Simple and Tasty Recipe for Summertime Bluegills
Here's a simple and delicious recipe for a yummy summer fish fry.
Preparation of your panfish fillets can be as uncomplicated as the pursuit itself. (Photo by Jim Gronaw)
July 01, 2025
By Jim Gronaw
Print Recipe
Although many small meadow streams and creeks have good populations of delicious sunfish species, such as bluegills and crappie, it pays to harvest wisely by keeping just enough for a meal from time to time. Indeed, a half-dozen hand-sized bluegills can offer scrumptious fillets for the table. Mid-summer fishing is great for bluegills nearly everywhere, and it's a given that 'gill fishing will be part of many Fourth of July outings this weekend. A simple float rig will do the trick.
This recipe is as simple as catching a mess of panfish. It's quick and can be tweaked to your preferred tastes with additional flavorings and spices. Here is my favorite recipe for pan-fried bluegill.
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Simple Summertime Bluegill Recipe Ingredients:
8–12 bluegill (or any sunfish) fillets 1/2 cup of whole milk Peanut or vegetable oil 1/3 cup of pancake mix 2 tablespoons of Old Bay seasoning Salt and pepper to preferred taste
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Directions:
Place fillets in a bowl of milk for several minutes. Heat a 10-inch frying pan with oil to 375 degrees. Combine the pancake mix, Old Bay seasoning and salt and pepper in another bowl, then coat the milk-soaked fillets in the dry mix and place gently in the heated oil. Be careful not to have too much oil in the pan—just enough to cover half the thickness of a fillet. When the edges of the fillets curl up and turn light brown (usually around 3 minutes), turn gently and allow to cook approximately 2 more minutes. Exact cooking times may vary depending on your stove or grill. Set the golden-brown fillets on paper towels to drain and follow up with any additional sprinkling of spices. Add some coleslaw, potato chips and a cold iced tea or beer, and it just doesn’t get much better than that!
