M&M Sunday - not as great

[RickyG]

I posted a report Thursday about a great bite, larger fish and drum. Today I did the same thing in the same place at the same time. Totally different. Didn't even get a bite for the first hour. Things picked up when the tide finally moved, but there were a lot of teen-inchers in the mix and no drum at all. Got one fish right at 28 but the rest were much smaller. Didn't see many caught around me either. Took our four fish home at about 10AM. Oh well. Hope ya'll did better.

Take care out there,
Rick

[kendall]

THE BITE TURNED ON AT ABOUT 12-1PM THEN i HAD TO GO TO WORK.....JUST TIME YOUR FISHING FOR AN HOUR BEFORE LOW TIDE OUT THERE....THATS WHEN i DO THE BEST.

[Stormy Weather]

Hey all,

I caught a 26 inch rockfish Sunday at around 1-2pm at the MMBT on live croaker that we caught on the way out. He looked very sick, a few lessions and lice, what are people's thoughts on eating these fish. By the time I got the croaker, line and hook out of him he wasn't going to survive. Is it safe to eat if thouroughly cooked?

Michelle

[fishdadhunt]

I would think your biggest concern would be to take care during the cleaning process make sure to use gloves if there are open wounds and clean up throughly after you are done. If there is any questionable meat cut it out. There is not a bacterium or virus that can take 350 degrees for 30 minutes

[Stormy Weather]

Thank you I appreciate the response!

[Aguajera]

Why take a chance on an animal that looks like that? Cut the line.
Will your mind allow you to eat that fish?

[RickyG]

Sounds like I left right before the fishin got good. Nevertheless its good to know its all my neighbor's fault - who went with me - and needed to go home early. I hate him now.

Much more importantly: Michelle,

Those skin leisions are mycobacteriosis (spelling?). Many Chesapeake bay Stripers have the disease. I toss em back. According to the Virginia Institute of Marine Science there's no evidence eating infected, cooked fish will hurt you. However there is some indication handling the fish when you have an open cut/wound, etc. can cause a nasty skin infection in humans. I'll dispense with my interpretation, here's the link to the VIMS info...

Mycobacteriosis: Frequently Asked Questions

Oh yeah - the sea lice. That's nothing. Pluck em off. Fish get em.

Rick