Roadtrip anyone?????

[MuskieBait]

Round Goby prey on Zebra Mussels, which is a filter feeder. Zebra Mussels are known to filter bacteria in the Clostridium family, including Clostridium botulinum, C. butyricum, C. baratii and C. argentinense, which produced the botulinum toxin. This toxin can (and do) bioaccumulate in Round Goby, and predators (such as Freshwater Drum, Loons, even Lake Sturgeon) that prey on Round Goby is susceptible to botulism poisoning.

http://www.annarbor.com/passions-pursuit...sturbance/

* Note that in the cases of these predators, the Round Goby was consumed raw (live or dead).

Botulinum toxin is the most potent toxin known to man. For such a toxic agent, the bacteria Clostridium botulinum is very wide spread, growing on common surfaces such as floors and soil. However, the bacteria requires an anaerobic environment to grow, and the ingestion of bacteria or spores usually poses little harm to adults (babies under 12 month is susceptible). Improperly handled or treated foods can carry botulinum toxin, such as meats and canned goods.

Since this toxin is a protein, it is easily degraded by heat at 80C or above. Thus, properly cooking meat can prevent botulism.

Round Goby can contain botulinum toxin, but if they are cooked properly, you should not have to worry about contracting botulism.

HOWEVER, let's not forget the other things that Zebra Mussel can bioaccumulate...such as heavy metals and other long lasting chemicals such as DDT and PCBs.

But then again, people eat Smallmouth Bass and Lake Whitefish...which also prey on Round Goby and these predators bioaccumulate harmful substances also...especially in waters such as Lake Erie and Lake Simcoe. Personally, I just fish for fun and only enjoy the occasional meal of catch fish...maybe a handful of fish retained a year. If you want to keep all the Round Goby you catch for food, that's a life choice you make and a health risk you take.

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Oh, and going back to the original topic...

No...these pacu won't survive the winter...it's not worth targeting them when these fish are just occasional aquarium releases...unless...they have somehow found a warm water discharge (power generating stations) as a winter refuge and become established there.

In the meantime, I'll just keep my eye out for them in Florida where they are actually able to survive and reproduce.