Anglers cannot visually distinguish contaminated fish from those that are safe to eat because polluted fish swim, feel, and taste the same as unpolluted fish. The best solution for reducing your exposure to contaminants is to contact the appropriate state agency responsible for issuing fish advisory information. Besides tasting better, younger, smaller fish are less contaminated than older, larger fish. Eat less-contaminated fish. Substitute a few panfish meals for the walleye or northern pike you might otherwise eat.
Contaminants buildup in large predatory fish far more than in panfish.
Eat smaller meals of big fish. Freeze part of your catch to space the meals out over time. This gives your body time to eliminate mercury. Clean and cook your fish to remove contaminants. PCBs and dioxin concentrate in fatty tissues.