Fish consumption advisories

Vermont

Vermont publishes advisories for 4 waters, covering 38 species-and-size recommendations.

Contaminants of concern: Mercury, PCBs

Statewide advisory

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

Brook Trout General population Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. Vermont statewide mercury advisory
Brook Trout Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Vermont statewide mercury advisory
Brown Bullhead General population Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. Vermont statewide mercury advisory
Brown Bullhead Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Vermont statewide mercury advisory
Brown Trout General population Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. Vermont statewide mercury advisory
Brown Trout Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Vermont statewide mercury advisory
Chain Pickerel General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Vermont statewide mercury advisory
Chain Pickerel 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. Vermont statewide mercury advisory
Lake Trout General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Vermont statewide mercury advisory
Lake Trout 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. Vermont statewide mercury advisory
Largemouth Bass General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Vermont statewide mercury advisory
Largemouth Bass Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. Vermont statewide mercury advisory
Northern Pike General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Vermont statewide mercury advisory
Northern Pike Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. Vermont statewide mercury advisory
Pumpkinseed General population Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. Vermont statewide mercury advisory
Pumpkinseed Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Vermont statewide mercury advisory
Rainbow Trout General population Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. Vermont statewide mercury advisory
Rainbow Trout Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Vermont statewide mercury advisory
Smallmouth Bass Under 16" General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Vermont statewide mercury advisory
Smallmouth Bass Over 16" General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Vermont statewide mercury advisory
Smallmouth Bass Under 16" Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. Vermont statewide mercury advisory
Smallmouth Bass Over 16" 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. Vermont statewide mercury advisory
Walleye General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Vermont statewide mercury advisory
Walleye 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. Vermont statewide mercury advisory
White Perch General population Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. Vermont statewide mercury advisory
White Perch Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Vermont statewide mercury advisory
Yellow Perch Under 10" General population Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. Vermont statewide mercury advisory
Yellow Perch Over 10" General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Vermont statewide mercury advisory
Yellow Perch Under 10" Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Vermont statewide mercury advisory
Yellow Perch Over 10" Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. Vermont statewide mercury advisory

Waters with advisories in Vermont

4 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 1

Lake Champlain

Rivers 3

Vermont statewide fishing limits

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

Species	Size	Daily limit	Open season	Keep season
Brook Trout	—	6	Year-round	04-11 – 10-31
Brown Trout	—	6	Year-round	04-11 – 10-31
Rainbow Trout	—	6	Year-round	04-11 – 10-31
Lake Trout	18" min	2	Year-round	Same as open
Atlantic Salmon	17" min	2	Year-round	Same as open
Walleye	18" min	3	Year-round	05-02 – 03-15
Northern Pike	20" min	5	Year-round	Same as open
Largemouth Bass	10" min	5	Year-round	06-13 – 03-15
Smallmouth Bass	10" min	5	Year-round	06-13 – 03-15
Yellow Perch	—	50	Year-round	Same as open
Black Crappie	8" min	25	Year-round	Same as open
Bluegill	—	50	Year-round	Same as open
Muskellunge	—	0	Year-round	Same as open

Official rules: Vermont — Vermont Fish & Wildlife

Where this comes from

Advisories: Vermont Dept. of Health — Mercury in Fish
Regulations: Vermont — Vermont Fish & Wildlife
All sources: Every state's official source