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Was fishing yesterday morning at Shirley's Bay. Caught a really nice 5lb pike. It had some random small black dots on its sides. My fishing partner, who is considerably older than I and who has been fishing for nearly 60 years, said the black spots mean there is mercury in the fish.

Not that I doubt him...but is this true?

Thanks

Gerry

No, it is a parasite not a heavy metal!

From http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/volunteer/janfeb06/raw.html

Black Spot Disease, Uvulifer ambloplitis
Have you ever caught a fish that looked like someone had sprinkled it with coarse-ground pepper? You were likely looking at black spot disease, caused by the larval stage of certain flukes that live as adults in fish-eating birds. Any fish can become infected. The most frequently infected are sunfish, yellow perch, northern pike, bass, and other fish that live in shallow water and vegetated areas where birds and snails are found.

Life Cycle: 1 The adult fluke lives in the digestive tract of fish-eating birds, typically kingfishers or herons. It produces eggs, which pass from the bird in its droppings. The eggs hatch in water, liberating larvae called miracidia that swim around until they encounter a snail.

2 After digging their way into the snail, the miracidia form mother sporocysts. Mother sporocysts produce sporocysts that invade the snail's liver. In about six weeks, each sporocyst produces another form called a cercaria.

3 Cercariae emerge from the snail into the water. They seek out a fish and penetrate its flesh, forming cysts just under the skin and in the flesh.

4 If a bird eats infected fish, the parasites leave the cysts and mature in the digestive tract of the bird, starting the cycle again.

Effects on Fish: Black spot is rarely fatal to fish. A heavy infection may make a fry's eyes bulge. If heavily infected fish live in stressful conditions (poor nutrition, injury, crowding, etc.), they could die.

Effects on People: Black spot disease is not harmful to humans. However, you may find the spots unappetizing. Your best bet is simply to remove the skin and cysts in the flesh before cooking the fish.

It is not mercury! it is a worms/parasite.

Just cook your fish and you'll be fine. You can pick them with the tip of your fillet knife if you have them time but I don't bother. I've seen this since I was a child across Quebec and Ontario.

When I read this I'm thinking... How the hel can an outboard engine cause spots????

Hahaha

Hookup wrote:When I read this I'm thinking... How the hel can an outboard engine cause spots????

Hahaha

LOL I was thinking the same thing

Well said beachburger....I still pick out the black spots:)

LOL! God bless old people! LOL!

the black spots are parasites, like previously stated, and are only on the skin, never in the flesh. only the white ones are in the flesh

Thanks folks. Now that I know the correct answer I'd just like to know if there are any external signs to alert someone to the presence of heavy metals in fish?

And to think I could have kept that pike.....

Gerry

Hi Gerry ... here's the real question ... are you gonna tell your fishing buddy that he is wrong !!?? If he's anything like my father he'll just say "oh really" ... and then you'll overhear him 5 mins later telling the same old wives tale to another fisherman ...

By the way i haven't forgot your offer for some shore fishing ... i'm just working on something with a buddy from back home thats taking up my time (and booking up available leisure time) ... we'll talk soon ...

Gerry if you shine a black light on a fish containing heavy metal it will glo or phosporess (sp)I was told this by a real old guy much older than my 67 years

gerrymackenzie wrote:Thanks folks. Now that I know the correct answer I'd just like to know if there are any external signs to alert someone to the presence of heavy metals in fish?

And to think I could have kept that pike.....

Gerry

we used to catch alot of pike in the 70's, that had what some believed to have mercury poisoning. There would be open sores on the fish. But the only sure way to know is to eat them and get tested to see if you are positive for mercury poisoning.

Iceman wrote:No, it is a parasite not a heavy metal!

This is... Heavy Metal.

<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_2_gOpU0eWU?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"><embed>

(Not a parasite! Although... Sammy Hagar could be one...)

Craig

Love that Queen Bee song!