[asago]

Thoughts on how the mass Mullet kill will affect fishing in the near term? On the micro level I've already seen a big impact in the canal in that last year at this time I had tons of croakers and a resident population of specks circling my dock light every night, this year so far just tiny pin minnows.... also haven't caught a single speck this month in the canals, just reds. There still a ton of dead fish around - I would think that if nothing else, the crabs should be fat and happy come March. Your thoughts?

 

[choppedliver]

asago (1/29/2010)Thoughts on how the mass Mullet kill will affect fishing in the near term? On the micro level I've already seen a big impact in the canal in that last year at this time I had tons of croakers and a resident population of specks circling my dock light every night, this year so far just tiny pin minnows.... also haven't caught a single speck this month in the canals, just reds. There still a ton of dead fish around - I would think that if nothing else, the crabs should be fat and happy come March. Your thoughts?

Well I didnt see any dead croakers or specks so I think they are ok.



I think the issue you are seeing is probably one of water temp. I think once the water warms up it will be back to normal. There is still about a trillion mullet out there. Should see some fat ass crabs this year.



Wondering also if the "water smells funny" to the other fish, making them avoid it the rotting areas until the organic matter is assimilated

 

[Team Bloody Waters]

I would think that all of those decomposing fish would use up alot of the oxygen in the water, especially in smaller bodies of water with little flow like canals. But I'm no biologist but thats just my $0.02. Mullet have thier own very distinct smell and when they rot I'm sure they scare everything away:sick.

Dustin

 

[nojerseydevil]

Yum Yum, Crabs...

NJD

 

[Snagged Line]

CRABS.........................THE OPOSSUM OF THE SEA...............Yum!!!:letsparty:letsparty

 

[jamessig]

It will be interesting to see if the recent fish kills due to cold temperatures will affect the pompano run this spring. I know a lot were killed further south down near Ft Meyers. If those are the same fish that would have come through here in the spring, it's not going to be pretty.

 

[Yaksquatch]

Team Bloody Waters (1/29/2010)I would think that all of those decomposing fish would use up alot of the oxygen in the water, especially in smaller bodies of water with little flow like canals. But I'm no biologist but thats just my $0.02. Mullet have thier own very distinct smell and when they rot I'm sure they scare everything away:sick.



Dustin

Fortunately this time of year, dissolved oxygen (DO) crashes shouldn't be that big of a concern. Low temps mean higher DO levels, slower bacterial growth rates, and less demand on the O2 in general. Granted, that means the mullet will be floating there for a while because decomposition rates will also be slow.



It is possible that fish may get more aggressive than usual with a portion of their food source depleted. Possibly resulting in better fishing as fish may hit lures harder since they will be competing for limited resources. It could also have negative long-term effects preventing predatory game fish from growing as fast/large until the mullet population recovers.



These are all just a semi-educated guesses though. We'll just have to wait and see.

Alex

 

[MirrOman]

I do not think it will effect the mullet to much, it happened on Blackwater a year or so ago, not to this degree though. The main problem now and the near future, is river run off. I drive over Escambia every day, and that water is still moving very fast under it. I can't remember the last time Escambia Bay was somewhat decent in color. The other bad thing is that the ground is still saturated. If we were getting all of this rain in the spring/summer, it would not be as bad because everything would be growing and using a lot of water. Right now, most grasses are dormant, etc. so we have run-off.

If nothing else, it ought to be an interesting year. Already we are at over 10" of rain for January. The big November flounder gigging at Pickens, etc. did not go to well for the giggers, but good for the flounders. Specks, which should have been schooled up in the rivers and deep holes, are scattered all throughout the bays. Even the deer are catching a break from all of this.

Basically, my .02 worth of info. We will just have to wait and see what happens. If nothing else though, around the beginning of April, the rain ought to slack off, because I will be laying sod in the yard then.

 

[Travis Gill]

I caught some trout yesterday nad they were all real skinny so I think that they are having a hard time finding bait.They were fat and happy before and during that cold spell butlately have been much skinnier than normal for this time of year