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Is it safe to eat fish from the Susquehanna River?

Author

Daniel Moore

Published Jan 08, 2026

Is it safe to eat fish that you catch out of the Susquehanna River? Yes.

How many fish can you eat out of the Susquehanna River?

Statewide Advisory

That advice is that individuals eat no more than one meal (one-half pound) per week of sport fish caught in the state's waterways.

Are fish safe to eat from the river?

Some sport fish caught in the nation's lakes, rivers, oceans, and estuaries, however, may contain chemicals that could pose health risks if these fish are eaten in large amounts. The purpose of this brochure is not to discourage you from eating fish.

Is Susquehanna River safe?

Some say that the river is a dangerous place for such activities. Others say if you proceed with caution, the Susquehanna is as safe as a backyard swimming pool.

Can you drink Susquehanna River water?

The Susquehanna River may look a little murky but officials say it is safe to drink.

34 related questions found

Where is the deepest part of the Susquehanna River?

River Summary

Maximum discharge along the river was observed at the Susquehanna River At Marietta with a streamflow rate of 180,000 cfs. This is also the deepest point on the Susquehanna River, with a gauge stage of 44.96 ft.

Where can I fish on the Susquehanna River?

Local hot spots include the mouth of the Chenango River, Murphy's Island, Grippen Park, Hiawatha Island, the mouth of Owego Creek, and Baily's Eddy. Catfish can be caught on live or dead baits fished in the deeper holes. Carp can be caught throughout the river.

Is the Susquehanna River safe to swim in 2020?

Monitoring for E coli bacteria at three locations on Harrisburg's riverfront – including just down from outfalls near the Governor's Mansion and State Office Complex – between June 5 and July 31, 2020, exceeded standards for safe swimming or water contact recreation in 20 of 60 samples (33 percent), according to ...

What lives in the Susquehanna River?

The Susquehanna is well-known for its large mass of smallmouth bass. The Susquehanna is also filled with a great deal of walleye, catfish, and smaller panfish. Other fish consisting of musky, northern pike, pickerel, American shad, and much more are found within the bases of the river.

How contaminated is the Susquehanna River?

Capital Region Water in 2020 discharged 584 million gallons of untreated sewage into the Susquehanna River — 41 percent of all the water that entered the system. PennLive has for years reported on the problem of raw sewage being discharged directly into local waterways, including the Susquehanna River.

Can you eat catfish from a river?

Some fish are not suitable to be eaten raw, and catfish is one of them. Wild-caught fish are a particular risk for parasite contaminant if it comes from water that has been polluted by feces or parasites.

What is the least toxic fish to eat?

Farmed freshwater fish such as catfish, barramundi, and trout and bivalves such as oysters and clams are among the best choices available.

What fish is the safest to eat?

What are the best fish to eat for health?

  1. Wild-caught salmon. Share on Pinterest Salmon is a good source of vitamin D and calcium. ...
  2. Tuna. Tuna is generally safe to eat in moderation. ...
  3. Rainbow trout. ...
  4. Pacific halibut. ...
  5. Mackerel. ...
  6. Cod. ...
  7. Sardines. ...
  8. Herring.

Are catfish from the Susquehanna River safe to eat?

Is it safe to eat fish that you catch out of the Susquehanna River? Yes.

Can you eat the fish you catch?

Making informed choices about the fish you eat

However, now that you know that contaminants may be present in your freshly-caught fish, you might wonder if you should avoid eating fish altogether. Not to worry! You can still safely eat the fish you catch - and don't forget that eating fish has many health benefits.

Where is the best fishing on the Susquehanna River?

Probably the best spots to go after Trout on the Susquehanna River include Boiling Springs Run, Curwensville Dam, and Shryock Run. There are plenty of access points to fish from shore, and if you're driving, fishing from bridges is always good.

Are there bull sharks in the Susquehanna River?

Within the Chesapeake Bay, Bull Sharks are most often encountered from the ocean to the mid-bay and within the Potomac River and Tangier Sound, but they have been found all the way up the estuary near the mouth of the Susquehanna River.

Why is the Susquehanna River so shallow?

Geologists believe that the mighty Susquehanna cut through the mountains even as they were forming nearly 300 million years ago. If so, the river predates the Atlantic Ocean. Time, however, has reduced the river to a shallow waterway. Early settlers lamented that the Susquehanna was “a mile wide, a foot deep.”

How dirty is the Susquehanna River?

The Mighty Susquehanna Is Ailing

A water quality report issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in 2020 found that as many as 25,468 miles—30 percent—of Pennsylvania's 85,000 miles of rivers and streams are impaired for various uses.

Why is the Susquehanna River so brown?

It looks more like brown muck than nice clear river water. But experts say the conditions are pretty typical. John Balay with the Susquehanna River Basin Commission says that's because heavy rainfall, sediment gets kicked up.

Is it safe swimming in a lake?

Concerns about currents, pollution and wildlife often deter people from swimming in natural bodies of water, like streams and lakes. Thankfully, it's perfectly safe to swim in most bodies of fresh water.

Are there trout in the Susquehanna River?

Known for amazing small mouth bass fishing, the Susquehanna River supports many other fish like catfish, rainbow trout, large mouth bass, American shad, perch, rock bass, bullheads and many others.

Are there oysters in the Susquehanna River?

"Susquehanna" comes from the Len'api Indian term meaning, "Oyster River." Oyster beds were widespread in the bay near the mouth of the river, where it entered the Chesapeake Bay.

Are there carp in the Susquehanna River?

Carp are one of the best known of all fish and are members of the minnow family. Warm bodies of water with muddy bottoms make ideal habitat for carp and, not surprisingly, our Susquehanna River is home to tens of thousands of them.