Eating your catch
Is my catch safe to eat?
Most Missouri fish are good to eat. For a few waters and some big fish, the state suggests eating less — mostly because of mercury or older pollution. The Missouri Fish Advisory (from the Department of Health and Senior Services, with MDC and DNR) lists which fish and waters to limit and how often you can safely eat them.
The mercury catch
Trimming the fish doesn't remove mercury
Mercury is a metal that builds up in fish from the water. A little ends up in a lot of Missouri fish, and big, older predator fish hold the most. You can't see, smell, or taste it.
Trimming the fat and skin helps with some older pollutants, but it does NOT remove mercury — mercury is in the meat itself. For mercury, keep smaller fish, eat more bluegill and crappie than big predator fish (large bass, big catfish, gar), and follow the advisory's serving limits.
Who should be most careful
A little extra care for some folks
Kids and women who are pregnant or nursing should be the most careful.
Check before you cook
Look up your water and fish
The state's advisory is the one place that tells you how often you can safely eat each fish from each water. When in doubt, check it.
Before you fish
Missouri Porch explains; the MDC decides.
Data current for 2026. Last checked against MDC: 2026-06-18. Limits, prices, and special-water rules change — confirm with MDC before you fish.
This is a plain-English summary, not the law. Always check the current MDC regulations before you fish. As MDC says, the regulation summary is NOT a legal document and rules can change during the year.
- Missouri Fish Advisory (DHSS) — how often you can eat each fish
- MDC Fishing
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