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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 Sunfish 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

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