[sciencemike]

I hunt those same coves as you do for the same fish as you do. Do your best not to gut shot them, because they have soft flesh and will tear off easily. Its best to hunt responsibly.

As for the meat, eat it. I always gut mine in the water anyways, and sometimes the knife slices into the intestines. No worries the meat will be fine. With calicos and sheephead i almost always eat them raw in ceviche and i have never had any problems. But just as Bill has said, try to ice and gut them.