LivewellIndiana · St. Joseph County · River
St. Joseph River (Lake Michigan Basin) (St. Joseph)
Is the fish you caught here safe to eat? Below is every consumption advisory on file for St. Joseph River (Lake Michigan Basin), by species and size, in plain English — plus what's legal to keep.
13 species with advisories
What's safe to eat from St. Joseph River (Lake Michigan Basin)
Black Bullhead
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Safe to eat as part of a regular diet. |
| Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 | For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: safe to eat as part of a regular diet. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
Channel Catfish
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Limit to 6 meals per year. |
| Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 | For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to 6 meals per year. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
Common Carp
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Do not eat. |
| 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. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
Largemouth Bass
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Under 16" | 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. |
| Over 16" | 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. |
| All sizes | General population | Limit to one meal per week. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
Northern Hog Sucker
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Limit to one meal per month. |
| 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. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
Northern Pike
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Limit to one meal per week. |
| 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. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
Quillback
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Limit to one meal per month. |
| 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. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
Redhorse
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Limit to 6 meals per year. |
| Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 | For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to 6 meals per year. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
Rock Bass
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Limit to one meal per week. |
| 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. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
Smallmouth Bass
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Limit to one meal per week. |
| 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. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
Sunfish
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Limit to one meal per week. |
| 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. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
Walleye
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Under 22" | General population | Limit to one meal per week. |
| 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. | |
| Over 22" | General population | Limit to one meal per month. |
| 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. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
White Sucker
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Under 22" | General population | Limit to one meal per week. |
| 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. | |
| Over 22" | General population | Limit to one meal per month. |
| 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. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
Is it legal to keep?
These are Indiana'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 | 5 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Smallmouth Bass | 14" min | 5 | 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 | — | 3 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Black Crappie | — | 25 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Channel Catfish | — | 10 | Year-round | Same as open |
Official rules: Indiana — Indiana DNR
Getting on the water
- Boat ramp boat ramp 2.1 mi Directions
- Boat ramp boat ramp 2.6 mi Directions
- Boat ramp boat ramp 3.0 mi Directions
- Boat ramp boat ramp 3.4 mi Directions
- Boat ramp boat ramp 3.5 mi Directions
- Boat ramp boat ramp 3.9 mi Directions
Access points from OpenStreetMap contributors.