Fish consumption advisory

I just got back from the fox river at Depere Wisconsin. I decided to keep 3 male walleyes around 16 inches since I haven’t had fish in awhile. Dnr says only eat one meal of walleyes per month out of these waters due to pcbs. Having second thoughts about keeping and eating these fish now. I did trim away belly fat and darker meat around lateral line and plan to broil them. Seeing that I’m a middle aged man and not a child or child bearing woman, I should be fine right? Or will I grow a second head? I know theres always a risk but wanted to see what others think about something like this. Also, what exactly is considered a “meal” of fish?
Any insight would be appreciated!

You probably won’t die. Consumption advisories are based on a lot of ongoing research, especially in the Fox river. The state and feds would love to be able to show PCB decreases in the fish there. Means that the millions spent on sediment removal is working. I bet those fish get tested at least annually.

If it makes you feel any better, Wisconsin walleye are under a state wide consumption advisory for mercury already. No matter where u catch them, the state wants us to be mindful how much we eat.

Omg. Eat the damn fish. For the love of god. Grow a pair

I think he is worried about growing a third one.

The advisory amounts to nothing more than a recommendation. There’s nothing hard and fast in it. You said that you haven’t fished in a while so we can assume that you have not eaten fish in a while. Enjoy your meal of walleyes. Not going to glow in the dark. Your stones are safe.

If that stuff is in the fish its probably already in you from the food you eat, the water you drink and the air you breath. May as well enjoy eating them once in a while.

Everything in moderation. I agree… eat the fish.

Now eating a catfish I pulled from those waters in July, knowing it lives in there, eats there off the bottom and has been for years. That would just be a C&R.

Walleyes are starting to come in from the bay right now… and guys chase them with great enthusiasm as soon as the season opens back up later in the spring… and many have just finished an annual trip up into the river for spawning – doesn’t make them bad.

Mike W wrote:

I think he is worried about growing a third one.

Chuck Melcher wrote:

Now eating a catfish I pulled from those waters in July, knowing it lives in there, eats there off the bottom and has been for years. That would just be a C&R.

Never tried a flathead have ya?
Dam tasty….

Mudshark wrote:

Never tried a flathead have ya?
Dam tasty….

That’s what I hear. Only tried catfish once… caught from the WI river, no idea what kind. Sure I prepped, and cooked it wrong – it was terrible. I am a 100% C&R release cat fish guy for life now

Mike W wrote:

I think he is worried about growing a third one.

Classic!

Chuck Melcher wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Mudshark wrote:</div>
Never tried a flathead have ya?
Dam tasty….

That’s what I hear. Only tried <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>catfish once… caught from the WI river, no idea what kind. Sure I prepped, and cooked it wrong – it was terrible. I am a 100% C&R release cat fish guy for life now

Back in the early 90’s when I lived in Madison and the kids were little, we’d take occasional day trips down to Prairie du Chien. Back then they allowed a small commercial harvest of catfish, not sure if they still do?
They were licensed and each one had their limited quota. You’d just drive around town and look for the signs. Was rather quaint, like they sell sweet corn out of a pickup truck. You’d find the sign and pull into their driveway. Fresh caught that morning, all were about 18″ average…cleaned and ready to cook. We’d cook them over charcoal grill…wonderful!

Nothing like the farm raised catfish you get in restaurants or stores that taste like the mud in which they were raised.

Might as well enjoy your meal for christ sake! Life is too short to worry about minor details. Who’s to say those 3 eyes you caught will cause you health problems? Maybe it will be the 5 fast food stops per week or the 12 pack on the weekend or the bus that t bones you? In moderation, all things can be handled by our bodies.

JD Winston wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Mike W wrote:</div>
I think he is worried about growing a third one.

Classic!

+1 laugh out loud!!

Chuck Melcher wrote:

Now eating a catfish I pulled from those waters in July, knowing it lives in there, eats there off the bottom and has been for years. That would just be a C&R.

i just wanna say that walleyes tactics usually dont involve topwater presentation, catfish arent the only species feedin on the bottom either

I was just reading a report on farm raised salmon from Norway.
In a nutshell…
Because the pellets that are used feed these fish were made of contaminated by products the farm raised salmon were worse for people then wild caught. I followed a couple of the sources and they seemed legit.

It didn’t mention US farm raised salmon but either way, a person would think they would be heavy metal and chemical free…at least somewhat.

Brian Klawitter wrote:

It didn’t mention US farm raised salmon but either way, a person would think they would be heavy metal and chemical free…at least somewhat.

1 issue to be considered….a lot of farm raised fish have antibiotics….