LivewellNew York · Onondaga County · Lake
Onondaga Lake
Is the fish you caught here safe to eat? Below is every consumption advisory on file for Onondaga Lake, by species and size, in plain English — plus what's legal to keep.
10 species with advisories · contaminants: Dioxins, Mercury, PCBs, PFOS
New York also has statewide guidance
New York publishes rules that apply to lakes across the state — 66 recommendations covering 21 species — in addition to anything listed for Onondaga Lake below.
Strictest statewide rule: Chain Pickerel — For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat.
What's safe to eat from Onondaga Lake
Brown Bullhead
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury, PCB and PFOS. |
| Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 | For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated Mercury, PCB and PFOS. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
Channel Catfish
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Do not eat due to elevated Dioxin, Mercury, PCB and PFOS. |
| Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 | For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated Dioxin, Mercury, PCB and PFOS. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
Common Carp
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Do not eat due to elevated Dioxin, Mercury, PCB and PFOS. |
| Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 | For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated Dioxin, Mercury, PCB and PFOS. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
Largemouth Bass
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Do not eat due to elevated Mercury, PCB and PFOS. |
| Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 | For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated Mercury, PCB and PFOS. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
Pumpkinseed/sunfish
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury, PCB and PFOS. |
| Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 | For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated Mercury, PCB and PFOS. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
Smallmouth Bass
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Under 15" | General population | Limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury, PCB and PFOS. |
| Over 15" | General population | Do not eat due to elevated Mercury, PCB and PFOS. |
| All sizes | Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 | For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated Mercury, PCB and PFOS. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
Walleye
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Do not eat due to elevated Mercury, PCB and PFOS. |
| Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 | For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated Mercury, PCB and PFOS. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
White Perch
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Do not eat due to elevated Dioxin, Mercury, PCB and PFOS. |
| Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 | For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated Dioxin, Mercury, PCB and PFOS. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
Yellow Perch
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Limit to one meal per month due to elevated Dioxin, Mercury, PCB and PFOS. |
| Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 | For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated Dioxin, Mercury, PCB and PFOS. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
All Other Species
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Limit to one meal per month due to elevated Dioxin, Mercury, PCB and PFOS. |
| Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 | For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated Dioxin, Mercury, PCB and PFOS. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
How to prepare fish from Onondaga Lake
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.
Dioxins
- 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 New York'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 | 15" min | 5 | Year-round | 05-03 – 03-15 |
| Largemouth Bass | 12" min | 5 | 12-01 – 11-30 | 06-21 – 11-30 |
| Smallmouth Bass | 12" min | 5 | Year-round | 06-21 – 11-30 |
| Northern Pike | 22" min | 5 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Muskellunge | 40" min | 1 | Year-round | 05-24 – 03-15 |
| Chain Pickerel | 15" min | 5 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Yellow Perch | — | 50 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Black Crappie | — | 25 | Year-round | Same as open |
Official rules: New York — New York DEC
Getting on the water
- Boat ramp boat ramp 1.4 mi Directions
- Onondaga Lake Access fishing 1.4 mi Directions
- Onondaga Lake Park Boat Launch canoe launch 2.7 mi Directions
- Onondaga Lake Park Marina marina 2.8 mi Directions
Access points from OpenStreetMap contributors.