Thread: Fish in the sand

So I often visit GS without my gear. Today I was where 59 meets the beach and walked eastward toward the pier for maybe a .25 mile with my child and we couldn't help but notice all the dead bait fish washing ashore couldn't walk 2 feet without finding them in some spots. (The fish are same as pier#r profile pic, pogie i think is what's it's known as)

1. Is this happening to other species in our area?

2. What caused the mass die off? Low O2 levels in the water?

3. Was anyone catching them live today?

4. What effects does this have on the catching of other species?

5. Could same be attributed to the dead amberjack that washed up near the pavilion a little over a month ago when they were here in good numbers. - seemed to die naturally didn't see a hook, line, bite, nothing just dead in the sand.

Thanks.

Que WKRG 'The sky is falling' report in 3, 2, 1... ;-) LOL

Yep, BJ it's a common phenomenon this time of year after the LYs (Scaled Sardines) spawn they die.
Kindof like a salmon die-off after they spawn.
But the lifespan of the LYs is only about a year and half.


1. No other fish are usually affected.

2. There are literally millions of sardines packed around the pier and there may be small areas of O2 deprived waters that contribute to the stress and (natural) dying of these fish.
120603GSPPier.jpg
And the general lack of wind, waves and water movement may contribute to the size and duration of O2 deprived water around the pier and more importantly the lack of their little bodies being carried off and dispersed by winds and currents, so they will at times mass up in groups of floating carcasses that drift around the pier or ashore nearby.
DeadLYs.jpg

But they are going to die soon anyway.

3. Some days (usually when it is calm) they do not strike the sabiki rigs readily, but can still be caught on the ribbon rigs.

4. Other species have learned to 'key in' on the die off and gather around the pier for the 'easy pickins'.
Not just fish, but many bird species (pelicans, gulls, herons, terns and gannets) can be seen around the pier in greater numbers then.
Bluefish especially seem to hang around the pier more waiting for injured or stressed baitfish to show themselves.
Often as they die, the LYs will swim in very irregular circles occasionally flipping or flopping on the surface where a bird or fish can be seen grabbing them.
Savvy fishermen have learned to mimic this action by hooking their LY baitfish near the belly fins (#4)


5. Amberjack or Jack crevelle?
I suspect a dead Amberjack was dumped out of season and drifted ashore?
Or a jack crevelle once someone realized it was not great eating?

Hope this helps!

I guess it was a jack crevalle. I'm showing my lack of knowledge here. Needed a good hobby so I picked up fishing in the past year or so. Now I have a good explanation for my wife and daughter, the wife was convinced it was because that deadly bacteria they are reporting in Florida. Many thanks pier#r!

Any time.
Most of what we learn is by asking for clarification ;-)

FYI let your wife know y'all are about 10X more likely to struck by lightening when looking at dead fish than catching some bacteria.
Or 100 times more likely to drown or 1000 times more likely to get in a car wreck on the way (that's comforting I'm sure ;-) LOL

Anyway bacteria in the water doesn't affect the fish directly unless they get a cut or scrape and get an infection from it.

Originally Posted by FinChaser

As I was heading north I spied dead bodies floating east of the draw. Get ready for the annual News5 fish kill drama.

It won't be long before the local media spins this annual event into a gloom and doom headliner.

Que WKRG 'The sky is falling' report in 3, 2, 1... ;-) LOL


What's wrong with WKRG? That's the news station we watch when down there! Love Mel Showers! LOL!

As predicted, lead story on News5 at 5:00. Fish Kill at Gulf Shores beaches! Had video of a man and his daughter from Arkansas picking up the "Spanish Sardines" with a toy shovel and bucket, then depositing them in the trash cans along the beach. Pee Yew!
Marine Resources' rep said it is due to low oxygen levels and stagnant water. All I've seen are Scaled Sardines aka "LY", you would think MR rep would at least correct ID the fish and reason.

At least nobody said recreational fishermen were to blame.

I'm just glad to hear its a natural occurrence. Go ahead feel free to blame me for all the hoopla. Just glad the air was cleared and I now have a better understanding of what's actually going on