California Fish Tissue Results

[Leo Nguyen]

California is surely a polluted State to fish in. 2009 to 2011 fish tissue sampling results came in, and my jaw dropped to the floor. I want to eat carps, bass, and anything that can be eaten. After seeing the two years study, with a new two years of sampling coming soon, I got a bit weary.

So far, from what I can see from the northern to southern water of California:

1. Stay away from carp and catfish. If you want to eat carp and catfish, only 1 full sized 15lbs carp/cat per two months, unless you want pesticides, herbicides, and mercury accumulate in your liver and kidneys.

2. Only eat bass once every 1 month. Mercury is pretty high.

3. Limit yourself in eating 5 to 6 panfish, any thing larger than 8", every month. Mercury level is not alarming, but mercury is bio-accumulative in your kidneys and liver..*SIGH*

4. EAT ALL THE TILAPIA YOU WANT from Salton Sea!! The mercury, pesticide, and herbicide in the fish tissue is considered as quite safe..safer than the first 3 mentioned. Sheesh! Looks like I'm hitting the Salton Sea, or known as the stinky sea, this spring.

CAEPA and CDFW (California Department of Fish and Wildlife..used to be Department of Fish and Game), will be pushing to do a study on fish tissues for bio-contamination of urbanized run-offs hydrocarbons and petroleum wastes. FINALLY!

Okay..back to work. Just to drop in and give some news to fellow Californians.

[Jason Preslar]

Imagine what all our chicken, beef, and pork contain. Also, our veggies.

[Leo Nguyen]

Meat, we worry about hormones that had been used to expedite the animals' growths. This is why kids' bodies are maturing at an incredible rate.

Veggies, you worry about bacteria..primarily, E-coli. Other than that, genetically modified strains. Harmful? Well..2 decades past, and no mutants yet. However, there is a rise in cancerous agents killing us at an alarming rate. We can't blame on the genetic mutation alone, since we are drinking more chemical (ie. sodas), eating more heavily processed and refined foods, and worst yet, breathing in air that is filled with carcenogenic pollutants.

So..we should all counting our blessings every day we're still alive. We have another excuse to say, let's play hard, and lots of tight lines!

[carl hendrix]

holly cow buddy!!! i had no idea that calif. was so messed up!  sorry to hear that to.  tell you what tho; just head to tenneessee; you got a place to stay here and a place to fish! guaranteed!  

[Leo Nguyen]

Thanks Carl. But in reality, since California, like many other over crowded urbanized area, got heavy environmental enforcement, along with high angling pressure on the rise, the regulators have no choice but to protect the human from their down demise. I've seen many reports throughout the years from other states, and trust me, unless you're living in open land, upstream from every other urbanized locations, there's no way for you to not eat the nasties that get introduced into the water. I wish they do biological and toxins sampling during their tissues harvesting for studies. But..that's $2500 per fish, per toxin/biological extraction. No go..

[jim cosgrove]

i am fascinated with the salton sea.if you go please pretty please take lots of pics Leo.we got those advisories all around here too .ther are ways to clean the fish that helps.remove the belly fat and mud vien if you cooking whole for a starter.i am sure there is just as much or more in everything we buy at the store anyway.

[Leo Nguyen]

I will surely do that Jim. Haven't been there in ages. It's time to revisit the forsaken water. They heavily advised to remove all belly fat and mud veins when possible. Most of the tissue sampling is done at the belly, liver. And upper mid body. That's why it costs so much. I already casted my vote to have Lake Perris, Big Bear Lake, and Lake Elsinore due to the heavy panfishing actions. I specifically asked the panfish to be focused on, rather than the trout and bass. Everyone else got interested.