Haven’t had a chance to get out recently to re-stock the freezer so I thawed a lake trout caught earlier this June. If I freeze fish whole, after thawing, I fillet them and dry them on a wire rack in the fridge overnight. When it comes to searing or grilling, having the fillets dry really helps to prevent any chance of sticking and achieve that nice crispy crust on the skin. The fillets were cooked on a hot cast iron pan with a searing weight added on top to help prevent any curling.
Seared lake trout fillet over a parsnip purée with a side of butter-basted chanterelles and a simple salad: