Eating big lake fish

[Malkavian]

I recall reading somewhere that lots of the larger lakefish, most notably the bottom feeders, carp, cats, that sort of thing, are always riddled with parasites by the time they get to "omg huge" range and so are unsuitable to eat.

You freshwater guys agree with that? Not like I'm gonna be taking on a 60lb freshwater cat with a polespear any day soon, but I'd be perfectly content to hold fire on a giant on account of it not being as tasty or potentially dangerous to eat.

[outlaw-outdoors]

I don't know about any parasites, but I have ate quite a few cats over the 50lb mark even one 83lbs. I know that bass in slow murky water or dingy ponds do get parasites though. Supposedly though the big ones have high levels of mercury in them.

[Jkeeler]

Im sure occasionally Ive ran across one or two but never any full blown cases in the larger fish Ive speared.

Cheers Justin

[Shaftslinger]

I too have eaten plenty of 50+ catfish and gnawed on a monster 47lbd striped bass and all of them were great.

[outlaw-outdoors]

Whats weird though is it doesnt seem to matter what the critter they all have the same parasite. Its a small yellow worm just inside the muscle. Ive seen it in a couple bass I speared from some muddy water and Ive also found them in 2 mallards a hen and a drake that I shot this year. Hell i might even have them? But the fish that had them were few, and i just cut them out of the meat and ate it anyway. Nothing like some parasites with some phil Robertsons duck commander seasoning!

[Stretcharmstrng]

what you found in the mallards is called "rice breast"...it is indeed a parasite but from what I found it causes no ill harm to humans...damn if I'll still eat it though!

[scubadown16]

I shoot and eat Big fish all the time out of Lakes. Big Walleye, Catfish, Pike, Doesn't matter to me I cook it then eat it never really gave it much thought. Here are some pictures of some of them
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c73/scubadown/100_0115.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c73/scubadown/100_0079.jpg

[Seahuntress]

I recall reading somewhere that lots of the larger lakefish, most notably the bottom feeders, carp, cats, that sort of thing, are always riddled with parasites by the time they get to "omg huge" range and so are unsuitable to eat.

You freshwater guys agree with that? Not like I'm gonna be taking on a 60lb freshwater cat with a polespear any day soon, but I'd be perfectly content to hold fire on a giant on account of it not being as tasty or potentially dangerous to eat.

Don't eat the Big Cat fish!!!