Musky baked with orange juice

[PAAngler]

Couldn't believe what I was seeing this Sat. on a local fishing show --they had a segment on how to cook musky. Steaks with orange juice and remaining fish was stuffed and baked. The guy said musky tastes very similar to pike. Now I've never kept or ate a musky, but I was curious if anyone has ever tried to eat these fish and has an honest opinion about it. I know all about CPR (and totally support it)so let's not start arguing about CPR. I want to know who honestly tried this fish and what's your opinion?

[Jim McCullough]

PA,

I have never tasted Muskie, but I do eat a lot of Northern Pike. I would imagine they would taste very similar. Other threads have been started about this and people who have tasted Muskie have come down on both sides of the fence. Some say it is better, some worse. I will say this though, if I did have a fish that I was certain was dead, I wouldn't hesitate to eat it.

[PAAngler]

Thanks for your honest opinion Jim. Actually, I think I've had pike once while in Toronto -- I think it was Pike soup. Very bony and did'nt care for it too much

[Musky Mike]

PA:

When I first started out fishing for muskies CPR wasn't being considered or recommended so I ate the first couple muskies I caught.
They don't taste particularly bad, they are indeed much like northern pike. But they will never really compete with bluegills, crappies, perch, walleye, etc. so thankfully most of us now recognize them as a trophy fish to be admired and released.

[rpieske]

I have been fishing muskies for 49 years. Back in the 50's and early 60's we ate muskies. Seemed like to the thing to do. They don't taste anything like a northern. Pike has a beautiful flakey white meat which is truly a pleasure to eat when prepared properly. In much of Europe it is considered a delicacy. Muskies have a much stronger taste which I never cared for.

It has been nearly 40 years since I last ate one and I sure don't miss it. You know, you can make almost any meat edible with expert preparation and sauce. But why? When there are so many other good fish to eat why not take advantage of them.

This post reminds me of the man who was before the Judge charged with shooting and eating a Bald Eagle. The judge asked him if he had actually shot and eaten the eagle and he admitted he had. He apologized to the judge and said he deserved to be found guilty and fined. So the judge did exactly that and fined him $500.00. As the man paid his fine and was about to leave the court, the judge couldn't resist asking him, "What does a bald eagle taste like?"

The man thought a minute and replied, "Well judge, it tastes a lot like a spotted owl."

[Esox Maniac]

I think they taste a lot like snail darters. Seriously, everyone should be wary of eating Muskies, including native people. These fish are top tier predators. I'ts a shame the impact mankind has had on the environment from industrial pollutants" Before you decide to filet that +40" fish that wasn't releaseable,think about how long it's been swimming around and think about this->


"MUSKIES MAY NOT BE FIT TO EAT; SURVEY SHOWED FISH FROM DETROIT RIVER HAD
HIGH MERCURY LEVELS
May 23, 2000
The Windsor Star
Local News
A3
Doug Schmidt Star Environment Reporter
A new study was cited as revealling that Muskellunge, identified in an
angler survey last summer as the newest top targeted sport fish in Lake St.Clair, might not be fit to eat. Field tests conducted this month by students with the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research were cited as showing that all the muskies taken from a Detroit River sample site had mercury contamination levels far in
excess of provincial consumption guidelines. This story explained that one of the sampled fish, taken off Turkey Island near LaSalle, had mercury contamination more than 10 times the level at which Ontario begins issuing consumption restrictions and quadruple the level at which a total eating ban is advised.

Dr. Hugh MacIsaac, a University of Windsor biology professor who supervised the two-week study of contamination levels in the food chain of local waters, was quoted as saying, ³We don¹t want to be alarmist ... at the same time, these fish may not be safe for human consumption,² adding that the muskies were similarly ³all hot² when it came to organic contaminants such as PCBs, another toxin.
MacIsaac, was cited as saying that the good news, is that most of the other species tested and analysed so far show contamination levels within provincial guidelines set for safe eating."

Maybe you should just take it to a toxic waste recycler.

Here's another one-> http://www.shepherd-express.com/shepherd/19/20/headlines/cover_story.html

It's your choice to Catch'em & Let'em Go!" :)

>< ))))*>

Al Warner

[Jim McCullough]

rpieske,

Thanks for the laugh! :D

[eyewall]

I had one hooked deeply, around 38" or so, and it just wouldn't swim away. We brought it home and cooked it up, it was not to my liking. It could have been my mental image, not liking to kill them, or possibly that I never really liked pike either but it was a fishy tasting meat and I did not care for it. BTW, we cooked it my chunking and frying the pieces. Not for me at least.

[Worm Drowner]

If a fish won't revive, despite your best efforts, I'd rather see it taken home and eaten like Eyewall did, than left to rot.

[cwmn]

I can't imagine much of anything coming out of the Detroit river being edible.

[Kingfisher]

Hi Guys, I have not eaten a musky but Im sure a small one would be very tasty. Small Pike are better than big walleyes hands down and big pike are better than small ones. The toxin issue is very real and anyone eating a walleye over 24 to 28 inches is asking for a belly full of it. Big Pike and any legal musky are all toxin laden because of how old they are and the many bottom feeders they consume. We here at Kingfisher guide service have gone to Selective harvesting and follow the guidelines set out by our D.N.R. I wont kill any walleye over 24" Pike over 30" or any Musky at all. If I ever kill one by accident and it is under 42" I guess Ill have to chop it up and feed the fish cause the fine would not be worth the meal. Any Musky over 42" would not be safe to eat. We like Blue gill and other small fish like perch and brook trout gotta love little walleyes in a sandwich and a 25" Pike is fabulous table fare. Im sure a small Musky would taste great but that would be breaking the law eh? Kingfisher

[Dave B]

Back in the early 70s, my family used to vacation in northern Wisconsin, and we would do quite a bit of musky fishing. I recall one time my dad catching a "keeper" musky (at that time I think it was 32" or 34")and after taking pictures, hanging it by the camp sign, etc., etc., the fish was dead, so the lodge owner cooked it up for us that evening just like they would for northerns. Its been so long ago, I don't recall the taste, but I do remember all of the fish was eaten that night. Interesting how far we have come in 30 years.

[MuskyTom]

In the old days, if you stayed at Ross's Teal Lake Lodge east of Hayward and ate in their dining room they served a great musky recipe. That was a different time and most of us have changed our attitudes considerably.
Tom

[Crazy Canuck]

I don't believe what I'm reading here! You're all supposed to be muskie fishermen and know how fragile their populations are. Somebody even mentioned the fact that they're a top predator - this should immediately clue you into the fact that their populations can go downhill very quickly (the wolf is a prime example). This kind of discussion only encourages the consumption of muskie and teaches people that is is ok. Let the muskies go and eat some crappies or perch instead (they taste much better).


Practice what you preach.
(Catch + Release, I hope)

[Jim McCullough]

CC,

Believe me, this was mostly all tongue-in-cheek. We get people on here quite a bit asking these questions. Some are trolls, and some are legitimate. They used to get chased off the board. I guess most of us have tired of it and either make a joke out of it, or just answer it.

[Otis of Mayberry]

I like vodka with my orange juice and my muskies swimming in the lake.

[PAAngler]

First of all, I'm not a troll if that's what you're insinuating. Secondly, this was not a toungue and cheek conversation, it was a serious one -- if you read and comprehending the posts.

Crazy Canuck, if you read my original post, I practice C&R and have never kept a muskie. My curiousity was peaked by a TV show and that's why I asked the question. Based upon the discussion, I don't think anyone would consider eating a muskie based upon the amount of toxins in their flesh. Grow up, nobody was suggesting that musky be table fare.

Finally, just because I choose not register and become a member doesnt' mean that my questions aren't legitimate. Please don't label some of us whom aren't registered as non-important or trolls

Have a good day.

[mike]

PAangler,

I'm sure that Jim wasn't refering to you. He was the first one to answer your post and it seemed sincere. People come this and other boards all of the time trying to stir up trouble by saying they enjoy eating musky. I took your post seriously because of the way it was written.

[Jim McCullough]

PAAngler,

Like Mike said, I didn't mean for what I said about trolls to be directed your way. If I thought you were a troll, I would have deleted the thread instead of responding to it. Sorry for any misunderstanding. :)

[PAAngler]

I apologize for overreacting. I've had a difficult morning.

[Jim McCullough]

PA,

Don't worry about it. I'm like that when I don't get my coffee in the morning. ;)

[Marc Thorpe]

Ya and wheres my coffee MR Moderator?:+
You are never opened early enough for me!
Maybe I should find another coffee shop.
Remember,good service,good tips!
On the never,never!:+