Livewell

Fish consumption advisories

California

California publishes advisories for 155 waters, covering 1660 species-and-size recommendations.

Contaminants of concern: DDT, DIELDRIN, Mercury, PBDE, PCBs, Selenium

Statewide advisory

These apply across California, including waters with no specific advisory of their own.

  • American Shad General population Limit to four meals per week. Advisory for Fish that Migrate
  • American Shad Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. Advisory for Fish that Migrate
  • Bass, Black General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California's Lakes and Reservoirs without Site?specific Advice
  • Bass, Black General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Rivers, Streams, and Creeks without Site-Specific Advice
  • Bass, Black 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 Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California's Lakes and Reservoirs without Site?specific Advice
  • Bass, Black 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 Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Rivers, Streams, and Creeks without Site-Specific Advice
  • Bass, Striped General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury and PCB. Advisory for Fish that Migrate
  • Bass, Striped General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California's Lakes and Reservoirs without Site?specific Advice
  • Bass, Striped 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 Mercury and PCB. Advisory for Fish that Migrate
  • Bass, Striped 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 Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California's Lakes and Reservoirs without Site?specific Advice
  • Brown Trout General population Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Rivers, Streams, and Creeks without Site-Specific Advice
  • Brown Trout Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Rivers, Streams, and Creeks without Site-Specific Advice
  • Bullhead Species General population Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California's Lakes and Reservoirs without Site?specific Advice
  • Bullhead Species General population Limit to three meals per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Rivers, Streams, and Creeks without Site-Specific Advice
  • Bullhead Species Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California's Lakes and Reservoirs without Site?specific Advice
  • Bullhead Species Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Rivers, Streams, and Creeks without Site-Specific Advice
  • Cabezon General population Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Coastal Locations without Site-Specific Advice
  • Cabezon Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Coastal Locations without Site-Specific Advice
  • California Corbina General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated PCB. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Coastal Locations without Site-Specific Advice
  • California Corbina Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per week due to elevated PCB. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Coastal Locations without Site-Specific Advice
  • Catfish Species General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury and PCB. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California's Lakes and Reservoirs without Site?specific Advice
  • Catfish Species General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury and PCB. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Rivers, Streams, and Creeks without Site-Specific Advice
  • Catfish Species 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 Mercury and PCB. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California's Lakes and Reservoirs without Site?specific Advice
  • Catfish Species 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 Mercury and PCB. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Rivers, Streams, and Creeks without Site-Specific Advice
  • Common Carp General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury and PCB. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California's Lakes and Reservoirs without Site?specific Advice
  • Common Carp General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Rivers, Streams, and Creeks without Site-Specific Advice
  • Common Carp 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 Mercury and PCB. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California's Lakes and Reservoirs without Site?specific Advice
  • Common Carp 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 Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Rivers, Streams, and Creeks without Site-Specific Advice
  • Crappie Species General population Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California's Lakes and Reservoirs without Site?specific Advice
  • Crappie Species Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California's Lakes and Reservoirs without Site?specific Advice
  • Croaker Species: White, Yellowfin, Queenfish General population Limit to four meals per week. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Coastal Locations without Site-Specific Advice
  • Croaker Species: White, Yellowfin, Queenfish Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Coastal Locations without Site-Specific Advice
  • Goldfish General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury and PCB. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California's Lakes and Reservoirs without Site?specific Advice
  • Goldfish General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Rivers, Streams, and Creeks without Site-Specific Advice
  • Goldfish 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 Mercury and PCB. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California's Lakes and Reservoirs without Site?specific Advice
  • Goldfish 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 Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Rivers, Streams, and Creeks without Site-Specific Advice
  • Inland Silverside General population Limit to four meals per week. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California's Lakes and Reservoirs without Site?specific Advice
  • Inland Silverside Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California's Lakes and Reservoirs without Site?specific Advice
  • Lingcod General population Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Coastal Locations without Site-Specific Advice
  • Lingcod Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Coastal Locations without Site-Specific Advice
  • Rainbow Trout General population Limit to three meals per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Rivers, Streams, and Creeks without Site-Specific Advice
  • Rainbow Trout Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Rivers, Streams, and Creeks without Site-Specific Advice
  • Red Shiner General population Limit to four meals per week. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Rivers, Streams, and Creeks without Site-Specific Advice
  • Red Shiner Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Rivers, Streams, and Creeks without Site-Specific Advice
  • Rockfish: Black And Yellow, China, Copper, Gopher General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Coastal Locations without Site-Specific Advice
  • Rockfish: Black And Yellow, China, Copper, Gopher 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 Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Coastal Locations without Site-Specific Advice
  • Rockfish: Black, Blue, Brown, Kelp, Olive, Rosethorn, Vermillion General population Limit to four meals per week. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Coastal Locations without Site-Specific Advice
  • Rockfish: Black, Blue, Brown, Kelp, Olive, Rosethorn, Vermillion Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Coastal Locations without Site-Specific Advice
  • Sacramento Pikeminnow General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Rivers, Streams, and Creeks without Site-Specific Advice
  • Sacramento Pikeminnow 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 Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Rivers, Streams, and Creeks without Site-Specific Advice
  • Sacramento Pikeminnow 16 Inches Or Less General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California's Lakes and Reservoirs without Site?specific Advice
  • Sacramento Pikeminnow 16 Inches Or Less 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 Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California's Lakes and Reservoirs without Site?specific Advice
  • Sacramento Pikeminnow > 16 Inches General population Do not eat due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California's Lakes and Reservoirs without Site?specific Advice
  • Sacramento Pikeminnow > 16 Inches 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 Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California's Lakes and Reservoirs without Site?specific Advice
  • Sacramento Sucker General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California's Lakes and Reservoirs without Site?specific Advice
  • Sacramento Sucker General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury and PCB. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Rivers, Streams, and Creeks without Site-Specific Advice
  • Sacramento Sucker 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 Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California's Lakes and Reservoirs without Site?specific Advice
  • Sacramento Sucker 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 Mercury and PCB. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Rivers, Streams, and Creeks without Site-Specific Advice
  • Salmon, Chinook General population Limit to four meals per week. Advisory for Fish that Migrate
  • Salmon, Chinook Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury and PCB. Advisory for Fish that Migrate
  • Sea Bass Species: Barred Sand Bass, Kelp Bass General population Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Coastal Locations without Site-Specific Advice
  • Sea Bass Species: Barred Sand Bass, Kelp Bass Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Coastal Locations without Site-Specific Advice
  • Shark Species General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Coastal Locations without Site-Specific Advice
  • Shark Species 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 Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Coastal Locations without Site-Specific Advice
  • Small Flatfish Species: Diamond Turbot, Longfin Sanddab, Speckled Sanddab, Spotted Turbot General population Limit to four meals per week. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Coastal Locations without Site-Specific Advice
  • Small Flatfish Species: Diamond Turbot, Longfin Sanddab, Speckled Sanddab, Spotted Turbot Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to four meals per week. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Coastal Locations without Site-Specific Advice
  • Sunfish Species General population Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California's Lakes and Reservoirs without Site?specific Advice
  • Sunfish Species General population Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Rivers, Streams, and Creeks without Site-Specific Advice
  • Sunfish Species Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California's Lakes and Reservoirs without Site?specific Advice
  • Sunfish Species Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Rivers, Streams, and Creeks without Site-Specific Advice
  • Surfperch Species: Barred, Black, Pile, Rainbow, Spotfin, White General population Limit to four meals per week. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Coastal Locations without Site-Specific Advice
  • Surfperch Species: Barred, Black, Pile, Rainbow, Spotfin, White Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Coastal Locations without Site-Specific Advice
  • Surfperch Species: Shiner, Silver, Walleye General population Limit to two meals per week due to elevated PCB. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Coastal Locations without Site-Specific Advice
  • Surfperch Species: Shiner, Silver, Walleye Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to two meals per week due to elevated PCB. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Coastal Locations without Site-Specific Advice
  • Threadfin Shad General population Limit to four meals per week. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California's Lakes and Reservoirs without Site?specific Advice
  • Threadfin Shad Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California's Lakes and Reservoirs without Site?specific Advice
  • Topsmelt General population Limit to four meals per week. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Coastal Locations without Site-Specific Advice
  • Topsmelt Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California Coastal Locations without Site-Specific Advice
  • Trout, Brown 16in Or Less General population Limit to three meals per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California's Lakes and Reservoirs without Site?specific Advice
  • Trout, Brown 16in Or Less Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California's Lakes and Reservoirs without Site?specific Advice
  • Trout, Brown > 16in General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California's Lakes and Reservoirs without Site?specific Advice
  • Trout, Brown > 16in 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 Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California's Lakes and Reservoirs without Site?specific Advice
  • Trout, Rainbow General population Limit to four meals per week. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California's Lakes and Reservoirs without Site?specific Advice
  • Trout, Rainbow Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide Advisory for Eating Fish from California's Lakes and Reservoirs without Site?specific Advice
  • Trout, Steelhead General population Limit to four meals per week. Advisory for Fish that Migrate
  • Trout, Steelhead Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. Advisory for Fish that Migrate
  • White Sturgeon General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury and PCB. Advisory for Fish that Migrate
  • White Sturgeon 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 Mercury and PCB. Advisory for Fish that Migrate

Waters with advisories in California

155 waters on file. A water not listed here has no advisory in the state's data — which usually means it has never been sampled, not that it's been cleared.

Coastals 12

Lakes 87

Ponds 1

Reservoirs 31

Rivers 24

California statewide fishing limits

Statewide defaults — specific waters and zones may differ. Verify the current rules before keeping a fish.

SpeciesSizeDaily limitOpen seasonKeep season
Largemouth Bass 5 Year-round Same as open
Smallmouth Bass 5 Year-round Same as open
Striped Bass 18" min 2 Year-round Same as open
Rainbow Trout 5 Year-round Same as open
Black Crappie 25 Year-round Same as open
Channel Catfish 10 Year-round Same as open

Official rules: California — California DFW

Where this comes from

Advisories
California OEHHA — Fish Consumption Advisories
Regulations
California — California DFW
All sources
Every state's official source