Heavy metal bass?

[HillbillyGeek]

From:
http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/2007/2007sportregs.pdf

Statewide Freshwater Bass Advisory: Women who might become pregnant, women who are pregnant, nursing mothers,
and young children should consume NO more than 2 meals of largemouth and smallmouth bass per month. A study of 20
lakes and rivers in Washington State revealed that smallmouth and largemouth bass had elevated levels of mercury.

[skimpy]

Everyone should catch and release bass anyway. Don't taste too good.

[islandbass]

Yep, that's why I won't eat them.

[Anglinarcher]

I won't fault catch and release bass, or C & R for any species (except may be carp and tench - kill them all). Still, I think that the warnings should be taken in the light that they are given in.

Waters are cleaner now then they were just 20 years ago. I know, this is not what you are being told by the environmental wackos, but we have done a great job of cleaning up our environment. At the same time, we still have far to go to suit me.

Nevertheless, 20 years ago, you never saw the warnings like you do now, and you never even considered this a problem. Now we have a world of lawyers, suit happy win the court lottery clients, and states concerned about being protected from frivolous law suits. We have self serving medical studies that contradict each other as fast as they can be published, and scientist that are looking for the next headline so they can get more grant money to keep themselves in work. We also have the ability to detect "contaminants" in the parts per million, or even parts per trillion range when before they simply could not detect it at all.

I suppose that I am skeptical, but I practically grew up on fresh fish, Bass, Trout, Catfish, Sunfish, etc. My whole family did, because C & R was not the current rage, there was less fishing pressure on most of our waters, and because we understood how healthy fish can be for you. Gee, now I know what's wrong with me (LOL).

I now practice C & R most of the time, but I do take a limited harvest if I consider the water I fish clean enough, and if the target species is sufficiently populated. There is a reason the State has Put and Take rules for trout.

I find it interesting how the warnings seem to be directed to waters that the State wants to protect, not necessarily to the waters that get fished heavily. I also find it interesting that the warnings cover fish that are not in the hatchery system, at least for the most part.

Now don't get your panties in a bunch over this. Washington is not the only State to do this. Catch and Release is a good thing. I just ask that you allow a reasonable harvest by those that still enjoy a good fish fry once in a while. Remember, moderation in all things; a lesson from Benjamin Franklin, and a lesson from the Bible.

[fishnislife]

Yep, that's why I won't eat them.

Why, because your nursing or are you pregnant?



fishnislife

[ChrisB]

If you want to have a fish fry, fish Lake Roosevelt. Talk about a dink fest. We are having a jack n jill tourny there in I think July, and I believe we will be having a fish fry. The start department encourages it on that lake !!

[Anglinarcher]

If you want to have a fish fry, fish Lake Roosevelt. Talk about a dink fest. We are having a jack n jill tourny there in I think July, and I believe we will be having a fish fry. The start department encourages it on that lake !!

Very good point, those Smallmouths are taking over. Even the poor walleye need to step up or be eaten.

I feel the need for bass fillets this summer - Go Roosevelt.

[EastsideRedneck]

C'mon IslandBass, bass nuggets are tasty if you prepare 'em right. That said I usually C&R unless I'm camping. I keep a meal once or twice a season, so no problems here. Thanks for the heads up Hillbilly.

[Gisteppo]

Yeah Im going to have to agree, smallmouth tacos are TASTY....

Id say we eat probably 4-6 bass meals a month in the summer, but that is only for a 3 month period (plus some perch and the occasional Long Lake salmon). No side effects yet.....

E

[Anglinarcher]

Yeah Im going to have to agree, smallmouth tacos are TASTY....

Id say we eat probably 4-6 bass meals a month in the summer, but that is only for a 3 month period (plus some perch and the occasional Long Lake salmon). No side effects yet.....

E

ARE YOU SURE, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE HEAVY METALS IN LONG LAKE ARE CAUSING YOU TO BE ADDICTED TO FISHING, JUST LIKE I AM.

NOW I KNOW WHAT'S WRONG.

[Gisteppo]

Hmmmmmm........

Point taken.....

hah.

E

[Mossy]

I LOVE bass, problem is I throw them back 99.9% of the time. Once in a while I get a hankering for them. Pretty much the same taste as crappie,bream or perch.

[beerman1981]

I'm with you guys, I usually catch and release, but I love taking one home once in a while to filet out. I then cut it into pieces, batter in my "beer batter recipe" and fry in oil. Deep fried bass is awesome, and I would compare it to walleye, perch or bluegill. The only thing that makes it taste even better is some cocktail sauce or catsup to dunk it in.

Another good way of eating bass is to filet it out, then roll it in flour or corn starch and fry it in a pan with a little oil. When prepared correctly bass is great tasting. My grandmother from Missouri taught me the art of cooking bass! Good eating!!!!

Beerman

[HillbillyGeek]

Looks like the WDFW thinks smallmouth populations should be thinned. Here are the new bass regs for 2008:

Bass - Daily limits have been separated for largemouth and
smallmouth bass. The largemouth daily limit is now: No minimum
size. Only bass less than 12" may be retained, except one over
17" may be retained. Daily limit 5. The smallmouth daily limit is
now: No minimum size. Only one over 14" may be retained. Daily
limit 10.

[Anglinarcher]

Looks like the WDFW thinks smallmouth populations should be thinned. Here are the new bass regs for 2008:

Bass - Daily limits have been separated for largemouth and
smallmouth bass. The largemouth daily limit is now: No minimum
size. Only bass less than 12" may be retained, except one over
17" may be retained. Daily limit 5. The smallmouth daily limit is
now: No minimum size. Only one over 14" may be retained. Daily
limit 10.

I think that i specific wates the limit is even more liberal on smallies. Still, let's not abuse this, I can see a lot of dammage done if we all decided to take bass home this year on a regular basis.

[Shad_Eating_Grin]

I think that i specific wates the limit is even more liberal on smallies. Still, let's not abuse this, I can see a lot of dammage done if we all decided to take bass home this year on a regular basis.

I will be taking my limit of 10 smallies home on a regular basis this year, to introduce them to my hot oil bath. Especially the smaller ones under 12 inches. They are DEE LEE CIOUS (and less toxins than bigger ones)

[ChrisB]

I think that i specific wates the limit is even more liberal on smallies. Still, let's not abuse this, I can see a lot of dammage done if we all decided to take bass home this year on a regular basis.

I will be taking my limit of 10 smallies home on a regular basis this year, to introduce them to my hot oil bath. Especially the smaller ones under 12 inches. They are DEE LEE CIOUS (and less toxins than bigger ones)

What lakes do you fish? I'll be sure to fish other ones. Is your name Bruce ?? Joking

[gpc]

I think that i specific wates the limit is even more liberal on smallies. Still, let's not abuse this, I can see a lot of dammage done if we all decided to take bass home this year on a regular basis.

I will be taking my limit of 10 smallies home on a regular basis this year, to introduce them to my hot oil bath. Especially the smaller ones under 12 inches. They are DEE LEE CIOUS (and less toxins than bigger ones)

You should go to Banks, Potholes and Rossevelt. They had the 10 fish limit before the WDFW made it state wide. Should be plenty at those lakes to be brought home, I know Potholes is loaded, soda lake too.

[Shad_Eating_Grin]

...
What lakes do you fish? I'll be sure to fish other ones. Is your name Bruce ?? Joking

LOL No, my name is not Bruce. But I understand exactly what (and who) you mean, and that was friggin hilarious!!

Lake WA and Lake Samm are my home waters.

Actually, not too long ago (maybe around 2000 and before), Lakes WA and Samm had no size limits and possession limit of 5 for bass, whereas other lakes had the (then) statewide rules of 5 fish, no more than 1 over 17 inches, and release fish 12-17 inches.

It's amazing how many eggs a female bass carries... they are about the size of shad eggs (about 1/16 inch in diameter), and the overall skein is about the size of a salmon skein of eggs, except salmon eggs are considerably larger (about 1/8 inch diameter) and so fewer eggs per hen for salmon.

I don't care to keep the bigger bass... they just don't taste as good as the dinks.

[ChrisB]

Glad you took it in a funny manner LOL, exactly what I was hoping ;) Release the bigger fish and we'll all be fine. Can't wait to get out tomorrow !!!!!