Hundreds of Fish found Dead this morning

[Smiling JOe]

I saw this same thing happen maybe three years ago. Hundreds of dead fish floating on the water. For the last two days, I noticed hundreds of large birds gathering in the Bay. I wonder if they were following the mass fish death??? This morning, as I was walking to my dock, I noticed the water appeared to have something, looked like cotton, covering the entire body of water -- not completely covering the water, but scattered about the entire body of water. As I walked farther, I noticed that it wasn't cotton, but dead fish, Hundreds, right in my back yard. It is a morbid sight. Soon, the Turkey Vultures will appear and the air will be filled with the smell of rotting fish.

[seacrestkristi]

Is it the red tide?

[LightWorker]

I saw this same thing happen maybe three years ago. Hundreds of dead fish floating on the water. For the last two days, I noticed hundreds of large birds gathering in the Bay. I wonder if they were following the mass fish death??? This morning, as I was walking to my dock, I noticed the water appeared to have something, looked like cotton, covering the entire body of water -- not completely covering the water, but scattered about the entire body of water. As I walked farther, I noticed that it wasn't cotton, but dead fish, Hundreds, right in my back yard. It is a morbid sight. Soon, the Turkey Vultures will appear and the air will be filled with the smell of rotting fish.



So sorry to hear this....Makes you wonder why.... Any ideas?

[jodiFL]

Is it the red tide?
Probably. My hubby was working on the bay close to Sandestin last week and said they (dead fish) were forming a 10' wide line all around the shoreline of the bayou he was on. Guess the tide has brought them farther east now.

[Smiling JOe]

When it happened several years ago, I seem to recall a possible answer being attributed to low oxygen levels. Whether or not that is caused by Red Tide is unknown to me.

[LightWorker]

When it happened several years ago, I seem to recall a possible answer being attributed to low oxygen levels. Whether or not that is caused by Red Tide is unknown to me.

It sounds like Mother Nature is not happy. :blink:

[Smiling JOe]

Well, the tiny fish are having a field day, as are the birds. I saw only a few large sized dead fish floating, but mostly small fish.

[seacrestkristi]

Probably. My hubby was working on the bay close to Sandestin last week and said they (dead fish) were forming a 10' wide line all around the shoreline of the bayou he was on. Guess the tide has brought them farther east now.

Is red tide over yet?

[Smiling JOe]

http://www.sowal.com/bb/gallery/files/2/1/6/PB140039sm.JPG

those little spots are hundreds of dead fish.

[seacrestkristi]

OMG :blink: It is gonna be stinky down there.

[Smiling JOe]

OMG :blink: It is gonna be stinky down there.
Fortunately for me, but bad news for some other SoWallers living across from me, the wind picked up and blew most to the other side after these photos were taken. It is already beginning to smell a bit fishy.

[sowalgayboi]

There was a news report on WJHG the other day that apparently when red tide occurs the corpses of the fish generally follow currents into the bays and estuaries. I don't know if that is the same situation here, but it seems likely.

[seacrestkristi]

Are people still swimming in the gulf?

[JustaLocal]

I haven't been in since the black flies were here. I saw people swimming at Miramar this past weekend. I've walking along the beach just about every morning. Yesterday was particularly nice at Tops'l Hill.

[seacrestkristi]

Thanks JustaLocal :wave: Is red tide gone, do you know? :blink:

[NotDeadYet]

Kristi, see the red tide thread. I posted the sampling results this morning.

[Smiling JOe]

This afternoon, I heard back from a regional person "in the know" and she said that these fish kills are from Red Tide and are finally making their way to the eastern end of the Bay. It sounds like these fish were killed much farther west of here and have just drifted to our area.

I just noticed the Red Tide thread and maybe this is covered in that thread. I'll go read.

[happy2Bme]

Ironically, as I walked the beach near Seagrove around 7am today, I saw a loggerhead turtle washed ashore, deader than (I hope) Hillary's chances are of being elected president.......

[chrisv]

SJ, I just got back in from a couple days in Tallahassee and you're right- my shoreline is packed with dead fish. Look like 5" or so in size menhaden, and they've been dead a couple of days. Tide's pulling out of the bayou now, so maybe they'll clear out a little by morning.

[Smiling JOe]

The dead fish looked very thick over toward your house. I wanted to get out in my canoe and take some photos of the craziness, but never had time. Hope it doesn't get to stinky on your side.

[Ken Sloan]

I phoned it in to the FWC fishkill hotline last night. First thing in the morning yesterday there were none to be seen, but by four o'clock they were everywhere. Mostly gone this morning, although I'm seeing scattered singles here and there.

I'm surprised the birds didn't go after them more. Some looked freshly dead.

I think you're probably right about it happening more to the west then drifting here. All I saw were alewives (aka menhaden, aka LYs) and they were mostly bigger than the schools we get here. Also, some of them seemed to have been dead for days. The mullet and the pinfish we have around here were behaving normally, so I'm with you two on them drifting in after the fact.

[seacrestkristi]

Those birds are smart!
http://www.sowal.com/bb/gallery/files/2/2/9/4/CopyofGodsWayOfSaying.jpg

Couldn't resist posting this pix again...;-)

[truluv]

hey smiling joe, what lake do you live on? I saw this in the bay on monday a.m.

[Smiling JOe]

I'm on the bayou, not a lake.

Yes, all of the fish look as though they've been dead for a few days. This afternoon, the Turkey Vultures were flying circles over the bayou to the north of me.

[Kaynay]

It's really terrible where I live, off of LaGrange Bayou. The worst part is that we're hosting an OUTDOOR wedding at our house tomorrow.

[savvytangerine]

http://www.sowal.com/bb/gallery/files/2/1/6/PB140039sm.JPG

those little spots are hundreds of dead fish.

Thanks for posting the pic SJ - but it does hurt to look at.

It's really terrible where I live, off of LaGrange Bayou. The worst part is that we're hosting an OUTDOOR wedding at our house tomorrow.

Oh goodness! That will be a wedding to remember!

[Smiling JOe]

It's really terrible where I live, off of LaGrange Bayou. The worst part is that we're hosting an OUTDOOR wedding at our house tomorrow.
I know what you mean, around the water in my backyard, it smells a little fish. The tide has retreated and left me several fish on the sandy shore. I see raccoon tracks on the beach, but no sign that they are eating the rotting fish. There are still ample dead fish floating on the Bayou, today. Good luck with the wedding. Burn some incenses around the yard, or have a wood burning fire pit to mask the smell of the rotting fish.

[savvytangerine]

I know what you mean, around the water in my backyard, it smells a little fish. The tide has retreated and left me several fish on the sandy shore. I see raccoon tracks on the beach, but no sign that they are eating the rotting fish. There are still ample dead fish floating on the Bayou, today. Good luck with the wedding. Burn some incenses around the yard, or have a wood burning fire pit to mask the smell of the rotting fish.

It seems a little werid that you say that the raccoons are not eating the dead fish. There is also a post that mentions birds not eating the fish.

Anyone else think this is strange?

[Kaynay]

Well, the dead fish are pretty old by now, but I can't imagine why gulls and other scavengers wouldn't go for them. Fish die of lack of oxygen during Red Tide because a species of dinoflagellate overblooms and eats up all the oxygen in the water. So the fish aren't poisoned in any way.

[Smiling JOe]

Just a moment ago, I saw about 50-60 Turkey Vultures flying circles over Lagrange Bayou. I have many more piled at the edge of beach beside my dock, today. It is a bit fishy out there.

[Smiling JOe]

http://www.sowal.com/bb/gallery/files/2/1/6/PB170057sm.jpg

The latest seen from today. P---U! Stinky fish.