Eating NPD fish

[Cammy]

hey fishers

just wondering if you can eat the fish from north pine. i know about the blue/green algae,and how to clean fish and no trces of the stomach and gills all that stuff , but i havent heard of anyone eating the fish they catch, is it because u respect the fish or you arent hungry,lol.or just purely out there to have a fish.

cam

[SWANY22]

mate nothing wrong with the fish out there.i personally dont like the taste of freshwater fish.have more fun catching them than eating them.

[Little grey men]

They're fine mate, I've eaten the very occasional Yellowbelly and Eeltail Catfish from North Pine and I gotta say, it was the best freshwater fish I've had, and I've been eating freshwater fish my whole life, very clean tasting.
But you are right about the cleaning process, If I'm going to take a fish for the table from there it is killed and cleaned as soon as it leaves the water.
Don't think I could bring myself to take a bass though, they're just that type of fish. I've heard they taste good but I'm just happy to catch them and then watch them power off back into the deep.

[Cammy]

thats good then, might see what i catch tmro then, havent had fish in ages! how did the cattie taste and what was ur style of cooking. i have tried saltwater catties and they tastle HORRIBLE and it had a worm in the flesh. but mabye i cooked it wrong and prepared it wrong, who knows. i filleted it and skinned it. then baked it.

cam

[Little grey men]

Mate...there's a world of difference between a Saltwater Catfish and an Eeltail Catfish. It's funny that a lot of people won't eat Eeltails or Jewfish as we call them.
I guess it's because of the way they look, but they have really sweet flesh. When fishing the Condamine that's the fish that we'd prefer to take home for a feed.
I cut a line right around the head and peel the skin off with pliers, then I either fillet and roll in spiced flour ( salt and a little bit of curry powder, or whatever tickles your fancy )and chuck them in a pan until nice and golden, or simply wrap in alfoil and bake for twenty minutes on 200 with nothing but salt and pepper.
Make sure you avoid their dorsal spine though, it can really wreck your day's fishing.....ouch

[Cammy]

hmmm interesting, might have to try it one day when im a bit better at cooking, and yes those spines are nasty. thanks for all your help-little grey men-swanny22-

cam

[tunaticer]

The bass from NPD are bloody good eating. Ive taken at least one good sized one each time i fish the dam and all have been very nice to eat. I skin them as well to avoid some of the odd flavours you may notice.

Jack.

[fishytales]

I also occassionally take my limit of 2 bass home from NPD, and rate them highly on the table. My fave method is to bake them, and I have a heap of mates who will agree that they are top tucker.

And as for freshwater catties, they too are very nice on the plate. I like to skin them with pliers, and then fillet either side. Though it's been a while since I have eaten one, as I am yet to catch one at NP.Not likely to any time soon either as I only throw lures.

Chris

[Cammy]

well i caught nothing yesterday, so i'll have to wait a little longer for my npd fish.and when we go for a bait session there i might try a cattie and see how it turns out.

cam

[ernie cox]

Hi ,
I found NPD fish excellent to eat Bass, or Catfish. I remember wrapping a Bass in alfoil & steaming it, tasted terrible, was very mushy, watery & lacked flavour, did not enjoy, ended up throwing out to my dissapointment. I now cook my bass by filleting, rolling in flour & frying in a pan with a few herbs & spices is excellent.
Different flavour altogether & much more enjoyable

[Matt Armo]

I too have mainly fished NPD for fun, I should increase the reward for my effort by taking one to eat now and again.

Does anyone soak the fillets in salty water or milk to perge the fresh water out to improve the taste, I have heard this helps?

Talapia are a major food source all over the world, has anyone tried any from NPD?

Matt

[Fish_gutz]

Hey matt i havn`t tried anything from npd but an old fella from work said that he soaks them in milk overnight .... the fillets of talapia that is and says they are bloody beautifull! cheers Muz.

[black_sheep]

Fish_gutz,

May want to warn your old mate that he may not want to get caught taking Tilapia. This is the legislation.

"Noxious fish cannot be kept, hatched, reared or sold. When caught all noxious fish should be destroyed; they must not be returned to the water and must not be used as bait, live or dead. Anyone found to be releasing noxious fish may be charged with the cost of eradication and removal of those fish."

Personally, I don't care as long as they are dead and not cleaned near the water or carcasses dumped back in the water!

[Mike Delisser]

I'm wondering if the law says Tilapia can't be kept, hatched, reared ect ect - does "kept" mean in a pond or fish tank. or does it say in your possession?
I saw 2 fisheries inspectors turn up and check everyones catch at North Pine Dam one arvo last year and they didn't have a problem with people taking Tilapia for the table, they just reminded everyone not to through the small ones back.
Maybe Fitzy could comment on the legallities and if he's heard of people fined for taking them to eat?
Mike

[robyoung2]

I copped a lecture from some council charaters on this subject (eating fish caught in NPD)once while fishing NPD. They warned me I was endangering myself.

I don't eat the fish that I catch in freshwater, rarely eat saltwater fish either for that matter. Not a zealot or anything, just had my fill of fish for as long as I can forsee. And never have taken to eating freshwater fish at all in the past.

As for eating the Talapia fish, I would have assumed you could. Isn't the law simply that all the Talapia regardless of size are to be destroyed? Actually come to think of it, myabe they have to be thrown on the bank too? I know not back in the water, in the 1 in a million chance they might release eggs as they die. But gee, wouldn't u have to be a nob to deny someone the right to take it home to eat it? After all, it's not going to be swimming again isn't it? Except through the gates at lugage point perhaps? So the law has been fullfilled in spirit at least.

Unless the council bloke's mind was set on theyhave to be killed, yet signs are abouts warn people to not eat anything caght there, so maybe he was just following the official line that nothing should be eaten from there?

cheers
rob