Statewide Fish Advice

The Statewide Advice, which applies to most New York State freshwaters, is now more protective. It has changed from eating up to four meals a month of any fish to different advice for each fish species (previously the “general advisory”).

  • This change is based on new data analysis, the most recent information on mercury toxicity, and guidance from data from the Environmental Protection Agency and neighboring states. It is not because mercury levels in fish have increased. Mercury has been in the New York State environment and in fish for many years.
  • Popular fish such as trout, yellow perch, sunfish, crappie, and smaller walleye are still great choices for eating. However, people should eat less freshwater drum, white perch, and larger walleye, and smallmouth bass.
  • When following the Statewide Advice, eat mostly Best and Good Choice species.

To check if your water has specific advice, use the search by county feature or use the alphabetical list or waters.
If your water or fish does not have a specific advisory, follow the Statewide Advice below for waters outside of the Adirondack and Catskill Regions.

Image of statewide health advice. This advice is available in table format below.

The sensitive population refers to people who may become pregnant (under the age of 50) and children under 15. The general population refers to everyone else.

Statewide advice for waters without specific advice. The sensitive population refers to people who may become pregnant (under the age of 50) and children under 15. The general population refers to everyone else.
Category Fish General Population Advice Sensitive Population Advice
Best Choice Fish Brook trout Up to 4 meals/month Up to 4 meals/month
Brown trout less than 20 inches Up to 4 meals/month Up to 4 meals/month
Rainbow trout Up to 4 meals/month Up to 4 meals/month
Bluegill Up to 4 meals/month Up to 4 meals/month
Pumpkinseed/sunfish Up to 4 meals/month Up to 4 meals/month
White sucker Up to 4 meals/month Up to 4 meals/month
Yellow perch less than 10 inches Up to 4 meals/month Up to 4 meals/month
Good Choice Fish Black crappie Up to 4 meals/month Up to 1 meal/month
Brown trout greater than 20 inches Up to 4 meals/month Up to 1 meal/month
Bullhead Up to 4 meals/month Up to 1 meal/month
Chain pickerel less than 20 inches Up to 4 meals/month Up to 1 meal/month
Carp Up to 4 meals/month Up to 1 meal/month
Lake trout Up to 4 meals/month Up to 1 meal/month
Largemouth bass less than 15 inches Up to 4 meals/month Up to 1 meal/month
Northern pike less than 26 inches Up to 4 meals/month Up to 1 meal/month
Rock bass Up to 4 meals/month Up to 1 meal/month
Walleye less than 19 inches Up to 4 meals/month Up to 1 meal/month
Yellow perch greater than 10 inches Up to 4 meals/month Up to 1 meal/month
Any other fish not listed in this table Up to 4 meals/month Up to 1 meal/month
Eat less Chain pickerel greater than 20 inches Up to 1 meal/month Up to 1 meal/month
Channel catfish Up to 1 meal/month Up to 1 meal/month
Freshwater drum Up to 1 meal/month Up to 1 meal/month
Largemouth bass greater than 15 inches Up to 1 meal/month Up to 1 meal/month
Smallmouth bass less than 15 inches Up to 1 meal/month Up to 1 meal/month
White perch Up to 1 meal/month Up to 1 meal/month
Avoid Northern pike greater than 26 inches Up to 1 meal/month DON'T EAT
Smallmouth bass greater than 15 inches Up to 1 meal/month DON'T EAT
Walleye greater than 19 inches Up to 1 meal/month DON'T EAT
Image showing a map of New York State fish advisory regions. The Adirondack Region includes Essex, Warren, Hamilton, and Fulton counties and parts of Clinton, Franklin, St. Lawrence, Herkimer, Saratoga, and Lewis counties. The Catskill Region includes parts of Greene, Ulster, Delaware, and Sullivan counties. The New York City and Marine Waters region includes the five New York City boroughs and advice for all marine waters. For waters without specific advisories in all other counties, follow the statewide advice.