LivewellIllinois · Alexander County · River
Ohio River
Is the fish you caught here safe to eat? Below is every consumption advisory on file for Ohio River, by species and size, in plain English — plus what's legal to keep.
12 species with advisories · contaminants: Mercury, PCBs
Illinois also has statewide guidance
Illinois publishes rules that apply to rivers across the state — 1 recommendation covering 1 species — in addition to anything listed for Ohio River below.
Strictest statewide rule: All Other Species — For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury.
What's safe to eat from Ohio River
Blue Catfish
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20" | General population | Limit to one meal per week due to elevated PCB. |
| Over 20" | General population | Limit to one meal per month due to elevated PCB. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
Channel Catfish
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Over 15" | General population | Limit to one meal per week due to elevated PCB. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
Common Carp
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Under 22" | General population | Limit to one meal per week due to elevated PCB. |
| Over 22" | General population | Limit to one meal per month due to elevated PCB. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
Flathead Catfish
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. |
| 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 month due to elevated Mercury. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
Freshwater Drum
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Under 14" | General population | Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. |
| Over 14" | General population | Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. |
| 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 month due to elevated Mercury. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
Hybrid Striped Bass
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. |
| 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 month due to elevated Mercury. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
Largemouth Bass
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. |
| 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 month due to elevated Mercury. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
Sauger
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Under 14" | General population | Limit to one meal per week due to elevated PCB. |
| Over 14" | General population | Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. |
| 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 month due to elevated Mercury. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
Striped Bass
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. |
| 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 month due to elevated Mercury. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
Sunfish
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | 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. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
White Bass
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. |
| 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 month due to elevated Mercury. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
White Crappie
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | 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. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
How to prepare fish from Ohio River
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.
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 Illinois's statewide limits — a water-specific rule may override them. Always verify the current regulations before keeping a fish.
| Species | Size | Daily limit | Open season | Keep season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 14" min | 6 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Walleye | 14" min | 6 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Muskellunge | 36" min | 1 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Northern Pike | 24" min | 3 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Black Crappie | — | 25 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Channel Catfish | — | 6 | Year-round | Same as open |
Official rules: Illinois — Illinois DNR
Getting on the water
- Boat ramp boat ramp 0.6 mi Directions
- Boat ramp boat ramp 2.1 mi Directions
- Boat ramp boat ramp 2.1 mi Directions
- Boat ramp boat ramp 2.1 mi Directions
- Boat ramp boat ramp 2.2 mi Directions
- Boat ramp boat ramp 2.2 mi Directions
Access points from OpenStreetMap contributors.