Northwest Fishing Reports

Hi All

I caught a 17" lake whitefish from Lake Sammamish today. I know it is OK to eat yellow perch and trout from Lake Sammamish, but have no idea whether whitefish in this lake is safe for meat. Checked the fishing regulation and found no consumption advice for whitefish.

Does anyone know the answer?

Most likely a peamouth chub. I wouldn't eat it.

or a squawfish.

Do you guys mean it is not tasty? How about the chemical contaminants in this kind of fish?

The fish probably has more icky in it that a lot, regardless of species. Probably more along the lines of carp, judging from where they do their foraging. I'm sure it would taste just fine, if you like eating bony whitfish a sucker. Bonk it! Take it home! Throw it in the compost bin! Or the crab trap.

Most people do not eat chubs, squawfish, suckers etc. You never want to eat anything you cannot identify, and certainly not out of that lake. Why not post a pick of said fish?

Here is the fish. I think it is a whitefish, and hope it won't be any illegal fish BTW, I would like to throw it to the trash can according to your guys' comments.

That would be a Squawfish. Whitefish have very small mouth that point down.

So I guess it tastes badly, right?
How about the "chemical contaminants" which I concern more?

If you fish Lake Washington, you would of for sure have seen warning signs around the whole lake to not to eat Squawfish/Northern Pikeminnow. Look on page 30 in the fishing regs. at Statewide Mercury Advisory.

Yep, that's a squawfish, and they are bony and taste like grass and slime. They make great fertilizer though!

Got it, it is in the trash can now. Thanks all for the answers.

Them squawfish make great cat fish bait... cut em up in chunks and hold on