Free Fishing Day in Vermont this weekend — but make sure you don't eat too many of these

The Green Mountain State is holding its annual Free Fishing Day on June 8 this year — so check which fish you might want to scale back on before you take your bait and rod out onto the water.  

Vermont's regular event allows people (resident or not) to fish without a license. People eager to make use of the day can search up spots based on access area, boat size, fish species and more on the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department's website. This event falls in line with other free opportunities happening for the Vermont Days weekend, including:

• Visits to historic sites in the state.
• Admission into state parks. 
• Entry to the Vermont History Museum.

But there are still some fish you'll only want to consume within reason, for this weekend and beyond. 

Avoid eating too many of these Vermont fish 

The state's health department offers a list of fish species and how often they should be eaten per month. The cautionary advice comes from tests conducted on fish from waters in the state.

Information regarding mercury and poly-chlorinated biphenyls (for some of the species) factored into the advisories. 

The restrictions listed are for the general populace and can differ for "women of childbearing age" as well as individuals 6 years old and below. Check the informational page for details on how to stay healthy when consuming fish. 

Eight ounces of fish that is uncooked constitutes a single "fish meal." 

Fish species without restrictions:

• Brown Bullhead Punpkinseed.
• Brook Trout.
• Rainbow Trout.
• White Perch.
• Brown Trout.
• Yellow Perch (smaller than 10 inches).

Fish species with restrictions

• Walleye: Limit to no more than one meal per month. 
• American Eel: Limit to no more than three meals per month.
• Smallmouth Bass: Limit to no more than three meals per month.
• Lake Trout: Limit to no more than three meals per month.
• Chain Pickerel: Limit to no more than three meals per month.
• Northern Pike: Limit to no more than six meals per month.
• Largemouth Bass: Limit to no more than six meals per month.
• Yellow Perch (10 inches and larger)": Limit to no more than six meals per month.

All other fish are limited to no more than nine meals per month.

Changing it up with Vermont fish

In addition to special advisories listed for Vermont fish below, it's also important to factor store-bought fish into your consumption totals for the month. 

Fish from the store (which includes canned) can have a comparable mercury content to what you get from fish you catch yourself. The department offered the following guideline: 

"You can mix and match fish that you catch or buy with the same limits, but once you meet the lowest limit, eat no more fish that month. Do not eat the monthly limit within a single week."Special advisories for Vermont fish

There are special advisories to heed for specific areas, including Lake Champlain and the Hoosic River. Take these into account when you plan future fishing trips.

Remember these are for the general population. 

• Lake Champlain: Lake Trout (larger than 25 inches) — No more than one meal per month. 
• Lake Champlain: Smallmouth Bass (19 inches and larger) — No more than one meal per month.
• Hoosic River: All fish — Zero meals. 
• Deerfield Chain: Including Grout Pond, Harriman Reservoir, Searsburg Reservoir, Sherman Reservoir and Somerset Reservoir.
  • Brown Trout (14 inches and smaller) — No more than three meals per month. 
  • Rainbow Smelt — No more than three meals per month. 
  • Rock Bass — No more than three meals per month. 
  • Rainbow Trout — No more than three meals per month. 
  • Yellow Perch — No more than three meals per month. 
  • Brown Trout (larger than 14 inches) — No more than one meal per month. 
  • Other fish — No more than one meal per month.
• 15 Mile Falls Chain — McIndoes Reservoir, Yellow Perch — No more than six meals per month.
• 15 Mile Falls Chain — McIndoes Reservoir, Other fish — No more than three meals per month.
• 15 Mile Falls Chain — Moore and Comerford Reservoirs, White Sucker — No more than three meals per month.
• 15 Mile Falls Chain — Moore and Comerford Reservoirs, All fish — No more than two meals per month.

Special advisories for Vermont fish without restrictions

• Lake Carmi, Walleye.  
• Lake Champlain, Yellow Perch (smaller than 10 inches). 
• Shelburne Pond, Yellow Perch (smaller than 10 inches). 
• Deerfield Chain — including Grout Pond, Harriman Reservoir, Searsburg Reservoir, Sherman Reservoir and Somerset Reservoir.
  • Brook Trout.
  • Brown Bullhead.

Enjoy the free weekend — and keep in mind how much fish your body can take for the month. 

Contact Maleeha Syed at mzsyed@freepressmedia.com or 802-495-6595. Follow her on Twitter @MaleehaSyed89.