LivewellFish consumption advisories
West Virginia
West Virginia publishes advisories for 11 waters, covering 57 species-and-size recommendations.
Contaminants of concern: Dioxins, Mercury, PCBs, Selenium
Statewide advisory
These apply across West Virginia, including waters with no specific advisory of their own.
- All Other Species General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury and PCB. Statewide
- Black Bass General population Limit to two meals per month due to elevated Mercury and PCB. Statewide
- Channel Catfish Over 17" General population Limit to two meals per month due to elevated Mercury and PCB. Statewide
- Channel Catfish Under 17" General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury and PCB. Statewide
- Flathead Catfish General population Limit to two meals per month due to elevated Mercury and PCB. Statewide
- Hybrid Striped Bass General population Limit to two meals per month due to elevated Mercury and PCB. Statewide
- Rainbow Trout General population Safe to eat as part of a regular diet. Statewide
- Rock Bass General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury and PCB. Statewide
- Sauger General population Limit to two meals per month due to elevated Mercury and PCB. Statewide
- Saugeye General population Limit to two meals per month due to elevated Mercury and PCB. Statewide
- Suckers General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury and PCB. Statewide
- Walleye General population Limit to two meals per month due to elevated Mercury and PCB. Statewide
- White Bass General population Limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury and PCB. Statewide
Waters with advisories in West Virginia
11 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 3
Reservoirs 1
Rivers 7
- Bluestone River
- Hughes River from mouth upstream to North and South forks
- Kanawha River - Downstream of I-64 bridge in Dunbar down to Winfield Lock and Dam including all backwaters, Armour Creek, Heizer Creek, Manila Creek, lower two miles Pocatalico River, Coal River mouth to Lower Falls
- Little Kanawha from mouth upstream to Wells Lock
- Ohio River Segment - Belleville Lock to the Kentucky Border (Jackson, Mason, Cabell, and Wayne counties)
- Ohio River Segment - Pennsylvania Border (East Liverpool) to Belleville Lock (Brooke, Hancock, Marshall, Ohio, Pleasants, Tyler, Wetzel and Wood counties)
- Shenandoah River
West Virginia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 12" min | 6 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Smallmouth Bass | 12" min | 6 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Walleye | 15" min | 8 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Muskellunge | 30" min | 2 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Inland Trout | — | 6 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Channel Catfish | — | 4 | Year-round | Same as open |
Official rules: West Virginia — West Virginia DNR