LivewellMinnesota · St. Louis County · Lake
St. Louis River Estuary
Is the fish you caught here safe to eat? Below is every consumption advisory on file for St. Louis River Estuary, by species and size, in plain English — plus what's legal to keep.
5 species with advisories · contaminants: Mercury, PCBs
Northeast Minnesota guidance (Cook, Lake and St. Louis counties) applies here
St. Louis River Estuary falls under Minnesota's regional guidance — 50 recommendations covering 24 species, stricter than the statewide rules for several — in addition to anything listed for St. Louis River Estuary below.
Strictest regional rule: Muskellunge — For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: do not eat due to elevated Mercury.
See all Northeast Minnesota guidance (Cook, Lake and St. Louis counties) →
What's safe to eat from St. Louis River Estuary
Black Crappie
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury and PCB. |
| 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. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-23
Common Carp
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury and PCB. |
| 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. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-23
Freshwater Drum
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. |
| 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. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-23
Walleye
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Over 22" | General population | Limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-23
White Crappie
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury and PCB. |
| 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. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-23
How to prepare fish from St. Louis River Estuary
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 Minnesota'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
Getting on the water
- Marina marina 2.2 mi Directions
- Boat ramp boat ramp 2.6 mi Directions
- Boat ramp boat ramp 3.6 mi Directions
- Boat ramp boat ramp 3.6 mi Directions
- Boat ramp boat ramp 4.9 mi Directions
- Boat ramp boat ramp 4.9 mi Directions
Access points from OpenStreetMap contributors.