LivewellMissouri · River
Missouri River
Is the fish you caught here safe to eat? Below is every consumption advisory on file for Missouri River, by species and size, in plain English — plus what's legal to keep.
5 species with advisories · contaminants: Chlordane, Mercury, PCBs
What's safe to eat from Missouri River
Bigmouth Buffalo
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Limit to one meal per month due to elevated Chlordane, Mercury and PCB. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
Channel Catfish
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Over 17" | General population | Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Chlordane, Mercury and PCB. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
Common Carp
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Over 21" | General population | Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Chlordane, Mercury and PCB. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
Sturgeon Eggs
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Do not eat due to elevated Chlordane, Mercury and PCB. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
White Sturgeon
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Limit to one meal per month due to elevated Chlordane, Mercury and PCB. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
How to prepare fish from Missouri River
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.
Chlordane
- 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.
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 Missouri'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 | 15" min | 6 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Smallmouth Bass | 15" min | 6 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Walleye | 15" min | 4 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Black Crappie | — | 30 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Channel Catfish | — | 10 | Year-round | Same as open |
Official rules: Missouri — Missouri DoC