Catfish: Do you eat it?

[Mr. Flopnuts]

I haven't had it for years. Breaded some up lightly tonight and fried it. I forgot how good that stuff is. I've heard a lot of people refuse to eat it and I can't figure out why. So it's a bottom dweller, it's delicious.

How about you? Do you eat it?

[DaKCMan AP]

I stick mainly to grouper, mahi, salmon, trout, tilapia, cod, flounder or similar. Never really ate catfish.

[Bane]

Nope.

[seclark]

yep. i love catfish.
you do find some nasty shit in their guts though. i caught a 39lb flathead one time and when i was cleaning it, i found a big wad of fur in it's belly. it must have eaten a damn cat, opossum, or something.
sec

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

I was really surprised when I read online that a large number of people refuse to eat it. Why? If you don't like fish that's one thing, but to be a fish lover and refuse to eat catfish is beyond me.

Toxin levels, like mercury.
All fish have some level of toxins in the meat but catfish typically have higher levels because they hang out on the bottom with the sediment and you’re not supposed to eat too much of it.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ll chow on some fried catfish but it shouldn’t necessarily be an every day meal.

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by Norman Einstein

I've been told it's all in the cleaning and prep. The first I ever had was nasty, haven't been back for seconds.

Absolutely right.
I like to soak any fish I’m cooking in salt water for an hour or so first then cut out any red meat before cooking it up.
The red meat is what will leave that nasty, fishy taste and can put you off eating the rest of the fillet.

[mikeyis4dcats.]

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

Yeah, I agree with that too. Definitely not something I'd consume more than once every month or two.

did myou even read the article? At the end it says it's nothing to make you avoid it.

[Otter]

Not as much as salmon and tuna but yes, I enjoy the occasional bite of catfish.

[mikeyis4dcats.]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

Toxin levels, like mercury.
All fish have some level of toxins in the meat but catfish typically have higher levels because they hang out on the bottom with the sediment and you’re not supposed to eat too much of it.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ll chow on some fried catfish but it shouldn’t necessarily be an every day meal.

according to the American Heart Association, Catfish is lower in mercury content than canned tuna, halibut, or cod. And on par with most other seafood and fish.

http://www.americanheart.org/present...tifier=3013797

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by mikeyis4dcats.

according to the American Heart Association, Catfish is lower in mercury content than canned tuna, halibut, or cod. And on par with most other seafood and fish.

http://www.americanheart.org/present...tifier=3013797

Interesting that they don’t specify what type of catfish.

http://www.kdheks.gov/news/web_archi.../01042010a.htm

Tissue samples currently are taken from bottom-feeding fish and from predatory fish, where available. Mercury tends to accumulate in predatory fish to a greater extent than in bottom-feeding fish. Earlier fish tissue contaminant monitoring efforts had focused on bottom-feeding fish owing to the presence of pesticides and other organic chemicals (DDT, dieldrin, chlordane, PCBs, etc.). Average mercury concentrations in Kansas fishes remain lower than nationwide averages. KDHE protocol requires use of the average tissue mercury level when conducting water body specific risk assessments.

Channel cats, white and yellow cats, bull head cats can be predatory but are mostly scavengers. Blues are more of a predator but flat heads in particular are pure predator, if you’re fishing with anything dead you’re not fishing for flat heads.
I think it’s assumable they’re talking about channel cats as that’s what most farm raised catfish that are served in restaurants are.

[Saulbadguy]

My wife and I go fishing in the summer from time to time, and anytime I catch a catfish (all I really fish for, too lazy to do anything else), I reel it in, grab it and point it towards here and say "IT'S A TRAP" in my best Admiral Ackbar voice.

[mikeyis4dcats.]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

Interesting that they don’t specify what type of catfish.

http://www.kdheks.gov/news/web_archi.../01042010a.htm

Tissue samples currently are taken from bottom-feeding fish and from predatory fish, where available. Mercury tends to accumulate in predatory fish to a greater extent than in bottom-feeding fish. Earlier fish tissue contaminant monitoring efforts had focused on bottom-feeding fish owing to the presence of pesticides and other organic chemicals (DDT, dieldrin, chlordane, PCBs, etc.). Average mercury concentrations in Kansas fishes remain lower than nationwide averages. KDHE protocol requires use of the average tissue mercury level when conducting water body specific risk assessments.

Channel cats, white and yellow cats, bull head cats can be predatory but are mostly scavengers. Blues are more of a predator but flat heads in particular are pure predator, if you’re fishing with anything dead you’re not fishing for flat heads.
I think it’s assumable they’re talking about channel cats as that’s what most farm raised catfish that are served in restaurants are.

Yes, I would guess that is based on farm raised fish for commercial sale.

I would be very hesitant to eat river caught fish in the area more due to ag runoff and PCB than heavy metals. My family grew up in Iowa eating river cat, grandpa was a commercial fisherman on THE river. I haven't eaten catfish not bought in a store or restaurant in probably 15 years or more.

[tooge]

yes. my kids love it too. Fried of course. the crispier the better. nothin like crunchin on the tail. mmmmmmm.

[Chief Henry]

Originally Posted by NewPhin

Shit yes, I eat it.

hell ya - cat fish too

[mikeyis4dcats.]

oh, and walleye > most fish

[Red Beans]

Originally Posted by NewPhin

I know it. It's a real shame. There's something about the fish houses that goes with teetotaling. Even up here in liberal Northwest Arkansas that is wet, the catfishes houses are all dry.

We heard rumor of one out in the country that was supposedly BYOB. We went to check it out on a Friday night. Being hesitant to just bust up in there with our beer (past experience told us this was a bad idea), we left it in the car and scoped the joint out. Walking in, the cake in the buffet was decorated.... with a bible verse. AT that point, we figured out we'd been misled and we'd found yet another dry catfish house.

I've yet to find a catfish house that serves beer. It's really strange.

Shrimpan's Inn in Pineville MO used to be BYOB. They've since moved to Bella Vista and done away with that rule. Done away with the ambiance too. That place was awesome. Have a great meal overlooking Little Sugar Creek completed with your own cooler stashed right next to your table.