eating downtown fish

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brent86
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eating downtown fish

Post by brent86 »

Hi,

I do a lot of fishing in the downtown Ottawa area (Canal, Dow's, Victoria island, Bate Island, Billing Bridge etc.) and I always through back. This year I'm thinking of keeping a couple. Anyone out there eat/not eat Catfish, Bass, Walleye, Panfish in any of these areas and can offer an opinion on eatibility?
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Re: eating downtown fish

Post by streamfisher93 »

I believe the ontario ministry of environment released an interactive map/rating guideline thing for eating fish in different areas of ontario, should be on their site somewhere. As for myself I would recommend eating anything in the warmers months in that area atleast, i personally don't know if i'd eat fish from that area but i pretty much only eat trout so what do i know lol.

best of luck
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mitch
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Re: eating downtown fish

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scarkner
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Re: eating downtown fish

Post by scarkner »

Catfish - Yummy in the 2lb range especially in spring. Quick slice just through the skin along the spine and behind the head then peel it like a banana, cut the fillets off the sides. Taste can be a bit strong, varies a lot from place to place (sometimes within just a kilometer).

Bass, walleye - yum, 'nuff said.

Drum - Can be eaten, but fish needs to be kept alive until just before you clean/cook it. Only good if hot (I like it BBQ). Meat is like a salt-water fish, large flaky chunks.

Panfish - I generally don't keep them PITA. The few crappie I have caught would be an exception except the ones I catch around here are too small to bother.
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cprince
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Re: eating downtown fish

Post by cprince »

Seems to be a personal opinion and this subject surfaces like a hard to flush turd every year.

This is the only safe place to eat fish in my opinion anywhere near Ottawa/Gatineau: Safe FIsh
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Re: eating downtown fish

Post by TheMaverick »

cprince wrote:Seems to be a personal opinion and this subject surfaces like a hard to flush turd every year.

This is the only safe place to eat fish in my opinion anywhere near Ottawa/Gatineau: Safe FIsh
:lol: :lol: :lol:
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smitty55
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Re: eating downtown fish

Post by smitty55 »

Considering some of the horror stories you hear of those fish farms from China and the contaminants they find in those fish that flood our markets I wouldn't worry about a few Ottawa river fish. I would be more concerned with the eating quality of the meat with fish caught from warm summer water, some worse than others. Spring time fish will be best for sure.

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Sir Lumbo
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Re: eating downtown fish

Post by Sir Lumbo »

I usually only eat trout, walleye, and an odd bass or pike from a clean lake.

I would caution eating anything out of the ottawa river south or east of constance/shirleys bay. I'm sure people have and are fine just preference. Obv watch for worms in flesh later summer months in bass and pike.
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Re: eating downtown fish

Post by DropShot’r »

cprince wrote:Seems to be a personal opinion and this subject surfaces like a hard to flush turd every year.

This is the only safe place to eat fish in my opinion anywhere near Ottawa/Gatineau: Safe FIsh


One of the funniest things I've ever read in here was a heated exchange of opinions by two Moderators on the table quality of Ottawa River fish. It was absolutely hilarious, but I think they got called to the principals office because all of a sudden they were best buds, giving high fives, butt slappin' and having a fish fry.....
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Yannick Loranger
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Re: eating downtown fish

Post by Yannick Loranger »

DropShot’r wrote: One of the funniest things I've ever read in here was a heated exchange of opinions by two Moderators on the table quality of Ottawa River fish. It was absolutely hilarious, but I think they got called to the principals office because all of a sudden they were best buds, giving high fives, butt slappin' and having a fish fry.....
Hey now, I'll eat fish from tne Ottawa but I never slapped that butt!

I'll usually bring home a couple limits a month of 13-15" walleye for the family or a couple 3-4lbs pike. Like anything else, in moderation it's fine.
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Re: eating downtown fish

Post by ShawnD »

Yannick Loranger wrote:
DropShot’r wrote: One of the funniest things I've ever read in here was a heated exchange of opinions by two Moderators on the table quality of Ottawa River fish. It was absolutely hilarious, but I think they got called to the principals office because all of a sudden they were best buds, giving high fives, butt slappin' and having a fish fry.....
Hey now, I'll eat fish from tne Ottawa but I never slapped that butt!

I'll usually bring home a couple limits a month of 13-15" walleye for the family or a couple 3-4lbs pike. Like anything else, in moderation it's fine.


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