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Fishing Talk => Fishing Talk => : Latimeria October 22, 2018, 07:55:49 PM

: Skull Cleaning
: Latimeria October 22, 2018, 07:55:49 PM
Damn. I had a broomtail grouper skull in my freezer for 2 years. I just defrosted it and boiled it so I could strip the flesh off the bone. Thankfully I cooked it outside, but the gross smell is still lingering in my nose. I have to fish tomorrow, but will be cleaning it again on Wednesday. Hopefully it doesn't smell that bad by then. Ugh.

It will look bad ass when I'm done though!
: Re: Skull Cleaning
: Latimeria October 23, 2018, 05:49:21 AM
Update....  It still smells outside.  Hopefully the sun and dry air combats it today...

I can see my neighbors forming a coalition against fish smells on my street soon.  It may not make this ballot, but I'm sure will be there in 2020... hahaha
: Re: Skull Cleaning
: skrilla October 23, 2018, 07:35:49 AM
Boiled fish heads... that's official morning smell of Mira Mesa.  ;D
: Re: Skull Cleaning
: Eric H October 23, 2018, 08:50:04 AM
I boiled a 17lb trout skull and it disintegrated.

Ive also put a head outside and an animal stole it.
: Re: Skull Cleaning
: Latimeria October 23, 2018, 08:53:11 AM
Boiled fish heads... that's official morning smell of Mira Mesa.  ;D

Not two year old fish heads....
: Re: Skull Cleaning
: skrilla October 24, 2018, 07:58:01 PM
I boiled a 17lb trout skull and it disintegrated.

Ive also put a head outside and an animal stole it.

Critters usually find my buried fish carcasses within a couple days.

I recently buried an opossum and nothing.  :P
: Re: Skull Cleaning
: Latimeria October 25, 2018, 07:19:08 AM
I removed the jaws of a sheepie and the broomtail from the rest of the head.  Slow boiling those nasty things were perfect as I didn't over boil them and the meat removed easily.  Now to H2O2 them and possibly bleach or ammonia them.  Not sure at this point, but the super nasty part of the job is over.
: Re: Skull Cleaning
: spideyjg October 25, 2018, 08:58:47 AM
In my yewt cleaned seashells. Leftovers came out easy with peroxide, bleach to kill smells.

Ammonia shouldn't be needed.

Jim
: Re: Skull Cleaning
: Latimeria October 25, 2018, 12:52:23 PM

Ammonia shouldn't be needed.
Ammonia is to draw out grease in the bones if necessary.  Bleach and peroxide won't do that. I'll take some pictures later and update.
: Re: Skull Cleaning
: Eric H October 25, 2018, 02:59:41 PM
I boiled a 17lb trout skull and it disintegrated.

Ive also put a head outside and an animal stole it.

Critters usually find my buried fish carcasses within a couple days.

I recently buried an opossum and nothing.  :P

Nothing goes after buried cats either.

But our dog once found the buried fish.
: Re: Skull Cleaning
: Latimeria October 25, 2018, 07:59:54 PM
Pics coming soon. First stage of cleaning was a big success.
: Re: Skull Cleaning
: Latimeria October 30, 2018, 01:34:47 PM
I didn't go to the extent of cleaning every bit off as I kind of like to look at the jaws and don't want to lose teeth and some of the cartilage.  It's easier not having to make teeth.  hahaha
Pics coming this week. 

I'm going to be fishing a little different than I usually fish this Tuesday with the big surf.