Florida · Lake County · Lake

Pine Meadows Conservation Area

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

4 species with advisories · contaminants: Arsenic, Pesticides

What's safe to eat from Pine Meadows Conservation Area

Bluegill

Arsenic Pesticides

SizeWhoGuidance
All sizes All other individuals Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Arsenic and Pesticides.
Women of childbearing age and young children For women of childbearing age and young children: limit to two meals per week due to elevated Arsenic and Pesticides.

Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06

Hoplo Catfish

Arsenic Pesticides

SizeWhoGuidance
All sizes All other individuals Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Arsenic and Pesticides.
Women of childbearing age and young children For women of childbearing age and young children: limit to two meals per week due to elevated Arsenic and Pesticides.

Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06

Largemouth Bass

Arsenic Pesticides

SizeWhoGuidance
All sizes All other individuals Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Arsenic and Pesticides.
Women of childbearing age and young children For women of childbearing age and young children: limit to two meals per week due to elevated Arsenic and Pesticides.

Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06

Yellow Bullhead

Arsenic Pesticides

SizeWhoGuidance
All sizes All other individuals Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Arsenic and Pesticides.
Women of childbearing age and young children For women of childbearing age and young children: limit to two meals per week due to elevated Arsenic and Pesticides.

Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06

How to prepare fish from Pine Meadows Conservation Area

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