LivewellFish consumption advisories
Kentucky
Kentucky publishes advisories for 8 waters, covering 33 species-and-size recommendations.
Contaminants of concern: Mercury, PCBs
Statewide advisory
These apply across Kentucky, including waters with no specific advisory of their own.
- All Other Species Women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Kentucky statewide mercury advisory
- Black Crappie General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Kentucky statewide mercury advisory
- Black Crappie Women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. Kentucky statewide mercury advisory
- Bluegill General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Kentucky statewide mercury advisory
- Bluegill Women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. Kentucky statewide mercury advisory
- Channel Catfish General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Kentucky statewide mercury advisory
- Channel Catfish Women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. Kentucky statewide mercury advisory
- Common Carp General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Kentucky statewide mercury advisory
- Common Carp Women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. Kentucky statewide mercury advisory
- Largemouth Bass General population Limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. Kentucky statewide mercury advisory
- Largemouth Bass Women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children: limit to 6 meals per year due to elevated Mercury. Kentucky statewide mercury advisory
- Smallmouth Bass General population Limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. Kentucky statewide mercury advisory
- Smallmouth Bass Women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children: limit to 6 meals per year due to elevated Mercury. Kentucky statewide mercury advisory
- Walleye General population Limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. Kentucky statewide mercury advisory
- Walleye Women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children: limit to 6 meals per year due to elevated Mercury. Kentucky statewide mercury advisory
Waters with advisories in Kentucky
8 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 3
Rivers 5
Browse Kentucky by county
Every named water in the state, county by county — including the many with no advisory on file.
- Alexander
- Allen
- Anderson
- Ballard
- Barren
- Bath
- Bell
- Boone
- Boyd
- Boyle
- Bracken
- Breathitt
- Breckinridge
- Bullitt
- Butler
- Caldwell
- Calloway
- Campbell
- Carlisle
- Carroll
- Carter
- Casey
- Christian
- Claiborne
- Clark
- Clay
- Clinton
- Crittenden
- Daviess
- Edmonson
- Elliott
- Estill
- Fayette
- Fleming
- Floyd
- Franklin
- Fulton
- Grant
- Graves
- Grayson
- Green
- Greenup
- Hancock
- Hardin
- Harlan
- Harrison
- Hart
- Henderson
- Henry
- Hickman
- Hopkins
- Jackson
- Jefferson
- Jessamine
- Johnson
- Kenton
- Knott
- Knox
- Larue
- Laurel
- Lawrence
- Lee
- Leslie
- Letcher
- Lewis
- Lincoln
- Livingston
- Logan
- Lyon
- Madison
- Magoffin
- Marion
- Marshall
- Martin
- Mason
- McCracken
- McCreary
- McLean
- Meade
- Mercer
- Metcalfe
- Monroe
- Montgomery
- Morgan
- Muhlenberg
- Nelson
- Nicholas
- Ohio
- Oldham
- Owen
- Pendleton
- Pike
- Powell
- Pulaski
- Robertson
- Rockcastle
- Rowan
- Scott
- Shelby
- Simpson
- Spencer
- Stewart
- Taylor
- Todd
- Trigg
- Union
- Warren
- Washington
- Wayne
- Webster
- Whitley
- Wolfe
- Woodford
Kentucky 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 12" min | 6 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Smallmouth Bass | 12" min | 6 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Walleye | 14" min | 6 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Sauger | 14" min | 6 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Black Crappie | — | 20 | Year-round | Same as open |
| White Crappie | — | 20 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Bluegill | — | — | Year-round | Same as open |
| Channel Catfish | — | — | Year-round | Same as open |
| White Bass | — | 15 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Hybrid Striped Bass | — | 15 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Striped Bass | 15" min | 5 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Muskellunge | 30" min | 1 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Rainbow Trout | — | 8 | Year-round | Same as open |
Official rules: Kentucky — Kentucky Fish & Wildlife