Catfish Noodling?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOxt6r7HSNg
(There are some nasty words in the comments that go along with this video on YouTube. Sorry, I just want to link to the video, but the comments on YouTube come along as well.)

Ok. I love fish. I love to go fishing. But this.....this is one of the dumbest/strangest things I have seen in quite some time.

Evidently, this is a legal way to fish in parts of the United States. But, thinking about the risk of infection, I can't believe anyone would want to try this.

I have been swimming with catfish this size in the States (in fairly clear river water mind you). They are awesome to see. But, knowing that catfish eat pretty much anything (ie they are natural garbage disposals), why would anyone want to eat one this big? I'd think they'd be so loaded with parasites, and nastiness in their muscles that one would want to avoid ingesting one this size.

Which brings me to our current pet crab, Gomer (pronounced with a long O sound). Munchkin #1 noticed that Gomer was methodically walking around the bottom of the tank 'sucking' whatever he could get off the aquarium gravel. Munchkin #1 asked me, "Mom, what's he doing?" I replied, "He's eating whatever is stuck to that rock." He continued, "Ok. So what's on that rock?" Again, I responded the only way I knew how...with the truth, "He's eating whatever algae, bacteria, detritus (fish/crab poop) is stuck to it." Needless to say, I received a loud "EEEWWWW! And, Mom is that why you don't eat crabs?"

Yup, aquatic garbage disposals. And people think cockroaches are nasty.

Happy eating.