LivewellFish consumption advisories
Iowa
Iowa publishes advisories for 2 waters, covering 12 species-and-size recommendations.
Contaminants of concern: Mercury, PCBs
Statewide advisory
These apply across Iowa, including waters with no specific advisory of their own.
- Black Crappie 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. Iowa statewide mercury advisory
- Bluegill 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. Iowa statewide mercury advisory
- Channel Catfish Under 24" 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. Iowa statewide mercury advisory
- Channel Catfish Over 24" 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. Iowa statewide mercury advisory
- Largemouth Bass Over 13" 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. Iowa statewide mercury advisory
- Muskellunge 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. Iowa statewide mercury advisory
- Spotted Seatrout 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. Iowa statewide mercury advisory
- Walleye Over 19" 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. Iowa statewide mercury advisory
Waters with advisories in Iowa
2 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.
Lakes 1
- McKinley Lake Union
Rivers 1
- Mississippi River Scott
Iowa statewide fishing limits
Statewide defaults — specific waters and zones may differ. Verify the current rules before keeping a fish.
| Species | Size | Daily limit | Open season | Keep season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | — | 5 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Sauger | — | 5 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Largemouth Bass | 15" min | 3 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Smallmouth Bass | 15" min | 3 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Northern Pike | — | 3 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Muskellunge | 40" min | 1 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Channel Catfish | — | 8 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Black Crappie | — | 25 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Bluegill | — | 25 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Yellow Perch | — | 25 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Rainbow Trout | — | 5 | Year-round | Same as open |
| White Bass | — | — | Year-round | Same as open |
Official rules: Iowa — Iowa DNR