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Indiana

Fishing

Fishing

Fish Consumption

Is it Safe to Eat Caught Fish?

Eating recreationally caught fish from Indiana waters can be a healthy, tasty part of your diet when you have the proper guidance. Because fish is lean in protein and low in saturated fat, it is a major source of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, selenium, and other vitamins and minerals. Consuming fish maintains heart health, aids in healthy brain function, promotes bone health, and supports fetal development. While fish is a part of a healthy diet, it should be consumed in moderation, as some fish may contain chemicals that could lead to negative health outcomes.

Indiana has developed recommendations for the consumption of recreationally caught fish to help individuals make informed, healthy decisions about eating the fish that they catch. To ensure safe consumption of both wild-caught and commercial fish, refer to the Indiana fish consumption guidelines.

Indiana DNR informational graphic promoting the Fish Consumption Guidelines Interactive Map. The map provides mobile-friendly access to Indiana’s fish consumption guidelines, allowing users to search by address, body of water, or county.
Access Indiana’s Fish Consumption Guidelines Interactive Map to find safe fish consumption recommendations based on address, body of water, or county. This mobile-friendly tool helps anglers make informed choices about eating locally caught fish.

Health Considerations

The Indiana fish consumption guidelines are driven by two primary contaminants: mercury and PCBs. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), which is a chemical in the per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) family, and pesticides are also considered when issuing guidelines.

These contaminants persist in the environment at low levels. While these low levels of contaminants do not pose a health risk in humans from direct contact with bodies of water, they can accumulate in fish tissue over time. Similarly, the contaminants can accumulate in human tissue through the consumption of fish, potentially building to levels that pose a health risk.

Who is Most at Risk?

Anyone can be affected by chemicals found in certain fish; however, those most at risk for harmful health effects include individuals who are/could become pregnant or breastfeeding, and children under the age of 15.

What Should I Catch?

Some fish may contain higher levels of chemicals than others. Panfish and younger, smaller fish are generally less contaminated than larger fish of the same species. Indiana’s fish consumption guidelines are rated on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being “unrestricted consumption” and 5 being “do not eat.”

Where Should I Fish?

Eating fish from lakes and reservoirs is generally less of a concern than eating fish from rivers and streams. You can protect yourself by following recommendations provided in the fish consumption guidelines and fishing in bodies of water that have been tested for environmental contaminants. If a body of water that you are fishing does not have an advisory, or the advisory does not include information on the fish species you plan to eat, follow the Indiana Statewide Safe Eating Guidelines.

How Do I Prepare My Fish?

Fish should be cooked until they are flaky, opaque, and 145°F. To cut your fish, cut away the fat along the back, the fatty area along the side, and the belly fat.

How Much Fish Should I Eat?

A fish meal serving size is about 6 ounces of cooked wild-caught or commercial fish for a 150-pound person. To adjust meal serving size for a heavier or lighter weight person, add or subtract 1 ounce of fish for every 20 pounds of body weight.

Diagram showing the size of a 4 ounce and 8 ounce serving of fish.
Visual guide for estimating fish serving sizes using the palm of a hand. A 4-ounce portion is approximately the size of the palm, while an 8-ounce portion extends beyond it. This method helps anglers and consumers follow healthy fish consumption guidelines.
Consumption Guidelines for eating local fish in Indiana waterways
Eating Local Fish in Indiana Waterways – A guide to safe fish consumption in Indiana, highlighting recommended fish species and size limits for healthy eating. This chart advises that females under 50 and males under 15 can safely eat these fish species once per week from non-listed waters, while others may consume them more frequently. Includes species like largemouth bass, walleye, catfish, crappie, and northern pike, with size restrictions for safer consumption.

Wild Fish Consumption Guidelines Groups

Group

Meal Frequency Categories

1

Unrestricted consumption

2

1 meal per week

3

1 meal per month

4

1 meal every 2 months

5

Do not eat

State Waters Carrying Do-Not-Eat Guidelines for All Species

Water

County

Elliot Ditch

Tippecanoe

Government Ditch

Cass/Miami

Grand Calument River/Indiana Harbor Canal

Lake

Kokomo Creek

Howard County Downstream of the Dam in Highland Park

Little Deer Creek

Cass

Little Sugar Creek/Walnut Fork

Montgomery

Marquette/Grand Calumet/Miller Lagoons

Lake

Salt Creek

Lawrence/Monroe

Treaty Creek*

Wabash

Wea Creek

Tippecanoe

Wildcat Creek

Carroll/Howard County Downstream of the Waterworks Dam #3 in Kokomo through Howard and Carroll counties

Major Lakes & Rivers with Group 4 & 5 Species Guidelines***

Water

County

Species

Size (inches)

Group

Clear Lake

LaPorte

Common Carp

All

5

Largemouth Bass

All

4

East Fork White River*

Daviess/Dubois/Lawrence/Martin/Pike

Buffalo Species

23 - 29

4

29+

5

Hominy Ridge Lake*

Wabash

Largemouth Bass

17+

5**

Lake James Chain (James, Snow, Jimmerson, Big & Little Otter)

Steuben

Northern Pike

All

5**

Lake Michigan*

Lake/LaPorte/Porter

Channel Catfish

26+

4

Common Carp

All

5

Mississinewa River

Randolph

Channel Catfish

All

5

Common Carp

30+

4

Delaware/Grant/Miami/Wabash

Flathead Catfish

29+

4

Muscatatuck River*

Jackson/Scott/Washington

Freshwater Drum

20+

5**

Palestine Lake*

Kosciusko

Common Carp

All

5

St. Joseph River*

St. Joseph (Twin Branch Dam to IN/MI State Line)

Channel Catfish

All

4

Common Carp

All

5

Redhorse Species

All

4

Sugar Creek

Parke County to Wabash River

Flathead Catfish

All

4

Wabash River

Fountain/Parke/Tippecanoe/Vermillion/Warren

Carpsucker Species

All

4

West Fork White River*

Delaware/Hamilton/Madison

Channel Catfish

All

5

Hamilton/ Marion

Channel Catfish

All

4

Marion/Morgan

Buffalo Species

20+

4

Flathead Catfish

25+

4

Lake Michigan Fish Consumption Guidelines

Species

Meal Frequency

Bloater Chubs

One meal per month

Bluegill*

One meal per week

Brown Trout

One meal per month

Channel Catfish*

Up to 26" One meal per month

26"+ One meal every two months

Chinook Salmon

One meal per month

Coho Salmon

One meal per month

Common Carp*

Do Not Eat

Lake Trout

Up to 23" One meal per week

23"–29" One meal per month

29"+ Do Not Eat

Lake Whitefish

One meal per week

Rainbow Smelt

One meal per week

Rainbow Trout

One meal per week

Redhorse Species*

One meal per month

Smallmouth Bass*

One meal per week

Walleye*

One meal per month

White Sucker*

One meal per week

Yellow Perch

One meal per week

Ohio River Fish Consumption Guidelines

Species

Meal Frequency

Black Bass (Largemouth, Smallmouth, Spotted)

One meal per month

Blue Catfish

One meal per week

Channel Catfish

Up to 18" One meal per week

18"+ One meal every two months

Common Carp

One meal per week

Crappie Species

One meal per week

Flathead Catfish

One meal per month

Freshwater Drum

One meal per month

Hybrid Striped Bass

One meal every two months

Sauger

One meal per week

Striped Bass

One meal per month

Sucker Species

One meal per month

Walleye/Saugeye

One meal per month

White Bass

One meal per month