Mercury and crawdads

[Birdnest]

My neighborhood lake has warnings posted about eating Smallmouth's and Yellow Perch due to mercury levels. The levels are still half of what Uncle Sam says is ok, but what about Crawdads in the same body of water? Even though they are bottom feeders, they are not subject to the same cumulative effect of being a top shelf predator with a long life span. Do they make up for a long life with their feeding habits? I have a feeling that if every lake around a turn of the century logging/mining operation were to be studied the same restrictions would be in place. Am I being paranoid?

I was raised in Texas and have been craving a good cajun fest.

Birdnest

[The Fishing Geek]

Which lake? Being paranoid doesn't necessarily mean that you are wrong for feeling that way.

There's a LOT of great lakes up there, and at least some of them should support a safe population of crawfish for harvest.

[FallRiverGuy]

It is my understanding that once Mercury enters your body it stays. Every little bit accumulates. That is why I choose not to eat any food source from any body of water with high Mercury levels, even if they are below Federal levels. The Feds may just find, as is the case with Arsenic, that the current levels were too high and required lowering.

[Birdnest]

Lake Whatcom is the lake I am refering to. I have been using this lake to break in my motors and get the hang of my boat before heading off into the salt. There are a bunch of smaller lakes that a guy in a canoe or a Don Hill Drifter (like you might find in the classifieds would work just fine. ) Sorry Geek, I just hate to see a guy/gal miss such a great little boat for that price.

Since I do not plan on soley existing on Crawdads, common sense would point towards moderation.

Birdnest