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Emeralda Marsh WMA Area 7

Is the fish you caught here safe to eat? Below is every consumption advisory on file for Emeralda Marsh WMA Area 7, by species and size, in plain English — plus what's legal to keep.

5 species with advisories · contaminants: Pesticides

What's safe to eat from Emeralda Marsh WMA Area 7

Bluegill

Pesticides

SizeWhoGuidance
All sizes General population Limit to one meal per month due to elevated Pesticides.
Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Pesticides.

Source: official advisory· updated 2026-07-02

Golden Shiner

Pesticides

SizeWhoGuidance
All sizes General population Limit to one meal per month due to elevated Pesticides.
Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Pesticides.

Source: official advisory· updated 2026-07-02

Largemouth Bass

Pesticides

SizeWhoGuidance
All sizes General population Limit to one meal per month due to elevated Pesticides.
Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Pesticides.

Source: official advisory· updated 2026-07-02

Redear Sunfish

Pesticides

SizeWhoGuidance
All sizes General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Pesticides.
Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Pesticides.

Source: official advisory· updated 2026-07-02

Warmouth

Pesticides

SizeWhoGuidance
All sizes General population Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Pesticides.
Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Pesticides.

Source: official advisory· updated 2026-07-02

How to prepare fish from Emeralda Marsh WMA Area 7

Some contaminants build up in fat and skin, so cleaning and cooking can lower your exposure. Others — mercury and PFAS — are in the muscle itself and trimming does nothing.

Pesticides

  • Skin the fish — most of the contaminant sits in the fat just under the skin.
  • Trim the fatty areas away: the belly flap, the top of the back, and the dark lateral line down each side.
  • Cook on a rack — grill, broil, or bake — so the fat drips off the fillet.
  • Throw the drippings out; don't use them for soup, sauce, or chowder.
  • Choose smaller, younger fish — they've had less time to build it up.

Is it legal to keep?

These are Florida's statewide limits — a water-specific rule may override them. Always verify the current regulations before keeping a fish.

SpeciesSizeDaily limitOpen seasonKeep season
Largemouth Bass 5 Year-round Same as open
Black Crappie 25 Year-round Same as open
Bluegill 50 Year-round Same as open
Channel Catfish Year-round Same as open
Striped Bass 20 Year-round Same as open

Official rules: Florida — Florida FWC

Getting on the water

Access points from OpenStreetMap contributors.

About this water

State
Florida
County
Lake
Type
Lake
Location
28.7675, -81.7026
Advisory source
Florida Dept. of Health — Fish Consumption Advisories