dead bunker

[wayniac]

was shocked to see all the dead bunker in the Raritan river . anyone know the cause.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Where on the river were they?

[Joey Dah Fish]

http://www.myfoxny.com/story/29197927/spike-in-water-toxins-blamed-for-hundreds-of-turtle-deaths

[Bass Specialist]

I saw a pic from the Edison part of the river. Not sure the cause either.

[1captainron]

BLUEFISH!! With the cold ocean temps just about every Blue fish that swims seems to be in the bay and back bays.
Last week the blues pushed the bunker into the sedges around swimming river, when the tide dropped, the bunker were stranded. It's natural and normal for this to happen.
With the lack of other bait fish (sand eels and rain fish) this is bound to happen.
Imagine what would happen to Man if all the food stores couldn't supply food anymore......what would you do?
Survival is an instinct all creatures posses.

[Capt Sal]

I have seen this many times growing up in the area. Like Capt Ron said- The blues push the bait into shallow water and no oxygen. Saw this in Great Kills also. With frigid water temps outside and warm water inside and bunker it is not hard to figure out where the blues are!

[wayniac]

I am out of Raritan river boat club ,ive been a member for over 10 years never seen the fish in this amount ..I have seen them floating through out the river but not like this

[Reelron]

As both Capt Ron & Capt Sal said it is common. The Bluefish aren't particular where they push the fish to. It is tide dependant. One year it may be the Matawan Creek, another year it may be in the area of Keyport. This year could also be worse because of all the rain we have had, that could be reducing the salinity and pushing more crap into our rivers and creeks.

I have seen it most of my life and I guess on a slow news day it can get a lot of coverage?