View Full Version : Yellow perch: tapeworms YUCK!
TooDrunkToFish
10-28-2006, 06:42 PM
I was filleting some yellow perch the other day. There were yellowish tape-shaped things in the abdomen. At first, I thought they were just guts or fatty deposits. Then they started moving!!
They were tapeworms.
Anyone ever see these things in your yellow perch? Sorry, I did not take any pics.
Dullhook
10-28-2006, 07:14 PM
They were tapeworms.
Sorry, I did not take any pics.
No need to feel sorry TDTF......
Just finished a spaghetti dinner!!! :help: :grin:
Super Fluke
10-28-2006, 07:32 PM
:sick:
I have seen some cysts in the meat from some perch I've caught in coastal lakes. They are rare but easy to spot and cut out... Just don't eat the guts toodrunktofish, and you'll probably survive...
BassinFever
10-28-2006, 08:57 PM
Those things you call Cysts, are actually a worm also, look at one close next time you cut one out. They are very common in the Bass also.
FelonFinder
10-29-2006, 08:02 PM
The main thing is you want to cook all fish well. Watch the Discovery Channel long enough and you'll see what happens if you don't!
fish0n
10-30-2006, 10:30 PM
You dont think that might be somthing you would want to report to the ODFW?
InBassPursuit
10-31-2006, 06:54 PM
It's been many years ago but when we caught rainbows out of Davis Lake in the summer we would often see a tiny worm or two poke up from the fish's back and go back in. I think this was because of warmer weather.
Super Fluke
10-31-2006, 06:59 PM
It's been many years ago but when we caught rainbows out of Davis Lake in the summer we would often see a tiny worm or two poke up from the fish's back and go back in. I think this was because of warmer weather.
You hoped that it was because of the warm weather:sick:
I have seen some cysts (with a worm:redface: ) in the meat of perch I've caught in the coastal lakes, but not very many. I don't think they are tapeworms but it sounds like the ones TooDrunkToFish saw were different, so they may very well be tapeworms.
I grew up in MN and all the perch in the northern lakes got "wormy" in the summer (cysts in the meat) as the water warmed up. You couldn't find one without them. We only ate them in the winter and spring, but were told they were fine anytime as long as they were thouroughly cooked.
TooDrunkToFish
10-31-2006, 09:04 PM
I have seen some cysts (with a worm:redface: ) in the meat of perch I've caught in the coastal lakes, but not very many. I don't think they are tapeworms but it sounds like the ones TooDrunkToFish saw were different, so they may very well be tapeworms.
I grew up in MN and all the perch in the northern lakes got "wormy" in the summer (cysts in the meat) as the water warmed up. You couldn't find one without them. We only ate them in the winter and spring, but were told they were fine anytime as long as they were thouroughly cooked.
Nope. These tapeworms were not cysts and were not in the meat. They were in the abdominal cavity, along with the other guts. When I filleted the fish and sliced through the abdominal cavity, these guys fell out along with the guts. They were flat, yellowish in color, and about 2-3 inches long. Disgusting little critters.
dragon67
11-01-2006, 08:51 PM
About three weeks ago I was at hewitt part, over on the snake river, catching alot of perch. After bagging my deer, my dad and I, went over and I caught the first on a green senko 3inch. Of course we had worm and were catching them left and right. Now when I was filleting those fish and never seen any worms or things of that nature. Makes me wonder if it was something to do with that area. So I guess at least it is still safe for perch over there.
Damon
11-02-2006, 07:05 PM
I have run across these myself several times fishing for perch at the lakes in Florence, and I think Newport also. I have seen tape worms before and they looked exactly the same to me. I also have found them ony in the guts and they can be huge! I've been told that as long as your fish is cooked well it's fine. But it sure can ruin an appetite! I've also seen those little worms that burrow into the filets, both in Iowa, Minnesota, and Oregon. Trout get them also but I've only seen them in stockers at Loon Lake and Lost Creek Res. I think the trout get them at the hatchery 'cause in both lakes the warm water fish didn't have them. With trout they are really nasty because they can cover the outside of the fish so when you bring them into the boat they get flung all over the place....BLAH!
:sick:
fish0n
11-03-2006, 09:04 PM
With trout they are really nasty because they can cover the outside of the fish so when you bring them into the boat they get flung all over the place....BLAH!
:sick:
BLAH! is right :sick:
Trick
11-12-2006, 03:26 PM
:sick: I rarely, if ever anymore, keep any warm water fish for consumption. When I was younger I'd see worms in the flesh almost all the time. Never saw a tapeworm. Salmon and steelhead have worms in them all the time. Usually they are a 1"-2" thin worms, about the thickness of 8lb mono. Caught a springer about 5 years ago that looked fine except for a off-color patch on it's side. When I filleted him out there was the most disgusting yellow/brown jello like infection that was probaly the size of a silver dollar....it was gross. Never looked close enough to see if it had worms in the goo.
Cook your fish and enjoy the extra protein.:smirk:
Hunt'nFish
11-19-2006, 12:10 PM
Anyone who has filletted any amount of fish has seen tapeworms.
They are common and no big deal. They've been in snake river bass since I was a kid 30yrs ago. No big deal. This is why I'm not a big susi fan.......You cook your fish don't you? I DO!
Now worms poking up from a bass's back and popping back in......now that's not tape worms!
I also took some pics last year of something new I've not seen before...kinda looked like a red sea anenamie (sp) around the bass's anus.
Cook your fish well and you'll not die anytime soon......I haven't.
Hunt'nFish