Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Spots In Catfish meat

For the first time this season, I just caught a few CC and a few Yellow Mud Cats. The CC (#7, #6 and #4 lbs) were fine. However, the Mud Cats have what looks like little tiny white larva spots throughout the fillets. I shot a sickly Mallard duck with something akin to these spots in the meat once upon a time. I'm afraid to eat the meat no matter. What are these spots? Water temp is 75* degrees. thanks

Most likely, they are parasites. They are harmless to you if well cooked. I've eaten a lot of them and I expect you have too. However, I will never develop a taste for sushi.

That's what I was afraid of. The spots are so prolific that I think I'll pass on eating them, mostly because I have all these REALLY nice CC fillts... (-: Do you know if the water temp has anything to do with this condition, and will they possibly go away once winter hits again?

DoubleCamp,

Here's some interesting reading and photos on the subject tjat should answer your questions. Sounds like you have white grubs vs. yellow or black.

http://www.ncrac.org/NR/rdonlyres/932C2C7D-CDA1-444E-B3DA-13FB396B2B16/0/TB115.pdf

Cecil: Sorry about the lag in getting back to you. We are back on the road and have been too busy to get online. The article is a VERY interesting read, but I'm confused. Size-wise, these grubs appear to be white grubs, but they are in the meat as the yellow grub is described, but the size doesn't match for the yellow grub as they are really small. As to the the grub's Host, until the LMB ate all the frogs, we use to have Great Blue Herons visit the pond daily. Also, when we caught these mudcats, we caught 3 large CC that I didn't even know were in the pond until now, as I thought the mixed bag of baby cats I threw in there were all a mudcat mistake. It's only been 2 years, and the CC's were 5-lbs, 6-lbs and a eye-popping 7 pounder! The reason I mention this is, the meat was perfect on the CC, thank God... I'll do some serious disecting of the muds when we get back home in August and see if internal organs are affected. thanks again...

Doublecamp,

You may have a species of trematode on the west coast we don't have in the rest of the country that has it's own nuances.

True. I'll do some close inspection and try to isolate the type. I'm sure local Origun fish & wildlife will have some info, and if not, I know a Prof at the U of O that wants to bring his class out (with microscopes) and play with the pond water. Watch for updates here the first week in August.
QUESTION: Can these Trematodes affect my LMB too? If you will remember, I'm the guy that stocked the LMB to "control" the exploding BG population. It hasn't quite worked, but I have several hundred HUGE and too happy (and VERY picky) LMB that I may have to go after with scuba and a spear-gun.... Plus, there are 3 generations of LMB in there now and no serious decline in BG numbers, as I can see anyway... Without much ado on MY part, it has turned into quite an awesome pond. (-: