Black specks on my bluegills

[grtlakes]

What are the little black specks on my blue gill fillets? I have heard different things so thought I would throw out here to get some more ideas. I dont beleave they are grubs as some say.:help:

[Bucky]

Ive heard they are a type of grub but if you cook the fish then it just looks like pepper in your fillets.

[fishonbb]

I heard they are a type of parasite. I used my fillet knife and took one out one time and they squirm around so i can see where someone would say its a grub.

[woodie slayer]

they don't hurt nothing.soak the filets insalt water over night and fry

[lookin for the gills]

My uncle is a toxicoligist and he said they ran test here locally on a lake and on the fish and his firm believes they are mercury deposits. When mercury is heated it rolls around. That would explain the rolling around. I dont eat the fish with the "pepper" in them. I put them in the compost pile.

DONT EAT MERCURY!!!!!!!!!:yikes:

[aslongasitpullsback]

Its Not Mercury!!!!!!!!!

[skulldugary]

LMAO....mercury....

[GullLkRltr]

Dug up this old thread with some good info:

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=87959

[STEELNEYES]

It's just the thought of eating the fish with them in it that turns my stomach. I know a little lake that has monster gills(10"-11"), but they're loaded with the black spec and white grub. I can't put enough pepper on them to convince me to eat them.

[flinch]

Here is everything about fish disease directly from the DNR site:

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10364_10950---,00.html

[zx10r2004]

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/BLACKSpot1_19699_7.jpg

[adam bomb]

heres an article out of a walleye insider magazine.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d179/adam_bomb81/WixomLakePanfish.jpg

[Chawazz]

I got info on another previous thread

Nothing harmful. Just don't look appetizing. . .

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=147860

[Duck-Hunter]

i have eaten fish with the black spots and i'm still alive. im not worried

[grtlakes]

Thanks for all response. I too have eaten them was not about to throw back 9 inch gills and 12 in crappie. I mainly fish lakes around Eaton County and to be honest I see these black specks quite often, mainly just on the meat not on the outside of the fish. Happy fishing all and thanks again.