If people are going hungry,..... - Page 2

Forerunner · #31 08/03/12, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oregon woodsmok

By the way, I disagree that anyone is going hungry in this country unless they are the children of dopers who are spending their food stamps for dope.

You might be surprised at the number of basically seemingly good folks who spend their money on cigarettes, are seldom hungry, and forget to feed their kids................

Mom_of_Four · #32 08/03/12, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnlyMe

I would like to, am near water and have my dad's old rods/reels. That said, I honestly don't know what I would do with the fish once caught. Any recommendations for how to clean a fish and do whatever would be necessary to turn it into a meal? How would I know if I caught a fish if it was safe to eat? Website suggestions are welcome. Thank you for any input.

I learned how to clean fish as a kid, but someone had to show me. Here's a tutorial:

How to Clean/Gut a Fish: 12 steps - wikiHow

If it's a big enough fish, you can filet it by running the knife under the meat, along the ribs. But most fish can be cooked bone-in. Frying is the easiest way to cook a fish - wash and dry it, dip it in a beaten egg, roll it in cornmeal or flour, and add it to a pan of hot oil. You just use your fork to "comb" the meat off the bones as you eat it.

chamoisee · #33 08/03/12, 02:50 PM

I this that the feasibility of fishing depends upon where you live. Fish is not safe to eat anymore in some areas.

We are lucky in that there is abundant fishing here, fairly easy to catch, tasty types like brook trout, but most folks aren't that lucky. A fishing license is at least $25 here, per person, and there are various laws, restrictions, etc. I usually fish for brookies because they are good, easy to catch and are a non-native species, crowding out and eating the cutthroat trout.

NickieL · #34 08/03/12, 03:56 PM

I used to fish all the time before I moved here. But then i lived near a lot of cleaner water...around here, no way. Industry ruined that.

Badger · #35 08/03/12, 04:45 PM

I ate spoonbill for supper last night then went at 3:00 am this morning and caught 7 crappie and was home by 8:30 ( before it got too hot!) My family eats alot of fish and game.

stanb999 · #36 08/03/12, 06:07 PM

Did all you people afraid to eat fish actually check the studies? I'm not saying all bodies of water are safe. But in actual practice the fish your eating from the supermarket has more pollution especially farm raised it is the highest. Sometimes to the point of being rejected and sent over seas.

Most states restrict at 10% the level the fed sets for commercial fish. So for instance if the feds say you can have 10 ppm for mercury in fish for a healthy meal unlimited. The state rating is 1 ppm for reduced consumption to one time a month and none for pregnant women. They are very safe , some say over cautious guidelines.

As a side note on mercury in fish... The only place where people were actually harmed from fish consumption was a tiny village in Japan. They were eating fish at a level of 250-300 PPM. Daily as their main protein source for several years. Even then it was less than 50% that had any symptoms. This is a world of difference from the trace to 1pp billion in most fish in the US.

chamoisee · #37 08/03/12, 06:12 PM

Actual mercury in fish = OK

Alleged mercury in vaccines= autism????

:-/

stanb999 · #38 08/03/12, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chamoisee

Actual mercury in fish = OK

Alleged mercury in vaccines= autism????

:-/

Actually it is different mercury... LOL

One is "free" mercury. One is an oxygenated form. Think rust kinda. The oxygen atom allows it to attach to other molecules and stick around.

The natural form passes harmlessly. It is like lead in this regard. Lead the metal is fine. Eat a fishing weight and you will live and be fine. But it is a huge amount of lead a few thousand parts per million. Oxygenated lead is whats bad for you (that's what is in paint.) Not batteries. Tho the epa regulated them for kids. Strange isn't it.

nightfire · #39 08/03/12, 06:20 PM

stan, I'm interested in checking out some of these studies. Any suggestions on what specifically to look for or where to find them?

stanb999 · #40 08/03/12, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightfire

stan, I'm interested in checking out some of these studies. Any suggestions on what specifically to look for or where to find them?

Sure.
Fish Scam

Seems it has been black listed by google.. For telling the truth perhaps? I found it a few years back when researching about the state advisory in PA. Curious I looked into it more.

If you feel uneasy about the site above.
Check the federal regulations for selling fish. Check the EPA's craziness.
Then check the state recommendations. You will find that the state recommendations for restriction are an order of magnitude greater. A store bought catfish can have 1 PPM. A farm pond catfish from down the road needs .1 ppm just to meet the once a month requirement.

nightfire · #41 08/03/12, 06:48 PM

great, thank you for the super quick response! I have a map from the state showing what fish should not be eaten or how much to eat of each fish in the adirondack park/region of NY. It's a national park site, and therefore I would think not have the toxic pollution levels of like, say the Hudson River. It just seemed kinda weird to me, unless they were doing it to try to preserve the native fish in the lakes and rivers. Though I'm not sure what's native here as I haven't actually researched it!

stanb999 · #42 08/03/12, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightfire

great, thank you for the super quick response! I have a map from the state showing what fish should not be eaten or how much to eat of each fish in the adirondack park/region of NY. It's a national park site, and therefore I would think not have the toxic pollution levels of like, say the Hudson River. It just seemed kinda weird to me, unless they were doing it to try to preserve the native fish in the lakes and rivers. Though I'm not sure what's native here as I haven't actually researched it!

Here is the study from NY...

http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/wildlife_pdf/hgfish.pdf

You should note that the study is noted in n / ng. To us that's Parts Per billion. So divide the number by 1000 that they give for the various fish to compare the federal guidelines at least in magnitude. Also not that the federal rules are 10 x smaller than what could cause a problem to anyone eating fish daily over the course of their whole life... Which isn't the average American diet.

Forerunner · #43 08/03/12, 07:06 PM

Determining the amount of mercury in a fish is pretty simple, actually.

Usingmyrights · #44 08/03/12, 09:35 PM

I think it comes down to laziness. I had a bout of that Tuesday night which I'll explain in a second. Here in FL a fishing licence is under $20 granted salt and fresh water are separate licenses. I'm about to get a salt water licence even though I don't have a boat to go off shore and you don't need licence to fish off the beach. The reason? Shrimp. They are making their annual run up the river and for $17 a can get a 5 gallon bucket full at a time. Even if I only if I only go a couple times it'll more than pay for itself. People here usually just use cast nets off of one of the piers in the river. Unless the water is down or the weather is bad I see people almost everyday fishing from a bridge in a creek on my way to work using cane poles. You don't need a licence to use a cane pole from a bank here. Money isn't an excuse. It's just that people are lazy. Granted most of my gear is fairly expensive, especially compared to the average does setup, but that's because I bought it as more of a hobby when i was single. Now for my lazy moment. I was just behind someone that hit a deer Tuesday night. It was still flopping when I drove up. I had my DWs car since it gets better mileage and I had gotten off late for work. My plan was to go home to get my truck and go back to get the deer. I was already pretty tired though (work a late shift and with staying late got off after midnight) and wasn't prepared to deal with cleaning a deer so after talking with my DW about it i ended up passing. It wasn't a big deer and some meat would have been lost from the impact, but it should have yielded 30-40lbs. What it taught me is to go ahead and get the basics setup incase it happens again. Including a place ready to clean it and some large bags so that it can at least be quartered and placed into the fridge/freezer to actually process the next day.

elkhound · #45 08/03/12, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Usingmyrights

I think it comes down to laziness. I had a bout of that Tuesday night which I'll explain in a second. Here in FL a fishing licence is under $20 granted salt and fresh water are separate licenses. I'm about to get a salt water licence even though I don't have a boat to go off shore and you don't need licence to fish off the beach. The reason? Shrimp. They are making their annual run up the river and for $17 a can get a 5 gallon bucket full at a time. Even if I only if I only go a couple times it'll more than pay for itself. People here usually just use cast nets off of one of the piers in the river. Unless the water is down or the weather is bad I see people almost everyday fishing from a bridge in a creek on my way to work using cane poles. You don't need a licence to use a cane pole from a bank here. Money isn't an excuse. It's just that people are lazy. Granted most of my gear is fairly expensive, especially compared to the average does setup, but that's because I bought it as more of a hobby when i was single. Now for my lazy moment. I was just behind someone that hit a deer Tuesday night. It was still flopping when I drove up. I had my DWs car since it gets better mileage and I had gotten off late for work. My plan was to go home to get my truck and go back to get the deer. I was already pretty tired though (work a late shift and with staying late got off after midnight) and wasn't prepared to deal with cleaning a deer so after talking with my DW about it i ended up passing. It wasn't a big deer and some meat would have been lost from the impact, but it should have yielded 30-40lbs. What it taught me is to go ahead and get the basics setup incase it happens again. Including a place ready to clean it and some large bags so that it can at least be quartered and placed into the fridge/freezer to actually process the next day.

i carry a set of knives in my truck and stone.i always carry a bucket..both large and small,a milk crate and a bushel basket.the things people dont want is unreal....fish,apples,etc. i use to really gather more before becoming a landowner and having my own land base of goods.now i just add things i cant produce on my homestead.

lady just asked yesty if i was coming to get apples this year.should yeild 20 plus 5 gallon buckets for free.

Usingmyrights · #46 08/03/12, 10:49 PM

Free is good. Its amazing what people let go to waste because they dont want to go pick it, clean it, etc.

terri9630 · #47 08/04/12, 12:30 AM

Picking up road kill here is illegal. One of the guys my DH works with was arrested for poaching when he tossed a deer he hit in the back of his truck. The really sad part is he is a vegan and just wanted to take the deer to bury.

Oldcountryboy · #48 08/04/12, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stanb999

Also as a rule... Pan fish taste better and are easy to catch.

Yep, your right there. I've been eating a fried sunfish for breakfast instead of sausage or bacon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruby

We were at my son's house yesterday for fresh fish his girlfriend caught while he was at work last week. He works as a safety officer in the oil field business. He works 2 wks on and 2 wks off. While he's at work his girlfriend takes his boat and runs their trot lines.

She loves to fish and hunt with him, she's a prepper, not hard core but I think she could be given time.

If he ever gets tired of her, please send her my way! That's the kind of wife I always wanted.

Quote:

Originally Posted by oregon woodsmok

By the way, I disagree that anyone is going hungry in this country unless they are the children of dopers who are spending their food stamps for dope.

Yep, there;s a few people I know who have Snap benefits that buy beer and cigarettes all the time. (not with the food card) Makes you wonder if they sell their groceries and buy beer with the money.

Quote:

Originally Posted by whiterock

I'm a mite past working for cash now. Between heart attacks, bypasses to legs, broken legs and chronic leukemia I no longer have the durned stamina to work. I can piddle in the garden some, tend to a few chickens, and manage to sit on the bank to fish, don't know if I could handle hunting without having someone to do the leg work for me of fetching and moving what I shot.

That being said it would be more productive of me sitting on the bank than trying to work for extra cash.
ED

You might try small game hunting. Use a blind and shoot squirrels, dove, etc.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mom_of_Four

I learned how to clean fish as a kid, but someone had to show me. Here's a tutorial:

How to Clean/Gut a Fish: 12 steps - wikiHow

If it's a big enough fish, you can filet it by running the knife under the meat, along the ribs. But most fish can be cooked bone-in. Frying is the easiest way to cook a fish - wash and dry it, dip it in a beaten egg, roll it in cornmeal or flour, and add it to a pan of hot oil. You just use your fork to "comb" the meat off the bones as you eat it.

For the smaller panfish varieties, I make a slit down the back on each side of the fins and a slit down the belly on each side of the fins all the way to the tail, and then a slit on each side from top to bottom just behind the head. Then I take a pair of pliers and pull the whole skin (with the scales still on) off all the way to the tail. Then pull the fins off and then twist the head off. I end up with a nice peice of fish that still has bones and a tail fin . I salt and season. Then roll them in yellow cornmeal and panfry them. For catfish, I pull the skins off and then fillet the meat off the bones.

Well the time of year and what I'm fishing for will determine my fishing method. Although I had a dad when I was little, he wasn't always home and he rarely ever took me fishing or hunting. All the hunting and fishing knowledge I know, came mostly from reading about it and the going out and trying out what I had just read. Also, some of my fishing and hunting methods came from going with a uncle and some of his sons and grandkids. But, I would have to say most of my success came from reading fishing and hunting magazines most all of my 52 years of life.

As far as gear goes, you don't have to have $20,000 - $50,000 bass boats. You don't have to have the most expensive fishing pole on the rack. You don't have to have a tackle box filled with hundreds of dollars worth of lures.

I don't, and I catch quit a few fish in a summers time. All I have is a old used canoe that I bought for $200 dollars several years ago. It probably paid for itself within the first couple of years I owned it. I buy the cheapest rod and reels. I do have to buy a new rod and reel every couple of years. I love to fish with a ultralight for the panfish and I will virtually wear one out in a couple of years.

We also have a few people around here that fish with a canepole for catfish. There's a art to that also. I use to have a BIL that would wade and fish the nearby river right in the middle of the day and catch his limit of catfish in just a few hours. I for some reason just never could catch on to how he done it. I could stand right there and fish the same spot next to him and never catch a thing, meanwhile he'll be pulling them in like it's no big deal.

Cliff · #49 08/04/12, 08:28 AM

People these days are just weird about food. We've had a couple living at our bigger farm in exchange for farm work for the last several years. There's a huge very fertile garden spot right by a good creek, and a huge pond filled with fish. Also turkey and deer and every other kind of wild critter galore. Do you think they grow, hunt or fish one smidgen of food? No. The wife won't even eat the free range chicken eggs from the chickens we gave them. They are on food stamps and eat garbage processed store food! Unbelievable...

nightfire · #50 08/04/12, 10:35 AM

I don't actually eat fish, but I do know how to fish, and could probably gut one if I had to. I remember watching my Dad gut fish when we would catch one back when I was small.

Forerunner, what's the simple way to determine the mercury in a fish? Probably something really obvious, but I don't know. I think it would be good knowledge for an emergency.

Forerunner · #51 08/04/12, 11:10 AM

Oh, yeah......

You just grab the fish by the gills and hold it up vertically, then look for the horizontal line. It'll be a siverish line with a reddish flare, depending on which angle you're veiwing it from.
The higher the line on the fish, the more mercury......

nightfire · #52 08/04/12, 11:18 AM

can you also tell the temperature from it?

Forerunner · #53 08/04/12, 11:20 AM

Not really.

IME...fish don't bite too good when it's real hot.

poorboy · #54 08/04/12, 11:28 AM

But very poor source of food here due to cost...Effective methods of taking enough fish to make it cost effective have long been outlawed..State wants to keep THEIR fish for recreation of city folks and source of income to pay the CS officers wages an perks..

zong · #55 08/04/12, 04:41 PM

All other things aside, there are a lot of comments about the "safety" of eating fish. So.......... Are you guys comparing the safety of eating fish to the safety of eating Big Macs? The safety of eating factory processed frozen entrees with more than 10 chemicals, each with more than 8 syllables? Or what? I mean, I know exactly what I'm eating. Most of the time. But, there are only a tiny handful of people who can say that. If you'll eat a Big Mac, or a Chicken McNugget, you can handle anything that comes out of any cesspool, anywhere.

lazyBum · #56 08/04/12, 06:09 PM

I don't like to fish. I waste all day barely catching enough to make a fish stick. Then some preteen girl casts in right next to my lure, and instantly hooks a nice bluegill. And another, and another, and another. Wouldn't even share her secret.

**Terri** · #57 08/04/12, 06:31 PM

Bluegill like the shade.
Bluegill like live bait or a lure that looks alive.
The depth should be so that the bait has vanished from your sight
Lastly, polarized sunglasses will allow you to see a couple of feet deeper in the water, and chances are you can then SEE the schools!

Spinner · #58 08/04/12, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oldcountryboy

....why don't more people go fishing?

....

I wonder, just how hungry people have to get in order to start fishing again?

Everyone here does a lot of fishing. DD moved off and loves fishing, they used to set the table with their catch very often. The area she moved to is so polluted that they are afraid to eat the fish they catch so even tho they still love to fish, now they catch & release for health reasons.

If you go to the river/lake and find dead fish floating, then I'd assume the fish is not safe for human consumption. Sure you could go down river to another spot, but who's to say if it's any safer there?

soulsurvivor · #59 08/04/12, 07:43 PM

The most fishing fun DH and I ever had was some years ago at a neighbor's farm lake. We could keep all the bluegill but had to throw back all the bass. The bluegill were coming off the nest and it was all we could do to keep our poles baited and in the water. We'd no sooner throw a line than we'd have a strike. We hauled in fish for over 3 hours and brought home over 200 good sized hybrids. It about killed my soul to have to throw back a 5+ lb largemouth though. I almost cried because that had been the fight of my life not to lose my pole or break my line hauling that monster in to shore. I caught him on a meal worm too.

mpillow · #60 08/04/12, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forerunner

Oh, yeah......

You just grab the fish by the gills and hold it up vertically, then look for the horizontal line. It'll be a siverish line with a reddish flare, depending on which angle you're veiwing it from.
The higher the line on the fish, the more mercury......

And, if you happen to fish in the evening and the fish glow enough for you to find your way home....still useful, but not tasty.

Might not be Mercury but something else.....