Endangered Fish of Indiana
The 11 fish the Indiana guide protects, and the species that may never be held alive.
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The 11 fish Indiana lists as state endangered
The 2026-2027 Indiana guide names 11 fish as endangered: bantam sunfish, channel darter, cisco, gilt darter, greater redhorse, hoosier cavefish, lake sturgeon, pallid shiner, redside dace, variegate darter and western sand darter. None of them may be taken or kept, whichever lake, river or Lake Michigan harbor they turn up in.
They range from a Lake Michigan whitefish relative (cisco) and the lake sturgeon to darters and shiners an inch or two long that a bait seine could pick up by accident, so a minnow bucket from a creek deserves a second look before it goes in the livewell.
The following fish species are classified as endangered in Indiana: cisco, bantam sunfish, Hoosier cavefish (formerly Northern cavefish), channel darter, gilt darter, greater redhorse, lake sturgeon (see section below with tips for identifying lake sturgeon), Western sand darter, pallid shiner, redside dace, and variegate darter. It is illegal to take or possess these fish at any time. Most of these species are small and would not be caught while angling. If these fish are captured, immediately return them unharmed to the water in which they were found. Learn the difference between endangered lake sturgeon and shovelnose sturgeon in Indiana. This Indiana DNR guide explains identification features, size limits, habitat range, and fishing regulations to help anglers protect native fish species.
Statewide limits as printed, 2026-2027 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide (eRegulations, linked from the Indiana DNR), read November 5, 2026.
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| Fish | Scientific name | Family | Status as printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bantam Sunfish | Lepomis symmetricus | Centrarchidae (sunfishes) | State Endangered |
| Channel Darter | Percina copelandi | Percidae (perches and darters) | State Endangered |
| Cisco | Coregonus artedi | Salmonidae (trouts and salmons) | State Endangered |
| Gilt Darter | Percina evides | Percidae (perches and darters) | State Endangered |
| Greater Redhorse | Moxostoma valenciennesi | Catostomidae (suckers) | State Endangered |
| Hoosier Cavefish | Amblyopsis hoosieri | Amblyopsidae (cavefishes) | State Endangered |
| Lake Sturgeon | Acipenser fulvescens | Acipenseridae (sturgeons) | State Endangered |
| Pallid Shiner | Hybopsis amnis | Leuciscidae (minnows) | State Endangered |
| Redside Dace | Clinostomus elongatus | Leuciscidae (minnows) | State Endangered |
| Variegate Darter | Etheostoma variatum | Percidae (perches and darters) | State Endangered |
| Western Sand Darter | Ammocrypta clara | Percidae (perches and darters) | State Endangered |
Indiana DNR Fishes of Indiana list and the 2026-2027 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide, read November 5, 2026.
Indiana endangered fish grouped by family
Fish and mussels Indiana bars from live possession
The guide lists 17 species that may not be possessed alive in Indiana, mostly invasive carp, gobies and mussels: Asiatic clam, bighead carp, black carp, silver carp, quagga mussel, round goby, rudd, ruffe, snakehead, stone moroko, tubenose goby, walking catfish, Wels catfish, white perch (not freshwater drum), zander, golden mussel and zebra mussel.
The following fish and mussels are illegal to possess alive: Asiatic clam, bighead carp, black carp, silver carp, quagga mussel, round goby, rudd, ruffe, snakehead, stone moroko, tubenose goby, walking catfish, Wels catfish, white perch (not freshwater drum), zander, golden mussel, and zebra mussel. If any of these exotic species are taken into possession, they must be killed immediately by either removing their head, removing gills from at least one side of the fish, or gutting. Your cooperation is essential to protect Indiana's native species.
Statewide limits as printed, 2026-2027 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide (eRegulations, linked from the Indiana DNR), read November 5, 2026.
Indiana fish that can be kept, with their own pages
- Atlantic Salmonno statewide row
- Bighead Carpno statewide row
- Black Bullheadno bag limit
- Black Crappie25 a day
- Blue Catfishno bag limit
- Bluegillno bag limit
- Bowfinno statewide row
- Brook Troutno statewide row
- Brown Bullheadno bag limit
- Brown Troutno statewide row
- Burbotno statewide row
- Channel Catfishno bag limit
- Chinook Salmonno statewide row
- Coho Salmonno statewide row
- Common Carpno statewide row
- Flathead Catfishno bag limit
Lake and stream scenes for Endangered Fish of Indiana
Photo: Joseph Gage, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Serge Melki, CC BY 2.0
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Warren LeMay, CC0 1.0
Endangered Indiana fish: reader questions
Which fish are endangered in Indiana?
Bantam Sunfish, Channel Darter, Cisco, Gilt Darter, Greater Redhorse, Hoosier Cavefish, Lake Sturgeon, Pallid Shiner, Redside Dace, Variegate Darter and Western Sand Darter, per the 2026-2027 Indiana guide.
Is it legal to keep a lake sturgeon caught in Indiana?
No. Lake sturgeon is on the Indiana endangered fish list, so it may not be taken; release it.
May an Indiana angler keep a cisco?
No. Cisco is one of the 11 endangered Indiana fish and must be released.
What is the Hoosier cavefish?
One of the 11 endangered Indiana fish, listed as Amblyopsis hoosieri. It may not be taken.
Which fish may not be possessed alive in Indiana?
Asiatic clam, bighead carp, black carp, silver carp, quagga mussel, round goby, rudd, ruffe, snakehead, stone moroko, tubenose goby, walking catfish, Wels catfish, white perch (not freshwater drum), zander, golden mussel and zebra mussel, as listed in the guide.
Can I use round goby as live bait?
No. Round goby is on the Indiana list of species that may not be possessed alive.
What should I do if a seine picks up a darter I cannot name?
Release it where it was caught. Several endangered Indiana fish are small darters and shiners, and taking any of them is illegal.
What sources does this endangered list use?
The endangered fish section of the 2026-2027 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide and the DNR Fishes of Indiana list, both read November 5, 2026.