i
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
2 Marn Luther King, Jr. Drive, S.E., Suite 1252
Atlanta, Georgia 30334-9000
ii
For more informaon on sh consumpon in Georgia, contact the
.
2 Marn Luther King, Jr. Drive, S.E., Suite 1152
Atlanta, GA 30334-9000
(404) 656-4713
2070 U.S. Hwy. 278, S.E.
Social Circle, GA 30025
(770) 918-6406
One Conservaon Way
Brunswick, Ga. 31520
(912) 264-7218
Check the DNR Web Site at: hp://www.gadnr.org
For this booklet: Go to Environmental Protecon Division at www.gaepd.org,
choose publicaons, then sh consumpon guidelines.
For the current Georgia 2014 Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulaons, Click on Wild-
life Resources Division. Click on Fishing. Choose Fishing Regulaons. Or, go to
hp://www.goshgeorgia.com
For more informaon on Coastal Fisheries and 2014 Regulaons, Click on Coastal
Resources Division, or go to hp://crd.dnr.state.ga.us
For informaon on Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) source reducon, reuse
opons, proper disposal or recycling, go to Georgia Department of Community
Aairs at hp://www.dca.state.ga.us.
Call the DNR Toll Free Tip Line at 1-800-241-4113 to report sh kills, spills, sewer over-
ows, dumping or poaching (24 hours a day, seven days a week).
Also, report Poaching, via e-mail using [email protected].ga.us
Check USEPA and USFDA for Federal Guidance on Fish Consumpon
USEPA: hp://www.epa.gov/ost/shadvice
USFDA: hp://www.cfsan.fda.gov/seafood.1html
Image Credits:Covers: Duane Raver Art Collecon, courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS), Striped Bass on Front Cover. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Line Drawings
by Robert Savannah (courtesy of the USFWS): Snowy Egret (p. 4); Raccoon (p. 8). Diagram
of Fish Fat Areas (p. 9): Redrawn by Georgia EPD from other sources.
iii
4
Fishing is a popular pasme in Georgia. Whether you
go alone to relax and enjoy nature, with your friends to
enjoy camaraderie and “sh tales” or with your family
to pass on a sport you learned as a child, shing is a fun
and rewarding sport enjoyed by many people.
Not only does shing give people an excuse to get away from the hustle and
bustle of daily life, but it can also put a healthy, sasfying meal on the table.
Fish are low in saturated fat, high in protein, and can have substanal
health benets when eaten in place of other high-fat foods. The quality of
sport sh caught in Georgia is very good; however, polychlorinated biphen-
yls (PCBs), mercury, chlordane, DDT residues (DDT/DDE/DDD), toxaphene
(and related compounds), and dieldrin have been found in some sh. In most
cases, the levels of these chemicals are low. However, to help ensure the
good health of Georgians, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources
(DNR) has developed guidelines for how oen certain species of sh can be
safely eaten. These guidelines are based on the best scienc informaon
and procedures available. As more advanced procedures are developed,
these guidelines may change.
It is important to keep in mind that the consumpon recommendaons
are based on health-risk calculaons for someone eang sh with similar
contaminaon over a period of 30 years or more.
These guidelines are not intended to discourage people from eang sh, but
should be used as a guide for choosing which type (species) and size of sh
to eat from Georgia waters.
The guidelines are non-binding recommendaons EPD determines based on
the body of water a sh comes from, the species of sh and the amount of
sh a person consumes. The purpose of these guidelines is to provide de-
tailed informaon in an understandable format for people who eat sh.
Waters listed in the sh consumpon guidelines are not necessarily assessed
as impaired using USEPA guidelines for Secon 303(d) of the Clean Water
Act.
The river basin where tested sites are located has been idened in the ta-
bles. The fourteen major river basins in Georgia are shown on the map pro-
vided, preceding the consumpon guidance tables. The lisngs for lakes
have been divided into those with a surface area of 500 acres or more, and
small lakes and ponds less than 500 acres in size. Georgia rivers have also
been divided into freshwater rivers and creeks, and estuarine systems. An
index is provided at the back of the booklet for quick page reference to lake,
river and estuarine locaons that have been tested.
5
Yes. The quality of sh in Georgia is good. Fish and seafood are nutrious
and can play a role in maintaining a healthy well-balanced diet. This booklet
provides you with the guidance and recommendaons to use in eang sh
in a healthy and informed manner. The Georgia Department of Natural Re-
sources (DNR) has one of the most progressive sh tesng programs in the
southeast. A variety of dierent sh species were tested for 43 separate
contaminants, including metals, organic chemicals and pescides. Many of
these contaminants did not appear in any sh. However, two contaminants,
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and mercury, were frequently detected in
signicant amounts in a few species from some bodies of water in Georgia.
Four addional contaminants, chlordane, DDT residues (DDT/DDE/DDD),
toxaphene-like compounds, and dieldrin were also detected infrequently.
This publicaon provides you with informaon on those six contaminants:
PCBs, mercury, chlordane, DDT/DDE/DDD, toxaphene and dieldrin.
In some areas, sh are contaminated with low concentraons of PCBs. It is
now illegal to manufacture PCBs; however, in the past, these synthec oils
were used regularly as uids for electrical transformers, cung oils, and
carbonless paper. Although they were banned in 1976, they do not break
down easily and remain in aquac sediments for years. Over me, levels of
PCBs are decreasing.
Mercury is a naturally occurring metal that does not break down as it cycles
between land, water, and air. As mercury cycles through the environment it
is absorbed and ingested by plants and animals. Nearly all of the mercury
found in sh esh is an organic form, called methylmercury. Most of the
mercury absorbed or ingested will be returned to the environment but
some will remain in the plant and animal ssues. It is not known where the
mercury in Georgia’s sh originated. Mercury may be present in sh be-
cause of the mercury content of soils and rocks in the southeast, from mu-
nicipal and industrial sources, or from fossil fuel use. Scienc evidence is
growing that mercury is transported long distances through the upper at-
mosphere, making its control a global environmental issue. Although mer-
cury has always been present, scienc research shows that the amount of
mercury cycling through the environment has increased signicantly follow-
ing the dawn of the Industrial Revoluon in the late 1800s.
Chlordane is a man-made pescide used in the U.S. from the late 1940s to
the early 1980s. Historically, chlordane was used as an agricultural pes-
cide, but in 1978 it was restricted to termite control use only. It is now
banned for all uses. Chlordane is persistent in the environment and may
remain in aquac sediments for years.
6
Fish at only one site (Albany By-Pass Pond, pg.18), had enough DDE/DDD
residues to recommend a restricon in consumpon. The DDE/DDD con-
taminants are chemical breakdown products of the pescide DDT. DDT was
rst synthesized in 1874 and its inseccidal properes were discovered in
1939. In the United States DDT was used extensively unl 1969. The U.S.
producon of DDT was disconnued in 1969. Residues of DDE and DDD are
persistent and break down slowly in the environment.
Striped mullet at only one site (Casey Canal, pg. 27), had enough dieldrin to
recommend a restricon in consumpon. Dieldrin is another chlorinated
pescide like chlordane and DDT, and has been restricted from use in the
United States. It was used to control corn and citrus pests, termites, and in
moth proong. Dieldrin is persistent in the environment because of the
slow breakdown rate.
Toxaphene was a chlorinated camphene pescide used extensively on
coon. In 1982 registraon for all uses were cancelled, and a ban on all
uses went into eect in 1990. One estuarine area (Terry and Dupree
Creeks, and the Back River, page 52), adjacent to a site where toxaphene
was once manufactured has remaining residues of toxaphene-like com-
pounds present in some sh. Toxaphene is also persistent in the environ-
ment.
Like PCBs, the chlorinated pescides do not break down easily and remain
in aquac sediments for years. These organic contaminants tend to concen-
trate in fat and fay ssues of sh such as the liver and other organs. Over
me levels of PCBs and chlorinated pescides are decreasing.
Some sh in the Savannah River below Augusta contain the radioacve ele-
ments cesium-137 and stronum-90. Exposure to large amounts of these
elements may increase the risk of developing cancer.
Contaminants get into water as a result of storm water runo, industrial
and municipal discharges, agricultural pracces, nonpoint source polluon
and other factors. When it rains, chemicals from the land and in the air are
washed into the water.
Contaminants are carried downstream by rivers and creeks into lakes, reser-
voirs, and estuaries. Contaminants can get into sh in a variety of ways. Fish
absorb PCBs, chlordane and other pescides from water, suspended sedi-
ments, or their food. These organic chemicals concentrate in the fat of sh
ssue and in fay sh such as carp and caish. Cleaning and cooking a sh
to remove fat will lower the amount of PCBs, chlordane or other pescides
in a sh meal.
7
Larger, older sh and sh which eat other sh may accumulate more con-
taminants than smaller, younger sh. Once in the water, mercury is con-
verted to methylmercury by bacteria and other processes. Fish absorb
methylmercury from their food and from water as it passes over their gills.
Mercury is bound to proteins in sh ssue, including muscle.
Fish has long been recognized as a nutrious “protein food”. It’s nutrion-
al value as a protein source is greater than that for beef, pork, chicken or
milk. Addionally, the types and amounts of dietary fats are generally more
“heart healthy” than the fats found in other protein foods. Fish is also an
important source of the fay acids that are crical for the development of
the brain and nervous system. Fish is an excellent source of several vita-
mins, and also contributes appreciable amounts of dietary calcium, iron and
zinc. These minerals are essenal nutrients that tend to be low in people’s
diets. Many studies suggest that eang sh regularly may help protect
against heart and inammatory diseases.
These guidelines are based on a range in sh meal size from 4 to 8 ounces
(1/4 to 1/2 pound). Where the guidelines recommend only 1 meal per week
or month, you may prefer to have two smaller meals over that period.
These guidelines were designed to protect you from experiencing health
problems associated with eang contaminated sh. The consumpon ad-
vice provided in this booklet is developed in a conservave manner. It is
intended to protect both children and adults from cancer and the other
potenal toxic eects of these chemicals.
PCBs, methylmercury, chlordane, DDT/DDE/DDD, toxaphene and dieldrin
build up in your body over me. It may take months or years of regularly
eang contaminated sh to accumulate levels that would aect your
health. Keep in mind that these guidelines are based on eang sh with
similar contaminaon over a period of 30 years or more. Current stascs
indicate that cancer will aect about one in every four people naonally,
primarily due to smoking, diet and hereditary risk factors. If you follow
Georgia’s consumpon guidelines, the contaminants in the sh you eat may
not increase your cancer risk at all. At worst, using the USEPA esmates of
contaminant potency, your cancer risk from sh consumpon should be
less than 1 in 10,000.
PCBs, chlordane, DDT/DDD/DDE, toxaphene and dieldrin can cause cancer
in laboratory animals exposed to large amounts, and may cause cancer in
humans.
8
Eects other than cancer from these chemicals may include developmental
problems in children whose mothers were exposed to them before or dur-
ing pregnancy. Studies of people who have been exposed to very large
quanes of these chemicals (pescide workers, etc.), have indicated a re-
laonship between high exposures and health eects on the nervous sys-
tem, digesve system, and the immune system.
Exposure to methylmercury has not been linked to cancer. Methylmercury
is a concern because of it’s potenal to damage the nervous system, espe-
cially in the developing fetus and young child. This could aect your child’s
brain and how your child learns, moves, and behaves.
If you are pregnant or a nursing mother, or plan to become pregnant soon,
you and children under 6 years of age are sensive to the eects of contam-
inants such as mercury. DNR’s guidelines are designed to be protecve for
these sensive groups. In early 2001 the USEPA issued a naonal advisory
recommending that these sensive groups limit consumpon of all freshwa-
ter sh to one meal per week due to mercury. People may wish to follow
USEPA’s recommendaon, especially in areas where DNR has not tested sh
and oered detailed guidelines. For most other healthy adults, DNR’s rec-
ommendaons may actually be overly conservave.
9
. Generally, larger, older sh may be more
contaminated than younger, smaller sh. You can minimize your health
risk by eang smaller sh (within legal size limits) and releasing the
larger sh.
. Contaminants build up in large preda-
tors and boom-feeding sh, like bass and caish, more rapidly than in
other species. By substung a few meals of pansh, such as bream
(e.g. bluegill, redear), and crappie, you can reduce your risk.
. If
you catch a big sh, freeze part of the catch (mark container or wrap-
ping with species and locaon), and space the meals from this sh over
a period of me.
. How you clean and cook your sh
can reduce the level of contaminants by as much as half in some sh.
Some chemicals have a tendency to concentrate in the fay ssues of
sh. By removing the sh’s skin and trimming llets according to the
following diagram, you can reduce the level of chemicals substanally.
Mercury is bound to the meat of the sh, so these precauons will not
help reduce this contaminant.
. The internal organs (intesnes,
liver, roe, and so forth), and skin are oen high in fat and contami-
nants.
. These include
the belly fat, side or body fat, and the esh along the top of the back.
Careful trimming can reduce some contaminants by 25 to 50%.
. Broil, bake or grill sh and do not use the
drippings. Deep-fat frying removes some contaminants, but you should
discard and not reuse the oil for cooking. Pan frying removes few, if
any, contaminants.
10
Check the following pages (or Index), for the area where you sh. The lakes
and rivers on the list are arranged in alphabecal order. If your sh or sh-
ing locaon is NOT in this booklet, follow the suggesons in Ways to Re-
duce Risk. If your sh or shing locaon is in the booklet, it does not neces-
sarily mean that there are contaminants present, but only that the sh have
been tested. Meal advice will depend on what contaminant(s) were found
and how much was found in dierent species and sizes of sh. Follow these
instrucons carefully.
The current Georgia Sport Fishing Regulaons should be consulted for the
legal sizes and creel limits for dierent species in a water body. Some legal
size limit informaon is provided in the following tables. The regulaons
also provide detailed informaon on how to measure sh length, other
seafood size measures, and color pictures for idencaon.
Measure sh from the p of
the nose to the end of the tail
n.
In the tables nd your lake or
river and the species and size
of sh you caught. If there is no meal frequency listed for a parcular
size sh, that size has not been tested or is illegal to keep. For rivers,
the size that was tested was the common creel size for that species.
Listed below are the four dierent recommended meal frequencies
that are possible for dierent species and sizes of sh.
No Restricon
1 meal per week
1 meal per month
Do Not Eat
For the purposes of these guidelines, one meal is assumed to range
from 1/4 to 1/2 pound of sh (4-8 ounces) for a 150 pound person. Sub-
tract or add 1 ounce of sh to the range for every 20 pounds of body
weight. For example, one meal is assumed to be 3 – 7 ounces for a 130
pound person and 5 – 9 ounces for a 170 pound person.
11
12
The tables for public lakes have been separated into two categories based
on size. The rst set of lakes is those with a surface area of 500 or more
acres. The second lisng of public lakes includes those having less than 500
acres in surface area. These include Georgia DNR Public Fishing Areas (PFAs)
and State Parks with small lakes and ponds, and municipal or other public
shing impoundments.
These guidelines are based on a range in sh meal size from 4 to 8 ounces
(1/4 to 1/2 pound). Where the guidelines recommend only 1 meal per week
or month, you may prefer to have two smaller meals over that period.
Coosa River Basin
Black Crappie No Restricons
Carp No Restricons No Restricons No Restricons
White Bass No Restricons
Largemouth Bass No Restricons 1 meal/week Mercury
Spoed Bass No Restricons 1 meal/week Mercury
Golden Redhorse No Restricons
Channel Caish No Restricons No Restricons
Hybrid Bass 1 meal/week Mercury
Bluegill No Restricons
Chaahoochee River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury
Channel Caish No Restricons
Spoed Sucker No Restricons
Suwannee River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass 1 meal/month Mercury
Bluegill Sunsh No Restricons
13
Oconee River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury
Channel Caish 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury
Sunsh No Restricons
Flint River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week Mercury
Channel Caish No Restricons 1 meal/week Mercury
Ocmulgee River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week Mercury
Channel Caish No Restricons 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury
Black Crappie 1 meal/week Mercury
Redear Sunsh No Restricons
Tennessee River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass No Restricons 1 meal/week Mercury
Bluegill No Restricons
White Bass 1 meal/week Mercury
Channel Caish No Restricons 1 meal/week Mercury
Savannah River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass No Restricons No Restricons 1 meal/week Mercury
White Caish No Restricons No Restricons
Channel Caish No Restricons
Bluegill Sunsh No Restricons
Spoed Bass 1 meal/week Mercury
Walleye 1 meal/week Mercury
Coosa River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass No Restricons 1 meal/week Mercury
Spoed Bass No Restricons No Restricons 1 meal/week Mercury
Channel Caish No Restricons No Restricons
Walleye No Restricons No Restricons
Hybrid Bass No Restricons
14
Tennessee River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass No Restricons No Restricons
Channel Caish No Restricons No Restricons
Spoed Bass 1 meal/week Mercury
Savannah River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass No Restricons No Restricons
Black Crappie No Restricons No Restricons
White Perch No Restricons
Bluegill No Restricons
Redear Sunsh No Restricons
Hybrid Bass No Restricons No Restricons
Striped Bass No Restricons No Restricons No Restricons
Channel Caish No Restricons No Restricons No Restricons
Spoed Sucker No Restricons
Chaahoochee River Basin
Largemouth Bass No Restricons 1 meal/month PCBs, Mercury
White Bass 1 meal/month 1 meal/month PCBs
Hybrid Bass 1 meal/week 1 meal/month 1 meal/month PCBs
Spoed Sucker No Restricons
Black Crappie No Restricons No Restricons
Channel Caish 1 meal/week 1 meal/month PCBs
Bluegill Sunsh No Restricons
Chaahoochee River Basin
Largemouth Bass No Restricons 1 meal/week PCBs, Mercury
Channel Caish 1 meal/week 1 meal/week 1 meal/week PCBs
Black Crappie No Restricons 1 meal/week PCBs
Hybrid Bass 1 meal/week PCBs
Striped Bass 1 meal/week PCBs, Mercury
Spoed Bass No Restricons 1 meal/week Mercury
15
Savannah River Basin
Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury
Black Crappie No Restricons No Restricons
Bluegill No Restricons
Hybrid & Striped
Bass
No Restricons 1 meal/month Do Not Eat PCBs
Channel Caish No Restricons No Restricons 1 meal/month PCBs
Carp 1 meal/week Mercury
Walleye 1 meal/week Mercury
-
Largemouth Bass 1 meal/month 1 meal/month PCBs
Hybrid & Striped
Bass
Do Not Eat Do Not Eat Do Not Eat PCBs
Channel Caish 1 meal/month 1 meal/month 1 meal/month PCBs
Main Body.Guidance issued with South Carolina DHEC (Ph.: 1-888-849-7241)
Ocmulgee River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass No Restricons No Restricons
Channel Caish No Restricons No Restricons No Restricons
Redear Sunsh No Restricons
Hybrid Bass No Restricons No Restricons No Restricons
Black Crappie No Restricons No Restricons
Ocmulgee River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury
Channel Caish No Restricons No Restricons 1 meal/week PCBs
Black Crappie No Restricons
Redear Sunsh No Restricons No Restricons
White Caish No Restricons No Restricons
Ocmulgee River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass* No Restricons No Restricons 1 meal/week Mercury
Striped Bass No Restricons No Restricons
Redear Sunsh No Restricons
Bullhead species No Restricons
* Lake Juliee has no minimum size on Largemouth Bass
16
Chaahoochee River Basin
-
Striped Bass No Restricons 1 meal/week Mercury
Spoed Bass 1 meal/week * 1 meal/week Mercury
Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week * 1 meal/week Mercury
White Caish No Restricons No Restricons
Channel Caish No Restricons No Restricons 1 meal/week Mercury
Common Carp 1 meal/week Mercury
Bluegill Sunsh No Restricons
Black Crappie No Restricons
Tennessee River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury
Striped Bass 1 meal/week Mercury
Channel Caish No Restricons No Restricons
Black Crappie No Restricons
Oconee River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass No Restricons No Restricons No Restricons
Hybrid Bass No Restricons No Restricons
Channel Caish No Restricons No Restricons No Restricons
White Caish No Restricons
Black Crappie No Restricons
Chaahoochee River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week 1 meal/week PCBs, Mercury
Channel Caish No Restricons No Restricons 1 meal/month PCBs
Hybrid Bass No Restricons
Bluegill Sunsh No Restricons
Redear Sunsh No Restricons
Savannah River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass No Restricons 1 meal/week Mercury
White Caish No Restricons No Restricons 1 meal/week Mercury
Bluegill Sunsh No Restricons
Walleye No Restricons
17
Savannah River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury
Black Crappie No Restricons No Restricons
Bluegill Sunsh No Restricons
White Perch No Restricons
Channel Caish No Restricons No Restricons
Bullhead No Restricons
Chaahoochee/Flint River Basin (Apalachicola
-
Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury
Channel Caish No Restricons No Restricons
Spoed Sucker No Restricons No Restricons No Restricons
Black Crappie No Restricons No Restricons
Redear Sunsh No Restricons
Oconee River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass No Restricons No Restricons
Hybrid Bass No Restricons No Restricons No Restricons
Caish No Restricons No Restricons No Restricons
Black Crappie No Restricons No Restricons
Ocmulgee River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury
Channel Caish No Restricons No Restricons No Restricons
Savannah River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass 1 meal/month 1 meal/month Mercury
White Caish No Restricons
Bluegill Sunsh No Restricons
Walleye 1 meal/week Mercury
18
Ocmulgee River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury
Channel Caish No Restricons
Redear Sunsh No Restricons
Chaahoochee River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass * No Restricons
Hybrid Bass No Restricons No Restricons
Channel Caish No Restricons No Restricons
Black Crappie No Restricons
Spoed Sucker No Restricons No Restricons
* Only Largemouth Bass 14 inches and longer may be legally retained.
Chaahoochee River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass * 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury
Spoed Bass No Restricons No Restricons
Hybrid Bass No Restricons No Restricons 1 meal/week PCBs
Channel Caish No Restricons No Restricons No Restricons
Common Carp No Restricons
Black Crappie No Restricons No Restricons
* Legal Largemouth ³ 14”. ** Striped Bass move between Lake & Morgan Falls Dam
Flint River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury
Channel Caish No Restricons No Restricons
Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week Mercury
Channel Caish 1 meal/week Mercury
Redear Sunsh No Restricons
Spoed Sucker No Restricons
19
Coosa River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass No Restricons 1 meal/week Mercury
Bluegill Sunsh No Restricons
Coosa River Basin
-
Carp No Restricons
- Flint River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week 1 meal/week DDE/DDD
Caish 1 meal/week DDE/DDD
Common Carp 1 meal/month DDE/DDD
Redear Sunsh No Restricons
Oconee River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass No Restricons
Bluegill Sunsh No Restricons
Coosa River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass No Restricons No Restricons
Channel Caish No Restricons No Restricons
Black Crappie No Restricons No Restricons
Bluegill Sunsh No Restricons
Oconee River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass No Restricons No Restricons
Redear Sunsh No Restricons
Flint River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass No Restricons 1 meal/week Mercury
Channel Caish No Restricons
20
Savannah River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass No Restricons No Restricons
White Caish No Restricons No Restricons
Tennessee River Basin
-
Bluegill Sunsh No Restricons
Savannah River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass No Restricons 1 meal/week Mercury
Bluegill Sunsh No Restricons
Ocmulgee River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass No Restricons
Black Crappie No Restricons
Flint River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass No Restricons
Redear Sunsh No Restricons
Ocmulgee River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass No Restricons
Bluegill Sunsh No Restricons
Ocmulgee River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass No Restricons No Restricons
Channel Caish No Restricons No Restricons
Ogeechee River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass No Restricons 1 meal/week Mercury
Channel Caish No Restricons
21
Oconee River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week Mercury
Bluegill No Restricons
Channel Caish 1 meal/week Mercury
Oconee River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass No Restricons No Restricons
Carp No Restricons
Ogeechee River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week Mercury
Redear Sunsh No Restricons
Coosa River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass No Restricons No Restricons
Black Crappie No Restricons No Restricons
Bluegill Sunsh No Restricons
Oconee River Basin
-
Channel Caish No Restricons No Restricons
Bluegill Sunsh No Restricons
Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week Mercury
Flint River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury
Channel Caish No Restricons No Restricons
Brown Bullhead No Restricons
Bluegill Sunsh No Restricons
Chaahoochee River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass
1 meal/week 1 meal/week
Mercury
Redear Sunsh No Restricons
22
Ocmulgee River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass 1 meal/month Mercury
Brown Bullhead 1 meal/week Mercury
Oconee River Basin
-
Bluegill Sunsh No Restricons
Largemouth Bass* No Restricons No Restricons
*Minimum size is 14 inches unless posted otherwise.
Ogeechee River Basin
Largemouth Bass
Redear Sunsh No Restricons No Restricons
Bluegill No Restricon No Restricon
Speckled Bullhead No Restricons
Savannah River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass * No Restricons
Bluegill No Restricons
Channel Caish No Restricons
*Minimum size is 14 inches unless posted otherwise.
Savannah River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass * No Restricons No Restricons
Channel Caish No Restricons No Restricons
*Minimum size is 14 inches unless posted otherwise.
Savannah River Basin
-
Bluegill Sunsh No Restricons
Largemouth Bass No Restricons
Savannah River Basin
Largemouth Bass
Spoed Sucker
23
Suwannee River Basin
-
Channel Caish No Restricons
Suwannee River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass * No Restricons No Restricons
Brown Bullhead No Restricons No Restricons
Bluegill No Restricons
*Minimum size is 14 inches unless posted otherwise.
Suwannee River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass No Restricons
Bluegill Sunsh No Restricons
Suwannee River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass 1 meal/month 1 meal/month Mercury
White Caish 1 meal/month Mercury
Oconee River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass No Restricons
Channel Caish No Restricons No Restricons
Savannah River Basin
- -
Bluegill Sunsh No Restricons
Oconee River Basin
- -
Largemouth Bass * No Restricons No Restricons
Bluegill Sunsh No Restricons
*Minimum size is 14 inches unless posted otherwise.
Suwannee River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass No Restricons
24
Flint River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass No Restricons No Restricons
Bluegill Sunsh No Restricons
Ocmulgee River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week Mercury
Caish No Restricons No Rstricons
Ocmulgee River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass No Restricons 1 meal/week Mercury
Black Crappie No Restricons
Bluegill Sunsh No Restricons
Chaahoochee River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury
Bluegill Sunsh No Restricons
Savannah River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week Mercury
Caish (mixed sp.) 1 meal/week Mercury
Bluegill Sunsh No Restricons
Flint River Basin
-
Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week 1 meal/month Mercury
Bluegill Sunsh No Restricons
25
Please note that the consumpon guidelines for Georgia rivers are presented
in a dierent format from the lake tables. Due to the ow of rivers, the site
tested is important to the consumpon guidelines. Consumpon guidelines
may vary from one stretch of river to another. The sh tested was the com-
mon creel size for the locaon and species. Freshwater rivers and creeks are
tabulated rst, followed by lisngs for Georgia dal estuarine systems.
Suwannee River Basin
Bullhead Echols County 1 meal/week Mercury
Suwannee River Basin
Largemouth Bass U.S.Hwys. 82 to 84 1 meal/month Mercury
Spoed Sucker U.S.Hwys. 82 to 84 1 meal/week Mercury
Redbreast Sunsh U.S.Hwys. 82 to 84 No Restricons
Suwannee River Basin
Largemouth Bass Near Statenville 1 meal/month Mercury
Bullhead Near Statenville 1 meal/month Mercury
Ocmulgee River Basin
Spoed Sucker Arrowhatchee Farms No Restricons
Chain Pickerel Arrowhatchee Farms No Restricons
Coosa River Basin
Spoed Bass Ga. Hwy. 176 1 meal/week Mercury
Alabama Hog Sucker Ga. Hwy. 176 1 meal/week Mercury
26
Tennessee River Basin
Northern Hog Sucker Towns County No Restricons
Savannah River Basin
Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwy. 56 1 meal/month Mercury
Spoed Sucker Ga. Hwy. 56 1 meal/week Mercury
Oconee River Basin
Largemouth Bass Apalachee Beach 1 meal/week Mercury
Channel Caish Apalachee Beach No Restricons
Flint River Basin
Yellow Bullhead Taylor County 1 meal/month Mercury
Savannah River Basin
Bluehead Chub Rabun County No Restricons
Altamaha River Basin
Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy 1 1 meal/week Mercury
Channel Caish U.S. Hwy 1 1 meal/week Mercury
Flathead Caish U.S. Hwy 1 1 meal/week Mercury
Bluegill Sunsh U.S. Hwy 1 No Restricons
Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwys 25/84 1 meal/week Mercury
Channel Caish U.S. Hwys 25/84 No Restricons
Flathead Caish U.S. Hwys 25/84 1 meal/week Mercury
Striped Mullet Altamaha Park No Restricons
Savannah River Basin
Channel Caish Ga. Hwy 17 No Restricons
Flathead Caish Ga. Hwy 17 No Restricons
27
Tennessee River Basin
Hog Sucker Union County No Restricons
Chaahoochee River Basin
Largemouth Bass Lumpkin County No Restricons
Ogeechee River Basin
Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy. 280 1 meal/month Mercury
Channel Caish U.S. Hwy. 280 1 meal/week Mercury
Redbreast Sunsh U.S. Hwy. 280 1 meal/month Mercury
Snail Bullhead U.S. Hwy. 280 1 meal/month Mercury
Ogeechee River Basin
Largemouth Bass
Below Canoochee Creek
(Taylor Creek) 1 meal/month Mercury
Channel Caish Below Canoochee Creek 1 meal/month Mercury
Ogeechee River Basin
Largemouth Bass Eisenhower Dr. No Restricons
Bluegill Sunsh
Eisenhower Dr.
No Restricons
Striped Mullet Eisenhower Dr. 1 meal/week Dieldrin
Savannah River Basin
Creek Chubsucker Hart County WMA No Restricons
Redbreast Sunsh Hart County WMA No Restricons
Tallapoosa River Basin
Bluegill Sunsh Carroll County No Restricons
28
Chaahoochee River Basin
Common Carp SR 166 (DNR boat ramp) 1 meal/month PCBs
Channel Caish SR 166 (DNR boat ramp) No Restricons
Bluegill Sunsh SR 166 (DNR boat ramp) 1 meal/week PCBs
White Sucker Peachtree Cr. To I-20 No Restricons
Black Bass Spp. I-285 1 meal/week Mercury
Chaahoochee River Basin
Redeye Bass Ga. Hwy 75, Helen 1 meal/week Mercury
Snail Bullhead Ga. Hwy 75, Helen 1 meal/week Mercury
Golden Redhorse Ga. Hwy 75, Helen 1 meal/week Mercury
Largemouth Bass Belton Bridge Road 1 meal/month Mercury
Spoed/Shoal Bass Belton Bridge Road 1 meal/week Mercury
Channel Caish Belton Bridge Road No Restricons
Chaahoochee River Basin
Largemouth Bass Mulple, Dam to Dam 1 meal/week Mercury
Common Carp Mulple, Dam to Dam No Restricons
Brown Trout Mulple, Dam to Dam No Restricons
Rainbow Trout Mulple, Dam to Dam No Restricons
Yellow Perch Above Morgan Falls No Restricons
Chaahoochee River Basin
Largemouth Bass Below Morgan Falls Dam No Restricons
Common Carp Below Morgan Falls Dam 1 meal/month PCBs
Spoed Bass Below Morgan Falls Dam No Restricons
Shoal Bass Below Morgan Falls Dam No Restricons
Brown Trout Below Morgan Falls Dam No Restricons
Rainbow Trout Below Morgan Falls Dam No Restricons
Jumprock Sucker Below Morgan Falls Dam 1 meal/week Mercury
Bluegill Sunsh Below Morgan Falls Dam No Restricons
29
Tennessee River Basin
Bluegill Sunsh Ga. Hwy 193 No Restricons
Northern Hog
Sucker Ga. Hwy 193 No Restricons
Chaahoochee River Basin
Largemouth Bass Below Dam No Restricons
Spoed Bass Below Dam 1 meal/week Mercury
Flat Bullhead Caish Below Dam No Restricons
Chaahoochee River Basin
Largemouth Bass
Oliver Dam to Eagle
Phoenix Dam
1 meal/month PCBs
Bullhead Caish
Oliver Dam to Eagle
Phoenix Dam 1 meal/week PCBs
Chaahoochee River Basin
Largemouth Bass Oswichee Creek No Restricons
Spoed Sucker Oswichee Creek No Restricons
Crappie Oswichee Creek No Restricons
Channel Caish Oswichee Creek No Restricons
Chaahoochee River Basin
Hybrid Bass Downstream of Plant
Farley
No Restricons
Chaahoochee River Basin
Largemouth Bass
U.S. 27/SR16
Whitesburg 1 meal/week Mercury
Spoed Bass
U.S. 27/SR16
Whitesburg 1 meal/week Mercury
Channel Caish
U.S. 27/SR16
Whitesburg No Restricons
30
Coosa River Basin
Blacktail Redhorse Ga. Hwy. 2 1 meal/week Mercury
Savannah River Basin
Rainbow Trout Near Tate City Rd. No Restricons
Savannah River Basin
Northern Hog Sucker Hwy. 24 1 meal/week Mercury
Silver Redhorse Above Lake Tugalo 1 meal/week Mercury
Coosa River Basin
Bluegill Sunsh Chaoogaville No Restricons
Black Crappie Chaoogaville No Restricons
Chaahoochee River Basin
Redeye Bass Hwy. 19 No Restricons
Alabama Hog Sucker Hwy. 19 No Restricons
Bluehead Chub Hwy. 19 No Restricons
Chaahoochee River Basin
Spoed Bass Downstream Ga. 400 1 meal/week Mercury
Channel Caish Downstream Ga. 400 No Restricons
Redbreast Sunsh Downstream Ga. 400 No Restricons
Tennessee River Basin
Rock Bass Ga. Hwy 2 No Restricons
Redbreast Sunsh Ga. Hwy 2 No Restricons
Tennessee River Basin
Spoed Bass Ga. Hwy 2 1 meal/week Mercury
Redbreast Sunsh Ga. Hwy 2 No Restricons
Flint River Basin
Spoed Sucker Wildlife Mgm’t Area No Restricons
31
Coosa River Basin
Largemouth Bass River Mile 2, Rome 1 meal/month PCBs
Spoed Bass River Mile 2, Rome 1 meal/week
PCBs,
Mercury
Smallmouth Bualo River Mile 2, Rome Do Not Eat PCBs
Blue Caish < 18” River Mile 2 & Hwy. 100 1 meal/week
PCBs
Blue Caish 18-32”
River Mile 2 & Hwy. 100
1 meal/month
PCBs
Blue Caish > 32”
River Mile 2 & Hwy. 100
Do Not Eat
PCBs
Coosa River Basin
Smallmouth Bualo Below Hwy 100 and at
Brushy Branch
1 meal/month PCBs
Largemouth Bass Below Hwy 100 and at
Brushy Branch
1 meal/week PCBs
Spoed Bass Below Hwy 100 and at
Brushy Branch
No Restricons
Channel Caish Below Hwy 100 and at
Brushy Branch
1 meal/month PCBs
Black Crappie Foster Bend 1 meal/week PCBs
Blue Caish < 18” River Mile 2 & Hwy. 100 1 meal/week PCBs
Blue Caish 18-32” River Mile 2 & Hwy. 100 1 meal/month PCBs
Blue Caish > 32” River Mile 2 & Hwy. 100 Do Not Eat PCBs
Coosa River Basin
Rainbow Trout Upstream Rough Cr. No Restricons
Coosa River Basin
Spoed Bass Ga. Hwy. 2 1 meal/week Mercury
Smallmouth Bualo Ga. Hwy. 2 1 meal/month
PCBs,
Mercury
White Bass Old Tilton Bridge 1 meal/month PCBs
Smallmouth Bualo Old Tilton Bridge 1 meal/month
PCBs,
Mercury
32
Coosa River Basin
Blacktail Redhorse Kelly Bridge Road 1 meal/week Mercury
Coosa River Basin
Spoed Bass York Street 1 meal/week Mercury
Golden Redhorse York Street No Restricons
osa River Basin
Channel Caish U.S. Hwy. 411 No Restricons
Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy. 411 1 meal/week Mercury
Striped Bass * Below Allatoona Dam * No Restricons
Spoed Bass Below Allatoona Dam 1 meal/week
PCBs,
Mercury
Bluegill Sunsh Below Allatoona Dam No Restricons
Smallmouth Bualo Below Allatoona Dam 1 meal/month
PCBs,
Mercury
Coosa River Basin
Smallmouth Bualo Owens Gin Road 1 meal/month
PCBs,
Mercury
Bluegill Sunsh Owens Gin Road No Restricons
Tennessee River Basin
Bluegill Sunsh
Cloudland Canyon State
Park No Restricons
Chaahoochee River Basin
Rainbow Trout Near Ga.Hwy. 75 No Restricons
Brown Trout Near Ga.Hwy. 75 No Restricons
Note: Trout may not be harvested in Smithgall Woods
Coosa River Basin
Striped Bass <20” Mulple sites on Coosa 1 meal/month PCBs
Striped Bass > 20" Mulple sites on Coosa Do Not Eat PCBs
Note: One populaon of striped bass migrates annually between Lake Weiss and loca-
ons on the Coosa, Etowah (below Thompson-Weinman Dam) and Oostanaula Rivers.
Sampled populaon represents these stretches of river.
33
FlintRiverBasin
Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwy. 92 1 meal/week Mercury
Spoed Sucker Ga. Hwy. 92 No Restricons
Flint River Basin
Largemouth Bass No. Albany, Ga. Hwy 32 1 meal/week Mercury
Channel Caish No. Albany, Ga. Hwy 32 No Restricons
Flint River Basin
Largemouth Bass Below Albany & Merck 1 meal/week Mercury
Sucker Below Albany & Merck No Restricons
Flathead Caish
<16”
Above Newton, GA No Restricons
Flathead Caish
16-30”
Above Newton, GA 1 meal/week Mercury
Flathead Caish
>30”
Above Newton, GA 1 meal/month Mercury
Savannah River Basin
Brook Trout Rabun County No Restricons
Flint River Basin
Largemouth Bass Crisp County 1 meal/week Mercury
Carp Crisp County No Restricon
FlintRiverBasin
Shoal Bass Ga. Hwy. 18 1 meal/week Mercury
Channel Caish Ga. Hwy. 18 No Restricons
Flathead Caish Ga. Hwy. 18 No Restricons
Flint River Basin
Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy. 80 1 meal/week Mercury
Channel Caish U.S. Hwy. 80 No Restricons
Shoal Bass U.S. Hwy. 80 No Restricons
Flint River Basin
Largemouth Bass Oglethorpe, Ga. Hwy 49 1 meal/week Mercury
Channel Caish Oglethorpe, Ga. Hwy 49 No Restricons
34
Tallapoosa River Basin
Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy. 27 No Restricons
Black Crappie U.S. Hwy. 27 No Restricons
Brown Bullhead U.S. Hwy. 27 No Restricons
Savannah River Basin
Largemouth Bass
Above & Below Rocky
Creek
1 meal/week Mercury
Silver Redhorse
Above & Below Rocky
Creek
No Restricons
Spoed Sucker
Above & Below Rocky
Creek
No Restricons
Suwannee River Basin
Largemouth Bass Above Ga. Hwy 133 1 meal/week Mercury
Spoed Sucker Above Ga. Hwy 133 No Restricons
Flint River Basin
Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwys 49 to 118 1 meal/week Mercury
Spoed Sucker Ga. Hwys 49 to 118 1 meal/week Mercury
Coosa River Basin
Bluegill Sunsh Near Rome No Restricons
Coosa River Basin
Blacktail Redhorse Fox Bridge Road 1 meal/week Mercury
Flint River Basin
Largemouth Bass Cordays Millpond 1 meal/week Mercury
Spoed Sucker Cordays Millpond No Restricon
Coosa River Basin
Brown Trout Watson Gap No Restricons
- Coosa River Basin
Brown Trout Lumpkin County No Restricons
35
Coosa River Basin
Golden Redhorse Hwy. 411, Eton 1 meal/week Mercury
Savannah River Basin
Rainbow Trout DNR Hatchery No Restricons
Flint River Basin
Largemouth Bass
McLile Bridge Rd. To
Ga. Hwy 118
1 meal/week Mercury
Spoed Sucker
McLile Bridge Rd. To
1 meal/week Mercury
Chaahoochee RiverBasin
Alabama Hog Sucker Ga. Hwy 360 No Restricons
Bluegill Sunsh Ga. Hwy 360 No Restricons
Chaahoochee River Basin
Alabama Hog Sucker Cooper Lake Road No Restricons
Bluegill Sunsh Cooper Lake Road No Restricons
Tennessee River Basin
Mixed Bass/Sunsh Above John Kelly Rd. No Restricons
Mixed Sucker Spp. Above John Kelly Rd. No Restricons
Mixed Bass/Sunsh Species: Rock Bass, Redbreast and Green Sunsh. Mixed Sucker Species:
Black Redhorse, Striped Jumprock and Northern Hog Sucker
Oconee River Basin
Redbreast Sunsh U.S. Hwy 29, (Above) No Restricons
Spoed Sucker U.S. Hwy 29, (Above) No Restricons
Silver Redhorse Below Barber Creek No Restricons
Coosa River Basin
Spoed Sucker Near Dalton No Restricons
Redbreast Sunsh Near Dalton No Restricons
36
Ocmulgee River Basin
Largemouth Bass
6 Miles Downstream of
Tobesoee Creek
1 meal/week Mercury
Flathead Caish
6 Miles Downstream of
Tobesoee Creek
No Restricons
Channel Caish
6 Miles Downstream of
Tobesoee Creek
No Restricons
Ocmulgee River Basin
Channel Caish Ga. Hwy. 96 No Restricons
Flathead Caish Ga. Hwy. 96 No Restricons
Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwy. 96 1 meal/week Mercury
Coosa River Basin
Alabama Hog Sucker Cobb County No Restricons
Redbreast Sunsh Cobb County No Restricons
Oconee River Basin
Redbreast Sunsh Newton Bridge Road No Restricons
Redbreast Sunsh Whitehall Rd. (Below) No Restricons
Flat Bullhead Whitehall Rd. (Below) No Restricons
Ochlockonee River Basin
Largemouth Bass
Above Thomasville,
Hwy. 19
1 meal/month Mercury
White Caish
Above Thomasville,
Hwy. 19
1 meal/week Mercury
Redbreast Sunsh
Above Thomasville,
Hwy. 19
1 meal/week Mercury
Warmouth
Above Thomasville,
Hwy. 19
1 meal/week Mercury
Ochlockonee River Basin
Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwy. 93 1 meal/month Mercury
Spoed Sucker Ga. Hwy. 93 1 meal/week Mercury
Redbreast Sunsh Ga. Hwy. 93 No Restricons
Ocmulgee River Basin
Largemouth Bass Below Lake Jackson No Restricons
Brown Bullhead Below Lake Jackson No Restricons
37
Ocmulgee River Basin
Largemouth Bass Hawkinsville No Restricons
Channel Caish Hawkinsville No Restricons
Ocmulgee River Basin
Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy 280 1 meal/week Mercury
Flathead Caish U.S. Hwy 280 1 meal/week Mercury
Channel Caish U.S. Hwy 280 No Restricons
Oconee River Basin
Largemouth Bass Above Barne Shoals 1 meal/week Mercury
Silver Redhorse Above Barne Shoals 1 meal/week Mercury
Oconee River Basin
Silver Redhorse Ga. Hwy. 15 No Restricons
Channel Caish Ga. Hwy. 15 No Restricons
Common Carp Ga. Hwy. 15 No Restricons
Oconee River Basin
Flathead Caish Milledgeville to Dublin No Restricons
Largemouth Bass Milledgeville to Dublin No Restricons
Channel Caish Milledgeville to Dublin No Restricons
) Oconee River Basin
Largemouth Bass I-16 No Restricons
Redbreast Sunsh I-16 No Restricons
Channel Caish I-16 No Restricons
Ogeechee River Basin
Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwy 88 1 meal/month Mercury
Spoed Sucker Ga. Hwy 88 1 meal/week Mercury
38
Ogeechee River Basin
Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy 301 1 meal/month Mercury
Channel Caish U.S. Hwy 301 1 meal/week Mercury
Redbreast Sunsh U.S. Hwy 301 1 meal/week Mercury
Snail Bullhead U.S. Hwy 301 1 meal/week Mercury
Spoed Sucker Ga. Hwy. 24 (so. bridge) 1 meal/week Mercury
Ogeechee River Basin
Largemouth Bass
Hwy 119
1 meal/week Mercury
Spoed Sucker
Hwy 119
No Restricons
Redbreast Sunsh
Hwy 119
1 meal/week Mercury
Ogeechee River Basin
Mullet Fort McAllister No Restricons
Ogeechee River Basin
Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwy 204 1 meal/month Mercury
Redbreast Sunsh Ga. Hwy 204 1 meal/week Mercury
Channel Caish Ga. Hwy 204 1 meal/week Mercury
Ogeechee River Basin
Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwy. 56 1 meal/month Mercury
Redbreast Sunsh Ga. Hwy. 56 1 meal/week Mercury
Ogeechee River Basin
Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy 25 1 meal/month Mercury
Snail Bullhead U.S. Hwy 25 1 meal/week Mercury
Redbreast Sunsh U.S. Hwy 25 1 meal/week Mercury
Ogeechee River Basin
Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy 1 1 meal/month Mercury
Spoed Sucker U.S. Hwy 1 1 meal/week Mercury
Redbreast Sunsh U.S. Hwy 1 1 meal/week Mercury
39
Altamaha River Basin
Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwys 280 to 56 1 meal/month Mercury
Redbreast Sunsh Ga. Hwys 280 to 56 1 meal/week Mercury
Spoed Sucker Ga. Hwys 280 to 56 1 meal/week Mercury
Channel Catgish
Ga. Hwys 280 to 56 1 meal/week Mercury
Suwannee River Basin
Bown Billy’s "Lake" 1 meal/month Mercury
Flier (sunsh) Billy’s "Lake" 1 meal/week Mercury
Chain Pickerel Billy’s "Lake" 1 meal/month Mercury
Largemouth Bass
Billy’s "Lake" 1 meal/month Mercury
Bluegill
Billy’s "Lake" 1 meal/week Mercury
Coosa River Basin
Smallmouth Bualo Ga. Hwy 156, Calhoun 1 meal/week PCBs,
Mercury
Bluegill Sunsh Ga. Hwy 156, Calhoun No Restricons
Spoed Bass Ga. Hwy 140 1 meal/week Mercury
Bluegill Sunsh Ga. Hwy 140 No Restricons
Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwy 140 1 meal/week PCBs
Smallmouth Bualo Ga. Hwy 140 1 meal/week PCBs,
Mercury
Channel Caish Ga. Hwy 140 1 meal/week PCBs
See “Coosa River: Special Striped Bass”
Chaahoochee River Basin
Large Scale
Stoneroller
Clay Road No Restricons
Redbreast Sunsh Clay Road No Restricons
Altamaha River Basin
Largemouth Bass I-16 1 meal/month Mercury
Redbreast Sunsh I-16 1 meal/week Mercury
40
Salla River Basin
Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy 84 1 meal/month Mercury
Bullhead U.S. Hwy 84 1 meal/week Mercury
Redbreast Sunsh U.S. Hwy 84 1 meal/week Mercury
Channel Caish U.S. Hwy 301 1 meal/week Mercury
Salla River Basin
Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwy. 252 1 meal/month Mercury
Redbreast Sunsh Ga. Hwy. 252 1 meal/month Mercury
Flathead Caish <30” Ga. Hwy. 252 1 meal/month * Mercury
Flathead Caish >30” Ga. Hwy. 252 Do Not Eat Mercury
Coosa River Basin
Green Sunsh Ga. Hwy 293, Old US 41 No Restricons
Savannah River Basin
Largemouth Bass Chatham County 1 meal/week Mercury
Coosa River Basin
Redeye Bass Ga. Hwy 136 No Restricons
Flint River Basin
Bass Spp. * Taylor County 1 meal/month Mercury
Sucker Spp. * Taylor County 1 meal/week Mercury
*Bass: Largemouth & Shoal; Suckers: Grayn Redhorse, Spoed & Greater Jumprock
Flint River Basin
Largemouth Bass
From McCants Millpond
to Ga. Hwy 208
No Restricons
Spoed Sucker No Restricons
Chain Pickerel
From McCants Millpond
to Ga. Hwy 208
1 meal/week Mercury
41
Savannah River Basin
Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy 301 1 meal/week Mercury
Redear Sunsh U.S. Hwy 301 No Restricons
Channel Caish U.S. Hwy 301 No Restricons
Bluegill Sunsh U.S. Hwy 301 1 meal/week Mercury
Specic consumpon guidelines have not been issued for the radionuclides cesium-137 & stron-
um-90, in the Savannah River (Burke/Screven Co.s), adjacent to the Savannah River Site (SRS).
Guidance on mercury were evaluated and deemed to be protecve.
Savannah River Basin
Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwy 119 1 meal/week Mercury
Channel Caish Ga. Hwy 119 No Restricons
Redbreast Sunsh Ga. Hwy 119 No Restricons
Savannah River Basin
Largemouth Bass
Above New Savannah
Blu Lock & Dam
1 meal/week Mercury
Spoed Sucker
Above New Savannah
Blu Lock & Dam
1 meal/week Mercury
Redear Sunsh Above Stevens Cr. Dam No Restricons
Redbreast Sunsh Below Stevens Cr. Dam No Restricons
Savannah River Basin
Largemouth Bass
Below New Savannah
Blu Lock & Dam
1 meal/week Mercury
Sucker
Below New Savannah
Blu Lock & Dam
No Restricons
Striped Mullet
Below New Savannah
Blu Lock & Dam
No Restricons
Specic consumpon guidelines have not been issued for the radionuclides cesium-137 & stron-
um-90, in the Savannah River (Burke/Screven Co.s), adjacent to the Savannah River Site (SRS).
Guidance on mercury were evaluated and deemed to be protecve.
Savannah River Basin
Largemouth Bass Near Rincon 1 meal/month Mercury
White Caish Near Rincon 1 meal/week Mercury
Redbreast Sunsh Near Rincon No Restricons
Bown Near Rincon 1 meal/month Mercury
42
Chaahoochee River Basin
Alabama Hog Sucker Ga. Hwy 120 No Restricons
Bluegill Sunsh Ga. Hwy 120 No Restricons
Savannah River Basin
Striped Bass 27” and
greater in length
Mulple locaons, over
secon noted above
1 meal/month * Mercury
* Because there is considerable variaon in how much mercury these large predatory sh con-
tain, people who are considered to be especially sensive to the eects of mercury (pregnant
women, nursing mothers and young children), may wish to limit their consumpon further than
listed above.
Note: one populaon of striped bass migrates annually between the Savannah estuary and New
Savannah Blu Lock and Dam. Current minimum legal size is 27 inches.
) Savannah River Basin
Largemouth Bass I-95 and U.S. Hwy. 17 1 meal/week Mercury
Channel Caish U.S. Hwy. 17 No Restricons
Striped Mullet Hwy. 17, Front River No Restricons
Savannah River Basin
Red Drum Tidal Gate No Restricons
White Caish Tidal Gate 1 meal/week Mercury
Ogeechee River Basin
Sunsh Warren County 1 meal/week Mercury
Oconee River Basin
Greater Jumprock Watson Spring Road No Restricons
Redbreast Sunsh Watson Spring Road No Restricons
Ocmulgee River Basin
Bluegill Sunsh Hwy. 155, Panola Shoals 1 meal/week PCBs
Snail Bullhead See Above 1 meal/week PCBs
43
Ocmulgee River Basin
Largemouth Bass Snapping Shoals 1 meal/week PCBs
Silver Redhorse Snapping Shoals No Restricons
Channel Caish Below Snapping Shoals No Restricons
Ocmulgee River Basin
Black Crappie Ga. Hwy. 36 No Restricons
Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwy. 36 No Restricons
Channel Caish Ga. Hwy. 36 No Restricons
Redbreast Sunsh Ga. Hwy. 36 No Restricons
Savannah River Basin
Largemouth Bass Above Richmond
Factory Pond
No Restricons
Spoed Sucker Above Richmond
Factory Pond
No Restricons
Redear Sunsh Above Richmond
Factory Pond
No Restricons
Flint River Basin
Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwy. 84 1 meal/week Mercury
Spoed Sucker Ga. Hwy. 84 1 meal/week Mercury
Redear Sunsh Ga. Hwy. 84 1 meal/week Mercury
Coosa River Basin
Rainbow Trout Pine Log WMA No Restricons
Savannah River Basin
Striped Jumprock Rabun County No Restricons
St. Marys River Basin
Largemouth Bass Near St. George 1 meal/month Mercury
Redbreast Sunsh Near St. George No Restricons
44
StMarys River Basin
Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy. 17 1 meal/month Mercury
Redbreast Sunsh U.S. Hwy. 17 No Restricons
Striped Mullet U.S. Hwy. 17 No Restricons
Coosa River Basin
Golden Redhorse Sugar Creek Road 1 meal/week Mercury
Coosa River Basin
Golden Redhorse Hwy. 225 1 meal/week Mercury
Suwannee River Basin
Largemouth Bass Short Camp Road 1 meal/month Mercury
Bullhead Caish Short Camp Road 1 meal/week Mercury
Chain Pickerel Short Camp Road
& U.S. 441
1 meal/week Mercury
Flier U.S. Hwy 441 1 meal/week Mercury
Tallapoosa River Basin
Blacktail Redhorse U.S. Hwy. 27 No Restricons
Bluegill Sunsh U.S. Hwy. 27 No Restricons
Blacktail Redhorse Ga. Hwy. 100 1 meal/week Mercury
Savannah River Basin
Rainbow Trout Charlies Creek Road No Restricons
Coosa River Basin
Redeye Bass Redwine Cove Road 1 meal/week Mercury
Coosa River Basin
Redeye Bass Near Fire Department 1 meal/week Mercury
45
Savannah River Basin
Redeye Bass Below Alto Prison 1 meal/week Mercury
Brown Bullhead Below Alto Prison No Restricons
Chaahoochee River Basin
Grayn Redhorse Above Mouth No Restricons
Suwannee River Basin
Redbreast Sunsh Ga. Hwy 122 1 meal/week Mercury
Largemouth Bass Below Hwy 84 1 meal/month Mercury
Redbreast Sunsh Below Hwy 84 No Restricons
Spoed Sucker Below Hwy 84 1 meal/week Mercury
Chaahoochee River Basin
Alabama Hog Sucker Lumpkin County No Restricons
Ocmulgee River Basin
Flat Bullhead Caish Porterdale Dam No Restricons
46
Estuaries and freshwaters in Georgia are included in the watersheds of 14
dierent river basins, using the United States Geological Survey Hydrologic
Unit Code (HUC), cataloging system. Estuarine systems oen communicate
with adjoining basins due to natural interconnecons and manmade struc-
tures and acons such as causeways, dal gates and dredging. Terry Creek,
Dupree Creek, the Back River, Academy Creek and the lower Brunswick River
are technically in the Salla River Basin, but because of dal dynamics, water
exchange occurs between them and the Altamaha River system.
Salla River Basin
Blue Crab Academy Creek No Restricons
Altamaha River Estuary Altamaha River Basin
Striped Mullet Below Hwy. 17 No Restricons
Spoed Seatrout
Mulple in
Delta
No Restricons
Salla River Basin
Blue Crab
Floyd Creek, So.
of Floyd Basin
No Restricons
Southern Kingsh No Restricons
Ogeechee River Basin
Blue Crab Above SR 204 No Restricons
Ogeechee River Basin
Recommendaons
Striped Mullet
No. Newport
River Cay &
Peacock Creeks
nr. I-95
No Restricons
Blue Crab 1 meal/week
Mercury
47
Salla River Basin
Atlanc Croaker
Purvis &
Gibson Creeks
Do Not Eat PCBs
Southern Kingsh (whing),
Black Drum, Spot, Spoed
Seatrout
1 meal/month PCBs
Sheepshead 1 meal/month PCBs, Mercury
Striped Mullet 1 meal/week PCBs
Red Drum, Flounder
1 meal/week PCBs, Mercury
Blue Crab
1 meal/week Mercury
Shrimp No Restricons
Clams, Mussels, Oysters Not applicable Do Not Eat Shellsh Ban *
* Shellsh Ban: Naonal Shellsh Sanitaon Program. For informaon see Coastal
Resources Division website: hp://crd.dnr.state.ga.us
Salla River Basin
Spoed Seatrout, Spot,
Southern Kingsh (whing),
Atlanc Croaker
Turtle and
Bualo Rivers,
Upriver of
Georgia Hwy
303
1 meal/month
PCBs
Red Drum, Black Drum,
Striped Mullet
1 meal/week PCBs
Sheepshead 1 meal/week
PCBs, Mercury
Blue Crab 1 meal/week
Mercury
Shrimp, Flounder No Restricons
Clams, Mussels, Oysters Not applicable Do Not Eat Shellsh Ban *
* Shellsh Ban: Naonal Shellsh Sanitaon Program
Salla River Basin
State Hwy 303
to Channel
Marker 9
Spot Do Not Eat
PCBs
Spoed Seatrout,
Sheepshead, Striped Mullet,
Southern Kingsh (whing)
1 meal/month
PCBs
Black Drum 1 meal/week PCBs
Red Drum, Flounder 1 meal/week PCBs, Mercury
Blue Crab 1 meal/week Mercury
Shrimp No Restricons
Clams, Mussels, Oysters Not applicable Do Not Eat Shellsh Ban *
* Shellsh Ban: Naonal Shellsh Sanitaon Program
48
Salla River Basin
Atlanc Croaker, Spot
Turtle River (From
Channel Marker 9)
and South
Brunswick River
(Downstream to
Dubignon and Par-
sons Creeks)
1 meal/month PCBs
Spoed Seatrout, Black
Drum, Southern Kingsh
(whing)
1 meal/week PCBs
Red Drum, Sheepshead,
Striped Mullet, Blue Crab,
Shrimp, Flounder
No Restricons
Clams, Mussels, Oysters
Not applicable Do Not Eat
Shellsh
Ban *
* Shellsh Ban: Naonal Shellsh Sanitaon Program
Tripletail
Northern end of
Jekyll Island
No Restricons
Sheepshead Atlanc Ocean 1 meal/week Arsenic
Savannah River Basin
Striped Mullet U.S. Hwy 17/SR 25 No Restricons
Savannah River Basin
Striped Bass
27” and greater
in length
Mulple locaons,
over secon not-
ed above
1 meal/month * Mercury
* Because there is considerable variaon in how much mercury these large predato-
ry sh contain, people who are considered to be especially sensive to the eects of
mercury (pregnant women, nursing mothers and young children), may wish to limit
their consumpon further than listed above.
Note: one populaon of striped bass migrates annually between the Savannah estu-
ary and New Savannah Blu Lock and Dam. Current minimum legal size is 27 inches.
49
Salla River Basin
Terry Creek
South of Torras
Causeway to
Lanier Basin
Silver Perch (Yellowtail) 1 meal/week
PCBs,
Mercury
Blue Crab, Shrimp, Spot,
Striped Mullet, Atlanc
Croaker, Southern Kingsh
(e.g. Ga. whing), Spoed
Seatrout
No Restricons
Terry & Dupree
Creeks North
of Torras
Causeway to
Conuence
with Back River
Blue Crab, Shrimp No Restricons
Red Drum 1 meal/week
Toxaphene
and related
compounds
Striped Mullet, Atlanc
Croaker, Southern Kingsh,
Spoed Seatrout
1 meal/month
Spot Do Not Eat
Back River 1
mi. above
Terry Cr. to
Conuence w/
Torras Cause-
way
Blue Crab, Shrimp, Striped
Mullet, Atlanc Croaker,
Southern Kingsh, Spoed
Seatrout, Red Drum
No Restricons
Spot 1 meal/month
Toxaphene
and related
compounds
Back River
From
Causeway to
St. Simons
Sound
Blue Crab, Shrimp, Spot,
Striped Mullet, Southern
Kingsh, Spoed Seatrout,
Red Drum
No Restricons
Atlanc Croaker 1 meal/week
Toxaphene
and related
compounds
Do Not Eat Clams, Mussels or Oysters; Shellsh Ban, Nat'l Shellsh Sanitaon
Program. For informaon see Coastal Resources Division website: hp://
crd.dnr.state.ga.us
50
On March 23, 2000, Georgia joined together with North Carolina, South Caro-
lina and Florida in issuing a joint health advisory for the consumpon of large
king mackerel caught oshore in the South Atlanc Ocean that have been
found to have high mercury concentraons. This advisory was issued to pro-
vide guidance on the safe consumpon of king mackerel to the general public
and sensive
populaons such as pregnant women, nursing mothers and young children. It
does not prevent shermen from landing sh larger than 39 inches.
Georgia DNR ocials began working with the other Southeast States to deter-
mine levels of mercury in king mackerel in 1998 aer learning that Gulf Coast
States iniated a similar program. Each State’s ndings documented con-
sistent levels of mercury over a range of sizes with high levels found in large
king
mackerel. This is Georgia’s rst consumpon advisory for ocean waters. The
king mackerel is a migratory species with the Atlanc populaon ranging from
South Florida through North Carolina and into the Mid-Atlanc.
Atlanc Ocean
24 to Less than 33 inches No Restricons
33 to 39 inches (a 33 inch sh
weighs approximately 10 pounds)
1 meal per month ** for pregnant women,
nursing mothers and children age 12 and
younger
1 meal per week ** for other adults
Over 39 inches (approximately 15
to 17 pounds)
Do Not Eat
King Mackerel are measured in Fork Length (FL), which is from the p of the snout
to the fork of the tail. The minimum legal size in Georgia is 24 inches FL, with a max-
imum daily creel limit of 3 sh per person. Federally permied commercial sher-
men are limited to 3500 pounds per trip, and a minimum size of 24 inches FL. **
One meal poron in this special guidance is 8 ounces or 1/2 pound.
King mackerel spawn along the connental shelf of the Atlanc Coast, rapidly
growing to approximately 20 inches in length in the rst year. Their diet
consists almost exclusively of other sh. King mackerel typically have a
maximum life span of 15 years, reaching approximately 4 feet in length and
25 to 30 pounds in weight. Most sh landed are considerably smaller. As a
fast-growing, long-lived top predator, the king mackerel has a propensity for
accumulang high levels of mercury.
51
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