[Topeka Boy]

Originally Posted by Dino

I think we have a pretty coherent story about what happened just by reading the bits and pieces of information in this thread.

1. A tidal river whose depth, and volume capacity for ocean water has been declining over the years saw a very large group of menhaden chased or inadvertently steered into its backwaters by..
2. Bluefish and other predators that fisherman have observed in the area just outside the inlet recently..
3. the oxygen inside the river quickly became depleted leading most of the bunker to die or gulp for air at the surface, which also affected the..
4. other species that happened to be in the river (blowfish, fluke, flounder)
5. as is commonly reported with oxygen related fish kills, scavengers seemed to avoid the carcasses of suffocated fish.

while this fish kill does not look like commercial fishing waste, a toxic spill or an algae bloom.. its clear that a healthier Shark River wouldn't have become oxygen depleted so quickly.

it all fits into a major theme for NY/NJ for the past 20 years : a largely healthy ocean, but unhealthy bays and rivers.

I agree 100% with everything Dino says. Great Analysis..