Is the fish from the canal in my backyard safe to eat  ?

In south Florida I would say no.  High Mercury levels.  In your area it might be ok.

I think that most experts say you can eat some limited amounts of most freshwater fish in Florida, see:

 

http://myfwc.com/research/saltwater/health/mercury/human-health-advisories/

 

https://dchpexternalapps.doh.state.fl.us/fishadvisory/

 

I do eat a couple of fish (bass and peacocks) per year, but by and large I release most except snakeheads (SH) which I either kill or eat a couple per year. Not much is known about SH, but I read that they grow much faster than LMB so they may be better to eat than LMB which grow slower and accumulate more toxins in their flesh over time.

 

 

 

 

13 hours ago, gnappi said:

I think that most experts say you can eat some limited amounts of most freshwater fish in Florida, see:

 

http://myfwc.com/research/saltwater/health/mercury/human-health-advisories/

 

https://dchpexternalapps.doh.state.fl.us/fishadvisory/

 

I do eat a couple of fish (bass and peacocks) per year, but by and large I release most except snakeheads (SH) which I either kill or eat a couple per year. Not much is known about SH, but I read that they grow much faster than LMB so they may be better to eat than LMB which grow slower and accumulate more toxins in their flesh over time.

 

 

If you smoked one cigarette a day,you might be fine, but why do it!  I do all catch and release in Florida freshwater, would rather eat saltwater fish any day.

13 hours ago, gnappi said: