LivewellMaryland · River
Potomac River: Mouth to 301
Is the fish you caught here safe to eat? Below is every consumption advisory on file for Potomac River: Mouth to 301, by species and size, in plain English — plus what's legal to keep.
5 species with advisories · contaminants: PCBs, PFOS
What's safe to eat from Potomac River: Mouth to 301
Blue Catfish
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| 12–15" | General population | Limit to one meal per week due to elevated PCB. |
| Women of childbearing age | For women of childbearing age: limit to one meal per week due to elevated PCB. | |
| Children | For children: limit to one meal per week due to elevated PCB. | |
| 15–24" | General population | Limit to two meals per month due to elevated PCB. |
| Women of childbearing age | For women of childbearing age: limit to two meals per month due to elevated PCB. | |
| Children | For children: limit to one meal per month due to elevated PCB. | |
| 24–30" | General population | Limit to one meal per month due to elevated PCB. |
| Women of childbearing age | For women of childbearing age: limit to one meal per month due to elevated PCB. | |
| Children | For children: limit to 6 meals per year due to elevated PCB. | |
| Over 30" | General population | Do not eat due to elevated PCB. |
| General population | Limit to two meals per month due to elevated PCB. | |
| Women of childbearing age | For women of childbearing age: do not eat due to elevated PCB. | |
| Women of childbearing age | For women of childbearing age: limit to two meals per month due to elevated PCB. | |
| Children | For children: do not eat due to elevated PCB. | |
| Children | For children: limit to one meal per month due to elevated PCB. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
Blue Crab
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Limit to one meal per month due to elevated PCB. |
| General population | Safe to eat as part of a regular diet. | |
| Women of childbearing age | For women of childbearing age: limit to one meal per month due to elevated PCB. | |
| Women of childbearing age | For women of childbearing age: safe to eat as part of a regular diet. | |
| Children | For children: limit to one meal per month due to elevated PCB. | |
| Children | For children: safe to eat as part of a regular diet. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
Spotted Bass
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Limit to one meal per week due to elevated PCB. |
| Women of childbearing age | For women of childbearing age: limit to one meal per week due to elevated PCB. | |
| Children | For children: limit to one meal per week due to elevated PCB. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
Sunfish
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Limit to one meal per month due to elevated PFOS. |
| Women of childbearing age | For women of childbearing age: limit to 6 meals per year due to elevated PFOS. | |
| Children | For children: limit to 6 meals per year due to elevated PFOS. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
White Perch
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Limit to one meal per week due to elevated PCB. |
| Women of childbearing age | For women of childbearing age: limit to one meal per week due to elevated PCB. | |
| Children | For children: limit to one meal per week due to elevated PCB. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
How to prepare fish from Potomac River: Mouth to 301
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 Maryland'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 | 12" min | 5 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Smallmouth Bass | 12" min | 5 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Walleye | 15" min | 5 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Muskellunge | 30" min | 1 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Northern Pike | 24" min | 1 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Black Crappie | 8" min | 15 | Year-round | Same as open |
Official rules: Maryland — Maryland DNR