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Fish consumption advisories

Minnesota

Minnesota publishes advisories for 478 waters, covering 2884 species-and-size recommendations.

Contaminants of concern: Mercury, PCBs, PFOS

Statewide advisory

These apply across Minnesota, including waters with no specific advisory of their own.

  • All Other Species General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide MN guidance
  • All Other Species Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. Statewide MN guidance
  • Black Bullhead General population Limit to four meals per week. Statewide MN guidance
  • Black Bullhead Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide MN guidance
  • Black Crappie General population Limit to four meals per week. Statewide MN guidance
  • Black Crappie Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide MN guidance
  • Bluegill General population Limit to four meals per week. Statewide MN guidance
  • Bluegill Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide MN guidance
  • Brook Trout General population Limit to four meals per week. Statewide MN guidance
  • Brook Trout Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide MN guidance
  • Brown Bullhead General population Limit to four meals per week. Statewide MN guidance
  • Brown Bullhead Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide MN guidance
  • Brown Trout General population Limit to four meals per week. Statewide MN guidance
  • Brown Trout Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide MN guidance
  • Channel Catfish General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide MN guidance
  • Channel Catfish Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. Statewide MN guidance
  • Cisco General population Limit to four meals per week. Statewide MN guidance
  • Cisco Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide MN guidance
  • Flathead Catfish General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide MN guidance
  • Flathead Catfish Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. Statewide MN guidance
  • Green Sunfish General population Limit to four meals per week. Statewide MN guidance
  • Green Sunfish Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide MN guidance
  • Lake Trout General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide MN guidance
  • Lake Trout Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. Statewide MN guidance
  • Lake Whitefish General population Limit to four meals per week. Statewide MN guidance
  • Lake Whitefish Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide MN guidance
  • Largemouth Bass General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide MN guidance
  • Largemouth Bass Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. Statewide MN guidance
  • Muskellunge General population Limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. Statewide MN guidance
  • Muskellunge Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: do not eat due to elevated Mercury. Statewide MN guidance
  • Northern Pike General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide MN guidance
  • Northern Pike Over 28" Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: do not eat due to elevated Mercury. Statewide MN guidance
  • Northern Pike Under 28" Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. Statewide MN guidance
  • Pumpkinseed General population Limit to four meals per week. Statewide MN guidance
  • Pumpkinseed Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide MN guidance
  • Rainbow Trout General population Limit to four meals per week. Statewide MN guidance
  • Rainbow Trout Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide MN guidance
  • Smallmouth Bass General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide MN guidance
  • Smallmouth Bass Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. Statewide MN guidance
  • Sunfish General population Limit to four meals per week. Statewide MN guidance
  • Sunfish Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide MN guidance
  • Walleye General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide MN guidance
  • Walleye Over 20" Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: do not eat due to elevated Mercury. Statewide MN guidance
  • Walleye Under 20" Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. Statewide MN guidance
  • White Crappie General population Limit to four meals per week. Statewide MN guidance
  • White Crappie Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide MN guidance
  • Yellow Bullhead General population Limit to four meals per week. Statewide MN guidance
  • Yellow Bullhead Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide MN guidance
  • Yellow Perch General population Limit to four meals per week. Statewide MN guidance
  • Yellow Perch Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Statewide MN guidance

Northeast Minnesota guidance (Cook, Lake and St. Louis counties)

These replace the statewide rules above for waters in this region. Each water's own page says which set covers it.

  • All Other Species General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury.
  • All Other Species Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury.
  • Black Bullhead General population Limit to four meals per week.
  • Black Bullhead Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury.
  • Black Crappie General population Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury.
  • Black Crappie Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury.
  • Bluegill General population Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury.
  • Bluegill Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury.
  • Brook Trout General population Limit to four meals per week.
  • Brook Trout Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury.
  • Brown Bullhead General population Limit to four meals per week.
  • Brown Bullhead Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury.
  • Brown Trout General population Limit to four meals per week.
  • Brown Trout Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury.
  • Channel Catfish General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury.
  • Channel Catfish Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury.
  • Cisco General population Limit to four meals per week.
  • Cisco Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury.
  • Flathead Catfish General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury.
  • Flathead Catfish Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury.
  • Green Sunfish General population Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury.
  • Green Sunfish Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury.
  • Lake Trout General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury.
  • Lake Trout Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury.
  • Lake Whitefish General population Limit to four meals per week.
  • Lake Whitefish Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury.
  • Largemouth Bass General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury.
  • Largemouth Bass Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury.
  • Muskellunge General population Limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury.
  • Muskellunge Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: do not eat due to elevated Mercury.
  • Northern Pike General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury.
  • Northern Pike Over 26" Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: do not eat due to elevated Mercury.
  • Northern Pike Under 26" Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury.
  • Pumpkinseed General population Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury.
  • Pumpkinseed Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury.
  • Rainbow Trout General population Limit to four meals per week.
  • Rainbow Trout Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury.
  • Smallmouth Bass General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury.
  • Smallmouth Bass Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury.
  • Sunfish General population Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury.
  • Sunfish Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury.
  • Walleye General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury.
  • Walleye Over 18" Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: do not eat due to elevated Mercury.
  • Walleye Under 18" Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury.
  • White Crappie General population Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury.
  • White Crappie Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury.
  • Yellow Bullhead General population Limit to four meals per week.
  • Yellow Bullhead Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury.
  • Yellow Perch General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury.
  • Yellow Perch Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury.

Waters with advisories in Minnesota

478 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 438

Ponds 3

Reservoirs 19

Rivers 15

Streams 3

Browse Minnesota by county

Every named water in the state, county by county — including the many with no advisory on file.

Minnesota statewide fishing limits

Statewide defaults — specific waters and zones may differ. Verify the current rules before keeping a fish.

SpeciesSizeDaily limitOpen seasonKeep season
Walleye — 6 Year-round Same as open
Sauger — 6 Year-round Same as open
Northern Pike — 10 Year-round Same as open
Muskellunge 54" min 1 06-01 – 12-01 Same as open
Largemouth Bass — 6 Year-round 05-24 – 02-25
Smallmouth Bass — 6 Year-round 05-24 – 02-25
Bluegill — 20 Year-round Same as open
Black Crappie — 10 Year-round Same as open
Yellow Perch — 20 Year-round Same as open
Channel Catfish — 5 Year-round Same as open
Lake Trout — 2 Year-round Same as open

Official rules: Minnesota — Minnesota DNR

Where this comes from

Advisories
Minnesota Department of Health — Fish Consumption Guidelines
Regulations
Minnesota — Minnesota DNR
All sources
Every state's official source