Thanks snrub and it's pretty crazy what happens around the diffuser bubbles! And to catch that HSB also hanging around the diffuser, on 4 lb test was really a thrill!
BillD, I used to freeze mine in water as well but vacuum sealed is so much more efficient and no, no freezer burn! After fileting I rinse them, then they soak in a saltwater bath for a short time, then on to paper towels to blot dry, then vacuum sealed. And as you can see in the earlier photo, I layer them thinly so they thaw quickly. Very quickly by just setting them in cool water!
Canyoncreek, after fileting a few thousand of these I've gotten pretty good with a Rapala electric filet knife with 6" blades and a small filet knife to de-bone. Even the smaller 4-6" BCP I'll get a decent filet from.
Here's one I was working on to show the eggs, but I leave very little if any meat even with the electric knife.
And yes, every female was fully loaded with eggs!
