eating lake ontario fish

[northernpike56]

Icaught a big bass from the hamilton harbour wondering if I could eat it? around 4 lbs.

Edited October 17, 2012 by northernpike56

[captpierre]

I certainly wouldn't eat it. No way if you are a child or pregnant mom. That's an older fish. More time for pollutants to accumulate. The MNR publishes a "Guide to Eating Fish in Ontario" Have a look for yourself

[BillM]

I would probably feed it to the raccoons.

[northernpike56]

I would probably feed it to the raccoons.

 

 

Thanks guys for the input, I was thinking of giving it to the raccoons if it wasent edible!

[whitbyboatguy]

Another factor is that gobies are just not bottom feeders. Gobies eat zebra muscles. Zebra muscles are chock full of toxins.

 

Don't put that fish to waste though...use it as fertilizer.

[Pigeontroller]

Please explain being a 'responsible angler' to your buddy!

[fishing]

For the harbour, large mouth bass from 10-20'', 4 meal per month.

See page 244.

http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/stdprodconsume/groups/lr/@ene/@resources/documents/resource/std01_079301.pdf

[danbouck]

It'll be fine

[ChrisK]

Invite your buddy over for dinner and choke it down over a nice bottle of red wine.

[northernpike56]

Please explain being a 'responsible angler' to your buddy!

Edited October 16, 2011 by northernpike56

[rocheleauc]

like others said, use it as fertilizer, I wouldn't eat a fish that big out of that water either.

[mercman]

Most of the toxins accumulate in the belly fat.Cut that part out, and it should be ok once in a while.

[cram]

I wouldn't eat it.

[Toronto_Angler]

Can be any worse then some of the conditions that the other meat we eat lives in. Ever see some of those factory farmed chicken coops?

[irishfield]

It's better than any of the processed fish you're buying in Food Basics.....

[smally21]

most of the fish i catch in the harbourfront area are covered in lesions and boils of unknown origin. the anchor comes up out of the bay covered in inches of thick oily slag. when i was a kid at sailing school on the bay we'd overturn our boats in rough weather. if you accidentally swallowed some water you would puke almost right away. bodies way of telling ya something. i've been advised by local marinas to flush the motor every time you go in the bay due to the water being so caustic.

 

who cares what the book says. if ya want fish tonite try the fish market.

 

i wouldn't eat a 4lb bass from any lake that's a personal thing....

[Miracon]

Thanks guys for the input, I was thinking of giving it to the raccoons if it wasent edible!

 

I happen to know a raccoon you could feed it to!!!!

[manitoubass2]

Eat the fish, and try not to over think things.

 

Everything on this earth is contaminated, and the earlier post about chicken etc is bang on.

 

Fish every once in awhile is not gonna kill you, certainly not before anything else your exposed to will.

Edited September 29, 2011 by manitoubass2

[highdrifter]

Have him over for dinner, serve him the head over lettuce, and be sure to take a pic when he takes that first bite!!

[Garnet]

MMmmmmmmmmmmm

 

You showered this morning, made a couple coffees, brushed your teeth, cooked dinner and went swimming at your local pool.

 

You people are funny.

Edited September 29, 2011 by Garnet

[jbailey]

ahah well i don't see it being too bad, atleast not as bad as some of the stuff i've seen while working.. people poaching half dead salmon and keeping carp/suckers and selling them at their restaurants in Toronto labeling them only as "Fish", duped wayyy too many people and the fines don't seem to be enough of a deterrant.

[[email protected]]

While we are on the topic of eating bass...for all you bass eaters..do you'll have a personal size limit for largies and smallies beyond which you wouldnt eat em..

I dont usually eat largies since i am not a fan of the taste of the fish but dont mind filleting a smallie every now and then...Usually keep fish in the 15 -17 inch slot....but the more I think about it..fish that big here in Canada are pretty old...thoughts?

[scottyswing]

Did it look like this?

If so, I'd eat it, maybe you'll become an X-Men?

[Ralph Field]

I would not eat any fish coming from lake Ontario . I have seen fishermen dragging half rotten salmon around, but I assumed they needed the eggs from the fish and were taking the fish home for fertilizer instead of throwing it in the bush to smell. I can not imagine anyone desperate enough to eat those half rotted salmon.

[eman]

Serve it with Flava beans and some Chianti.

 

Jokes aside, you should eat it and document what happens.

 

No seriously, I read an article a few years back stating Hamilton Harbour was in the top 20 most toxic freshwater sites in North America, which eventaully led to the environmental cleanup project ongoing.