The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued Fish Consumption Advisories for 2022. The Advisories identify types of fish or other aquatic animals that should be eaten in limited quantities or, in some cases, avoided altogether, because of contamination.
They recommend limited consumption of bottom feeding fish, such as sturgeon and flathead catfish caught on the Kansas River from the Bowersocks Dam in Lawrence to Eudora and the Little Arkansas River from Valley Center to Wichita due to contamination from PCB’s. They recommend not eating bottom feeders and catfish from the Arkansas River in Wichita to Bell Plaine at all, due to PCB’s. No fish are to be eaten from the Antioch Park Lake South Due to contamination of multiple pesticides.
The KDHE says when you fish, keep the smaller fish to eat and let the big ones go. Avoid eating parts other than filets and be sure to trim the fat. You can get a complete list of other tips on catching and eating fish in Kansas at the KDHE website and facebook page
