Do you eat fish with parasites?

[WalterHalter]

I've eaten fillets with the course ground pepper look,and haven't tasted them.How about the larvae in the meat beneath the dorsal fin? I try to dig the larger ones out.

My sunfish from Carl's lake had these and tasted fine ,when I could put it out of my mind.

Any thoughts?

[Ed Carlson]

In a word....YUCK!

Not me...nope!

They say they all get cooked and will exhibit no transference to humans, if well cooked....but not for me.

If I see obvious parasite infestation on a fish, no way I'm eating it.

[chris63]

Neascus(black spot disease)is a bird parasite the just uses the fish as a host.Heterosporis is a parasite that seems to affect the host more but according to the CDC in Atlanta,if you cook the fillets thoroughly you will be fine.I have seen fish with both of these parasites in lakes in Minnesota.Hetero is the newest one on the block and If I notice this when filleting the fish I just can't seem to get past it.I can remember black spots back when I was a kid and have consumed many fish infested with Neascus.Seem to be fine, (so far).c63

[chris63]

When you say larve in the dorsal fin,what kind of fish are you talking about and what color are these larve?c63

[WalleyeChaser]

Its getting tougher and tougher to find lakes that aren't infested! I have only found the white ones in perch so far. I just "pop" them out and make sure i get all of them.

[muskE]

I've eaten fillets with the course ground pepper look,and haven't tasted them.How about the larvae in the meat beneath the dorsal fin? I try to dig the larger ones out.

My sunfish from Carl's lake had these and tasted fine ,when I could put it out of my mind.

Any thoughts?

The CDC is the end-all-be-all authority on micro-organisms and parasites and I have faith in what they say but it doesn't excuse personal accountability for common sense. Do you pick maggots off a hunk of beef and eat it? I assume not. For the "pre-seasoned" pepper fillets; How sure are you that the meat was cooked well enough?

In this day and age of Monkey Pox, Swine Flu, Bird Flu, and Idiopathic Crazy Diseases you really need to stop and ask, "Is it worht it?"

Of course the answer would be and overwhelming "yes" if the intention was to carry a tapeworm for weight loss...oh wait, they used to do that back in the day. Nevermind.

[fishersofmen]

All you guys whining about a few little parasites, I hope you don't eat hot dogs....... Ever see what gets thrown into them? The fact is if you had any idea what is in the meat and everything else you buy at the grocery store you would have to stop eating all together. People are extremely nieve when it comes to the food they consume on a daily basis.

[chris63]

The only place I've ever seen maggots on Any type of food is already in the trash so no I don't (haven't had too yet?)pick maggots off beef to eat it.c63

[chris63]

I don't think any of the posts here on this suject are whining.c63

[Lure Lightning]

If you dont keep the fish with these parasites would you still throw them back in the lake? I personally have kept several bluegills with the spots and after filleting them did not notice any difference in the fillets

[fishersofmen]

Just a little sarcasm. . s77

[52#FLATHEAD]

I don't mind the black spots. But the yellow larva are not going into my frying pan. If I want to eat fried worms - I'll get some big ones & fry them.

All the bluegills I have caught this year have the yellow worms. I don't throw the fish back, I give them away to other fishermen who don't mind the worms.

[Big-Al]

I know a retired college professor who is a avid hunter and fisherman. He would say if you are so worried about what you can see you should really be worried about what you can't see.

Fry them up and eat them. No problem.

[bottom-bouncer]

the black spots dont bother me and the larve I just cut them out and fry away. its just protien.

[minnbowhunter]

Cook em well and on the plate they go. Been eating them for years. I hauled meat for years and if most people saw what "well aged" beef looks like before it is cut up, they would never order another steak.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

If it has some spots Ill keep 'em. If their is an abnormal amount ill throw them back.

[3littlemonsters]

not to hi-jack the thread..but what about the "nemotodes"?? a few area lakes have fish with these small coiled worms in the gut section of the fish..they're not attached to the guts, just a whole pile of them in the belly flaps. They aren't in the meat and don't really seem to affect the fish at all, but talk about GROSS!!, I heard its from the pelicans eating shell fish which carry these and then is passed & spread by the pelicans...& becoming more common...needless to say,I'll stick to the uninfected lakes,...I hate to see something like this spread without trying any control efforts..Anyone familar with this??