EUSTIS, Fla. — Many residents in Eustis are wondering why dead fish are turning up around the shore of Lake Eustis.

What You Need To Know

  • Hundreds of fish are washing on the shore of Lake Eustis in Lake County
  • Fish of different sizes have turned up, many causing a stench along the lake
  • Florida Fish and Wildlife have done a water sample and are testing one lethargic fish
  • The agency hopes to have their test results early next week

Hundreds of fish are creating a stench is some places, making some wonder what might be killing off the animals.

Eustis Lake resident Daniel Whitlow has been using a net to remove the dead fish from his waterfront property.

“I would say 80% of the kill I see is baby bluegills,” Whitlow said.

Whitlow says the fish have been turning up everywhere and wonder if the recent algae bloom is the cause.

“It’s probably five days ago they sprayed for hydrilla. I went to the fishing store and talked to them. And they said they would never put anything in these lakes that would ever harm them,” said Whitlow.

Florida Fish and Wildlife is investigating the fish kill on lake Eustis and released this statement:

"FWC is investigating a fish kill at Lake Eustis in Lake County after receiving multiple reports over the past several days. Staff from FWC are investigating and recently collected a water sample and a lethargic fish. We are currently awaiting results from sampling. FWC’s Fish Kill Hotline remains a crucial tool for quickly responding to fish kills in Florida, and we thank the public for reporting these events." 

Lake Eustis Chamber of Commerce CEO Marie Aliberti, whose office is right on the lake, says she remembers previous fish kills occurring, but the numbers seem bigger this time.

“I would say this is more than normal. It happens now and then. But this is more than normal,” said Aliberti.

Florida Fish and Wildlife plans to get the test results back early next week and share their findings.