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New York · East River to Throgs Neck Bridge 2 County · Coastal

East River to Throgs Neck Bridge 2, 3 (Queens, New York, Kings, Bronx) Harlem…

Is the fish you caught here safe to eat? Below is every consumption advisory on file for East River to Throgs Neck Bridge 2, 3 (Queens, New York, Kings, Bronx) Harlem…, by species and size, in plain English — plus what's legal to keep.

14 species with advisories · contaminants: Cadmium, Dioxins, PCBs, PFOS

New York also has statewide guidance

New York publishes rules that apply to coastals across the state — 66 recommendations covering 21 species — in addition to anything listed for East River to Throgs Neck Bridge 2, 3 (Queens, New York, Kings, Bronx) Harlem… below.

Strictest statewide rule: Chain Pickerel — For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat.

See all New York statewide guidance →

What's safe to eat from East River to Throgs Neck Bridge 2, 3 (Queens, New York, Kings, Bronx) Harlem…

American Eel 4

PCBs

SizeWhoGuidance
All sizes General population Do not eat due to elevated PCB.
Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated PCB.

Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22

Atlantic Needlefish

PCBs

SizeWhoGuidance
All sizes General population Limit to one meal per month due to elevated PCB.
Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated PCB.

Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22

Blue Crab Meat

Cadmium PCBs

SizeWhoGuidance
All sizes General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Cadmium and PCB.
Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated Cadmium and PCB.

Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22

Bluefish

PCBs

SizeWhoGuidance
All sizes General population Limit to one meal per month due to elevated PCB.
Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated PCB.

Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22

Channel Catfish

PCBs

SizeWhoGuidance
All sizes General population Do not eat due to elevated PCB.
Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated PCB.

Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22

Common Carp

PCBs

SizeWhoGuidance
All sizes General population Limit to one meal per month due to elevated PCB.
Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated PCB.

Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22

Crab Or Lobster Tomalley And Cooking Liquid 2

Cadmium Dioxins PCBs PFOS

SizeWhoGuidance
All sizes General population Do not eat due to elevated Cadmium, Dioxin, PCB and PFOS.
Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated Cadmium, Dioxin, PCB and PFOS.

Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22

Gizzard Shad

PCBs

SizeWhoGuidance
All sizes General population Do not eat due to elevated PCB.
Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated PCB.

Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22

Goldfish

PCBs

SizeWhoGuidance
All sizes General population Limit to one meal per month due to elevated PCB.
Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated PCB.

Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22

Rainbow Smelt

PCBs

SizeWhoGuidance
All sizes General population Limit to one meal per month due to elevated PCB.
Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated PCB.

Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22

Striped Bass

PCBs

SizeWhoGuidance
All sizes General population Limit to one meal per month due to elevated PCB.
Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated PCB.

Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22

White Catfish

PCBs

SizeWhoGuidance
All sizes General population Do not eat due to elevated PCB.
Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated PCB.

Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22

White Perch

PCBs

SizeWhoGuidance
All sizes General population Limit to one meal per month due to elevated PCB.
Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated PCB.

Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22

All Other Species

PCBs

SizeWhoGuidance
All sizes General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated PCB.
Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated PCB.

Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22

How to prepare fish from East River to Throgs Neck Bridge 2, 3 (Queens, New York, Kings, Bronx) Harlem…

Some contaminants build up in fat and skin, so cleaning and cooking can lower your exposure. Others — mercury and PFAS — are in the muscle itself and trimming does nothing.

Dioxins

  • Skin the fish — most of the contaminant sits in the fat just under the skin.
  • Trim the fatty areas away: the belly flap, the top of the back, and the dark lateral line down each side.
  • Cook on a rack — grill, broil, or bake — so the fat drips off the fillet.
  • Throw the drippings out; don't use them for soup, sauce, or chowder.
  • Choose smaller, younger fish — they've had less time to build it up.

PCBs

  • Skin the fish — most of the contaminant sits in the fat just under the skin.
  • Trim the fatty areas away: the belly flap, the top of the back, and the dark lateral line down each side.
  • Cook on a rack — grill, broil, or bake — so the fat drips off the fillet.
  • Throw the drippings out; don't use them for soup, sauce, or chowder.
  • Choose smaller, younger fish — they've had less time to build it up.

Is it legal to keep?

These are New York's statewide limits — a water-specific rule may override them. Always verify the current regulations before keeping a fish.

SpeciesSizeDaily limitOpen seasonKeep season
Walleye 15" min 5 Year-round 05-03 – 03-15
Largemouth Bass 12" min 5 12-01 – 11-30 06-21 – 11-30
Smallmouth Bass 12" min 5 Year-round 06-21 – 11-30
Northern Pike 22" min 5 Year-round Same as open
Muskellunge 40" min 1 Year-round 05-24 – 03-15
Chain Pickerel 15" min 5 Year-round Same as open
Yellow Perch — 50 Year-round Same as open
Black Crappie — 25 Year-round Same as open

Official rules: New York — New York DEC

Getting on the water

Access points from OpenStreetMap contributors.

About this water

State
New York
County
East River to Throgs Neck Bridge 2
Type
Coastal
Full name
East River to Throgs Neck Bridge 2, 3 (Queens, New York, Kings, Bronx) Harlem River 2, 3 (New York, Bronx) Upper New York Bay, north of Verrazano Narrows Bridge 2, 3 (Kings, New York, Richmond) White perch Up to 1 meal/month DON'T EAT PCBs
Location
40.7582, -73.9657
Advisory source
New York State Dept. of Health — Chemicals in Sportfish and Game