Salema - A Hallucinogenic Fish?

[Fishman Fishman]

While fishing at San Clemente pier. I overheard a shark fisherman say that if you eat Salema you will get high. He described the high as a " ride on the Mr. Toad coaster at Disneyland". He was serious.

I've never heard this before. Your thoughts.

 

[moonshine]

Had my doubts but this from Wikipedia

Sarpa salpa became widely known for its ichthyoallyeinotoxic effects following widely publicized articles in 2006, when two men ingested it at a Mediterranean restaurant and began to experience many auditory and visual hallucinogenic effects.[5] These hallucinations, described as frightening, were reported to have occurred two hours after the fish was ingested and had a total duration of 36 hours.[6]

The fish, and especially its viscera, have been assessed as potentially unsafe by a study conducted on Mediterranean specimens.[7] It is believed that the fish ingests a particular algae or phytoplankton which renders it ichthyoallyeinotoxic.

 

[Fishman Fishman]

Had my doubts but this from Wikipedia

Sarpa salpa became widely known for its ichthyoallyeinotoxic effects following widely publicized articles in 2006, when two men ingested it at a Mediterranean restaurant and began to experience many auditory and visual hallucinogenic effects.[5] These hallucinations, described as frightening, were reported to have occurred two hours after the fish was ingested and had a total duration of 36 hours.[6]

The fish, and especially its viscera, have been assessed as potentially unsafe by a study conducted on Mediterranean specimens.[7] It is believed that the fish ingests a particular algae or phytoplankton which renders it ichthyoallyeinotoxic.

Very interesting. Wonder if this applies to Salema species in SoCal. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Ken Jones]

The salema found in California, Xenistius californiensis, is not hallucinogenic. I posted an article on the fish just a couple of weeks ago.

Check out the last part of the article. By the way, if it was hallucinogenic there would probably have been a budding commercial market in California long ago.

https://www.pierfishing.com/msgboard/index.php?threads/salema-—-update-the-fish-that-makes-dreams.3025/

 

[Fishman Fishman]

The salema found in California, Xenistius californiensis, is not hallucinogenic. I posted an article on the fish just a couple of weeks ago.

Check out the last part of the article. By the way, if it was hallucinogenic there would probably have been a budding commercial market in California long ago.

https://www.pierfishing.com/msgboard/index.php?threads/salema-—-update-the-fish-that-makes-dreams.3025/

Thanks Ken! I will read the article.

 

[moonshine]

Interesting subject. I hate to keep harping on my age but a glass of wine is enough to put me in a tailspin. My toad licking days have passed.

 

[TheFrood]

Perhaps the reason it isn't hallucinogenic is because the algae that gives the one in Europe that effect isn't present here?

 

[Ken Jones]

Hard to say.