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Fish consumption advisories

Ohio

Ohio publishes advisories for 204 waters, covering 648 species-and-size recommendations.

Contaminants of concern: Arsenic, DDT, Lead, Mercury, PAHs, PCBs

Statewide advisory

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

  • All Other Species General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Ohio statewide general advisory
  • Bluegill General population Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. Ohio statewide general advisory
  • Flathead Catfish Over 23" General population Limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. Ohio statewide general advisory
  • Green Sunfish General population Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. Ohio statewide general advisory
  • Longear Sunfish General population Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. Ohio statewide general advisory
  • Northern Pike Over 23" General population Limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. Ohio statewide general advisory
  • Orangespotted Sunfish General population Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. Ohio statewide general advisory
  • Pumpkinseed General population Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. Ohio statewide general advisory
  • Redear Sunfish General population Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. Ohio statewide general advisory
  • Spotted Sunfish General population Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. Ohio statewide general advisory
  • Warmouth Sunfish General population Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. Ohio statewide general advisory

Waters with advisories in Ohio

204 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 61

Reservoirs 18

Rivers 125

Browse Ohio by county

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

Ohio statewide fishing limits

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

SpeciesSizeDaily limitOpen seasonKeep season
Largemouth Bass 12" min 5 Year-round Same as open
Smallmouth Bass 12" min 5 Year-round Same as open
Walleye 15" min 6 Year-round Same as open
Muskellunge 30" min 1 Year-round Same as open
Northern Pike — 6 Year-round Same as open
Channel Catfish — 6 Year-round Same as open

Official rules: Ohio — Ohio DNR

Where this comes from

Advisories
Ohio EPA / Ohio Dept. of Health — Ohio Sport Fish Consumption Advisory
Regulations
Ohio — Ohio DNR
All sources
Every state's official source