Size of the fish and its edibility: Someone told me that oversized fish are not good for eating, something like hazardous or dangerous... I never asked him why, he was a fisher and...

FS Digest

Someone told me that oversized fish are not good for eating, something like hazardous or dangerous... I never asked him why, he was a fisher and looked like an expert. Is what he said true? It appears to be a myth! I really appreciate your expertise here.

Thank you.

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by RZSLTN13

bknecht Loc: Northeast pa

At an older age they have accumulated more toxins if the water you’re fishing is polluted. Another reason he may have stated not to keep large fish may be due to him referencing their genetic potential for the future. I’ve personally kept some large fish from clean waters and have not noticed any difference in taste. But then again, my wife says I have the taste of a vulture.

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

FS Digest wrote:

Someone told me that oversized fish are not good for eating, something like hazardous or dangerous... I never asked him why, he was a fisher and looked like an expert. Is what he said true? It appears to be a myth! I really appreciate your expertise here.

Thank you.

--
by RZSLTN13

Welcome to the Forum, RZSLTN, My personal experience speaking here, I'm no expert. I do not like to keep any of the bigger fish because of the fishy taste and they are usually the best breeders, and some of the bigger fish have worms. (MHO)

Egghead

You can look it up, the older the fish the more Mercury and other bad stuff they eat. Big fish eat little fish and accumulate more Mercury that way. Salmon is the safest fish to eat for pregnant woman due to there short life cycle. You can Google it.

Kjrick

Talking to the lake doctor about eating large fish the main point is that the skin and any blood line in the center hold most of the toxins

captjim Loc: Antioch Ca

FS Digest wrote:

Someone told me that oversized fish are not good for eating, something like hazardous or dangerous... I never asked him why, he was a fisher and looked like an expert. Is what he said true? It appears to be a myth! I really appreciate your expertise here.

Thank you.

--
by RZSLTN13

Here in California they give you a warning not to eat striped bass more that one time a week, and pregnant women not at all. This is due to mercury content. The smaller fish have less in them due to less time in the toxic brew called water. I release all the stripers I catch, more due to the decline in population.

Odino Loc: Rye NH

There are variables to consider. What kind of fish, what possible toxins are present that can be accumulated over the lifetime of a particular species, species preservation, etc. Many large fish are just as tasty as the small ones and some are highly sought after commercial species. So like many things, one size doesn’t fit all.

mistred64 Loc: Grayslake, illinois

Eating large fish from a clean lake is fine to me. I skin them rather than scaling. That takes much of the fishy taste away.

Iteachflyfishing Loc: Rockaway Beach Missouri

I agree what Odino said.

Rock Hound Loc: Southeast Minnesota

I too, agree with Odino!

Pontooner Loc: CenCal

Odino is pretty spot on. Depends where and what I’m fishing for I release most fish I catch but when I do decide to take fish for the table I keep them alive and before leaving for the day or night I always bleed them out by cutting the gills and after I filet them boneless and no skin I remove all dark meat along the lateral line which holds most toxins and fishy taste. Fish On !!!

Pete the welder Loc: Guerneville ,ca

Pontooner wrote:

Odino is pretty spot on. Depends where and what I’m fishing for I release most fish I catch but when I do decide to take fish for the table I keep them alive and before leaving for the day or night I always bleed them out by cutting the gills and after I filet them boneless and no skin I remove all dark meat along the lateral line which holds most toxins and fishy taste. Fish On !!!

Here the bigger the fish means more smoked salmon or steelhead . And bragging

primitive Loc: Davenport, Ia.

Seems that a catfish over 5 pounds get tough and stronger, muddy taste. Flathead cat is delicious no matter size, age or weight. My opinion and my dad and grandpa before me.

Frank romero Loc: Clovis, NM

bknecht wrote:

At an older age they have accumulated more toxins if the water you’re fishing is polluted. Another reason he may have stated not to keep large fish may be due to him referencing their genetic potential for the future. I’ve personally kept some large fish from clean waters and have not noticed any difference in taste. But then again, my wife says I have the taste of a vulture.

New Mexico lists how many of each species to eat due to the amount of mercury in them.

jemstone90

MN DNR warns about eating fish caught from ANY natural body of water, stating pregnant women or women wanting to become pregnant or children under the age of 15 should not eat ANY fish. Apparently its OK for the rest of us to eat carcinogens and heavy metals? Remember Minnesota has some of the CLEANEST lakes in the country!