Species that you would or would not eat?

[Canmoore]

Hey there, I saw the other thread about Bass being sold in a T&T store. I really wanted to say something, but it was locked.

I do not know if I should post this, hopefully we can keep on topic.

What I wanted to ask was, are there any other species people love to eat, or do not like to eat? and why?

I know some people who think that bass, should never be eaten. That just seems odd to me, because I have been eating bass since i was born. My grandfather taught me to fish, and he always kept bass. Nothing huge mind you, one to two pounds is perfect eating size.

I prefer smallmouth to largemouth, primarily because i find largemouth taste like mud.

When I was studying Aquaculture, I did 40 hours of co-op, in a Tilapia Hatchery. Tilapia are a large group of species native to Africa, from the Cichlidae family. They look like a crappie on steroids. They are sold to market when they reach 3-5 pounds. One day I kept a fish, took it back to my apartment and cooked it up. I was very unimpressed, it tasted like mud.
The water we kept these fish in, was deeply stained, as these fish prefer stained water to clear water. They also have bacteria naturally growin in there mouths, and if they bite you, the sore can become infected and really ichy. When I was collecting eggs from the females, one bit my thumb..it became pussy and really itch...gross.

Interesting note about Tilapia...they are also called the Jesus fish, because Tilapia is what Jesus fed to the masses when he performed his miracle.

[Canmoore]

pardon my double post

[icatchthefishes]

I like to eat all fishes!!!

I usualy give the bigger ones to friends, i preffer to eat the medium sized ones myself,

The basses do taste funny sometimes in summer...butt to throw them in blender makes good stock/paste for friends and families.


The only ones I do not eat are the drums..we do the same to them as those little gobys I hate seeing them on my lines and stupid musskies too....ruins my line..and i lose my sinkers most off the time ( and fishes)

[Chevy Champagne]

I like to eat all fishes!!!

I usualy give the bigger ones to friends, i preffer to eat the medium sized ones myself,

The basses do taste funny sometimes in summer...butt to throw them in blender makes good stock/paste for friends and families.


The only ones I do not eat are the drums..we do the same to them as those little gobys I hate seeing them on my lines and stupid musskies too....ruins my line..and i lose my sinkers most off the time ( and fishes)

[Chevy Champagne]

and i would never eat

musky
bass
eel
ling
rockbass

YUCK....

[Canmoore]

and i would never eat

musky
bass
eel
ling
rockbass

YUCK....

My grandparents tell me eel is really good, when marinated in milk. I have been fishing Dalhousie Lake, and the Mississippi river since I was a child. In that time, I have seen two eels. One my grandfather caught when we were out fising for catfish at night. When he brought it to the side of the boat, and saw what it was, he cut the line..

These things can fight!! He thought he had a really large pike on.

The other time I saw an eel, was when I was out fishing in shallow water, I looked down at what I first thought was a large snake....but it was actually an eel!! That was in 1995.

I have never seen and eel, or heard of anyone catching an eel in the area since.

Apparantly, my grandfather on the mississippi river, used to throw eels in the woods because they were so abundant, and people back then assumed that they ate sport fish like bass. In reality, eels are scavengers and mainly eat dead fish.

But seeing as Americn Eel are nearly extirpated hear in Eastern Ontario and are illegal to keep. I will never know what they taste like.

I will never eat sucker. I once caught a really big white sucker, I kept it and baked it in the oven with lots of spices, lemon, and water to keep it moist. It was alright, kind of bland, but id rather throw a sucker back rather than kill it.

my list of fish i will never eat includes

Sucker
carp
Musky
Sturgeon.

I want to catch a Gar this year. I read that Gar meat is actually very good, Once you remove the bones.

[JimW]

I'll try pretty much anything at least once.

Mainly eat walleye, panfish, trout/salmon, and the odd pike, whitefish and smallmouth. I've had largemouth and muskie not a big fan. Ling is great! Eel is okay if cooked properly or smoked. Catfish is good. I've had carp smoked once it was not too bad.

I've caught lots of sheephead (drum) but have never had the urge to eat one.

Lots of good eating saltwater fish.

If the asian carp spread to Canada, I might have to develop a liking carp.

JimW

[MLR]

humans, dogs, cats, monkeys, muskie, lions, tigers, elephants

[McQ]

That's an interesting subject going here. I seriously can't think of a fish that doesn't have food value - personal taste and preparation are the key.

There are biases passed on mostly formed from misinterpreting comments passed on EG: catch & release

Some fish are too oily for some, some do have a distinct taste such as catfish of which the ling is a close cousin which tastes really good when prepared right.

All pan fish are excellent table fare - it's the cleaning thats a chore.

If more people knew how to clean a pike properly the taste is probably the best of all fresh water fish.

In my estimation size is important too - when it comes to panfish the bigger the better, walleye max at 3 lbs and pike at 10. Lake trout I enjoy a 5 pounder and speckles of any size are in the pan.

Muskie is not on my list for one simple reason, there is too much pressure on that fishery already without the addition of any thought of food value.

Bass certainly are tasty and like others I prefer small mouth mainly because of the cooler environment they live in and their food source.

Great topic - keep it going.

McQ

[Chevy Champagne]

canmoore
i have also only seen 2 eels in my life both in the same night in the same spot 5 minutes inbeetween
we were walleye fishing bouncing jigheads and minnows on the bottom and my buddy hooks into what we though was a monster walleye or pike boy do they ever fight we got it into the boat and noticed what it was then got all wrapped up in the net and died
5 minutes later same thing but with me this time we were smart and cut the line
they were pretty big both anound 40 inches (geuse)
but quite the experiance
i dont like them atall i find them rather gross

and garpike are beautifull fish and can get big and fight awsome
i have only caught 4 or 5 but i would never keep any of thouse preistoric things

great thread canmoore
interested to see what others say

[JimW]

canmoore,

When I was living in Toronto and my wife and I would come up to her family cottage near Lanark, I would regularly fish the Clyde River. The one summer (probably 1999 or 2000) I was up at the cottage I did some night fishing the one evening I hooked into what I thought was a large pike, after a couple minutes of battle I got it close to shore and seen it was an eel. It then broke my line. After retying a few minutes later I hooked another eel this one after a good 10 minutes we land it and discover it has my other hook in it's mouth it was the same fish. The eel measured 44" long, and was the slimiest thing I have ever touched!!!

The eel definitely are agressive and fight hard. Two nights later we caught one 38" long. That was the last eel we ever caught. Hopefully they make a come back.

JimW

[Canmoore]

Some fish are too oily for some, some do have a distinct taste such as catfish of which the ling is a close cousin which tastes really good when prepared right.

I agree, I have never eaten ling, would like to give it a try. I can see how some people may not want to eat certain fish, everyone has there preferences.

As for catfish...I cannot wait untill april comes along. Early season catfish, are my favorite fish to eat!! So tasty...Cajun catfish anyone!!! once summer rolls along however, I just throw them back.

If more people knew how to clean a pike properly the taste is probably the best of all fresh water fish.

Oh lord!! how many small pike have we all thrown back each year!! Hammer Handles, are perhaps the tastiest fish out there, better than walleye, and on par with crappie. They loose there taste as they get large I find.

I love those little buggers, once you learn how to cut out the Y bones. You will never look at Snot Rockets the same way!!

In my estimation size is important too - when it comes to panfish the bigger the better, walleye max at 3 lbs and pike at 10. Lake trout I enjoy a 5 pounder and speckles of any size are in the pan.

I agree, However 10 pounds for pike? That is a pretty sizable fish, I prefer to keep pike within the 1-3 pound range. In fact, by keeping small pike to eat, you may help your body of water produce larger pike!


I love hearing the stories about eel. I find this species absolutely fascinating. I am surprised that they can even still make it up this far, seeing as all the dams they have to to pass to get hear. Most of which do not have fish ladders!!

[Bass Addict]

What on God's Green Earth , would EVER possess someone to even think of eating LING is way way beyond my imagination ....

[joco]

i realy thing all fish is good to eat..depending where they live.

the way we have been taught have to do a lot wit it.

in some part off the world eating carp is just a special treat during special moments...and here everyone hate carp and treat them like garbage.

eel..again its supose to be one off the fish a fish around..but looking at it.mmmmm mabe not.

i would eat every fish if they prepare it right..why not its an experience to try some new species and menu.


great topic.

joco

[McQ]

Here's a simple recipe for ling that may change your mind:

Fillet the fish as normal,

Cube the fillet into chunks about 2".

Store overnight in a milk bath (I use large ziplocks).

Deep fry in choice of coating, cajun is my favorite.

Serve up and enjoy, You'll pay $10 or more for an equivalent catfish platter and the taste is identical.

Canmoore, I fish where large pike are dominant a 10 lb fish is equivalent to a 3 lb hammerhandle locally. A 7 - 10 lb Northern is steaked, broiled and served as you would salmon - absolutely delicious and you can handle the bones with ease.