Eating fish from the bodies of water in the GTA region

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shimano25

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 11, 2010
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Hi,

I was wondering if some of you might help me regarding the health and safety risk of eating fish caught off bodies of water in the GTA region when I say GTA region I mean anywhere from the Pickering area all the way to Brampton or West Mississauga). Here are some of the places that come to mind:

Heart Lake (Brampton)
Lake Aquitaine (Mississauga)
Professor's Lake (Brampton)
Sandalwood Park Pond (Brampton)
Claireville Reservoir (Etobicoke)
Grenadier Pond (High Park, Toronto)
G Ross Lord Park Reservoir (North York)
Milne Dam Conservation Park (Markham)
Toogood Pond (Markham)
Frenchman's Bay (Pickering)

How would you guys rate these places in term of pollution/cleanliness and safety of eating the fish caught in those places? Thanks.

Shimano25
 
I would not eat the fish from Aquitaine. I have fished there. It appears to be a stormwater retention pond located in a busy city area.
 
Thanks Joel. I recently just found that guide. It's actually very helpful in determining what kinds of fish are edible and from where.

Shimano25
 
You're welcome. When you have your filets, if you look at them from the outside (after skinning) for bass and walleye there's usually a dark(er) line that runs from front to back, especially common on larger fish. With walleye, you can notch and just pull - then notch again and it will come off like a zipper. With bass, you'll have to cut it out. That part of the flesh will taste fishy/earthy if you leave it in. Also, remove the belly and discard. That's where the heavier chemicals (if any) settle. For smaller (20 - 26") pike, it's a little tricky but you can remove the Y bone if you work from the center out from the outside of the filet. These are very tasty fish and worth the extra work deboning. This is easier to do if you put them in the fridge in water for a few hours first.
 
I'd stay awat from the one in north york, its right near my work and doesnt look very safe. i didnt know it had any fish tbh.
 
I haven't checked the guide, but I suspect that most of those bodies of water won't be covered. However, the only body of water on that list I would consider eating fish from would be the last one you listed.

Mind you, I have eaten bass from Professors Lake as a child, and it was a mighty tasty bass fillet sandwich. :D
 
LOL don't eat fish from Grenadier, keep the urban fishery great and just buy some fillets.
 
openfire said:
I haven't checked the guide, but I suspect that most of those bodies of water won't be covered. However, the only body of water on that list I would consider eating fish from would be the last one you listed.

Mind you, I have eaten bass from Professors Lake as a child, and it was a mighty tasty bass fillet sandwich. :D
Click to expand...

Really? I thought Frenchman's Bay was polluted because of its closeness to Lake Ontario.
 
shimano25 said:
Really? I thought Frenchman's Bay was polluted because of its closeness to Lake Ontario.
Click to expand...

It may or may not be polluted, not sure... however, I can't imagine it being as bad as the other bodies of water on that list! Of course, this is all mere speculation on my part.
 
I personally would not take or eat any fish from small bodies of water such as those you listed. :D

A lot of the locations you listed don't have the best water quality if you know what I mean.

There's a small pond close to where I live. It used to be full of big carp and goldfish, but due to overfishing, there seems to be only small carp left. Whenever I go out for my evening jogs, I pass by this particular pond and always see this group of anglers fishing for the carp. They keep every small carp they catch and eat them. Nothing wrong with that at all... but I throw up a little each time I see it. The water is disgusting and the smell is even worse.

Smaller bodies of water always have a problem with waterfowl droppings. People disregard the rules (signs that say don't feed the birds) and the water turns a different colour from the feces. Makes me sick. Can't believe people eat fish from waters that are so concentrated with crap. Literally.

Stick with eating fish from larger bodies of water. Also try to eat the smaller fish that have less toxins built up in their bodies.

Out of all the places you mentioned, I agree with Openfire that Frenchmans Bay would be the only place I would eat fish from.
 

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