Does anyone know if the small yellow parasitic grubs/worms you often find inside the mouths of Lake Murray Stripers are potentially harmful if handled or worse, ingested? 
When searching online for Striper parasites, one can quickly get overwhelmed with all the information.
This may help.
February 15, 2008
Unsightly bass parasites cause no harm to humans
Unsightly fish parasites reported in bass almost statewide are not harmful to humans, according to the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, and little evidence exists that the parasites cause significant harm to fish.
An increasing number of anglers are reporting strange āsoresā or āmaggot-like wormsā in the mouths or on the gills of some of the striped bass they have caught. What they are likely seeing, according to the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, is a parasitic copepod of the genus Achtheres. These are one of several external parasites that attach to the oral cavity of a number of both fresh and saltwater fish species. In a severe infestation of Achtheres it may appear as if numerous maggot like worms are attached to the inside of the fish?s mouth and gills; hence the common term āgill maggots.ā
Anglers should be aware that while these organisms are unsightly, they have not been linked to any fish mortalities in South Carolina. There is little evidence that Achtheres causes significant harm to an otherwise healthy fish. In cases of severe infestations, a secondary bacterial or fungal infection may result, which could further stress or compromise the health of the fish. Similar āoutbreaksā that have occurred in other states have generally subsided after a period of time without any measurable impact to the fish population. Also, the parasites are not harmful to humans, and fish infected with the parasite remain safe for human consumption as they are destroyed by cooking and are not found in the flesh of the fish.
The life cycle of Achtheres requires several stages to complete. The adult female copepod attaches itself to the mouth and gill structures of the fish by means of an anchoring structure known as a bulla. Here it feeds on the soft tissues and blood of the host fish. In time the female produces two sacs containing eggs. Upon hatching as free-swimming nauplii, this stage soon molts into copepodi
Control freak your link didnāt work for me but if yall are talking about the āgill maggotsā they have been here for years. They are probably the number one food source for herring. Thatās how I always heard it and then the striper get them from eating herringā¦ nothing to be concerned withā¦ my .02
āAll fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then theyāre lyingā
āSea~N~Stripesā
21ā Hewes Craft Custom
115 Evinrude
Thanks for the information! This is exactly what Iām talking about. Great article.
Now if only my girlfriend would read this and somehow consider gill maggots harmless enough to still eat our catch. Donāt think she will buy into itā¦
everything murrymaker said is what ive also heard
Lots of people wonāt eat fish out of Murray for some reason. I have taken Striper to parties and cookouts and people told me they would not eat it cause it came from Lake Murray.
Then most of those same people will go to a restaurant and order fish that they think is safer than the fish in Murray. Makes zero sense.
I will definitely eat Lake Murray fish- have and will continue to do so. But when the GF sees gill maggots sheās kinda creeped out- and I understand. Hartwell on the other hand does have consumption warnings but I have eaten those as well.
I hear they are harmless to humans and will not kill the fish.
quote:
Originally posted by scgmcThanks for the information! This is exactly what Iām talking about. Great article.
Now if only my girlfriend would read this and somehow consider gill maggots harmless enough to still eat our catch. Donāt think she will buy into itā¦
Tell your girlfriend that she was nothing to worry about ā¦ Unless youāre cooking the heads youāre not going to eat them ā¦ Youāre not eating the heads ā¦ right? O_o
ā¦ itās my Wifeās fault we HAVE to fish !!!
2005 Sea Pro 2100cc / Yamaha 150hp 4-Stroke
quote:
Originally posted by Lawcrusherquote:
Originally posted by scgmcThanks for the information! This is exactly what Iām talking about. Great article.
Now if only my girlfriend would read this and somehow consider gill maggots harmless enough to still eat our catch. Donāt think she will buy into itā¦
Tell your girlfriend that she was nothing to worry about ā¦ Unless youāre cooking the heads youāre not going to eat them ā¦ Youāre not eating the heads ā¦ right?</font id=āredā> O_o
No, we skip on the boiled head Thai soup with yellow wiggling rice. Not very adventurous eaters I guess.
You know how it is- itās just the thought and sight of them that grosses her out. Best thing I can do is just handle all the cleaning and preparation. Iām not as lucky as you in that Liz actually enjoys fish cleaning! (from a previous post) 
BTW: I have no personal experience seeing this myself but my coworker says he finds the worms in the flesh of largemouth bass once in a while. āJust pop it out with the point of your knifeā¦ā So I could see where that could also occur on Striped bass. I know this wouldnāt fly if she saw that going on!
watch a sushi chef, you will see him flinging parasites out of the raw fish. If you donāt then he is leaving them in the fish.
Wellcraft V-20 sportfish with a 200 Evinrude
Note to self: CONTINUE TO NOT EAT SUSHI!
Note to self: DITTO!!
Ever clean an amber jack! you need some one to help you keep the worms from jumping off the cleaning board onto the surrounding meat! The tails are full of worms! I have been told not to save the tail meat but to eat the rest, no way for me and when I see it a restraint for $25.00 I chuckle1. I have seen gill worms in striper as long as I can remember, It not just Murray! The warnings at Hartwell are for PCBs which are chemicals!
quote:You are correct sir! I think they suggest only 2 fish per month should be eaten from Hartwell.
Originally posted by boatpoorEver clean an amber jack! you need some one to help you keep the worms from jumping off the cleaning board onto the surrounding meat! The tails are full of worms! I have been told not to save the tail meat but to eat the rest, no way for me and when I see it a restraint for $25.00 I chuckle1. I have seen gill worms in striper as long as I can remember, It not just Murray! The warnings at Hartwell are for PCBs which are chemicals!</font id=āredā>
[quote]Originally posted by scgmc
Thanks for the information! This is exactly what Iām talking about. Great article.
Now if only my girlfriend would read this and somehow consider gill maggots harmless enough to still eat our catch. Donāt think she will buy into itā¦
[sounds like there will be more for you to eat