Mystery Fish+ Bunch of Belly Up

[MattK]

Hit up Cranberry lake today and was very disappointed to see a number of dead fish floating. Saw about a half dozen dead sunnies and crappie and a dead brookie around 12-14 inches (unfortunate that the first brookie I see in that lake was belly up). There weren't any noticeable sores on them. Hope that nothing bad is going through there.

Did my biggest pickerel and biggest crappie so far this year today, but it was generally a slow day.

I did catch something that I have never seen before. Unfortunately I left my phone in the car so I don't have any pictures, but maybe someone more experienced can point me in the right direction. The fish was about 8 inches long. Its color pattern was similar to a largemouth, except that it had a slight reddish color on its pelvic and anal fins. It had a single small dorsal fin that was set further back than you would see on a bass. Its mouth was very, very small, smaller than a crappie or sunfish of similar size. It almost looked like a shiner that got really really big. Its eyes were not red so not a rock bass. Any thoughts?

[HerringKing]

big golden shiner or a warmouth

[MattK]

I looked up the golden shiner and that looks very much like what I caught today. Thanks HerringKing

[goodfishin]

My son caught this golden shiner last year. Had no clue what it was until I posted it here. Look like this guy?

[MattK]

exactly like that

[MudCat08]

Rudd and roach are also relatives that could have been imported from europe, but unlikely. golden shiner is most likely i think. I've caught a few of them before. silver colors in the fall but bright gold in the spring.

[AndyS]

Please report all fish kills no matter how small. We ARE the eyes and ears for F&G.

http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/contactform.htm

[MattK]

I reported it, thanks Andy.

[NJ219bands]

Originally Posted by AndyS

Please report all fish kills no matter how small. We ARE the eyes and ears for F&G.

http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/contactform.htm

Whenever Robert G. Martin Lake stops draining into Pond Run, all of the fish die. I'll start taking pics and reporting thanks to this post. Keep up the good work guys.

[crewchief2]

I noticed the same thing on Delaware lake on Monday and Tuesday, all dead were sunnies. Made a report to DFW