queensland First time Catch and Cook + Opinions About Eating From the Brisbane River

[riceoppa]

What's up guys, so yesterday, I decided to keep a bream for myself just to see what actually killing and preparing your catch was like (I do customer service in a seafood shop).

This one went for about 28cm

I tried my hand at scaling, cleaning, and fileting as well but I did a pretty **** job of it since it was my first time. 

So yeah, that night I had the bream with some broccoli and fried rice for dinner, and it was actually surprisingly nice

Anyway, I wanted to know what you guys thought of eating out of the Brisbane River, especially in recent times following the floods. There seems to be conflicting opinions concerning this; some people wouldn't poke a fish with a 6 foot pole, while others are keeping just about every legal fish they catch. I live in the Toowong/West End region which I've heard was a pretty dirty reach of the river but I'm no expert after all. Any comments are appreciated

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Good one Rice. That looks tasty. For your first ever time filleting that's not too bad either!

I believe it is fine to eat anywhere out of the Brisbane River, except Oxley Creek (sewage treatment plant at the top) and anywhere around the Bremer River (pretty filthy). The river is brown because of mud not pollution - the only time I wouldn't eat fish from there would be when there has been heavy rain (just give it a couple of tides to clean up). You will find lots of conflicting information on the internet but I know tonnes of people who eat out of the river and have never had any side effects.  Around West End there is plenty of tidal flow and although a fair bit of litter finds it's way into the river it definitely isn't toxic or dangerously polluted. 

Cheers Hamish

[Angry51]

For a first time , your fish dinner looks pretty good.

Beats buying it, and more fun.

Practice makes perfect.

[Junky]

If you can eat McDonald's then you'll have no problem with anything out of the Brisbane River. 

[benno573]

Personally I would eat mullet or catfish out of the river but I know others do. For example, @Drop Bear will eat anything that swims!

 

i have eaten threadfin salmon and javelin fish from the west end stretch of the river and I think I’m still fine? Others may suggest otherwise. As others have suggested best to wait for things to settle post significant rain events. There is always unavoidable run off from roads, industry etc to consider which thankfully generally clears out pretty quickly.

 

not a bad effort for you first filleting job by the way. Practice practice practice will be your friend - good news is that means more fishing!

[Debritol15]

looks delicious

[Drop Bear]

On 11/05/2022 at 7:13 PM, riceoppa said:

Any comments are appreciated

Good on ya mate. That looks delicious!!! Fish with rice is a new goal for me. Yum. 

i eat out of the River. Crabs, fish, prawns the lot. Dunno if it is a good idea or not...

Thanks for the post. 

[Drop Bear]

On 11/05/2022 at 7:13 PM, riceoppa said:

I do customer service in a seafood shop

Perhaps if you got one of the filters in the shop to help you sharpen your knives it will help you fillet them? You look like you have the idea of it but the knife looks like it let you down a bit. Good on you though, not bad for the first go.

 

[Drop Bear]

On 11/05/2022 at 7:56 PM, Junky said:

If you can eat McDonald's then you'll have no problem with anything out of the Brisbane River. 

Fantastic perspective. I like it.