🐟 Let's Go Fishin'

Reade Hubert
Jan 13
2 min read

Imagine sitting with a friend at an elegant table at your favorite upscale restaurant. Your eyes begin to scan the seafood section when your waiter returns.

"Would you like to hear about tonight's special?" he asks.

You and your friend nod.

"Our award winning chef has prepared a special bonefish entrée cooked in a delicate cream sauce," he shares.

Both of you agree that it sounds delicious, and you decide to try it.

"Very good," your waiter responds. "We have a few options to choose from. Would you like bone fish with antidepressants, opioid pain relievers, or blood thinners?"

"I've been feeling depressed lately," you reveal, "so I'll take the fish with the antidepressants."

"Excellent choice," your waiter responds. Turning to your friend, he asks, "And for you?"

"Strokes run in my family, so I probably should have the one with blood thinners." (Hubert)

🧠 Why This Matters for Your Health

Fish are nutritious — rich in lean protein and omega-3 fatty acids. But some chemicals stick around in water and fish tissue long after they’re released into the environment. Two of the biggest concerns in Michigan fish are:

⚠️ Mercury

A heavy metal that can damage the brain and nervous system, especially in children and developing babies.
Mercury accumulates up the food chain: bigger, older predators tend to have more.

💥 PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances)

A group of human-made chemicals that resist breaking down in the environment and the body.
PFAS — including PFOS — are linked with immune, developmental, and other health issues.
Michigan’s Eat Safe Fish Guides now include advisories related to PFAS levels in fish across water bodies.

❗ You can’t smell, see, or taste these contaminants in fish

We aren’t just dealing with mercury and PFAS—we also have to consider the growing impact of prescription drugs that pass through our bodies and end up in the environment. To grasp the seriousness of this issue and its potential consequences, listen to Environmental Prescriptionism by Dr. Hubert.

🐠 Fish Species: What to Watch Out For

The guide includes regional specifics, but here are common patterns from statewide data (Michigan Department of Health and Human Services):

🛑 Fish Often Limited or with Restrictions

Walleye — Mercury levels rise with size
Northern Pike — Larger fish frequently limited or do not eat
Largemouth/Smallmouth Bass — Mercury can be high in older/larger fish
Catfish — Can have mercury and PCBs at concerning levels
Brown Trout & Burbot — May contain dioxins or PCBs along with mercury

✅ Fish Often Safer in Moderation

Bluegill & Sunfish — Generally good choices with more servings
Yellow Perch & Suckers — Often acceptable in small to moderate amounts
Smaller Panfish — Tend to have lower contaminants if harvested young/small

❗ Pro Tip: Larger and longer-lived fish usually accumulate more mercury and PFAS because these chemicals build in tissues over years. Camera over consumption might be better.

Remember it's better to have an AHA moment than an OH NO moment.

Resource:

Hubert, R. L. (2024, p 27). 4Ts to a Better You: A Blueprint for Identifying and Addressing the Four Causes of Sickness. Avocet Books. ISBN 9781963678048.

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Eat Safe Fish Guides. Michigan.gov. Retrieved January 12, 2026, from https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/safety-injury-prev/environmental-health/topics/eatsafefish/guides