Health Advisories for Eating Caught Fish
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the EPA fish consumption guidance page, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the FDA fish advice page, and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) recommend eating fish weekly as part of a healthy diet.
Iowa DNR biologists have collected tissue samples from thousands of Iowa fish and submitted them for laboratory analyses to monitor for common contaminants. These results show that most fish in Iowa are safe to eat; however, mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) can occur in trace amounts in some Iowa fish.
Mercury levels in Iowa fish are safe for most Iowans, and in most cases are lower than store bought fish. Pregnant women, women wanting to become pregnant, breastfeeding mothers, and children under 12 years of age should monitor their fish consumption to ensure they are selecting fish that are low in mercury.
Advice About Eating Iowa Caught Fish For Women Who Might Become or Are Pregnant or Breastfeeding and Children Ages 0–11 Years |
What is a serving? As a guide, use the palm of your hand.  |
Best Choices Eat 2-3 Servings A Week Smaller than (<) |
Bluegill |
Channel Catfish < 24” |
Common Carp |
Crappie Species (All) |
Flathead Catfish < 18” |
Freshwater Drum < 17” |
Hybrid Striped Bass < 20” |
Largemouth Bass < 13” |
Paddlefish |
Sauger < 15” |
Shovelnose Sturgeon |
Smallmouth Bass < 13” |
Trout Species (All) |
Walleye < 19” |
White Bass < 15” |
Yellow Bass |
Yellow Perch |
All Turtles |
Good Choices Eat 1 Serving A Week Bigger than (>) |
Channel Catfish > 24” |
Flathead Catfish > 18” |
Freshwater Drum > 17” |
Hybrid Striped Bass > 20” |
Largemouth Bass > 13” |
Northern Pike |
Shorthead Redhorse |
Smallmouth Bass > 13” |
Walleye > 19” |
White Bass > 15” |
Choices To Avoid Highest Mercury Levels |
Muskellunge |
For more information, visit the Iowa DNR fish consumption advisory page. |
Tested fish at two locations in Iowa exceeded Iowa’s risk based advisory levels for polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) levels. These advisory levels were set by DHHS based on EPA and FDA guidance. All Iowans should not eat more than 1 meal per week of the fish from these areas:
Species and Size |
River Reach or Lake |
Channel Catfish (all sizes) |
McKinley Lake (Union County) |
Common Carp (greater than 20 inches) |
Mississippi River, Pool 15 at Davenport (Scott County) |
