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Ice Fishing Tips -Check your local regulations! => Bluegill => Topic started by: polartippah on Jan 08, 2011, 08:12 PM

Title: Tiny Black Specks in Meat (pics)
Post by: polartippah on Jan 08, 2011, 08:12 PM
This is the 1st winter that I have ever caught sunfish ice fishing.  I don't think that I caught a bluegill but maybe a pumpkinseed sunfish. I have never eaten sunfish before besides crappie, so I thought I would fillet one and try it.  Then I saw these small black specks.  Has anyone ever seen tiny black specks in the fishes flesh?  I am not familliar with what worms look like in fish.  Does anyone know if these fillets would be safe to eat?

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/omcdcon/th_IMAG0406.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/omcdcon/IMAG0406.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/omcdcon/th_IMAG0405.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/omcdcon/IMAG0405.jpg)

Title: Re: Tiny Black Specks in Meat (pics)
Post by: Rebelfisher on Jan 08, 2011, 08:23 PM
common parasites...no worries since not one fish parasite is dangerous to humans...just cook it. I get them all the time, they're just aesthetically displeasing.
Title: Re: Tiny Black Specks in Meat (pics)
Post by: captain54 on Jan 09, 2011, 08:53 AM
Pre peppered
Title: Re: Tiny Black Specks in Meat (pics)
Post by: polartippah on Jan 09, 2011, 10:26 AM
Pre peppered

LOL!
Title: Re: Tiny Black Specks in Meat (pics)
Post by: openingact on Jan 10, 2011, 03:24 PM
common parasites...no worries since not one fish parasite is dangerous to humans...just cook it. I get them all the time, they're just aesthetically displeasing.

.

Batter and fry and they go away ;)
Title: Re: Tiny Black Specks in Meat (pics)
Post by: Ryderr on Jan 11, 2011, 11:04 PM
Pre peppered

 ;D Yep its "normal" to catch sunfish with it, perfectly OK to eat.
Title: Re: Tiny Black Specks in Meat (pics)
Post by: archerylonehunter on Jan 14, 2011, 06:55 PM
always wondered what those spots where. I fish a small lake her in pa. {kahle} and i catch some gills with pepper spots. I usually throw them back anyway.
Title: Re: Tiny Black Specks in Meat (pics)
Post by: Rat-Man on Jan 14, 2011, 07:12 PM
The black specs that you see are from the BLACKSPOT FISH PARASITE  it comes from birds like the Kingfisher and is deposited in water from feces which find a host which is snails and then when mature they are shed and go back into the water and then find the host fish and burrow into them  and that is where the black cyst walls in the fish meat come from. It doesn't sound good but when cooked does no harm to the person consuming them, so eat away!
Title: Re: Tiny Black Specks in Meat (pics)
Post by: jugghead on Jan 16, 2011, 09:29 AM
Beat me to it rat-man , from what I know you are absolutely correct nice job.PEACE
Title: Re: Tiny Black Specks in Meat (pics)
Post by: jasond37 on Jan 16, 2011, 10:56 AM
Rat-man has it.  As long as the meat is thoroughly cooked you have nothing to worry about.  Any fish you catch should be fully cooked anyway!  I've been eating fish for several years that occasionally have these spots.  I'm pretty sure that this particular parasite isn't even capable of being transferred to humans anyway.
Title: Re: Tiny Black Specks in Meat (pics)
Post by: jjflyrod on Jan 16, 2011, 07:09 PM
I called up a DEC Fish Biologist a few years ago & asked him about the black spots & the yellow spots.  As has been said before, they are the cysts of parasites that are throughout the lake.  I also see them in smelt. First thing he asked was how I prepare them.  Deep fry is the best.  The hot cooking oil will take care of them for sure.  He did caution about smoking, pickling, or sushi (yuk!).  They gotta be cooked hot & you'll have no probs.  I've been eating them that way for years.,,
Title: Re: Tiny Black Specks in Meat (pics)
Post by: searcher on Jan 16, 2011, 10:04 PM
its just extra protien!
Title: Re: Tiny Black Specks in Meat (pics)
Post by: jjc155 on Jan 17, 2011, 09:37 AM
Pre peppered

thats what I tell my wife they are ;D they are harmless to humans as long as you cook the fish.

J-
Title: Re: Tiny Black Specks in Meat (pics)
Post by: ICE REBEL on Jan 17, 2011, 05:43 PM
common parasites...no worries since not one fish parasite is dangerous to humans...just cook it. I get them all the time, they're just aesthetically displeasing.
X2 they will not hurt you i get it most of the time in sun fish and perch. Eat up and enjoy.
Title: Re: Tiny Black Specks in Meat (pics)
Post by: bubbagill on Jan 17, 2011, 07:12 PM
Very rarely do I catch panfish that do not have this, to my understanding it is a parrasite that has no ill effects upon consumption.  Three hundred and Fifty degree oil will kill anything, dont let them concern you fry them up and enjoy.
Title: Re: Tiny Black Specks in Meat (pics)
Post by: fin-n-feather on Jan 18, 2011, 11:27 PM
Batter them up and fry'em.  Never even know they're there.  Yummy!  Fin
Title: Re: Tiny Black Specks in Meat (pics)
Post by: oc on Feb 08, 2011, 06:45 PM
They wont harm you just a tiny grub that is harmless when cooked. If you don't tell the wife she wont even notice.
Title: Re: Tiny Black Specks in Meat (pics)
Post by: Fatfish on Feb 24, 2011, 08:38 AM
If it were harmfull I would be dead years ago.    Jerry
Title: Re: Tiny Black Specks in Meat (pics)
Post by: idahonative on Jan 03, 2012, 03:58 AM
Yep, as long as they're properly cooked, there's nothing to worry about.
Title: Re: Tiny Black Specks in Meat (pics)
Post by: jig_a_fish94 on Jan 04, 2012, 10:25 AM
wow cool thanks for the info, ive caught a bunch like this and always thrown them back. now that i know  ;D those fish will be :'(
Title: Re: Tiny Black Specks in Meat (pics)
Post by: RIVERRAT2 on Jan 13, 2012, 02:53 PM
they are grubs.  there are yellow ones too. dont think they will hurt you. have seen them in perch and sunnys in ny before.
just cook you fish good,which will  kill ALL parasites,raw and picked willnot
 ;D ;D ;D ;D
RAT
Title: Re: Tiny Black Specks in Meat (pics)
Post by: Johncsmith711 on Jan 25, 2012, 11:49 PM
Get it here in SW Michigan all the time, dnr web site says their fine to eat.
Title: Re: Tiny Black Specks in Meat (pics)
Post by: sunnie on Nov 07, 2012, 01:06 PM
just cook you fish good,which will  kill ALL parasites,raw and picked willnot
 ;D ;D ;D ;D
RAT
awww no pickling them :'( , how about if they have been stored in the freezer at 0  degrees for about 30, 60, 0r 90 days or something like that would they be safe to pickle then??? :(
Title: Re: Tiny Black Specks in Meat (pics)
Post by: DLB on Nov 07, 2012, 01:42 PM
Yep, as long as they're properly cooked, there's nothing to worry about.

  ;D.problem a had never, years for them eating been, correct thats....Yep
Title: Re: Tiny Black Specks in Meat (pics)
Post by: da man cave shack on Nov 07, 2012, 01:43 PM
  ;D.problem a had never, years for them eating been, correct thats....Yep
WHAT?
Title: Re: Tiny Black Specks in Meat (pics)
Post by: pooley on Nov 07, 2012, 03:31 PM
  ;D.problem a had never, years for them eating been, correct thats....Yep
i want 2 of what he's been into! :o
Title: Re: Tiny Black Specks in Meat (pics)
Post by: threewack on Nov 08, 2012, 07:44 PM
I always hear the black ones are ok but pinch the yellow ones out and your good. I dont know just always been told that.
Title: Re: Tiny Black Specks in Meat (pics)
Post by: bobzitt on Nov 15, 2012, 02:12 PM
i still cut around then spots if i can. it might be safe to eat, but just knowing what it is and placing that in your body, not a big fan
Title: Re: Tiny Black Specks in Meat (pics)
Post by: RIVERRAT2 on Dec 07, 2012, 02:04 PM
I called up a DEC Fish Biologist a few years ago & asked him about the black spots & the yellow spots.  As has been said before, they are the cysts of parasites that are throughout the lake.  I also see them in smelt. First thing he asked was how I prepare them.  Deep fry is the best.  The hot cooking oil will take care of them for sure.  He did caution about smoking, pickling, or sushi (yuk!).  They gotta be cooked hot & you'll have no probs.  I've been eating them that way for years.,,
RIGHT ON,forsmoking,pickling FREEZING for 24hrs at 0`kills all inc TAPEWORM which is the BAD one.sushi-not for me
 ;D ;D ;D
RAT
Title: Re: Tiny Black Specks in Meat (pics)
Post by: GillMaster on Dec 09, 2012, 08:57 PM
Get it here in SW Michigan all the time, dnr web site says their fine to eat.

Yup, grubbed up gills are then norm around here. Perfectly fine for enjoyable human consumption tho! Eat away!
Title: Re: Tiny Black Specks in Meat (pics)
Post by: big bobber on Dec 23, 2012, 01:02 PM
batter,.deep fry...
Title: Re: Tiny Black Specks in Meat (pics)
Post by: nonamer on Dec 23, 2012, 01:05 PM
easy to eat one bite at a time.
Title: Re: Tiny Black Specks in Meat (pics)
Post by: Sikaman on Jan 28, 2013, 08:33 PM
I guess you guys didn't see that show monsters inside me??
Where the kid ate a blue gill cooked over a camp fire, and the  black speck parasite got in his lungs.
Took years to cause him trouble, but he ended up needing a transplant !

I'm not eating a parasite that can do that
Title: Re: Tiny Black Specks in Meat (pics)
Post by: Townie on Jan 29, 2013, 03:02 PM
I guess you guys didn't see that show monsters inside me??
Where the kid ate a blue gill cooked over a camp fire, and the  black speck parasite got in his lungs.
Took years to cause him trouble, but he ended up needing a transplant !

I'm not eating a parasite that can do that

I'm guessing if this ailment was common; we'd see thousands of such cases over the years...
Title: Re: Tiny Black Specks in Meat (pics)
Post by: fiesty on Jan 29, 2013, 07:15 PM
grubs in panfish won't hurt you...they are much smaller than cod/haddock worms....
Title: Re: Tiny Black Specks in Meat (pics)
Post by: HUNTnFISHSD on Feb 20, 2013, 08:55 PM
 Parasites.