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yellow perch

Question 
1K views 6 replies 6 participants last post by  27 sailfish 
#1 ·
Caught some Y perch on Patuxant. Took some home to eat while cleaning found alot of worms inside.{parasites}Just wondering if others have found them in there fish Thanks Jay
 
#4 ·
Were the worms in the meat and tiny black ones - almost like hair thin ?
It is a "Roundworm" (Nematode), commonly referred to as a "Redworm." The scientific name is "PHILOMETRA CYLINDRACEA - NEMATODA.They're red in color, sometimes curled up like a spring and are thin. They generally do not get longer than 2 inches.

They're most often resident in the body cavity, but when taken out of the water, leave that area. More times than not, I find them in the flesh as I'm filleting the fish. That's the #1 reason why I fillet and skin every Perch or Crappie that I take home. Even though this worm/parasite is not a danger to humans, I'd rather not eat a cooked/fried one.

Tim
 
#3 ·
Not at all uncommon. Crappie often have them as well. As was noted, cooking kills them, but I usually fillet, skin and candle my YP and crappie. If any show up I cut them out but sometimes there are so many that you can't get rid of all of them. I just discard them if they are that bad. Its a shame but I don't intend to eat them. They are usually worse in warm water and with the lack of colder water this year, they may be worse than usual.
 
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