The Alabama Department of Public Health recently issued its annual Fish Consumption Advisory report, which includes certain fish from Weiss Lake reservoir.
The list includes consumption restrictions for black crappie, largemouth bass, blue catfish, channel catfish and striped bass. ADPH recommends eating only limited portions because of high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls.
From the dam, including the lower reservoir to upstream of the Cedar Bluff Bridge, including the mid-reservoir, black crappie should be eaten only once a week. Largemouth bass, striped bass, channel catfish and blue catfish should be eaten only once a month. Near the Georgia state line, the same advisory has been issued but does not include channel catfish or striped bass.
ADPH says one meal is equivalent to 6 ounces of cooked or 8 ounces of raw fish — a portion about the size of a deck of playing cards. For most keeper crappie in the 10-inch-plus size required on Weiss, two filets from one fish could easily make the limit.
Those most at risk of experiencing health problems from eating contaminated fish are infants, children under 14, women who are pregnant or nursing, or women who may become pregnant.