Little black dots in sunfish meat???

[TNFL]

I've noticed these before in all seasons and species. Does anyone know what they are and if they are safe to eat?

[Deitz Dittrich]

The little black dots are a parasite, and I have never had a problem eating them.. They may not look the best but I have not noticed a different taste at all. Some lakes seem to have more fish with them than others.

Now, the white worms I try and dig out.

[stick]

Sounds yummy. I was told in the past that it is just a pigment thing, no? It's actually a parasite?

[Jmnhunter]

yeah, I heard it was just a harmless parasite, that doesn't effect the flavor

-good luck

[Bob_D]

It's called Black Spot or Black Grub depending on who you are talking to. It's harmless to human just as is yellow grub.

I can't get on to the VT F&W site right now, but here is an article from your area. Black Grub

[fishin789]

If the kids ask what it is just tell them it's pepper.

[homerj]

Found this on the dnr HSOforum.

Ask the DNR

Q. Are fish with worms and black spots safe to eat, and if so, do they affect the taste?

A. Most fish have internal parasites. Some you can see; some you can’t. The black spots commonly found

on sunfish, bass, and perch are larval flatworms, or flukes. The complex life cycles of these parasites involve

living in the skin of fish. The yellow spots, often seen under the skin of perch, are parasitic grubs.

All these parasites die when their host is cooked. They don’t affect a fillet’s taste, and they are harmless to

humans.

Parasites are usually harmless even to the fish themselves because the fish is simply a secondary host—a

transportation device used by the parasite to reach another animal.

[Tofishem]

They are a parasite called neascus. Not harmful to eat as long as you cook the fish thoroughly! Don't eat it as sushi.

Bruce

[eurolarva]

I remember reading about these spots a few years ago. I read that they come from geese. Has something to do with some chemical that is in the egg or the making of the shell. The reading said it is totally harmless. I do not keep the filets that are covered by it but have cleaned plenty of fish with it on the skin. It has no effect on the flavor of the meat and has not killed anyone in my family yet.

[Cooter]

Exta proien!!

[The_Duckslayer]

Yeah Cooter, and no extra charge! I do not have a problem with the black spots in the fish. It's the rice in a mallard breast that will make me throw the thing out and I mean right now! Could not do that even though I know it will not hurt. Take care and N Joy the Hunt././Jimbo

[hip_hop_fisherman]

Talked to a member of the DNR once after coming off a lake where it was common to find this on fish. He said its no problem AS LONG AS THE FISH IS THOROUGHLY COOKED. Like someone said already, just don't treat it like sushi

[ice_shack]

I've been told that if the meat is not cooked well enough the little bugs will work their way into you brain and it has an effect on your short term memory. Another thing it does is...

ah dump I can't remember what I was going to say.

[rosspj59]

Anybody know what happens when you freeze the fish? I assume the worm larva die. But do you still see them on the fish? I am going to freeze some to keep for later and see what happens.