Anyone know about Buffalo Fish?

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My mom's neighbors caught a 43 inch 34 pound fish out of her pond, they checked with the conservation office & was told it's a Buffalo fish, we have no idea how it got there & of course no way of knowing if there are more in the pond. I can't find any sites on them, there was one but it wouldn't let me in, can anyone tell me about them, are they good for eating? Thank You for any help you can give me.

-- Lenore (archambo@winco.net), September 12, 2000

Answers

Lenore, I have conflicting information to offer you. Ictiobus cyprinellus, AKA Buffalo and Bigmouth Buffalo, occur in the U.S. mainly in the midwest, the Missippi River and its tributaries.These fish also occur in other countries. One desription I found lists this bottom feeding, algea and plankton eater as having a flesh that is firm, white, flaky and good tasting. It is considered a sport fish here and may be taken with a bow. Then the bad news. According to Morbidity and Mortality Weekly, (title of journal kinda gives it away)this is one bad fish. Here is the article, in slightly condensed format. Haff disease is a syndrome of unexplained rhabdomyolysis following the consumption of certain types of fish; it is caused by an unidentified toxin. Rhabdomyolisis is a clinical syndrome caused by injury to skeletal muscle that results in release of muscle contents into the circulation. The first case reported in the US was in Texas in 1984. Five cases were reported in California between 1984 and 1986.In 1997, four cases were reported in California and two in Missouri.All were associated with eating buffalo fish. Symptoms include severe muscle pain, stiffness, tenderness and dark brown urine. Usually appears in 8-24hours of eating the fish. Haff disease has a 1% mortality rate and requires hospitalization for treatment. Enough said. You decide for yourself, but I am not going to try them.

-- Terri Perry (stuperry@stargate.net), September 13, 2000.

Buffalo Carp and a darn fine one too! That had to be a lot of fun catching one that size! They are raised as meat fish in China and the middle east. I think it's called (don't hold me to the spelling please) Kifiltafish -That is phonetic thankyou- in Isreal. I have eaten them a few times w/ mixed results. I would personally just enjoy catch and release as they are a ball to catch.

If the water is good and clean in the neighbors pond and you wanted to try eating one. Find someone around your area who knows the proper way to clean and prepare them. I would just eat the Bluegills and bass and leave the carp for fun.

What was that again....Ladies Home Journal of Sickness and Death? Does Martha Stewart publish that or Jack Kervorkian's wife? :-) John

-- john in S IN (jsmengel@hotmail.com), September 13, 2000.


Buffalo is the poor mans "flounder" [probably spelled wrong but what can you expect from a hillbilly.] They and carp are similar fish, both good eatin, with the carp a little longer nosed than the buffalo. I never heard of'm being inedible-except to all those fancy, turned up nosed society persons. If they are taken from muddy water, which they always are, remove the big "mud" vein from each side, fillet the raskels and deep fry'm after scoring them. You won't eat any fish that tastes as good, IMHO. When the Spring backwaters are out we hillbillys still go "pitchforkin" those big hogs. In shallow water one can see'm swimmin along and then the fun begins. Cathin'm with the fork. You gotta be quick or they'll get away. After all this talk about'm I'm now hungry fer some buffalo or carp. My $2. worth. Matt. 24:44

-- hoot (hoot@pcinetwork.com), September 13, 2000.

Lenore, in East Texas Buffalo Carp are sold in the meat markets of chain grocery stores. I do not believe they will make you sick. I've certainly never heard of anyone getting sick from them.

-- Green (ratdogs10@yahoo.com), September 13, 2000.

Lenore, As John called it, The Ladies Home Journal of Sickness and Death, reports that the CDC traced four of the cases to a single fish wholesaler. Also says that method of preparation was not a factor. I dont think my nose turns up at much. I eat lots of things that would make most folks vomit. Brains, frog legs, rattlesnake, turtle and my personal favorite- MOUNTAIN OYSTERS, all of which I harvest myself. Keeps the husband on edge. He wont eat any of it. Remember, dont kill the messenger. Smiles, Terri

-- Terri Perry (stuperry@stargate.net), September 13, 2000.


I am aware that your Mother lives by Red Rock Lake. I have been fishing at Red Rock and seen many buffalo fish taken there. Ducks and geese will bring in strange species of fish into a pond. We once pulled a bullhead out of our pond and when we built the pond, we stocked it only with bluefill, bass and catfish. Hope this answers your question as to where the bullalo came from. Jean

-- Jean (kjean@i-rule.net), September 13, 2000.

my ex sister in law pressure cans them i ate them for 10 years thinking they were salmon patties.bob in s.e. ks.

-- Bob Condry (bobco@hit.net), September 13, 2000.

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