Guidelines For Eating Fish From Georgia Waters 2020 Georgia Department of Natural Resources 2 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, S.E., Suite 1252 Atlanta, Georgia 30334-9000 i ii For more information on fish consumption in Georgia, contact the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Environmental Protection Division Watershed Protection Branch 2 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, S.E., Suite 1152 Atlanta, GA 30334-9000 (404) 463-1511 Wildlife Resources Division Fisheries Management Section 2070 U.S. Hwy 278, S.E. Social Circle, GA 30025 (770) 557-3305 Coastal Resources Division One Conservation Way Brunswick, GA 31520 (912) 264-7218 Check the DNR Web Site at: http://www.gadnr.org For this booklet: Go to Environmental Protection Division at www.gaepd.org, choose publications, then fish consumption guidelines. For the current Georgia 2020 Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations, Click on Wild- life Resources Division. Click on Fishing. Choose Fishing Regulations. Or, go to http://www.gofishgeorgia.com For more information on Coastal Fisheries and 2015 Regulations, Click on Coastal Resources Division, or go to http://CoastalGaDNR.org For information on Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) source reduction, reuse options, proper disposal or recycling, go to Georgia Department of Community Affairs at http://www.dca.state.ga.us. Call the DNR Toll Free Tip Line at 1-800-241-4113 to report fish kills, spills, sewer overflows, dumping or poaching (24 hours a day, seven days a week). Also, report Poaching, via e-mail using Turninpoachers@dnr.state.ga.us Check USEPA and USFDA for Federal Guidance on Fish Consumption USEPA: http://www.epa.gov/ost/fishadvice USFDA: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/seafood.1html Image Credits:Covers: Duane Raver Art Collection, courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), White Crappie (Pomoxis annularis) 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 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION 1 ARE GEORGIA'S FISH SAFE TO EAT? 2 HOW DO FISH BECOME CONTAMINATED? 3 BENEFITS OF EATING FISH 4 RISKS OF CONTAMINATED FISH 4 SPECIAL NOTICE FOR PREGNANT WOMEN, NURSING MOTHERS & CHILDREN 5 WAYS TO REDUCE RISK 6 USING THESE GUIDELINES 7 RIVER BASINS OF GEORGIA 8 FRESHWATER AND SALT WATER FISH OF GEORGIA 9 FISH CONSUMPTION GUIDELINES: GEORGIA PUBLIC LAKES 500 ACRES OR LARGER 10 GEORGIA PUBLIC LAKES AND PONDS LESS THAN 500 ACRES 17 GEORGIA FRESHWATER RIVERS AND CREEKS 22 GEORGIA ESTUARINE SYSTEMS 39 SPECIAL LISTINGS 41 SPECIAL MERCURY GUIDANCE ON KING MACKEREL 44 INDEX 46 iv Introduction Fishing is a popular pastime in Georgia. Whether you go alone to relax and enjoy nature, with your friends to enjoy camaraderie and "fish tales" or with your family to pass on a sport you learned as a child, fishing is a fun and rewarding sport enjoyed by many people. Not only does fishing give people an excuse to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, but it can also put a healthy, satisfying meal on the table. Fish are low in saturated fat, high in protein, and can have substantial health benefits when eaten in place of other high-fat foods. The quality of sport fish caught in Georgia is very good; however, arsenic, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), mercury, thallium, chlordane, toxaphene (and related compounds), and dieldrin have been found in some fish. 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 often certain species of fish can be safely eaten. These guidelines are based on the best scientific information and procedures available. As more advanced procedures are developed, these guidelines may change. It is important to keep in mind that the consumption recommendations are based on health-risk calculations for someone eating fish with similar contamination over a period of 30 years or more. These guidelines are not intended to discourage people from eating fish, but should be used as a guide for choosing which type (species) and size of fish to eat from Georgia waters. The guidelines are non-binding recommendations EPD determines based on the body of water a fish comes from, the species of fish and the amount of fish a person consumes. The purpose of these guidelines is to provide detailed information in an understandable format for people who eat fish. Waters listed in the fish consumption guidelines are not necessarily assessed as impaired using USEPA guidelines for Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act. The river basin where tested sites are located has been identified in the tables. The fourteen major river basins in Georgia are shown on the map provided, preceding the consumption guidance tables. The listings 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 locations that have been tested. 1 Are Georgia's Fish Safe to Eat? Yes. The quality of fish in Georgia is good. Fish and seafood are nutritious and can play a role in maintaining a healthy well-balanced diet. This booklet provides you with the guidance and recommendations to use in eating fish in a healthy and informed manner. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has one of the most progressive fish testing programs in the southeast. A variety of different fish species were tested for 43 separate contaminants, including metals, organic chemicals and pesticides. Many of these contaminants did not appear in any fish. However, four contaminants, arsenic, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), mercury, and thallium, were frequently detected in significant amounts in a few species from some bodies of water in Georgia. Three additional contaminants, chlordane, toxaphene-like compounds, and dieldrin were also detected infrequently. This publication provides you with information on those six contaminants: arsenic, PCBs, mercury, thallium, chlordane, toxaphene and dieldrin. In some areas, fish are contaminated with low concentrations of PCBs. It is now illegal to manufacture PCBs; however, in the past, these synthetic oils were used regularly as fluids for electrical transformers, cutting oils, and carbonless paper. Although they were banned in 1976, they do not break down easily and remain in aquatic sediments for years. Over time, 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 fish flesh 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 tissues. It is not known where the mercury in Georgia's fish originated. Mercury may be present in fish because of the mercury content of soils and rocks in the southeast, from municipal and industrial sources, or from fossil fuel use. Scientific evidence is growing that mercury is transported long distances through the upper atmosphere, making its control a global environmental issue. Although mercury has always been present, scientific research shows that the amount of mercury cycling through the environment has increased significantly following the dawn of the Industrial Revolution in the late 1800s. Chlordane is a man-made pesticide used in the U.S. from the late 1940s to the early 1980s. Historically, chlordane was used as an agricultural pesticide, 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 aquatic sediments for years. 2 Fish in Proctor Creek had enough dieldrin to recommend a restriction in consumption. Dieldrin is another chlorinated pesticide 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 proofing. Dieldrin is persistent in the environment because of the slow breakdown rate. Toxaphene was a chlorinated camphene pesticide used extensively on cotton. In 1982 registration for all uses were cancelled, and a ban on all uses went into effect 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 compounds present in some fish. Toxaphene is also persistent in the environment. Like PCBs, the chlorinated pesticides do not break down easily and remain in aquatic sediments for years. These organic contaminants tend to concentrate in fat and fatty tissues of fish such as the liver and other organs. Over time levels of PCBs and chlorinated pesticides are decreasing. Some fish in the Savannah River below Augusta contain the radioactive elements cesium-137 and strontium-90. Exposure to large amounts of these elements may increase the risk of developing cancer. How Do Fish Become Contaminated? Contaminants get into water as a result of storm water runoff, industrial and municipal discharges, agricultural practices, nonpoint source pollution 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, reservoirs, and estuaries. Contaminants can get into fish in a variety of ways. Fish absorb PCBs, chlordane and other pesticides from water, suspended sediments, or their food. These organic chemicals concentrate in the fat of fish tissue and in fatty fish such as carp and catfish. Cleaning and cooking a fish to remove fat will lower the amount of PCBs, chlordane or other pesticides in a fish meal. Larger, older fish and fish which eat other fish may accumulate more contaminants than smaller, younger fish. Once in the water, mercury is converted 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 fish tissue, including muscle. 3 Benefits of Eating Fish Fish has long been recognized as a nutritious "protein food". It's nutritional value as a protein source is greater than that for beef, pork, chicken or milk. Additionally, 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 fatty acids that are critical for the development of the brain and nervous system. Fish is an excellent source of several vitamins, and also contributes appreciable amounts of dietary calcium, iron and zinc. These minerals are essential nutrients that tend to be low in people's diets. Many studies suggest that eating fish regularly may help protect against heart and inflammatory diseases. These guidelines are based on a range in fish 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. Risks of Contaminated Fish These guidelines were designed to protect you from experiencing health problems associated with eating contaminated fish. The consumption advice provided in this booklet is developed in a conservative manner. It is intended to protect both children and adults from cancer and the other potential toxic effects of these chemicals. PCBs, methylmercury, chlordane, DDT/DDE/DDD, toxaphene and dieldrin build up in your body over time. It may take months or years of regularly eating contaminated fish to accumulate levels that would affect your health. Keep in mind that these guidelines are based on eating fish with similar contamination over a period of 30 years or more. Current statistics indicate that cancer will affect about one in every four people nationally, primarily due to smoking, diet and hereditary risk factors. If you follow Georgia's consumption guidelines, the contaminants in the fish you eat may not increase your cancer risk at all. At worst, using the USEPA estimates of contaminant potency, your cancer risk from fish consumption 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. Effects other than cancer from these chemicals may include developmental problems in children whose mothers were exposed to them before or during pregnancy. Studies of people who have been exposed to very large quantities of these chemicals (pesticide workers, etc.), have indicated a relationship between high exposures and health effects on the nervous system, digestive system, and the immune system. 4 Exposure to methylmercury has not been linked to cancer. Methylmercury is a concern because of it's potential to damage the nervous system, especially in the developing fetus and young child. This could affect your child's brain and how your child learns, moves, and behaves. Special Notice for Pregnant Women, Nursing Mothers and Children If you are pregnant or a nursing mother, or plan to become pregnant soon, you and children under 6 years of age are sensitive to the effects of contaminants such as mercury. DNR's guidelines are designed to be protective for these sensitive groups. In early 2001 the USEPA issued a national advisory recommending that these sensitive groups limit consumption of all freshwater fish to one meal per week due to mercury. People may wish to follow USEPA's recommendation, especially in areas where DNR has not tested fish and offered detailed guidelines. For most other healthy adults, DNR's recommendations may actually be overly conservative. 5 Ways to Reduce Risk Keep smaller fish for eating. Generally, larger, older fish may be more contaminated than younger, smaller fish. You can minimize your health risk by eating smaller fish (within legal size limits) and releasing the larger fish. Vary the kinds of fish you eat. Contaminants build up in large preda- tors and bottom-feeding fish, like bass and catfish, more rapidly than in other species. By substituting a few meals of panfish, such as bream (e.g. bluegill, redear), and crappie, you can reduce your risk. Eat smaller meals when you eat big fish and eat them less often. If you catch a big fish, freeze part of the catch (mark container or wrapping with species and location), and space the meals from this fish over a period of time. Clean and cook your fish properly. How you clean and cook your fish can reduce the level of contaminants by as much as half in some fish. Some chemicals have a tendency to concentrate in the fatty tissues of fish. By removing the fish's skin and trimming fillets according to the following diagram, you can reduce the level of chemicals substantially. Mercury is bound to the meat of the fish, so these precautions will not help reduce this contaminant. Remove the skin from fillets or steaks. The internal organs (intestines, liver, roe, and so forth), and skin are often high in fat and contaminants. Trim off the fatty areas shown in black on the drawing. These include the belly fat, side or body fat, and the flesh along the top of the back. Careful trimming can reduce some contaminants by 25 to 50%. Cook fish so fat drips away. Broil, bake or grill fish 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. 6 Using These Guidelines Check the following pages (or Index), for the area where you fish. The lakes and rivers on the list are arranged in alphabetical order. If your fish or fishing location is NOT in this booklet, follow the suggestions in Ways to Reduce Risk. If your fish or fishing location is in the booklet, it does not necessarily mean that there are contaminants present, but only that the fish have been tested. Meal advice will depend on what contaminant(s) were found and how much was found in different species and sizes of fish. Follow these instructions carefully. The current Georgia Sport Fishing Regulations should be consulted for the legal sizes and creel limits for different species in a water body. Some legal size limit information is provided in the following tables. The regulations also provide detailed information on how to measure fish length, other seafood size measures, and color pictures for identification. Measure fish from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail fin. In the tables find your lake or river and the species and size of fish you caught. If there is no meal frequency listed for a particular size fish, 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 different recommended meal frequencies that are possible for different species and sizes of fish. No Restriction 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 fish (4-8 ounces) for a 150 pound person. Subtract or add 1 ounce of fish to the range for every 20 pounds of body weight. For example, one meal is assumed to be 3 7 ounces for a 130 7 RIVER BASINS OF GEORGIA 1. Chattahoochee River Basin 2. Flint River Basin 3. Coosa River Basin 4. Tallapoosa River Basin 5. Tennessee River Basin 6. Savannah River Basin 7. Ogeechee River Basin 8. Ochlockonee River Basin 9. Suwannee River Basin 10. Satilla River Basin 11. St. Marys River Basin 12. Oconee River Basin 13. Ocmulgee River Basin 8 14. Altamaha River Basin FRESHWATER AND SALT WATER FISH OF GEORGIA Largemouth Bass Black Bass Spp. Redeye Bass Black Bass Spp. Bluegill Sunfish Green Sunfish Shoal Bass Black Bass Spp. Spotted Bass Black Bass Spp. Redbreast Sunfish Redear Sunfish Hybrid Bass Bowfin Striped Bass Carp White Bass Brown Bullhead Catfish Chain Pickerel Sucker Bullhead Catfish Yellow Perch Flat Bullhead Catfish Snail Bullhead Catfish Spotted Bullhead Catfish Yellow Bullhead Catfish Blue Catfish Channel Catfish Walleye Atlantic Croaker Black Drum Red Drum Sheepshead Southern Flounder Flathead Catfish Southern Kingfish White Catfish Spot Brook Trout Brown Trout Rainbow Trout Spotted Seatrout Striped Mullet Blue Crab/Shrimp 9 Fish Consumption Guidelines The tables for public lakes have been separated into two categories based on size. The first set of lakes is those with a surface area of 500 or more acres. The second listing 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 fishing impoundments. These guidelines are based on a range in fish 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. Typically Carp, Redhorse Spp,, and Sucker Spp. Are not game fish and/or targeted for table fair and therefore are not include. Georgia Public Lakes 500 Acres or Larger Lake Allatoona Species Black Crappie Bluegill Sunfish Channel Catfish Hybrid Bass Largemouth Bass Spotted Bass White Bass Lake Andrews Species Catfish Spp. Largemouth Bass Banks Lake Species Bluegill Sunfish Largemouth Bass Less than 12" Do Not Eat No Restrictions Do Not Eat Do Not Eat No Restrictions Do Not Eat 12" 16" Do Not Eat Do Not Eat Do Not Eat 1 meal/week Coosa River Basin Over 16" Chemical Thallium Do Not Eat Do Not Eat Do Not Eat 1 meal/week AMnteimrcounryy, AMnetirmcuornyy, , Thallium Mercury, Thallium Mercury Thallium Less than 12" 1 meal/week Chattahoochee River Basin 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical No Restrictions 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury Less than 12" 12" - 16" No Restrictions 1 meal/week 1 meal/month Suwannee River Basin Over 16" Chemical Mercury Bear Creek Reservoir Species Less than 12" Bluegill Sunfish 1 meal/week Channel Catfish Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week Redbreast Sunfish 1 meal/week Redear Sunfish No Restrictions 12" - 16" 1 meal/week 1 meal/week 10 Oconee River Basin Over 16" Chemical Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury Mercury Mercury Lake Blackshear Species Channel Catfish Less than 12" No Restrictions 12"- 16" 1 meal/week Flint River Basin Over 16" Chemical Mercury Flathead Catfish No Restrictions Largemouth Bass* 1 meal/week No Restrictions Mercury *Only Largemouth Bass greater than 14 inches may be kept. Black Shoals Lake (Randy Poynter Lake) Species Less than 12" Black Crappie 1 meal/week Channel Catfish No Restrictions Largemouth Bass Redear Sunfish No Restrictions 12" - 16" 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Ocmulgee River Basin Over 16" Chemical Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury Lake Blue Ridge Species Bluegill Sunfish Channel Catfish Largemouth Bass Spotted Bass White Bass Less than 12" No Restrictions No Restrictions 12" - 16" Tennessee River Basin Over 16" Chemical No Restrictions 1 meal/week 1 meal/week 1 meal/week No Restrictions 1 meal/month Mercury Mercury Mercury Lake Burton Species Bluegill Sunfish Brown Trout Catfish Spp. Largemouth Bass Spotted Bass Walleye Less than 12" 1 meal/month No Restrictions 12" - 16" No Restrictions 1 meal/week No Restrictions Savannah River Basin Over 16" Chemical Thallium 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions Carters Lake Species Catfish Spp. Hybrid Bass Largemouth Bass Spotted Bass Striped Bass Walleye Less than 12" No Restrictions 12" - 16" No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Coosa River Basin Over 16" Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury Lake Chatuge Species Catfish Spp. Hybrid Bass Largemouth Bass Spotted Bass Less than 12" No Restrictions 12" - 16" 1 meal/week No Restrictions 1 meal/week 11 Tennessee River Basin Over 16" Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions Mercury Clarks Hill Lake (J. Strom Thurmond) Savannah River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Black Crappie No Restrictions No Restrictions Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions No Restrictions Brown Bullhead No Restrictions Channel Catfish Do Not Eat No Restrictions No Restrictions Thallium Hybrid Bass 1 meal/month No Restrictions Do Not Eat Largemouth Bass Redear Sunfish 1 meal/month 1 meal/week No Restrictions Do Not Eat Antimony, Thallium Antimony, Mercury, Thallium Striped Bass No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions White Perch No Restrictions No Restrictions Yellow Bullhead No Restrictions Goat Rock Lake Species Black Crappie Bluegill Sunfish Channel Catfish Hybrid Bass Largemouth Bass White Bass Less than 12" No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/month 12" 16" No Restrictions 1 meal/week 1 meal/month No Restrictions 1 meal/month Chattahoochee River Basin Over 16" Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury, PCBs 1 meal/month PCBs 1 meal/month Mercury, PCBs PCBs Lake Harding (Bartletts Ferry) Species Less than 12" Black Crappie No Restrictions Channel Catfish 1 meal/week Hybrid Bass Do Not Eat Largemouth Bass Spotted Bass Striped Bass White Bass No Restrictions 12" 16" 1 meal/week No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week No Restrictions Chattahoochee River Basin Over 16" Chemical PCBs 1 meal/week PCBs 1 meal/week Mercury, PCBs, Thallium 1 meal/month Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury, PCBs 1 meal/week Mercury, PCBs Lake Hartwell: Tugaloo Arm Species Less than 12" Black Crappie No Restrictions Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Channel Catfish Hybrid & StripedBass No Restrictions No Restrictions Largemouth Bass No Restrictions Spotted Bass Walleye 12" 16" No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/month No Restrictions No Restrictions Savannah River Basin Over 16" Chemical No Restrictions 1 meal/month Mercury, PCBs 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury 12 Lake Hartwell: Main Body, D.S. Andersonville IS. Georgia/South Carolina Listing Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Channel Catfish 1 meal/month 1 meal/month 1 meal/month PCBs Hybrid Bass Do Not Eat Do Not Eat Do Not Eat PCBs Largemouth Bass 1 meal/month 1 meal/month 1 meal/month Spotted Bass 1 meal/month 1 meal/month 1 meal/month PCBs PCBs Main Body. Guidance issued with South Carolina DHEC (Ph.: 1-888-849-7241) High Falls Lake Species Black Crappie Channel Catfish Hybrid Bass Largemouth Bass Redear Sunfish Less than 12" No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/month 12" - 16" No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Ocmulgee River Basin Over 16" Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Thallium Jackson Lake Species Black Crappie Channel Catfish Largemouth Bass Redear Sunfish Less than 12" 12" - 16" Ocmulgee River Basin Over 16" Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions No Restrictions Snail Bullhead White Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Lake Juliette Species Catfish Spp. Less than 12" 12" - 16" Ocmulgee River Basin Over 16" Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions Largemouth Bass* No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week Redear Sunfish No Restrictions Striped Bass No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Mercury Lake Sydney Lanier Chattahoochee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Black Crappie No Restrictions Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Catfish Spp. No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Largemouth Bass No Restrictions 1 meal/week * 1 meal/month Mercury Spotted Bass 1 meal/week * 1 meal/week Mercury Striped Bass No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury Walleye 1 meal/week Mercury White Bass 1 meal/week Mercury *Only Largemouth, Spotted, and Shoal Bass greater than 14 inches may be kept. 13 Lake Nottely Species Black Crappie Catfish Spp. Largemouth Bass Spotted Bass Striped Bass Less than 12" No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions 12" - 16 " 1 meal/week 1 meal/week No Restrictions Tennessee River Basin Over 16 " Chemical No Restrictions Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury Lake Oconee Oconee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16 " Over 16 " Black Crappie No Restrictions No Restrictions Blue Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Channel Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Hybrid Bass No Restrictions Largemouth Bass* No Restrictions 1 meal/week No Restrictions Redbreast Sunfish No Restrictions White Catfish No Restrictions *Only Largemouth Bass greater than 14 inches may be kept. Chemical Mercury Lake Oliver Species Bluegill Sunfish Channel Catfish Hybrid Bass Largemouth Bass Redear Sunfish Less than 12" 1 meal/week No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions 12" - 16 " No Restrictions 1 meal/week Chattahoochee River Basin Over 16 " Chemical Antimony 1 meal/month Chromium, PCBs 1 meal/week Mercury, PCBs Lake Rabun Species Bluegill Sunfish Catfish Spp. Largemouth Bass Spotted Bass Walleye Less than 12" 1 meal/week No Restrictions No Restrictions 12" - 16 " 1 meal/week 1 meal/week 1 meal/week No Restrictions Savannah River Basin Over 16 " Chemical Selenium 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/month 1 meal/week Mercury Lake Richard B. Russell Species Less than 12" Black Crappie No Restrictions Channel Catfish No Restrictions Flat Bullhead 1 meal/week Largemouth Bass No Restrictions 12" - 16 " No Restrictions Do Not Eat Do Not Eat Savannah River Basin Over 16 " Chemical No Restrictions 1 meal/month Thallium Mercury Mercury, Thallium 14 Lake Richard B. Russell Species Less than 12" Sunfish Spp. No Restrictions 12" - 16 " Spotted Bass No Restrictions No Restrictions White Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions Savannah River Basin Over 16 " Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury Lake Seminole Species Black Crappie Channel Catfish Largemouth Bass Spotted Sucker Sunfish Spp. Yellow Bullhead Chattahoochee/Flint River Basin (Apalachicola) Less than 12" 12" - 16 " Over 16 " Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury Lake Sinclair Species Black Crappie Channel Catfish Hybrid Bass Largemouth Bass Yellow Bullhead Less than 12" No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions 12" - 16 " No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Do Not Eat Oconee River Basin Over 16 " Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Mercury, Zinc Lake Tobesofkee Species Channel Catfish Largemouth Bass Less than 12" No Restrictions No Restrictions 12" - 16 " No Restrictions 1 meal/week Ocmulgee River Basin Over 16 " Chemical No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury Lake Tugalo Species Bluegill Sunfish Catfish Spp. Largemouth Bass Walleye Less than 12" 12" - 16 " 1 meal/week No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week No Restrictions Savannah River Basin Over 16 " Chemical Selenium 1 meal/month 1 meal/week Mercury Mercury Lake Varner (Cornish Creek Reservoir, Newton County) Ocmulgee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16 " Over 16 " Chemical Channel Catfish No Restrictions Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury Redear Sunfish 1 meal/week Cadmium 15 Lake Walter F. George (Eufaula) Chattahoochee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16 " Over 16 " Chemical Black Crappie No Restrictions No Restrictions Channel Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Hybrid Bass No Restrictions No Restrictions Largemouth Bass * No Restrictions No Restrictions * Only Largemouth Bass greater than 14 inches may be kept. West Point Lake Chattahoochee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16 " Over 16 " Chemical Black Crappie No Restrictions No Restrictions Channel Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week PCBs Hybrid Bass 1 meal/week No Restrictions 1 meal/week PCBs Largemouth Bass * No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury Spotted Bass No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury Striped Bass No Restrictions *Only Largemouth Bass greater than 14 inches may be kept. Lake Worth/Lake Chehaw (Flint River Reservoir) Species Less than 12" 12" - 16 " Channel Catfish Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week Flint River Basin Over 16 " Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury Mercury Lake Worth/Lake Chehaw (Old Lake Worth Reservoir) Flint River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16 " Over 16 " Chemical Flathead Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury Redear Sunfish No Restrictions 16 Georgia Public Lakes and Ponds Less Than 500 Acres Please note that the minimum size for Largemouth Bass is 14 inches for all of Georgia's Public Fishing Areas operated by the Department of Natural Resources, unless posted otherwise. Lake Acworth Species Bluegill Sunfish Largemouth Bass Less than 12" No Restrictions 12" - 16" No Restrictions No Restrictions Coosa River Basin Over 16" Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury, Thallium Allen Creek Wildlife Management Area, Ponds A and B Oconee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week 1 meal/week PCBs Antioch Lake, East & West (Rocky Mountain PFA) Coosa River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Black Crappie No Restrictions No Restrictions Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Channel Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions Largemouth Bass No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Lake Bennett (Marben PFA, Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center) Oconee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Channel Catfish No Restrictions Largemouth Bass No Restrictions No Restrictions Redear Sunfish No Restrictions Big Lazer PFA (Gum Creek Impoundment) Flint River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Channel Catfish No Restrictions Largemouth Bass No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury Lake Buncombe (A.H Stephens State Park) Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Bluegill No Restrictions Channel Catfish No Restrictions Largemouth Bass No Restrictions No Restrictions Savannah River Basin Over 16" Chemical No Restrictions 17 Bush Field Airport, Augusta: Unnamed Pond Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Largemouth Bass No Restrictions 1 meal/week Clayton County Water Authority: Blalock Reservoir Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Black Crappie Largemouth Bass No Restrictions No Restrictions Savannah River Basin Over 16" Chemical Mercury Ocmulgee River Basin Over 16" Chemical Clayton County Water Authority: Shamrock Reservoir Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Largemouth Bass No Restrictions No Restrictions Ocmulgee River Basin Over 16" Chemical Dodge County PFA (Steve Bell Lake) Ocmulgee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12 - 16" Over 16" Chemical Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Channel Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions Largemouth Bass No Restrictions No Restrictions Evans County PFA Species Less than 12" Channel Catfish Largemouth Bass No Restrictions 12" - 16" 1 meal/week Ogeechee River Basin Over 16" Chemical No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury Fort Yargo State Park Lake (Marburg Cr. Watershed Proj.) Oconee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Largemouth Bass No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Hamburg Millpond (Hamburg State Park) Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Largemouth Bass No Restrictions 1 meal/week Redear Sunfish No Restrictions Ogeechee River Basin Over 16" Chemical Mercury 18 Heath Lake (Rocky Mountain PFA) Coosa River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Black Crappie No Restrictions No Restrictions Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Channel Catfish 1 meal/week Mercury, PCBs Largemouth Bass No Restrictions No Restrictions Hugh M. Gillis PFA Species Less than 12" Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Channel Catfish Largemouth Bass 12" - 16" No Restrictions 1 meal/week Oconee River Basin Over 16" Chemical No Restrictions Mercury Ken Gardens Lake (Albany, Georgia) Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Brown Bullhead No Restrictions Channel Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions Largemouth Bass No Restrictions Flint River Basin Over 16" Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury Kolomoki Lake (Kolomoki Mounds State Park) Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Redear Sunfish No Restrictions Chattahoochee River Basin Over 16" Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury Laura S Walker Lake Species Less than 12" Largemouth Bass 1 meal/month Sunfish Spp. 1 meal/week 12" - 16" 1 meal/month Suwannee River Basin Over 16" Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury Mercury Little Ocmulgee State Park Lake (Gum Creek Swamp) Ocmulgee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Brown Bullhead 1 meal/week Mercury Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week 1 meal/month Mercury Lonice C. Barrett Lake (Flat Creek PFA ) Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Channel Catfish Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week Redear Sunfish No Restrictions Oconee River Basin Over 16" Chemical 1 meal/week 1 meal/month Mercury Mercury 19 Margery Lake (Marben PFA, Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center) Oconee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Over 16" Chemical Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Largemouth Bass No Restriction No Restrictions Mayers Lake (City of Baxley) Species Less than 12" Black Crappie No Restrictions Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Largemouth Bass No Restrictions 12" - 16" 1 meal/week Altamaha River Basin Over 16" Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury McDuffie PFA (East Watershed Ponds) Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Channel Catfish No Restrictions Largemouth Bass No Restrictions McDuffie PFA (West Watershed Ponds) Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Channel Catfish No Restrictions Largemouth Bass No Restrictions Savannah River Basin Over 16" Chemical Savannah River Basin Over 16" Chemical No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury Lake Olmstead (Richmond County) Species Less than 12" Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Largemouth Bass No Restrictions Less than 12" 1 meal/week Lake Bobben (Paradise PFA) Species Less than 12" Largemouth Bass No Restrictions 12" - 16" Savannah River Basin Over 16" Chemical Mercury Suwannee River Basin Over 16" Chemical Horseshoe 4 (Paradise PFA) Species Less than 12" Channel Catfish 12" - 16" Suwannee River Basin Over 16" Chemical No Restrictions Lake Patrick (Paradise PFA) Species Less than 12" Bluegill No Restrictions Catfish Spp. Largemouth Bass 12" - 16" No Restrictions No Restrictions Suwannee River Basin Over 16" Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions 20 Reed Bingham State Park Lake Species Sunfish Spp. Less than 12" 1 meal/week Largemouth Bass 1 meal/month White Catfish 12" - 16" 1 meal/month Suwannee River Basin Over 16" Chemical Mercury 1 meal/month Mercury 1 meal/month Mercury Lake Rutledge (Hard Labor Creek State Park) Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" Channel Catfish No Restrictions No Restrictions Largemouth Bass No Restrictions No Restrictions Oconee River Basin Over 16" Chemical Lake Seed Species Bluegill Sunfish Less than 12" No Restrictions 12" - 16" Savannah River Basin 12" - 16" Chemical Shepherd Lake (Marben PFA, Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center) Oconee River Basin Species Less than 12" 12" - 16" 12" - 16" Chemical Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Largemouth Bass * No Restrictions No Restrictions Silver Lake PFA Species Bluegill Sunfish Largemouth Bass Less than 12" No Restrictions No Restrictions 12" - 16" No Restrictions Flint River Basin Over 16" Chemical No Restrictions Stone Mountain Lake Species Less than 12" Largemouth Bass 1 meal/month 12" - 16 " 1 meal/week Ocmulgee River Basin Over 16 " Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury Tribble Mill Lake (Gwinnett County) Species Less than 12" Black Crappie No Restrictions Bluegill Sunfish No Restrictions Largemouth Bass No Restrictions 12" - 16 " 1 meal/week Yohola Lake (Kolomoki Mounds State Park) Species Less than 12" 12" - 16 " Largemouth Bass 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Ocmulgee River Basin Over 16 " Chemical Mercury Chattahoochee River Basin Over 16 " Chemical Mercury Yonah Lake Species Walleye Less than 12" 12" - 16 " 21 Savannah River Basin Over 16 " Chemical 1/month Mercury Georgia freshwater rivers and creeks Please note that the consumption guidelines for Georgia rivers are presented in a different format from the lake tables. Due to the flow of rivers, the site tested is important to the consumption guidelines. Consumption guidelines may vary from one stretch of river to another. Typically Bowfin, Smallmouth Buffalo, Carp, Chub, Chubsuckers, Redhorse Spp., and Stonerollers, Striped Jumprock, and Sucker Spp. are not game fish and/or targeted for table fair. Freshwater rivers and creeks are tabulated first, followed by listings for Georgia tidal estuarine systems. Altamaha River Near Baxley (U.S. Hwy 1) Species Site Tested Bluegill Sunfish U.S. Hwy 1 Channel Catfish U.S. Hwy 1 Flathead Catfish U.S. Hwy 1 Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy 1 Altamaha River Near Jesup, Ga. (U.S. Hwy 25/84) Species Site Tested Blue Catfish U.S. Hwy 25/84 Channel Catfish U.S. Hwy 25/84 Flathead Catfish U.S. Hwy 25/84 Hybrid Bass U.S. Hwy 25/84 Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy 25/84 Striped Mullet Altamaha Park Altamaha River Basin Recommendation No Restrictions 1 meal/week Do Not Eat 1 meal/week Chemical Mercury Mercury Mercury, Thallium Mercury Altamaha River Basin Recommendation 1 meal/week No Restrictions 1 meal/week 1 meal/week 1 meal/month No Restrictions Chemical Mercury Mercury Mercury Mercury Ohoopee River (Near Reidsville, Ga., Tattnall County) Altamaha River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Catfish Spp. Ga. Hwy 280 to 56 1 meal/week Mercury Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwy 280 to 56 1 meal/month Mercury Redbreast Sunfish Ga. Hwy 280 to 56 1 meal/week Mercury Chattahoochee River (Near Helen) Species Site Tested Redeye Bass Ga. Hwy 75, Helen Snail Bullhead Ga. Hwy 75, Helen Chattahoochee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury 22 Chattahoochee River (Above Lake Lanier) Species Site Tested Black Bass Spp. Belton Bridge Road Chattahoochee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury Chattahoochee River (Buford Dam to Morgan Falls Dam) Species Site Tested Bluegill Sunfish at Buford Hatchery Trout Spp. at Buford Hatchery Yellow Perch Above Morgan Falls Chattahoochee River Basin Recommendation 1 meal/week No Restrictions No Restrictions Chemical PCBs Chattahoochee River (Morgan Falls Dam to Peachtree Creek) Species Site Tested Black Bass Spp. Below Morgan Falls Bluegill Sunfish Below Morgan Falls Trout Spp. Below Morgan Falls Chattahoochee River Basin Recommendation No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Chemical Chattahoochee River Chattahoochee River Basin Species Bluegill Sunfish Channel Catfish Site Tested SR 166 (DNR boat ramp) SR 166 (DNR boat ramp) Recommendation 1 meal/week No Restrictions Chemical PCBs Chattahoochee River Chattahoochee River Basin Special Advisory for Striped Bass: (Morgan Falls Dam to West Point Lake, below Franklin) Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Black Bass Sp. (Largemouth, Smallmouth, Shoal, Spotted) Morgan Falls Dam to I-285 1 meal/week Mercury Striped Bass Morgan Falls Dam to I-285 1 meal/month Mercury, PCBs NOTE: One population of striped bass migrates annually between West Point Lake and Morgan Falls Dam. Sampled population represents this stretch of river and lake. Chattahoochee River/Centralhatchee Creek (Pea Creek to West Point Lake, below Franklin) Chattahoochee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Channel Catfish U.S. 27/SR16 No Restrictions Largemouth Bass U.S. 27/SR16 1 meal/week Mercury Shoal Bass Spotted Bass U.S. 27/SR16 U.S. 27/SR16 1 meal/week No Restrictions Mercury 23 Chattahoochee River Species Flat Bullhead Catfish Largemouth Bass Spotted Bass Site Tested Below Dam Below Dam Below Dam Chattahoochee River Basin Recommendation No Restrictions Chemical No Restrictions 1 meal/week Antimony, Mercury Chattahoochee River (Oliver Dam to Upatoi Creek, Muscogee County) Chattahoochee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Catfish Spp. Oliver Dam to Eagle Phoenix Dam No Restrictions Largemouth Bass Oliver Dam to Eagle Phoenix Dam 1 meal/month PCBs Spotted Bass u/s From North Highland Dam 1 meal/week Mercury Chattahoochee River Chattahoochee River Basin (Chattahoochee County to Stewart County; Upatoi Creek to Omaha, Ga.) Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Black Crappie Oswichee Creek No Restrictions Channel Catfish Oswichee Creek 1 meal/month PCBs Largemouth Bass Oswichee Creek 1 meal/week Mercury Chestatee River (Headwaters, Turners Corner) Species Site Tested Redeye Bass Hwy 19 Chattahoochee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions Chestatee River (Tesnatee River to Lake Lanier) Chattahoochee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Catfish Spp. Downstream Ga. 400 No Restrictions Spotted Bass Downstream Ga. 400 1 meal/week Mercury Sunfish Spp. Downstream Ga. 400 No Restrictions Mud Creek (Near Lula, Hall County) Species Site Tested Channel Catfish Largemouth Bass Pea Ridge Rd nr Lula Pea Ridge Rd nr Lula Chattahoochee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions 1 meal/month Mercury Mud Creek (Near Powder Springs, Cobb County) Chattahoochee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Bluegill Sunfish Ga. Hwy 360 No Restrictions 24 Nickajack Creek (Cobb County) Species Site Tested Bluegill Sunfish Cooper Lake Road Olley Creek (Near Austell, Cobb County) Species Site Tested Redbreast Sunfish Clay Road Chattahoochee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions Chattahoochee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions Proctor Creek (near Atlanta, Ga., Fulton County) Chattahoochee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Redbreast & Green N. Ave/James Jackson Sunfish Pkwy 1 meal/month PCBs, Dieldrin, Heptachlor Epoxide Yellow & Brown Bullhead N. Ave/James Jackson Pkwy 1 meal/week PCBs, Dieldrin, Heptachlor Epoxide Sewell Mill Creek (Cobb County) Species Site Tested Bluegill Sunfish Ga. Hwy 120 Upatoi Creek Species Largemouth Bass Spotted Bass Site Tested Above Mouth Above Mouth Chattahoochee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions Chattahoochee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury Allatoona Creek (Cobb County) Species Site Tested Redbreast Sunfish Ga. Hwy 176 Spotted Bass Ga. Hwy 176 Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury Chattooga River (Northwest Georgia) Species Site Tested Bluegill Sunfish Chattoogaville Black Crappie Chattoogaville Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions Conasauga River (Headwaters in Cohutta Nat'l Forest) Coosa River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Rainbow Trout Upstream Rough Cr. No Restrictions 25 Conasauga River: State Line to Hwy 286 (Hwy 2) Species Site Tested Black Crappie Ga. Hwy 2 Spotted Bass Ga. Hwy 2 Conasauga River: Hwy 286 to Calhoun (Old Tilton Bridge) Species Site Tested Channel Catfish Old Titon Bridge Spotted Bass Old Titon Bridge White Bass Old Tilton Bridge Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury Coosa River Basin Recommendation 1 meal/week No Restrictions 1 meal/month Chemical PCBs PCBs Coosa River (River Mile Zero to Hwy 100) Species Site Tested Black Crappie River Mile 2, Rome Blue Catfish <32" River Mile 2 & Hwy 100 Blue Catfish >32" River Mile 2 & Hwy 100 Largemouth Bass River Mile 2, Rome Spotted Bass River Mile 2, Rome White Bass Below May's Bar Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical Do Not Eat Thallium Do Not Eat Mercury, PCBs 1 meal/month Mercury, PCBs, Thallium 1 meal/week Mercury, PCBs Do Not Eat Mercury, PCBs No Restrictions Coosa River (Hwy 100 to Stateline) Species Site Tested Black Crappie Foster Bend Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week PCBs Blue Catfish <32" Hwy 100 1 meal/month Mercury, PCBs Blue Catfish >32" Hwy 100 Do Not Eat Mercury, PCBs Channel Catfish Flathead Catfish Largemouth Bass Spotted Bass Below Hwy 100 and at Brushy Branch Below Hwy 100 and at Brushy Branch Below Hwy 100 and at Brushy Branch Below Hwy 100 and at Brushy Branch 1 meal/month 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Do Not Eat PCBs Mercury Mercury, PCBs Thallium Coosa River: Special Striped Bass (River mile zero in Rome to Stateline/Lake Weiss) Coosa River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Striped Bass <22" Multiple sites on Coosa 1 meal/month PCBs Striped Bass >22" Multiple sites on Coosa 1 meal/month PCBs Note: One population of striped bass migrates annually between Lake Weiss and locations on the Coosa, Etowah (below Thompson-Weinman Dam) and Oostanaula Rivers. Sampled population represents these stretches of river. 26 Coosawattee River (Below Carters Lake Dam) Species Site Tested Bluegill Sunfish Owens Gin Road Largemouth Bass At US Hwy 441 Redeye Bass Owens Gin Road Spotted Bass At US Hwy 441 Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions Etowah River (Above Lake Allatoona, Cherokee County) Coosa River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Spotted Bass SR 5 Spur 1 meal/week Mercury Etowah River (Below Lake Allatoona, Bartow/Floyd Counties) Coosa River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Bluegill Sunfish Below Allatoona Dam No Restrictions Channel Catfish U.S. Hwy 411 No Restrictions Spotted Bass Below Allatoona Dam 1 meal/week Mercury, PCBs Striped Bass * Below Allatoona Dam * No Restrictions *See also "Coosa River: Special Striped Bass" Jones Creek (U.S. Forest Service Rd. 28-1) Species Site Tested Brown Trout Lumpkin County Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical Do Not Eat Antimony, Thallium Little Dry Creek (Floyd County) Species Site Tested Bluegill Sunfish Near Rome Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month Antimony, Thallium Mill Creek (Whitfield County) Species Site Tested Redbreast Sunfish Near Dalton Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions Noonday Creek Species Redbreast Sunfish Site Tested Cobb County Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions Oostanaula River (Floyd/Gordon Counties) Species Bluegill Sunfish Site Tested Ga. Hwy 156, Calhoun, GA. Hwy 140 Channel Catfish Ga. Hwy 140 Spotted Bass Ga. Hwy 140 See also "Coosa River: Special Striped Bass" 27 Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury Proctor Creek (Near Acworth, Cobb County) Species Site Tested Green Sunfish Ga. Hwy 293, Old US 41 Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions Swamp Creek (Whitfield County) Species Site Tested Redeye Bass Redwine Cove Road Coosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury Talking Rock Creek (Downtown Talking Rock, Pickens County) Coosa River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Redeye Bass Near Fire Department 1 meal/week Mercury Beaver Creek (Tributary to Patsiliga Creek) Species Yellow Bullhead Site Tested Taylor County Flint River (Spalding/Fayette Counties) Species Largemouth Bass Shoal Bass Site Tested Ga. Hwy 92 Ga. Hwy 92 Flint River Basin Recommendation 1 meal/month Chemical Mercury, Thallium Flint River Basin Recommendation 1 meal/week No Restrictions Chemical Mercury Flint River (Meriwether/Pike/Upon Counties) Species Site Tested Black Bass Spp. Catfish Spp. Sunfish Spp. Ga. Hwy 18 Ga. Hwy 18 Ga. Hwy 18 Flint River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week No Restrictions No Restrictions Mercury Flint River (Taylor County) Species Site Tested Flint River Basin Recommendation Chemical Catfish Spp. Largemouth Bass Shoal Bass U.S. Hwy 80 U.S. Hwy 80 U.S. Hwy 80 No Restrictions 1 meal/week No Restrictions Mercury Stripped Bass U.S. Hwy 80 No Restrictions Flint River (Above Lake Blackshear, Macon/Dooly Counties) Flint River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Black Bass Spp. Oglethorpe, Ga. Hwy 49 1 meal/week Mercury Channel Catfish Oglethorpe, Ga. Hwy 49 No Restrictions Flint River (Below Lake Blackshear, Worth/Lee Counties) Flint River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Black Bass Spp. No. Albany, Ga. Hwy 32 1 meal/week Mercury Channel Catfish No. Albany, Ga. Hwy 32 No Restrictions 28 Flint River (Dougherty/Baker/Mitchell Counties) Flint River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Flathead Catfish <16" - - - Flathead Catfish 16-30" Above Newton, GA Do Not Eat Thallium Flathead Catfish >30" - - - Largemouth Bass Below Albany & Merck No Restrictions Flint River (Decatur County) Species Site Tested Black Bass Spp. East Bank near Bainbridge Flint River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions Mercury Gum Creek Species Largemouth Bass Site Tested Crisp County Ichawaynochaway Creek Species Largemouth Bass Site Tested Cordays Millpond Flint River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury Flint River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury Kinchafoonee Creek (Sumter/Lee Counties) Species Site Tested Black Bass Spp. Ga. Hwy 49 to 118 Flint River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury Muckalee Creek (Sumter/Lee Counties) Species Site Tested Black Bass Spp. McLittle Bridge Rd. to Ga. Hwy 118 Flint River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury Patsiliga Creek (Upstream of Beaver Creek, Taylor County) Flint River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Chain Pickerel McCants Millpond to Ga. Hwy 208 1 meal/week Mercury Largemouth Bass McCants Millpond to Ga. Hwy 208 No Restrictions Patsiliga Creek (Downstream of Beaver Creek) Species Site Tested Bass Spp. * Taylor County *Bass: Largemouth & Shoal Flint River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury Spring Creek (Seminole/Decatur/Miller Counties) Flint River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwy 84 1 meal/week Mercury Sunfish Spp. Ga. Hwy 84 1 meal/week Mercury 29 Ochlockonee River (Moultrie to Thomasville) Species Site Tested Catfish Spp. Hwy 19 Largemouth Bass Hwy 19 Sunfish Spp. Hwy 19 Warmouth Hwy 19 Ochlockonee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/month Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury Ochlockonee River (Thomasville to State Line) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwy 93 Sunfish Spp. Ga. Hwy 93 Ochlockonee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury No Restrictions Ocmulgee River (Butts/Monroe Counties) Species Site Tested Catfish Spp. Below Lake Jackson Largemouth Bass Below Lake Jackson Ocmulgee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions Ocmulgee River (Jones/Monroe Counties) Species Site Tested Channel Catfish Popes Ferry Largemouth Bass Popes Ferry Shoal Bass Popes Ferry Ocmulgee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury Ocmulgee River (Bibb County) Species Site Tested Black Crappie Channel Catfish Flathead Catfish Largemouth Bass 6 Miles Downstream of Tobesofkee Creek 6 Miles Downstream of Tobesofkee Creek 6 Miles Downstream of Tobesofkee Creek 6 Miles Downstream of Tobesofkee Creek Ocmulgee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury Ocmulgee River (Houston/Twiggs Counties) Species Site Tested Channel Catfish Ga. Hwy 96 Flathead Catfish Ga. Hwy 96 Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwy 96 Ocmulgee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury Ocmulgee River (Pulaski County) Species Site Tested Channel Catfish Hawkinsville Largemouth Bass Hawkinsville 30 Ocmulgee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions Ocmulgee River (Wilcox/Dodge/Ben Hill/Telfair Counties) Ocmulgee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Bluegill Sunfish Channel Catfish Flathead Catfish Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy 280 U.S. Hwy 280 U.S. Hwy 280 U.S. Hwy 441 1 meal/week No Restrictions 1 meal/month 1 meal/week Mercury Mercury Mercury Mercury Ocmulgee River (Telfair/Coffee/Jeff Davis Counties) Ocmulgee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Flathead Catfish US Hwy 341/ Flat Tub Rd 1 meal/week Mercury Largemouth Bass US Hwy 341 1 meal/week Mercury South River (DeKalb/Rockdale County) Species Site Tested Bluegill Sunfish Hwy 155, Panola Shoals Largemouth Bass Hwy 155, Panola Shoals Snail Bullhead Hwy 155, Panola Shoals Ocmulgee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week PCBs No Restrictions 1 meal/week PCBs South River (Henry County) Species Site Tested Black Crappie Snapping Shoals Channel Catfish Below Snapping Shoals Largemouth Bass Snapping Shoals Redear Sunfish Spotted Bass Snapping Shoals Snapping Shoals Ocmulgee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week PCBs No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions South River (Butts County) Species Black Crappie Brown Bullhead Channel Catfish Largemouth Bass Redear Sunfish Snail Bullhead White Catfish Site Tested Ga. Hwy 36 Ga. Hwy 36 Ga. Hwy 36 Ga. Hwy 36 Ga. Hwy 36 Ga. Hwy 36 Ga. Hwy 36 Ocmulgee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week PCBs No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions 31 Yellow River Species Channel Catfish Largemouth Bass Apalachee River Species Blue Catfish Channel Catfish Largemouth Bass Site Tested Hwy 36 Hwy 36 Site Tested Apalachee Beach Apalachee Beach Apalachee Beach Ocmulgee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions Oconee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Middle Oconee River (Above & Below Athens) Species Site Tested Redbreast Sunfish U.S. Hwy 29 (Above) Oconee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions North Oconee River (Above and Below Athens, Clarke County) Oconee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Flat Bullhead Redbreast Sunfish Whitehall Rd. (Below) Newton Bridge Road Whitehall Rd. (Below) No Restrictions No Restrictions Oconee River (Clarke/Oconee/Greene Counties)/Cedar Creek Oconee River Basin Species Bluegill Sunfish Catfish Spp. Largemouth Bass Spotted Bass Site Tested Barnett Shoals Drive Ga. Hwy 15 Barnett Shoals Drive Barnett Shoals Drive Recommendation No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week No Restrictions Chemical Mercury Oconee River (Baldwin/Wilkinson Counties) Species Site Tested Channel Catfish Milledgeville to Dublin Flathead Catfish Milledgeville to Dublin Largemouth Bass Bear Dam WMA Oconee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury Oconee River (Laurens County) Species Site Tested Channel Catfish I-16 Flathead Catfish I-16 Largemouth Bass I-16 Redbreast Sunfish I-16 Oconee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions No Restrictions 32 Canoochee River (Hwy 192 to Ogeechee River) Species Site Tested Catfish Spp. U.S. Hwy 280 Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy 280 Sunfish Spp. U.S. Hwy 280 Snail Bullhead U.S. Hwy 280 Ogeechee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/month Mercury 1 meal/month Mercury 1 meal/month Mercury Ogeechee River (Jefferson County, Louisville) Species Site Tested Bullhead U.S. Hwy 1 Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy 1 Redbreast Sunfish U.S. Hwy 1 Ogeechee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury 1 meal/month Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury Ogeechee River (Burke County, Midville) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwy 56 Redbreast Sunfish Ga. Hwy 56 Ogeechee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury Ogeechee River (Jenkins County, Millen) Species Site Tested Catfish Spp. Scarboro Road Hybrid Bass U.S. Hwy 25 Largemouth Bass Scarboro Road Redbreast Sunfish Scarboro Road Striped Bass U.S. Hwy 25 Ogeechee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/month Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury Ogeechee River (Bulloch County, near Statesboro) Ogeechee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Channel Catfish Ga. Hwy 24 (so. bridge) 1 meal/week Mercury Largemouth Bass Redbreast Sunfish Snail Bullhead Ga. Hwy 24 (so. bridge) U.S. Hwy 301 U.S. Hwy 301 1 meal/month 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury Mercury Mercury Yellow Bullhead U.S. Hwy 301 1 meal/week Mercury Ogeechee River (Bulloch/Effingham Counties) Species Site Tested Bluegill Sunfish Hwy 119 Largemouth Bass Hwy 119 Redbreast Sunfish Hwy 119 Ogeechee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury, PCBs 33 Ogeechee River (Bryan County, Black Ck near Ellabelle) Ogeechee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Channel Catfish Ga. Hwy 204 1 meal/month Mercury Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwy 204 1 meal/month Mercury Redbreast Sunfish Ga. Hwy 204 1 meal/week Mercury Ogeechee River (Near Ft. McAllister) Species Striped Mullet Site Tested Fort McAllister Ogeechee River Basin Recommendation No Restrictions Chemical Short Creek (Warren County) Species Site Tested Sunfish Warren County Ogeechee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury Satilla River (Near Waycross, Ware/Brantley Counties) Satilla River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Bullhead U.S. Hwy 84 1 meal/week Mercury Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy 84 1 meal/month Mercury Satilla River (Folkston, Burnt Fort, Charlton/Camden Counties) Satilla River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Bullhead-Catfish Spp. Ga. Hwy 252 1 meal/week Mercury Flathead Catfish <30" Ga. Hwy 252 1 meal/month Flathead Catfish >30" Ga. Hwy 252 1 meal/month Mercury Largemouth Bass Sunfish Spp. White Catfish Ga. Hwy 252 Ga. Hwy 252 Ga. Hwy 252 1 meal/month 1 meal/week No Restrictions Mercury Mercury Brier Creek (Burke County) Species Largemouth Bass Site Tested Ga. Hwy 56 Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury Chattooga River (Northeast Georgia, Rabun County) Savannah River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Brown Trout Burrell's Ford Bridge No Restrictions Green Sunfish Redbreast Sunfish Redeye Bass Hwy 28 nr Pine Mountain Burrell's Ford Bridge Hwy 28 nr Pine Moun- tain No Restrictions 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury Mercury, Selenium 34 Coleman River (Near Mouth, Rabun County) Species Site Tested Rainbow Trout Near Tate City Rd. Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions Ebenezer Creek Species Bluegill Sunfish Largemouth Bass White Catfish Site Tested Tommy Long Boat Ramp Tommy Long Boat Ramp Tommy Long Boat Ramp Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/month Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury Panther Creek (Stephens County) Species Site Tested Bluegill Sunfish At Yonah Dam Road Channel Catfish At Yonah Dam Road Flat Bullhead At Yonah Dam Road Largemouth Bass White Catfish At Yonah Dam Road At Yonah Dam Road Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury Mercury Savannah River (Below Clarks Hill Dam, Columbia County) Savannah River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Bluegill Sunfish Largemouth Bass Striped Mullet Above New Savannah Bluff Lock & Dam Above New Savannah Bluff Lock & Dam Above New Savannah Bluff Lock & Dam No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Savannah River (Richmond/Burke Counties) Savannah River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass Below New Savannah Bluff Lock & Dam 1 meal/week Mercury Striped Mullet Below New Savannah Bluff Lock & Dam No Restrictions Specific consumption guidelines have not been issued for the radionuclides cesium-137 & strontium-90, in the Savannah River (Burke/Screven Counties), adjacent to the Savannah River Site (SRS). Guidance on mercury were evaluated and deemed to be protective. Savannah River (Screven County) Savannah River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Bluegill Sunfish U.S. Hwy 301 1 meal/week Mercury Channel Catfish U.S. Hwy 301 No Restrictions Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy 301 1 meal/month Mercury Redear Sunfish U.S. Hwy 301 No Restrictions Specific consumption guidelines have not been issued for the radionuclides cesium-137 & strontium-90, in the Savannah River (Burke/Screven Counties), adjacent to the Savannah River Site (SRS). Guidance on mercury were evaluated and deemed to be protective. 35 Savannah River (Effingham County) Species Site Tested Channel Catfish Ga. Hwy 119 Largemouth Bass Ga. Hwy 119 Sunfish Spp. Ga. Hwy 119 Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions Savannah River (Fort Howard) Species Site Tested Bowfin Near Rincon Channel Catfish Largemouth Bass Redbreast Sunfish U.S. Hwy 17 Near Rincon, I-95, and U.S. Hwy 17 Near Rincon White Catfish Near Rincon Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month No Restrictions Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury Savannah River (Tidal Gate) Species Site Tested White Catfish Tidal Gate Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury Savannah River: Special Striped Bass Savannah River Basin (New Savannah Bluff Lock & Dam to Estuary, Chatham County.) Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Striped Bass 26" and Multiple locations, over greater in length section noted above 1 meal/month * Mercury * Because there is considerable variation in how much mercury these large predatory fish con- tain, people who are considered to be especially sensitive to the effects of mercury (pregnant women, nursing mothers and young children), may wish to limit their consumption further than listed above. Note: one population of striped bass migrates annually between the Savannah estuary and New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam. Current minimum legal size is 26 inches. Spirit Creek Species Bluegill Sunfish Largemouth Bass Redear Sunfish Site Tested Above Richmond Factory Pond Above Richmond Factory Pond Above Richmond Factory Pond Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical Do Not Eat Mercury, Thallium Do Not Eat Thallium Do Not Eat Thallium Tallulah River Species Rainbow Trout Site Tested Charlies Creek Road Savannah River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions 36 Tributary to Hudson River (Alto, Ga., Banks County) Savannah River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Brown Bullhead Below Alto Prison No Restrictions Redeye Bass Below Alto Prison 1 meal/week Mercury St. Marys River (Charlton County) Species Site Tested Bluegill Sunfish US Hwy 301 nr Folkston Channel Catfish US Hwy 301 nr Folkston Largemouth Bass US Hwy 301 nr Folkston Redbreast Sunfish Near St. George St. Marys River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury 1 meal/month Mercury No Restrictions St. Marys River (Camden County) Species Site Tested Largemouth Bass U.S. Hwy 17 Redbreast Sunfish U.S. Hwy 17 Striped Mullet U.S. Hwy 17 St. Marys River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury 1 meal/week Mercury No Restrictions Alapaha River (Tifton to Stockton) Species Site Tested Bullhead Largemouth Bass Near Statenville Near Statenville, U.S.Hwy 82 to 84 Redbreast Sunfish U.S.Hwy 82 to 84 Suwannee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/month Mercury 1 meal/month Mercury No Restrictions Alapahoochee River (Near State Line) Species Site Tested Bullhead Echols County Suwannee River Basin Recommendation Chemical 1 meal/week Mercury Little River (West of Valdosta, Lowndes County) Suwannee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass Above Ga. Hwy 133 1 meal/week Mercury Okefenokee Swamp (Stephen Foster State Park) Suwannee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Bowfin Billy's "Lake" 1 meal/month Mercury Chain Pickerel Billy's "Lake" 1 meal/month Mercury Flier (sunfish) Billy's "Lake" 1 meal/week Mercury 37 Suwannee River (Clinch/Ware/Echols Counties) Suwannee River Sill to State Line Suwannee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Bowfin Chain Pickerel Flier U.S. Hwy 441 Short Camp Road & U.S. 441 U.S. Hwy 441 1 meal/month 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Mercury Mercury Mercury Warmouth U.S. Hwy 441 No Restrictions Yellow Bullhead U.S. Hwy 441 No Restrictions Withlacoochee River Suwannee River Basin (Hahira to State Line, Berrien/Lowndes Counties) Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Largemouth Bass Below Hwy 84 1 meal/month Mercury Redbreast Sunfish Below Hwy 84 1 meal/week Mercury Buffalo Creek Species Bluegill Sunfish Brown Bullhead Site Tested Carroll County Carroll County Tallapoosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions 1 meal/week PCBs Little Tallapoosa River Species Black Crappie Brown Bullhead Largemouth Bass Tallapoosa River Species Black Crappie Site Tested U.S. Hwy 27 U.S. Hwy 27 U.S. Hwy 27 Site Tested Ga Hwy 100 Tallapoosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Tallapoosa River Basin Recommendation Chemical Do Not Eat Mercury, Thallium Little Tennessee River (Rabun County) Tennessee River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Mixed Bass/Sunfish Above John Kelly Rd. No Restrictions Mixed Bass/Sunfish Species: Rock Bass, Redbreast and Green Sunfish. Mixed Sucker Species: Black Redhorse, Striped Jumprock and Northern Hog Sucker Rock Creek Species Brown Trout Rainbow Trout Site Tested Southeast of Blue Ridge Southeast of Blue Ridge Tennessee River Basin Recommendation Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions 38 Georgia Estuarine Systems Estuaries and freshwaters in Georgia are included in the watersheds of 14 different river basins, using the United States Geological Survey Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC), cataloging system. Estuarine systems often communicate with adjoining basins due to natural interconnections and manmade structures and actions such as causeways, tidal gates and dredging. Terry Creek, Dupree Creek, the Back River, Academy Creek and the lower Brunswick River are technically in the Satilla River Basin, but because of tidal dynamics, water exchange occurs between them and the Altamaha River system. Savannah River Estuary Savannah River Basin (New Savannah Bluff Lock & Dam to Estuary, Chatham County) Species Site Tested Recommendations Chemical Striped Bass 27" and greater in U.S. Hwy 17/SR 25 1 meal/month * Mercury length * Because there is considerable variation in how much mercury these large predatory fish contain, people who are considered to be especially sensitive to the effects of mercury (pregnant women, nursing mothers and young children), may wish to limit their consumption further than listed above. Note: one population of striped bass migrates annually between the Savannah estuary and New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam. Current minimum legal size is 27 inches. Savannah River Estuary Species Sheepshead Striped Mullet Site Tested CB_02_15762 U.S. Hwy 17/SR 25 Savannah River Basin Recommendations 1 meal/week No Restrictions Chemical Mercury Wassaw Sound Species Shrimp Spotted Seatrout Site Tested Multiple Multiple Recommendation No Restrictions No Restrictions Chemical Ossabaw Sound Species Blue Crab Striped Mullet Site Tested Casey Canal Casey Canal Ogeechee River Basin Recommendations Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions St Catherines Sound North Newport River (Upper) & Cay/Peacock Cks, Riceboro Ogeechee River Basin Species Blue Crab Striped Mullet Site Tested N. Newport River Cay & Peacock Creeks nr. I-95 Recommendations 1 meal/week No Restrictions Chemical Mercury 39 Sapelo Sound Species Brown Shrimp Site Tested Multiple Ogeechee River Basin Recommendations Chemical No Restrictions Sapelo Sound--Mud River Species Site Tested White Shrimp Mud River Ogeechee River Basin Recommendations Chemical No Restrictions Altamaha Sound Species Flounder Spotted Seatrout Striped Mullet Site Tested Below Hwy 17 Multiple in Delta Below Hwy 17 Altamaha River Basin Recommendations Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week Thallium Saint Simons Sound Species Tripletail Site Tested Northern end of Jekyll Island Satilla River Basin Recommendations Chemical No Restrictions St Andrew Sound (Satilla River) Species Blue Crab Southern Kingfish Spot Spotted Seatrout Site Tested CB_02_15762 U.S. Hwy 17/SR 25 Satilla River Basin Recommendations Chemical No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Cumberland Sound Species Shrimp Site Tested Multiple St. Mary's Basin Recommendations Chemical No Restrictions 40 SPECIAL LISTINGS Turtle River System: Purvis & Gibson Creeks (St. Simons Estuary) Satilla River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Atlantic Croaker Do Not Eat PCBs Black Drum 1 meal/week PCBs Blue Crab 1 meal/week Mercury Red Drum 1 meal/week PCBs Sheepshead 1 meal/week Mercury Shrimp Purvis & No Restrictions Silver Hake Southern Flounder Southern Kingfish (whiting) Gibson Creeks 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Do Not Eat Mercury PCBs Mercury, PCBs Spot 1 meal/month PCBs Spotted Seatrout 1 meal/month Mercury, PCBs Striped Mullet Do Not Eat PCBs Clams, Mussels, Oysters Not applicable Do Not Eat Harvesting Prohibited * * Shellfish Harvesting Prohibited : National Shellfish Sanitation Program. For infor- mation see Coastal Resources Division website: https://coastalgadnr.org Turtle River System: Upper Turtle & Buffalo Rivers (St. Simons Estuary) Satilla River Basin Species Atlantic Croaker Site Tested Recommendation 1 meal/month Chemical PCBs Black Drum No Restrictions Blue Crab 1 meal/week Mercury Red Drum Sheepshead Shrimp Southern Flounder Southern Kingfish (whiting) Spot Spotted Seatrout Turtle and Buffalo Rivers, Upriver of Georgia Hwy 303 1 meal/week 1 meal/week No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week Do Not Eat 1 meal/week Mercury Mercury, PCBs Mercury, PCBs PCBs, Thallium Mercury Striped Mullet 1 meal/month PCBs Clams, Mussels, Oysters Not applicable Do Not Eat Harvesting Prohibited * * Shellfish Harvesting Prohibited : National Shellfish Sanitation Program. For information see Coastal Resources Division website: https://coastalgadnr.org 41 Turtle River System: Middle Turtle River (St. Simons Estuary) Satilla River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Atlantic Croaker 1 meal/month PCBs Black Drum 1 meal/week PCBs Blue Crab 1 meal/week Mercury Blue Fish Do Not Eat Thallium Red Drum 1 meal/week Mercury Sheepshead Shrimp Southern Flounder Southern Kingfish (whiting) State Hwy 303 to Channel Marker 9 1 meal/week No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/month Mercury, PCBs PCBs Spot 1 meal/month PCBs Spotted Seatrout 1 meal/week Mercury, PCBs Striped Mullet 1 meal/month PCBs Clams, Mussels, Oysters Not applicable Do Not Eat Harvesting Prohibited * * Shellfish Harvesting Prohibited : National Shellfish Sanitation Program. For infor- mation see Coastal Resources Division website: https://coastalgadnr.org Turtle River System: Lower Turtle & South Brunswick Rivers (St. Simons Estuary) Satilla River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Atlantic Croaker 1 meal/week PCBs Black Drum No Restrictions Blue Crab No Restrictions Red Drum No Restrictions Sheepshead 1 meal/week Mercury, PCBs Shrimp No Restrictions Silver Hake Silver Perch (Yellowtail) State Hwy 303 to Channel Marker 9 1 meal/week 1 meal/week PCBs Mercury Southern Flounder Southern Kingfish (whiting) No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury, PCBs Spot 1 meal/week PCBs Spotted Seatrout 1 meal/week Mercury Striped Mullet 1 meal/week PCBs Clams, Mussels, Oysters Not applicable Do Not Eat Harvesting Prohibited * * Shellfish Harvesting Prohibited : National Shellfish Sanitation Program. For information see Coastal Resources Division website: https://coastalgadnr.org 42 St. Simons Estuary: Satilla River Basin Terry & Dupree Creeks & Back River to St. Simons Sound Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Atlantic Croaker No Restrictions Blue Crab No Restrictions Red Drum Shrimp Silver Hake Southern Flounder Terry and Dupree Creeks North of Torras Causeway to Conflu- No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions Spot ence with Back River No Restrictions Spotted Seatrout No Restrictions Striped Mullet No Restrictions Clams, Mussels, Oysters Not applicable Do Not Eat Harvesting Prohibited * * Shellfish Harvesting Prohibited : National Shellfish Sanitation Program. For information see Coastal Resources Division website: https://coastalgadnr.org St. Simons Estuary: Satilla River Basin Terry & Dupree Creeks & Back River to St. Simons Sound Species Black Drum Site Tested Recommendation No Restrictions Chemical Blue Crab No Restrictions Red Drum Shrimp Silver Perch (Yellowtail) Terry Creek South of Torras Causeway to Lanier Basin No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week Mercury Spot 1 meal/month Thallium Spotted Seatrout No Restrictions Striped Mullet No Restrictions Clams, Mussels, Oysters Not applicable Do Not Eat Harvesting Prohibited * * Shellfish Harvesting Prohibited : National Shellfish Sanitation Program. For information see Coastal Resources Division website: https://coastalgadnr.org St. Simons Estuary: Satilla River Basin Terry & Dupree Creeks & Back River to St. Simons Sound Species Site Tested Recommendation Chemical Blue Crab Back River 1 mile above 1 meal/month Thallium Shrimp Terry Creek Confluence No Restrictions Spot with Torras Causeway to No Restrictions Thallium Spotted Seatrout St Simons Sound No Restrictions Clams, Mussels, Oysters Do Not Eat Harvesting Prohibited * * Shellfish Harvesting Prohibited : National Shellfish Sanitation Program. For information see Coastal Resources Division website: https://coastalgadnr.org Academy Creek Satilla River Basin Species Site Tested Recommendations Chemical Blue Crab Academy Creek 43 No Restrictions Atlantic Ocean Species Southern Flounder Spotted Seatrout Summer Flounder Summer Flounder Summer Flounder Summer Flounder Summer Flounder Summer Flounder Location Altamaha Estuary River Altamaha Estuary River DRH Artificial Reef CDH Reef HLHA Reef J Artificial Reef JY Artificial Reef SFC Reef Recommendation No Restrictions No Restrictions 1 meal/week No Restrictions 1 meal/week 1 meal/week 1 meal/week 1 meal/week Chemical Arsenic Arsenic Arsenic Arsenic Arsenic SPECIAL MERCURY GUIDANCE ON KING MACKEREL On March 23, 2000, Georgia joined together with North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida in issuing a joint health advisory for the consumption of large king mackerel caught offshore in the South Atlantic Ocean that have been found to have high mercury concentrations. This advisory was issued to provide guidance on the safe consumption of king mackerel to the general public and sensitive populations such as pregnant women, nursing mothers and young children. It does not prevent fishermen from landing fish larger than 39 inches. Georgia DNR officials began working with the other Southeast States to determine levels of mercury in king mackerel in 1998 after learning that Gulf Coast States initiated a similar program. Each State's findings documented consistent levels of mercury over a range of sizes with high levels found in large king mackerel. This is Georgia's first consumption advisory for ocean waters. The king mackerel is a migratory species with the Atlantic population ranging from South Florida through North Carolina and into the Mid-Atlantic. 44 King Mackerel: Atlantic Ocean Offshore Georgia Coast Atlantic Ocean Size Range (Fork Length = FL) Recommendation 24 to Less than 33 inches 33 to 39 inches (a 33 inch fish weighs approximately 10 pounds) No Restrictions 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 tip of the snout to the fork of the tail. The minimum legal size in Georgia is 24 inches FL, with a maximum daily creel limit of 3 fish per person. Federally permitted commercial fishermen are limited to 3500 pounds per trip, and a minimum size of 24 inches FL. ** One meal portion in this special guidance is 8 ounces or 1/2 pound. King mackerel spawn along the continental shelf of the Atlantic Coast, rapidly growing to approximately 20 inches in length in the first year. Their diet consists almost exclusively of other fish. 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 fish landed are considerably smaller. As a fastgrowing, long-lived top predator, the king mackerel has a propensity for accumulating high levels of mercury. 45 Index A Academy Creek ...............................43 Alapaha River..................................37 Alapahoochee River ........................37 Allatoona Creek ..............................25 Allen Creek Wildlife Management Area, Ponds A and B............................ 17 Altamaha River ...............................22 Altamaha Sound .............................40 Antioch Lake ...................................17 Apalachee River ..............................32 Atlantic Ocean ................................44 B Back River ..................................42-43 Banks Lake ......................................10 Bear Creek Reservoir ......................10 Beaver Creek...................................28 Big Lazer PFA...................................17 Black Shoals Lake (Big Haynes Res/ Randy Poynter Lake) ...................11 Brier Creek .....................................34 Bush Field Airport ..........................18 C Canoochee River ............................33 Carters Lake ....................................11 Cedar Creek (nr Athens) ..................32 Centralhatchee Creek (nr Franklin)..23 Chattahoochee River..................22-24 Chattooga River, NE Georgia ........... 34 Chattooga River, NW Georgia..........25 Chestatee River...............................24 Clarks Hill Lake (Lake Thurmond) ....12 Clayton County Water Authority: Blalock Reservoir ........................ 18 Clayton County Water Authority: Shamrock Reservoir .................... 18 Coleman River.................................35 Conasauga River ........................ 25-26 Coosa River ..................................... 26 Coosawattee River .......................... 27 Cumberland Sound ......................... 40 D Dodge County PFA (Steve Bell Lake) 18 Dupree Creek.................................. 43 E Ebenezer Creek .............................. 35 Etowah River .................................. 27 Evans County PFA ........................... 18 F Flint River .................................. 28-29 Fort Yargo State Park Lake .............. 18 G Gibson Creek .................................. 41 Goat Rock Lake ............................... 12 Gum Creek...................................... 29 H Hamburg Millpond, Hamburg State Park ............................................ 18 Heath Lake (Rocky Mountain PFA ) .19 High Falls Lake ................................13 Horseshoe 4 (Paradise PFA) ............20 Hugh M. Gillis PFA ..........................19 I Ichawaynochaway Creek ................29 J Jackson Lake ...................................13 Jones Creek ....................................27 K Ken Gardens Lake ...........................19 Kinchafoonee Creek........................29 Kolomoki Lake ................................19 L Lake Acworth..................................17 Lake Allatoona................................10 Lake Andrews .................................10 Lake Blackshear ..............................11 Lake Blue Ridge ..............................11 Lake Bobben (Paradise PFA) ...........20 Lake Buncombe ..............................17 46 L Lake Burton.................................... 11 Lake Chatuge ................................. 11 Lake Chehaw (Flint River Res) ........ 16 Lake Harding (Bartletts Ferry)......... 12 Lake Hartwell ............................ 12-13 Lake Juliette ................................... 13 Lake Nottely................................... 14 Lake Oconee .................................. 14 Lake Oliver ..................................... 14 Lake Olmstead ............................... 20 Lake Patrick (Paradise PFA) ............ 20 Lake Rabun .................................... 14 Lake Richard B. Russell.............. 14-15 Lake Rutledge (Hard Labor Ck) ........21 Lake Seed........................................21 Lake Seminole.................................15 Lake Sinclair ....................................15 Lake Sydney Lanier..........................13 Lake Tobesofkee .............................15 Lake Tugalo.....................................15 Lake Varner.....................................15 Lake Walter F. George (Eufaula)......16 Lake Worth (Flint River Reservoir)...16 Laura S Walker Lake........................19 Little Dry Creek ...............................27 Little Ocmulgee State Park Lake ......19 Little River, Lowndes County ...........37 Little Tallapoosa River .....................38 Little Tennessee River .....................38 Lonice C. Barrett Lake (Flat Creek PFA) ............................................. 19 M Margery Lake (Marben PFA)............20 Lake Mayers....................................20 McDuffie PFA ..................................20 Middle Oconee River.......................32 Mill Creek, Whitfield County .......... 27 Muckalee Creek ............................. 29 Mud Creek ......................................24 Mud River (Sapelo Sound)...............40 N Nickajack Creek .............................. 25 Noonday Creek ............................... 27 North Oconee River ........................ 32 O Ochlockonee River.......................... 30 Ocmulgee River ......................... 30-31 Oconee River .................................. 32 Ogeechee River.......................... 33-34 Ohoopee River................................ 22 Okefenokee Swamp........................ 37 Olley Creek ..................................... 25 Oostanaula River ............................ 27 Ossabaw Sound .............................. 39 P Panther Creek ................................ 35 Patsiliga Creek ............................... 29 Proctor Creek (Cobb Co.)................. 28 Proctor Creek (Fulton Co.)............... 25 Purvis Creek.................................... 41 R Reed Bingham State Pk. Lake.......... 21 Rock Creek...................................... 38 S Saint Simon's Sound ....................... 40 Sapelo Sound.................................. 40 Satilla River..................................... 34 Savannah River .......................... 35-36 Savannah River Estuary .................. 39 Sewell Mill Creek ............................ 25 Shepherd Lake (Marben PFA).......... 21 Short Creek..................................... 34 Silver Lake PFA................................ 21 South Brunswick River .................... 41 South River ..................................... 31 Spirit Creek ..................................... 36 Spring Creek ................................... 29 St. Andrews Sound.......................... 40 St Catherines North Newport River & Cay/Peacock Creeks.................... 39 47 S St. Marys River................................37 Stone Mountain Lake ......................21 Suwannee River ..............................38 Swamp Creek ..................................28 T Talking Rock Creek ..........................28 Tallapoosa River..............................38 Tallulah River ..................................36 Terry Creek......................................43 Tribble Mill Lake..............................21 Tributary to Hudson River ...............37 Turtle River System .................... 41-42 Turtle River, Lower..........................42 Turtle River, Middle ........................42 Turtle River, Upper..........................41 U Upatoi Creek ...................................25 W Wassaw Sound................................39 West Point Lake ..............................16 Withlacoochee River .......................38 Y Yellow River ....................................32 Yohola Lake.....................................21 Yonah Lake......................................21 48