of the catch to the other Europian's the good stuff including octopus

[leif]

As a Dane we eat herrings in every way you can think of; pickled, salted and fried with white parsley sauce. Fried herring is also pickled in vinegar/sugar/spice mix and eaten cold on an open face sandwich with a raw egg yolk and sliced onion on top, delicious.

[lemons]

Interesting. You'd think that fishermen wouldn't be phobic about fish that taste - well, like fish. My guess is that that's part of the problem. It's not like they're remarkably hard to bone once they're fried. I love them in any form, and breakfast when we visit my DSD in Norway is heaven; our hotel always has at least 3 kinds on the cold table.

[The Dairy Queen]

Fried herring is delicious.

~TDQ