Large fish kill in the Shark River

Whatever caused it it's a shame to see so many fish die bunker, fluke, flounder etc. One thing for sure is that river needs to be dredged at some point, there is simply no water in back. Shark River always was a skinny body of water but it's ridiculous how shallow areas of the bay are today. Wouldn't be surprised fish made a wrong turn and were choked by the lack of oxygen, it would certainly make sense, but I would equally not be surprised if someone dumped their catch although based on the volume of fish that seems less likely to be the case.

Capt. Elliott, the commercial industry puts themselves in this position. How many times have there been massive amounts of fish washed ashore, people think it's a fish kill only to find out later it was a commercial boat tossing their catch or by catch. I'll stop sharing my opinion when the industry stops abusing our resources which will be never. And as Hammer mentioned, there was a trawler working tight in off SRI late Sunday night and it wouldn't take a purse seiner much too net an insane amount of bunker over their capacity with the amount of bait that was outside the inlet that night, hold them until their essentially dead and they've filled their hole with catch and discard the remainder. An incoming tide would take it from there to bring that amount of dead fish into the river. It tragic what these boats do to a public resource so I apologize if my comments offended you but this industry as a whole have been responsible for depleting one stock after another. How it hasn't happened yet to bunker is amazing but it will and when your livelihood is threatened because stripers and blues have nothing left to feed on we'll see whose singing the blues.

Dakota

[Michael82929]

Was down at the marina last night launching the boat.. saw one of the epa guys...

their was no oxygen in the water. He just thinks too much bait poured in with the tide and they suck all the air out of the balloon is how he put it...

[spyro]

problem is not depleted oxygen levels ....

[Capt. Lou]

Originally Posted by spyro

problem is not depleted oxygen levels ....

OK I give up what the hell is it then ? Looks like simply a freak of nature incident ,too many fish not enough oxygen .

[AVA67]

Originally Posted by spyro

problem is not depleted oxygen levels ....

and you are basing this on what???

[BigChalupa]

F**K the Rangers! Go PITT!!!

[torchee]

Originally Posted by BigChalupa

F**K the Rangers! Go PITT!!!

Ha! just got it

[torchee]

Since Sandy it seems many migration/spawning patterns have shifted.

maybe those bunker were lost!

So were all the croakers and spots last year. Those fish in those quantities should've been in Delaware bay not Raritan.

And where were the Raritan Bay Fluke? Lost!

We no little about how fish migrate/navigate great distances.

[Reelman73088]

Originally Posted by spyro

problem is not depleted oxygen levels ....

The fish that I saw alive yesterday were coming up to the surface to gulp air so what does that tell you about the oxygen level of the water??

[jimmythegreek]

I dont know much but my buddy spoke to a DEP/EPA guy whoever he was and he said they were taking readings and the water O2 was really low, guy said they never seen it this low.