Are lake trout good fried?

[BillM]

Thanks for the info and for ruining my day. Of course our captain told us they were all fine up to 30 lbs or something.

 

A few won't do anything to ya.. Just keep it in mind for next time.

[chris.brock]

We only keep/ eat lakers if they have been fataly hooked. Most of ours are natural, and less than 2 lbs, but they aren't the best tasting anyway (compared to other species).

They are slow growing and don't sustain fishing pressure that well too.

I'm assuming the Lake Michigan Lakers are stocked fish, without natural reproduction, but the bio-accumulated toxins of lakers that size from the great lakes makes them best for catch and release.

[wallacio]

Thanks for the info and for ruining my day. Of course our captain told us they were all fine up to 30 lbs or something.

 

A dishonest charter boat captain??? No way!!!!

[10point]

My son is going next week with my Dad with the same guy further up into Michigan for King Salmon. No warning on those.

[Fish Farmer]

My son is going next week with my Dad with the same guy further up into Michigan for King Salmon. No warning on those.

Very small if you must. If you want to eat big, you can find a few in dumpsters, ditches around the Hamilton and Toronto area because the big derby is on now. Let them big fish go, take picture, have fun. Release for someone else to have fun.

[BillM]

My son is going next week with my Dad with the same guy further up into Michigan for King Salmon. No warning on those.

 

You don't wanna be eating big kings either... Keep the shakers.

[addy79]

Famous last words!! lol

 

hahaha

[10point]

You don't wanna be eating big kings either... Keep the shakers.

 

According to the Michigan fish consumption guidelines Pink Salmon of any size are ok to eat. Most lakers are not.

 

Look at the pictures here from Manistee.

 

http://www.lakemichigansportfishing.com/photos.html

Edited August 4, 2011 by 10point

[BillM]

Pink salmon don't grow to 30lbs. I thought you were fishing for Kings?

[10point]

Pink salmon don't grow to 30lbs. I thought you were fishing for Kings?

 

Dude I don't know. It's not me fishing. Do they fall under chinook salmon?

[troutologist]

Lake Trout are long-lived, slow growing fish that really concentrate environmental contaminants such as PCBs and Methyl Mercury. You might serious want to think twice about eating any of those fish pictured with the exception of the smallest ones.

 

Here is Indiana's guide to eating fish - see page 40 for Lake Michigan...they do not recommend eating ANY Lake Trout over 27" and only a limited amount of fish under that length.

 

http://www.in.gov/isdh/files/2010_FCA.pdf

 

 

Generally the higher the fat content of a fish, the greater potential to accumulate the aforementioned toxins. These are fat soluble and thus stored in the fat reserves of fishes. By practicing selective harvest of smaller, eating size fish you limit the amount of time the fish (meal) has been in the ecosystem and thus limit the potential for it to accumulate toxins. Further, fish that are eating a steady diet of oily baitfish, (read: smelt, alewives, cisco) will accumulate toxins to a greater extent that a fish that eats aqautic inverts or plankton. Each step up the food chain causes what is referred to as biomagnification of contaminants, essentially the highest order consumer (you in this case) will be eating the lake trout's meals, the smelt's meals, etc. for the entire lifespan of each.

 

Again, selective harvest.

 

Lake trout fried is awesome by the way. Smaller fish from inland lakes or those further north typically have more orange or red flesh which is a good indicator of good tasting trout.

[Pickeral eater]

Have eaten a few while camping both fried and over the fire in the 3lb range and theyre great. Would think a 2-3 lb laker from lake o ok. Hasn't been around too long.

[Rich]

I wouldn't do it with a great lakes fish.

[Roy]

No worries.....apparently, if you load it up with garlic butter you'll have poor man's lobster.