so I have a question for everyone. How do you determine if the water you caught the fish in is ok for you to eat out of? I have a few creeks around my house, and I always catch a nice mess of bream, but I don't eat them cause I have no idea how to tell if they're ok to eat or not.

on that note, do you guys and gals have a method for deciding on whether or not you can eat the fish? do you stay away from populated areas? would you eat fish you caught near a major roadway?

also on that note, any advice on a good place you know the water is safe to eat out of? especially looking for places near Austin.

Thanks as usual for yalls time

I usually eat fish from the larger lakes,rivers, and spring fed or private ponds. I know people that eat fish from any type of water body including inner city creeks and community lakes/ponds and they have been doing it for years without any problems. As for creeks I have kept em from hill country creeks and I always make sure the current is good year around and the water is clear. I have eaten fresh Bluegill and Sunfish a very long time and I have never had any problems. Lake Austin,Decker,and Travis along with areas of the Colorado River should be good. Also the Llano River,San Gabriel, and just about all of your creeks should be ok as well. Texas Parks&Wildlife has a consumption ban alert on their web site that you can check to see what water bodies and fish that are not safe to eat or take fish from.



Side Note: I also love Crappie,White Bass,and Catfish.

that is awesome to hear, thanks for replying! I know I will be able to put my friends fears at ease with that TPWD website too, thanks for that as well. good luck out there! I enjoy reading your posts.

Anytime "Catcrap"!





Nothing beats a fresh fish dinner!

if you are suspicious for sure remove the fillets without the skin
if its questionable and you are not sure ....next spot please

The only place around Austin that I would avoid eating fish from is Town Lake, AKA Lady Bird Lake. Supposedly, the last couple of floods we have had purged it of contaminates and it may be OK, but there are enough clean bodies of water around Austin, avoiding that one to me just isn't a big deal.

Large lakes and rivers as long as there is no consumption bans!

Plus #1. Also Love Catfish,White Bass,Reds,Stripers,and Crappie! Oh yea Bluegill are pretty good also.

Harmful chemicals bioaccumulate in fish. Each species has concentrations that contribute to the contamination of the fish higher in the food chain. And so it accumulates at the top of the food chain. Interestingly, samples we took for analysis (when I worked in the field) showed the highest concentrations in the liver and fatty tissue areas of predator species which we don't eat anyway. Carp and buffalo tend to be higher than other species, avoid them. Take a look at the watershed to your fishing spot. I won't keep fish in a small waterbody with runoff from residential areas because folks throw everything on their lawns (toxophene for fire ants, fertilizer containing insect and weed killers...) typically right before it rains (!), and it runs off into your fishing spot. At least in larger lakes you can expect some dilution.

You can still find lawn fertilizer without insect and weed control poisons in them. Scott's has one. Let's think about switching and improving our water quality!

Carp and buffalo tend to be higher in fat soluble contaminants....