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A fishery survey conducted in 2024 sampled good numbers of 10- to 14-inch bass and 7- to 7.5-inch bluegill. No bass over 15 inches and no bluegill over 8 inches were sampled during this survey. Average Wr of bluegill was 113, suggesting that the bluegill are growing and time of year and gear may be why no large bluegill were observed. (2024)
In nearly all cases, Iowa fish are safe to eat. Cleaning and/or preparing the meal causes most of the problems regarding taste or color of fish. Like all living creatures, fish are susceptible to diseases, parasites, and other naturally occurring conditions in the water. If you suspect your fish is affected by any of these conditions, do not eat it. Consider eating smaller and younger fish which usually have lower levels of contaminants than larger ones. Most contaminants accumulate in larger, older fish. For additional information, check out our resources for eating and cooking Iowa caught fish.
To learn more about fish tissue monitoring, visit our Fish Tissue Monitoring page .