Members Fisherman Sam Posted July 7, 2011 Members Posted July 7, 2011 A couple of weeks ago I was fishing the Huzzah Creek near Steelville, MO. I caught a couple of these guys along a current seam. At first I thought they were just really light colored smallies but the black spots on the stomach and the lack of vertical stripes tell me otherwise. Tell me what you think- light colored smallies or something else? If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles. ~Doug Larson
Members Fishinokie1 Posted July 7, 2011 Members Posted July 7, 2011 A couple of weeks ago I was fishing the Huzzah Creek near Steelville, MO. I caught a couple of these guys along a current seam. At first I thought they were just really light colored smallies but the black spots on the stomach and the lack of vertical stripes tell me otherwise. Tell me what you think- light colored smallies or something else? I Google this and found several articles. The dots are parasites. The fish you caught are smallies. This is one article I found.... What are the black dots in the flesh of some Smallmouth Bass?lighthouse_lover92 says: November 5, 2008 at 12:43 am The parasites that are on the bass are right under the skin not in the meat. We have caught and eaten the fish. Just make sure that you remove the parasites first. If there are a few hundred on them I wouldn’t eat them, but if there are one or two you should be ok. I live in Pa and our smallmouth bass have the same problem just not as bad. David K says: November 7, 2008 at 6:40 am Fish are subject to a variety of maladies, such as grubs or worms, which may be found in or on the skin, attached to gills, or embedded in the flesh. Although aesthetically displeasing, none of these parasites presents a threat to human health provided the fish is thoroughly cooked before it is eaten. If you teach your kids to fish, your wife will let you go more often.....
chambug Posted July 7, 2011 Posted July 7, 2011 I Google this and found several articles. The dots are parasites. The fish you caught are smallies. This is one article I found.... What are the black dots in the flesh of some Smallmouth Bass?lighthouse_lover92 says: November 5, 2008 at 12:43 am The parasites that are on the bass are right under the skin not in the meat. We have caught and eaten the fish. Just make sure that you remove the parasites first. If there are a few hundred on them I wouldn’t eat them, but if there are one or two you should be ok. I live in Pa and our smallmouth bass have the same problem just not as bad. David K says: November 7, 2008 at 6:40 am Fish are subject to a variety of maladies, such as grubs or worms, which may be found in or on the skin, attached to gills, or embedded in the flesh. Although aesthetically displeasing, none of these parasites presents a threat to human health provided the fish is thoroughly cooked before it is eaten. Yuk!!!!! I think i'll stick to crappie and trout.
Members Fishinokie1 Posted July 7, 2011 Members Posted July 7, 2011 Yuk!!!!! I think i'll stick to crappie and trout. No kidding! After I read the article I could not believe people would eat these. I for one would not keep or eat any smallie. If you teach your kids to fish, your wife will let you go more often.....
Members Fisherman Sam Posted July 7, 2011 Author Members Posted July 7, 2011 That makes sense. I had the idea of parasites in the back of my mind but I never gave it much thought. That definitely explains the discoloration of the fish. Think I should report this to Missouri Conservation? Fishinokie1, could you post the link to the article you read? Thanks! If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles. ~Doug Larson
Members Fishinokie1 Posted July 7, 2011 Members Posted July 7, 2011 That makes sense. I had the idea of parasites in the back of my mind but I never gave it much thought. That definitely explains the discoloration of the fish. Think I should report this to Missouri Conservation? From some of the things I read it is pretty common. If you teach your kids to fish, your wife will let you go more often.....
405z06 Posted July 7, 2011 Posted July 7, 2011 Those are spotted bass. They got their name from the black spots on their belly. just kidding Those are 100% smallmouth
Kayser Posted July 8, 2011 Posted July 8, 2011 On a side note, has anybody noticed a large amount of the yellow worm parasites in spotted bass meat? Seems to be a big problem with them on the Bourbeuse, especially with bigger fish. Rob WARNING!! Comments to be interpreted at own risk. Time spent fishing is never wasted.
eric1978 Posted July 8, 2011 Posted July 8, 2011 On a side note, has anybody noticed a large amount of the yellow worm parasites in spotted bass meat? Seems to be a big problem with them on the Bourbeuse, especially with bigger fish. Rob Yep, they're nasty. It seems the dingier and slower the water is, the more likely they'll have those things...largemouth, too. Don't see them on smallmouth so much. But that's not scientific, just my experience. But don't let it stop you from stringing up those spots and, uh...eating them.
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