What is this? stomach disease in my Cod

[ColJacDak]

I have caught this very large eustarine cod 66cm yesterday, when i filleted the fish, I found these black lumps all over like tentacles around the stomach, I have not eaten the fish, There is none in the fillets, i could not see any thing wrong with the liver, When you cut these lumps they are white inside,,Col

[Braddles]

Could be a multitude of things mate..

Without inspecting the histology with a microscope - its hard to comment.

The fact that it is disseminated disease (wide spread) but just localised to the gut suggests that its probably not a malignancy - or you would expect to find it in other visceral organs too (esp the liver - considering the blood supply from the gut goes via the liver)...

It may be some type of parasitic infection, or ulceration, or beingn pedunculated tumour..

You said they were "white" inside - which may be pus - as in a collection or abcess of some type. Were they vascular? (Did they bleed when you tried to remove one?) If they were avascular (no bleeding) - further discounts a malignancy...

They may also be a congenital abnormality in that fish?

Maybe they are glands in the fish's gut - and the gland has been blocked - but keeps secreting, turning into a abcess??

Bottom line is - dont eat it - and I wouldnt let any pet I loved eat it either!. Just wrap the fish up well and bin it.

Someone else who is experienced in piscatorial disease may be able to shed more light??

[thump-a]

The old saying :- When in dought ; throw it out !!!
Nice catch regardless

[Benno1]

i thought those black things were an internal/harmless parasite???

[jackson4300]

Looks like the old cod has been having a ciggy or two
I agree, if in doubt...

[tunaticer]

I would send it off to DPI for research. Do not eat it and make sure you thoroughly disinfect your hands. This could be nothing but could also be a parasitic infestation similar to Hidatids or something.

[ColJacDak]

To late to give to the DPI as i have buried it, thought about freezing it but didnt, The fillets may be tested though, i dont know, i will not be eating the fillets, My Daughter held the cod record in the boat of 58cm, this one is 69cm, she says it does not count because we wont be eating it, Tough rules in this boat

[nickstock]

I would not feed that to my neighbours cat.........well actually, I probably would

A good reason to release Cod after all, they are the cleaners / rubbish bins of the sea.

Nick

[Reel Nauti]

so are crabs, and aren't they bloody delicious.

Dave

[ColJacDak]

so are crabs, and aren't they bloody delicious.

Dave

Thanks Dave

[Sea-Dog]

Should've just turned it into crabs.

[FNQCairns]

Ever seen an apple with a worm? I would eat the fillets from that fish, so very little is actually harmful especially when cooked, and usually it will be something you cannot discern visually with ease and or be the result of a toxin.

cheers fnq

[Is Don Is GOOD]

Just looks like the marine worm polyps commonly foundin coral trout, just make sure you cook it thoroughly and should be right.

Don

[nuggstar]

yer looks like gut worms to me, use to get them in the flesh and guts of barra and macs up north, we just cut or scrape them out and and still sell the fillets, old skippa said they are nothing to worry about but i would not eat any thing with them in it.