Cleaning And Eating Bluegill

[cooledwhip]

Hey everyone, not sure if this is the right section for this topic. 

I am sorta new to fishing, started this summer and got really into it with some nice 4 pound bass catches. I have seen people clean and eat fish and I wanted to try that. I understand bass are sport fish so I will leave those but I was interested in cooking up some bluegill and making like some greek gyros with them. I know the recipe, I'm just scared about actually eating the fish I catch. I don't know if the lake/pond I get them at is safe to eat from. It's pretty small and is actually very close to the des plaines river. At first I thought it was an outlet. The bass I have caught I have caught at a different lake, the only fish I have caught at the lake I plan on eating from are bluegill and a 1 of these catfish. This kind: http://www.dcinsidertours.com/dc-history/what-do-you-think-thursday-magnetism-by-hand-discharged-catfish-and-poor-willie-thompson/

 

Not sure if there is toxins in the lake or what, I really want to make sure before I cook up and eat the fish. Sorry if this is the wrong topic for this area but thanks for the future replies!!

[Bluebasser86]

You can probably contact your local DNR and find out if they're safe to eat from the body of water you're fishing. The catfish you posted is a bullhead, pretty common in small ponds and backwaters in some areas. Not the best eating catfish but certainly edible. Bluegill are pretty easy to clean but you don't get much off of them. Them and bass tend to be pretty wormy this time of year but they won't hurt you, but the gross factor deters a lot of folks. 

[Penguino]

I wouldn't eat wild catfish... but that's just me. Like eels, in a natural environment, catfish suck most of the toxins into their bodies lol.

[slonezp]

The illinois dnr has a list of fish on the do not eat list. Bluegill isn't one of them. If you're fishing from subdivision ponds where fertilizer run off might contaminate the water, I'd say pass. You should be ok otherwise

[Big C]

Youtube will show you how to clean bluegill better than anyone can tell you how.  And as long as the pond water isn't gross stagnent water it should be O.K. but, if you have ANY doubts, don't eat them.  Fish gyros, not matter how delicious, are not worth being strapped to the John with dysentery. 

[the reel ess]

I wouldn't eat wild catfish... but that's just me. Like eels, in a natural environment, catfish suck most of the toxins into their bodies lol.

Farm raised are probably more  unhealthy than wild caught. Just keep the number of meals below what the DNR or state health dept. recommends.

 

The older (bigger) a fish and the more it relates to bottom, the more contaminated it will be. Avoid the meat around the abdomen. Just cut around and discard it. That said, I don't like the taste of catfish. It makes me mad when they bite a bass lure and get slime all over my line. I'd need to be pretty hungry to clean one.

 

But bluegill are one of the least contaminated fish there are.

[cooledwhip]

Thanks for all the responses. I would only be interested in trying bluegill, I put the catfish there to reference the other fish in the lake. I thought the more swampy polluted lakes had certain species of catfish. I don't know much about the DNR or anything, ( I am in Illinois). I found the link but don't have an idea where to click to find the places where eating fish would be safe. http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/fishing/Pages/default.aspx

[the reel ess]

http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/fishadvisory/index.htm

 

But you won't find a pond on here. I wouldn't worry unless the pond is in the regular flood plain of the river you mentioned.

[smr_hga]

As long as its not muddy or gross it should be safe. Bluegill are really sweet and one of my favorite fish to eat. However they are difficult to fillet, in my opinion the best way is to clean them is to chop off their head and spoon their guts out. Then grill them and when you go to eat them the meat will come right off the bones.

[scaleface]

Bluegill are great .I use a short rapala fillet knife and cut right through the rib cage , just like on the instructions .Bluegill Euros sound wonderful .

[slonezp]

Thanks for all the responses. I would only be interested in trying bluegill, I put the catfish there to reference the other fish in the lake. I thought the more swampy polluted lakes had certain species of catfish. I don't know much about the DNR or anything, ( I am in Illinois). I found the link but don't have an idea where to click to find the places where eating fish would be safe. http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/fishing/Pages/default.aspx

Eating fish anywhere in the state is safe UNLESS the regs say it is unsafe. From memory, the regs say do not eat carp anywhere in the state, trout and salmon over a certain size in Lake Michigan, and I believe catfish over a certain size in some waters. Use your best judgment.

 

I prefer keeping fish when the water is cooler. Maybe 60* or under. The meat has a firmer consistency and early spring fish have a better flavor than summer fish.

[Neil McCauley]

Bluegill are delicious. I actually think it's a waste to use them in a taco where they get lost in the other ingredients.

I dip mine in buttermilk/egg white mix and then a lightly salt/peppered flour/breadcrumbe dredge. Panfry in a cast iron pan with 1/2" of 360 deg F oil for 1 min on each side and transfer to a rack in the oven to keep warm. Key is hot oil and ice cold ingredients and they won't get soggy or oily.

My favorite in tacos is catfish... which actually yes are one of the few fish that is healthier to eat farm raised and tastes better too. Just make sure they are American grown not imported.

[heyitskirby]

I'm more interested in this "greek gyro" recipe that involves fish.  For someone that seldom eats meat, but loves a gyro, I have to ask that you share.

[Fried Lemons]

I enjoy bluegill best whole unless I am lucky enough to find big ones. If fried well the bones crunch up and all you are left with is the head and the spine. The head is actually edible as well in the smaller specimens.

[Catch 22]

Fish for breakfast maybe once a month is OK by me.These pan fried  gills only need the skeleton removed which is real easy. Yum