Stomach-churning moment eight parasitic worms squirm out of a freshly-caught Kingfish

A fisherman caught more than he bargained for when he went fishing off the coast of Rottnest Island. 

The keen fisher caught a Yellowtail Kingfish earlier this week only to find a disgusting parasite living inside the sea creature.

After filleting the fish, the man found about eight worms crawling out of the flesh of the Kingfish caught in Western Australia.

The stomach churning sight was caught on camera, showing the thin, dark pink coloured worms moving about in the centre of the fish.

‘Seems to be a common thing here in the west as it’s not the first time,’ the fisherman wrote in a Facebook group. 

Alan Lymbery of Freshwater Fish Group told Daily Mail Australia the sea creature was full of roundworms, or nematodes.

‘There are a number of species of anisakids (type of roundworm) and they are not uncommon in lots of fish species,’ he said.  

One person commented on the video saying ‘almost all big kingies have the worms’.

‘It’s a west thing mate. They are pretty clean over east,’ another suggested. 

The stomach churning sight was caught on camera, showing the thin, dark pink coloured parasites (pictured) moving about in the centre of the fish earlier this week

While the sight is off putting, one person suggested ‘almost all big kingies have the worms’

Roundworms can be transferred to humans if the fish is eaten raw, lightly cured or not cooked properly.

According to Seafood Health Facts, eating fish with parasites is only of concern if fish isn’t ‘thoroughly cooked’.

Fish served as sashimi, sushi, ceviche and gravlax is when eating worms can become an issue for people.   

FISH PARASITES

These roundworm parasites were found in a Kingfish off Western Australia’s coast (pictured)

WHAT ARE THEY?

Parasites are found inside fish, living off the flesh. 

These particular parasites are roundworms – or nematodes. 

HOW COMMON ARE THEY?

Roundworms can regularly be found in the guts and flesh of fish.

ARE THEY DANGEROUS?

If humans eat raw fish with parasites – depending on the type of parasite – they can become ill.

However if fish is cooked properly, they do not present a health concern.

HOW TO CONSUME FISH WITH PARASITES?

People are advised to freeze fish at -20C for at least seven days to kill any parasites. 

Thoroughly cook the fish before eating to rid any parasite.