Eating Steelhead

[jazz on the fly]

I just wanted to fly this out there because I've never heard or read any opinions. Based on my knowledge of of the state of steelhead fisheries I'm guessing eating steelhead and by extension doing business with the companies that take and sell them is a bad idea. I know as far as salmon goes, most say we should avoid farm raised salmon as they are a major cause of sea lice and eat only sustainably caught wild salmon. Does the same hold true for steelhead or should they be avoided all together. My curiosity was sparked because a group of my friends wanted to go to Temecula for some wine tasting and I saw a winery advertising steelhead on their menu and if that is a really bad thing, I would want to avoid doing business with them (or at least tell them they shouldn't serve it if we end up going there).

[jazz on the fly]

BTW ... if applicable, angry letters and emails should be sent to ...

http://www.falknerwinery.com/index.php

[FlyinFish]

I refuse to eat any publicly available fish. In my world, commercial fishing should be illegal and if you want to enjoy eating fish, you should go out and catch them. Fish are not raised for harvesting like livestock are. People don't go out and just net millions of wild deer and sell them to the public. Just because the ocean is vast, does not mean it is endless. Sportfishing itself is sustainable. Even if every single person who eats fish, fished, it would be nowhere near as "successful" as commercial fishing.

I go on one long range trip each year and keep about 300# worth of whole fish. This usually equates to 5 to 8 yellowtail and maybe two yellowfin tuna. That feeds me, my friends, and my family for a year. That sounds pretty * sustainable if you ask me.

Sorry, I know it's a whole 'nother can of worms than what you asked about, but that's my big picture point of view and that's how I address the issue.


Now in terms of freshwater fish, they're stocks are not as replenishing and as large as saltwater fish. I wouldn't ever kill a stream fish on a regular basis and I wouldn't ever kill a steelhead. If anything, maybe ONCE, just to taste it and be able to tell people how it's nothing special enough to hurt the stocks.


I seriously commend your consciousness to avoid that place. Your mentality and beliefs will spread. You do influence the people around you, as long as they are reasonable people. Most people just don't know or it has just never crossed their minds. You can inject the thought and let them realize the right choice.

[fishhunterphil]

Interesting you brought this up.
A coworker, knowing Im a fish nut, mentioned to me that they were selling "steelhead" in the fish dept at Henrys. I went over to check it out and they had "steelhead" out there. I am not sure what the real story is but the guy that worked there said they were caught on the columbia river right near the mouth. he didn't know anything beyond that.
I was surprised/shocked. If they are hatchery steelhead, that is kind of weird that commercial netters are going after fish from the dfg's sportfish program. If they are wild steelhead, that is just plain wrong.
Deep down I would like to believe that they just don't know what the heck they are talking about and it is just some farm raised super trout. On top of that I already started my boycott of Henry's because I ordered a sandwich there once and they gave me two pieces of some hard, chewy, green vegetable/fruit in lieu of an avocado.

As for the winery, I don't know, I would like to say its just that they don't know what the heck they are talking about or are mis-representing what they are serving. I hope it's not wild steelhead, that would be, well, appalling.

[Flyjunkie]

Deep down I would like to believe that they just don't know what the heck they are talking about and it is just some farm raised super trout. On top of that I already started my boycott of Henry's because I ordered a sandwich there once and they gave me two pieces of some hard, chewy, green vegetable/fruit in lieu of an avocado.

As for the winery, I don't know, I would like to say its just that they don't know what the heck they are talking about or are mis-representing what they are serving. I hope it's not wild steelhead, that would be, well, appalling.

Possible they are just farm raised Triploid Trout that have been given a "Flesh dye" to make the flesh look like Steelhead .. same thing as Rockfish being Commercially trawled.. most markets and resturants will not sell it by it's real name.. instead they call it by another a Name.. Like H. Salt Fish & chips use to advert their Fish was Icelandic Cod, turned out it was West coast rockfish... Put a fancy, exotic name on it and the Mindless Masses think they are getting the Really deal..

With soo many races of Steelhead on the Threatened or endangered listings, i am fairly certain that it is not a Real Steelhead (hatchery or Native or Wild) but farm Raised Trout... and yes the Fish farms actually have Dyes to color the Flesh of their rabbit food feed cardboard tasting Freaks.....

I'd still boycott the Winery for false advertising their meals.....

[Bernard]

It's late and I'm riding a light buzz but this thread is oddly coincidental with some stuff I was perusing online just earlier today. Here's a link that may be an interesting read with this thread in mind:

The Owner of The Pike Place Fish Market speaks to the Seattle Times about their recent decision to stop selling wild steelhead. This story has been a remarkable victory for local anglers who organized to protect these amazing fish. Full "story" as I found it on a blog: http://blog.skatethefly.com/blog/2010/5/30/pike-place-fish-market-follow-up.html
Note, this is from 2010. For all I know I ran across this via another part of this very forum. It's been one of those days.

EDIT: And then there's always this one: http://planetsave.com/2009/01/29/homeless-man-jailed-for-catching-eating-endangered-fish/ just to muck up the whole discussion ...

B.

[fflutterffly]

don't shoot the messenger, but when PITA began it was a small group of people who were truly concerned about the ethical treatment of animals. Their small message grew and grew and now they are just nutty and in the national news from time to time! my point is a movement begins grass roots and, if viable, will attract the attention of others of like mind who, if aggressive enough, will end up "spraying red ink" on the industries that are transgressing. It begins by standing at the fishmongers and asking if that fish is farm or fresh. The gal next to you ask 'what' and you tell them all 'bout the crap of a farmed fish, they look amazed and ask for clarification on there purchase. It does happen. Be pro-active, get in the mix and make it happen even if it's not in your area.

[fly addict]

Eat mo chicken!

[mk4]

Steelhead, salmon and 'PITA', what a tasty combination.

[briansII]

I'm personally not a fan of eating salmonids, but if someone wants to bonk and eat a hatchery steelhead, I've got no problem with it. The replacements will be forthcoming.

briansII

[fishhunterphil]

EDIT: And then there's always this one: http://planetsave.com/2009/01/29/homeless-man-jailed-for-catching-eating-endangered-fish/ just to muck up the whole discussion ...

B.

I remember reading that story. The ethics do get tricky when you are talking about people just trying to survive in this harsh, crazy, world.

[209er]

I'm with briansII on this one. Fly fishermen are so holier than thou, even Eric Clapton kills a fish or two!!!!! Yes he fly fishes, see what drugs, booze, AND women can do? If you want it, eat it!! If not, let it go and shut up!! 209er

[briansII]

Some fishermen advocate taking hatchery steelhead. This way, it's less competition for the wild fish, and keeps the gene pool from getting mucked up with hatchery fish. I personally would only keep a steelhead, if it wasn't going to survive, or someone specifically asked me to keep one. I would never purposely kill a wild steelhead.

All the above is assuming I actually hook and land a steelhead.

briansII

[NorcalBob]

Well, you can't kill wild steelies any more in CA. Even the venerable Smith now has C&R on wild one's. Since I've never killed/eaten a wild steelie I couldn't tell you how much better they taste than their hatchery buddies. But you should NEVER feel guilty about giving a hatchery steelie a rock shampoo and throwing it on the barbie as you would be doing their wild buddies a favor. So, eat mo' steel (as long as it's hatchery)!

[briansII]

Well, you can't kill wild steelies any more in CA. Even the venerable Smith now has C&R on wild one's. Since I've never killed/eaten a wild steelie I couldn't tell you how much better they taste than their hatchery buddies. But you should NEVER feel guilty about giving a hatchery steelie a rock shampoo and throwing it on the barbie as you would be doing their wild buddies a favor. So, eat mo' steel (as long as it's hatchery)!

Thanks for the info on the Smith. I did not know that. Seemed ridiculous that they did allow the take of wild steelhead there.

I bought a SH report card this year, and a new 9'6" 7wt rod is in the final stages(2 year project)of being done. I need to make use of them this year.

briansII