When is it safe to eat fish you've caught?

Back in the 1980s there was a big scare about the water quality (and fish quality) in Santa Monica Bay, because of pesticide in the runoff which flowed into the bay. Then they started testing the fish, and found that most of them were basically clean. Only the white croaker ("tomcod") and the tiny 3-inch sand dabs posed health risks, because they feed on a certain type of worm which accumulated the pollutants. Even other bottom-dwelling fish like sculpin, sand bass and halibut turned out to be clean, probably because they feed on free-swimming fish like anchovies and sardines.

So based on that, the bass you get out of San Diego bay (spotted bay bass, or maybe sand or calico bass) are not likely to be toxic.

But on the other hand, they might not taste all that great. I've eaten halibut taken off El Segundo (near the sewage treatment plant), and they taste "muddier" than halibut taken a few miles up the coast off Malibu, or out at the islands. But I never got sick from eating them (or heard of anyone else having a problem).

Anyway, I would say the bass you get in the harbor would be safe to eat, but might not taste as good as ones taken off the open coastline.

Probably your local Department of Natural Resources has some data on the water quality. I know in Michigan they periodically test the lakes for all kinds of chemicals and bacteria then let people know if its safe to eat. I would not eat anything out of a waterway right near San Diego and a lot of boats without checking first, there are all kinds of pollutants, fecal counts, bacteria, and I think even treated waste water gets pumped out to sea too.

if you're talking about mission bay, i ate a bass i caught there under the ingraham bridge at vacation island, wasn't half bad. I wouldn't do that again, MB isn't too clean. Hey you should go to lake miramar right before sunset, catch a catfish, and eat that, they are way better. email me if you got more q's

Do you have any pictures of those Bass to show us?

As long as the waters you're fishing in aren't contaminated or polluted & your not allergic to seafood,I'd say as soon as you got them home,prepared & cooked them it's safe to say enjoy!

This is an advisory posted at one of the lakes near me, it is also posted on the Internet at the State department of game and fish. Your state's department does testing too, and if any are found to be deemed hazardous they will post on it like this one!

*********************NOTICE*****************************

Anglers are to practice catch and release for all fish here as high levels of DDT were found in several fish. This would be a good lake for anglers to practice different casting and tackle techniques.

I wouldnt because most residental place use the ponds as water runoff and drains usually run into them like the drains from the roads and sidewalks.

after you clean it and cook it for a long time

After it is fully cooked

it doesn't really matter its still gonna be the same if you cook it in an hour or right when you catch it. your cooking it anyways

eat them then