Striper - Contaminated Fish Warning

[Fish Seeker]

Just thought I'd post this info in case anyone is eating the Striper they catch at Silverwood.
Apparently there isn't a problem with them in the other local lakes that have them, at least I couldn't find any advisories on them.
Hard to believe that they would only be contaminated at Silverwood and not other reservoirs.
Anyway, here's the link on the info if you're interested;
https://oehha.ca.gov/media/downloads/advisories/silverwoodlakeposter.pdf

[Temp]

When these tests are done, are they sampling the meat or organs? I remember talking to a biologist back in the day who said the testing procedure didn't make sense because of the tissue sample source not being what we actually eat

[MillsapBoyz]

Just thought I'd post this info in case anyone is eating the Striper they catch at Silverwood.
Apparently there isn't a problem with them in the other local lakes that have them, at least I couldn't find any advisories on them.
Hard to believe that they would only be contaminated at Silverwood and not other reservoirs.
Anyway, here's the link on the info if you're interested;
https://oehha.ca.gov/media/downloads/advisories/silverwoodlakeposter.pdf

I'm pretty sure this warning has been around for years. I don't eat any fish, but I know many on here that do eat stripers from Silverwood. Perhaps somebody like Kwin could offer some clarity on this subject.

[pastorsheldon]

Just thought I'd post this info in case anyone is eating the Striper they catch at Silverwood.
Apparently there isn't a problem with them in the other local lakes that have them, at least I couldn't find any advisories on them.
Hard to believe that they would only be contaminated at Silverwood and not other reservoirs.
Anyway, here's the link on the info if you're interested;
https://oehha.ca.gov/media/downloads/advisories/silverwoodlakeposter.pdf

I spoke to a game warden a few months ago up there after a trip and he said there isn't a problem unless you eat older fish that have had a chance to get more of the contaminates in them.

[Natural Lefty]

That warning has been around for several years. Consequently, I have stopped eating Striped Bass from Silverwood and haven't even been fishing there much these past few years, although the smaller ones that I usually catch from the docks would probably be okay to eat. I actually mentioned the health warnings on Silverwood stripers in another thread recently.

[srsnow]

I'm pretty sure this warning has been around for years. I don't eat any fish, but I know many on here that do eat stripers from Silverwood. Perhaps somebody like Kwin could offer some clarity on this subject.

I think Kwin did comment on this before. If I remember right the build up of heavy metals is cumulative. Meaning the older larger fish will have the higher levels that are unsafe. Younger smaller fish will typically be ok, I want to say he said sub 5lbs on stripers, but I am not 100% sure

[fishing_freak]

its been around for years and yet still hasnt seen or heard a life threatening to anyone yet, its mainly to fish that been there for 5+ years

[kwin]

its been around for years and yet still hasnt seen or heard a life threatening to anyone yet, its mainly to fish that been there for 5+ years

The warnings are flawed IMO and based upon a small sample size of a few large/older fish. I am comfortable eating the predominant striped bass at Silverwood which are less than 3 lbs because they have not lived long enough to accumulate a harmful level of mercury as determined by State Water Quality Control Boards. I know of similar small size (aged) striped bass at another SoCal lake that recently tested below the harmful threshold that triggers warnings. Mercury is in all our lakes thanks to atmospheric deposition from coal burnt in China and residual gold mining in the sierras. It is a complicated series of events that causes the elemental mercury to uptake into the food web. Research and educate yourself on the subject to make an informed decision for yourself.

[Natural Lefty]

Thank you for the information, KWIN. The next time my wife says she wants to go to Silverwood Lake to catch the (mostly little) Striped Bass from the docks, I guess we will go. I honestly suspected that was the case, but the stern "Don't eat Striped Bass" warnings for Silverwood I found to be rather off putting.

[contium]

Mercury is in all our lakes thanks to atmospheric deposition from coal burnt in China and residual gold mining in the sierras. It is a complicated series of events that causes the elemental mercury to uptake into the food web. Research and educate yourself on the subject to make an informed decision for yourself.

Did a little research on this and that is crazy. I always wondered where the Hg came from. Kind of scary really.

[sealclubber]

I don’t buy it......I say they make Damn good tacos.how is it worse than stuffing your pieholes with McDonald’s...they have cancer warnings on the drive thru windows also,,,,,anyone question that?

[carpanglerdude]

The warnings are flawed IMO and based upon a small sample size of a few large/older fish. I am comfortable eating the predominant striped bass at Silverwood which are less than 3 lbs because they have not lived long enough to accumulate a harmful level of mercury as determined by State Water Quality Control Boards. I know of similar small size (aged) striped bass at another SoCal lake that recently tested below the harmful threshold that triggers warnings. Mercury is in all our lakes thanks to atmospheric deposition from coal burnt in China and residual gold mining in the sierras. It is a complicated series of events that causes the elemental mercury to uptake into the food web. Research and educate yourself on the subject to make an informed decision for yourself.

Are you comfortable, theoretically, letting your wife (if of childbearing age) or young children eat them with the warning in place?
Frankly, I eat them from time to time, but do not let my wife/child eat them. Same with other species with significant bio accumulation, fresh or salt.
It's too bad since they are delicious and plentiful.

[kwin]

Are you comfortable, theoretically, letting your wife (if of childbearing age) or young children eat them with the warning in place?
Frankly, I eat them from time to time, but do not let my wife/child eat them. Same with other species with significant bio accumulation, fresh or salt.
It's too bad since they are delicious and plentiful.

Yes. I would also be comfortable with walking in the sun without sunscreen for short periods, drinking alcohol in moderation, eating a greasy double bacon cheeseburger intermittently and walking into a building with prop 65 warning posters.

[GhettoBasster]

Yes. I would also be comfortable with walking in the sun without sunscreen for short periods, drinking alcohol in moderation, eating a greasy double bacon cheeseburger intermittently and walking into a building with prop 65 warning posters.

Lol. But you’re not pregnant or have a developing CNS.

[drifter023]

Lol. But you’re not pregnant or have a developing CNS.
Yes you should be careful how far along are you? :Razz:

[seal]

That warning has been around for several years. Consequently, I have stopped eating Striped Bass from Silverwood and haven't even been fishing there much these past few years, although the smaller ones that I usually catch from the docks would probably be okay to eat. I actually mentioned the health warnings on Silverwood stripers in another thread recently.

Drinking the koolaid still I see. You are not young it would take 3 meals a day of 20 year old striper for you to start glowing, unless your’e prego then I’d cut it down to 2 meals a day.

[seal]

The warnings are flawed IMO and based upon a small sample size of a few large/older fish. I am comfortable eating the predominant striped bass at Silverwood which are less than 3 lbs because they have not lived long enough to accumulate a harmful level of mercury as determined by State Water Quality Control Boards. I know of similar small size (aged) striped bass at another SoCal lake that recently tested below the harmful threshold that triggers warnings. Mercury is in all our lakes thanks to atmospheric deposition from coal burnt in China and residual gold mining in the sierras. It is a complicated series of events that causes the elemental mercury to uptake into the food web. Research and educate yourself on the subject to make an informed decision for yourself.

Voice of reason

[etucker1959]

Voice of reason

Hi Seal,

I'm glad to see you're alive and well!

I really was kinda worried about you!

Health issues etc can hit anybody at any time!

[seal]

Especially at my age! All is well thanks.

[Natural Lefty]

When I look at the health warnings and it says, "Don't eat Striped Bass" for Silverwood Lake, I figure I might as well skip them, Seal. But I am aware that these warnings are very cautious and sometimes changed. They have just taken the warnings off at Puddingstone. There used to be warnings for the Salton Sea too, but that was removed.

[fishmounter]

There was something I heard a while back about the construction of the dam, that the rocks and cement used had high levels of either radiation and/or mercury, that was leached into the lake waters..

[drifter023]

Why would the state of California allow that I do not think so. Where did you hear that from?