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Thread: Spanish Mackerel , safe size to eat in far north east QLD ?

  1. #1

    Spanish Mackerel , safe size to eat in far north east QLD ?

    Hi Guys
    They were getting very long last year, what is the safe length?
    Hate to get the ciguatera
    ..........Gary

  2. #2

    Re: Spanish Mackerel , safe size to eat in far north east QLD ?

    Obviously the larger ones can be higher risk but I have heard of plenty of people eating them well over 15kg without issue.


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  3. #3

    Re: Spanish Mackerel , safe size to eat in far north east QLD ?

    I've caught very few of these speedsters, but I've always been under the impression the location in which they were caught is just as important as the size.
    I believe Hervey bay is bad for it and fish over 10kg should not be eaten, while further north at 1770 it's not so much of a problem.
    Please correct me if I'm wrong, but that what I've been told in the past.

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  4. #4

    Re: Spanish Mackerel , safe size to eat in far north east QLD ?

    from what i have heard in the past, give some to a cat, if they wont touch it you dont either ....if they eat it then it is safe for you to do so

  5. #5

    Re: Spanish Mackerel , safe size to eat in far north east QLD ?

    Quote Originally Posted by robsue View Post
    from what i have heard in the past, give some to a cat, if they wont touch it you dont either ....if they eat it then it is safe for you to do so
    Apparently that works with ants too.

  6. #6

    Re: Spanish Mackerel , safe size to eat in far north east QLD ?

    Seafood markets generally wont accept spanish larger than 10kgs from pro fishers due to increased risk over that size.

    Caught a 20+ kg model the week before Christmas, no dramas. Fed 4 families.

    Know a guy who regularly catches and eats them bigger than that. Maybe he is using up his luck, who knows!

    Anyway, will be doing my best tomorrow to nail another big one.
    Note to self: Don't argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience....

  7. #7

    Re: Spanish Mackerel , safe size to eat in far north east QLD ?

    I think ciguatera is accumulative, so you might not get symptoms straight away. However over the years you might start feeling the effects. The toxin is accumulative in the host and I think with whoever eats the host.

  8. #8

    Re: Spanish Mackerel , safe size to eat in far north east QLD ?

    Tks for all the replies guys
    Still a bit of "Russian Roulette" it appears
    back to Lucinda for another scientific test May-Sept
    ..........Gary

  9. #9
    Ausfish Bronze Member Red October's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Yamba

    Re: Spanish Mackerel , safe size to eat in far north east QLD ?

    There has just been a case of cigutera poisoning reported today at Evans Head, NSW. Apparently the fisho's and family consumed a spanish of about 15KG they caught on the weekend. Need to be very careful with these larger fish even down here. I am just waiting to see the reaction from the global warming mob now, gotta be caused by that.

  10. #10

    Re: Spanish Mackerel , safe size to eat in far north east QLD ?

    Have a read of this, the last bit of Ryan describing how it knocked him around confirms it is to be taken serioulsy.
    https://www.ryanmoodyfishing.com/how-to-avoid-ciguatera-poisoning

    We try to mix our fish after we have sliced the fillets into pieces, working on the theory that you would be really unlucky to have 2 or more fish that have enough of the toxins to cause you grief. I hope we are right.

    TMC

  11. #11

    Re: Spanish Mackerel , safe size to eat in far north east QLD ?

    Quote Originally Posted by The Mad Cat View Post
    Have a read of this, the last bit of Ryan describing how it knocked him around confirms it is to be taken serioulsy.
    https://www.ryanmoodyfishing.com/how-to-avoid-ciguatera-poisoning

    We try to mix our fish after we have sliced the fillets into pieces, working on the theory that you would be really unlucky to have 2 or more fish that have enough of the toxins to cause you grief. I hope we are right.

    TMC
    The thing is, it is a cumulative poison. You eat a bit today, no worries, have a bit in a few days, no worries, have a bit more in a few days and WHAMO.

    It was many years ago now, but a member from this forum, and his family copped a dose, the description of his and families suffering sounded like something best avoided.

  12. #12

    Re: Spanish Mackerel , safe size to eat in far north east QLD ?

    Scary stuff TMC
    Fortunately, haven't heard of any in the park with a problem yet!

  13. #13

    Re: Spanish Mackerel , safe size to eat in far north east QLD ?

    It seems Hervey Bay is a hot spot for it, I got a dose of Ciguatera in 1999, it was not a pleasant experience, came from a Queenfish caught in that area, had most of the symptoms and some of the symptoms lasted a long time (months). I don't think I left the toilet for more than 10 - 20 minutes for the first 2 days.

  14. #14

    Re: Spanish Mackerel , safe size to eat in far north east QLD ?

    Quote Originally Posted by Bremic View Post
    The thing is, it is a cumulative poison. You eat a bit today, no worries, have a bit in a few days, no worries, have a bit more in a few days and WHAMO.

    It was many years ago now, but a member from this forum, and his family copped a dose, the description of his and families suffering sounded like something best avoided.
    I remember that story, they all woke up early in the morning thinking they were going to die, all ended up in the emergency ward.

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  15. #15
    Ausfish Addict disorderly's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    In the Jungle/Mission Beach Hinterland

    Re: Spanish Mackerel , safe size to eat in far north east QLD ?

    Quote Originally Posted by RayLamp View Post
    I think ciguatera is accumulative, so you might not get symptoms straight away. However over the years you might start feeling the effects. The toxin is accumulative in the host and I think with whoever eats the host.
    I think you are right....we have been eating them nearly weekly for the past 17 years and over the past year or so I often get the shits and get very itchy in the throat after a feed of Spanish ..when I first started feeling it I thought I was getting bones caught in my throat as the back of my throat became very itchy and put the shits down to drinking our creek water........I also have felt a little unwell during the night...sweating and up and down from bed with the shits during the night...

    Most that we have eaten range from 6-12 kg with some around 15 and only very few 18-20kg..

    Think I will just start eating smaller mixed reef fish instead and barter off the Spanish....

    I got a couple of smaller ones on the weekend jigging on a wreck....Wwoofer Frankie from Utah was most impressed by their chompers…

    IMG_1266.jpg

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