Name:	Scupper -	Reply
Subject:	Fish Kill
Date:	7/29/2019 11:38:19 AM

I brought some friends down to the lake this weekend and they pointed out that there were a lot of dead fish floating around.  On Thursday is was all small bait size fish but then on saturday and sunday we saw some very large ones floating belly up.  I know fish die all the time but i don't recall seeing this many in one weekend.  Did anyone else notice or is this typical and i just don't pay much attention to it? 

Name:	John C -	Reply
Subject:	Fish Kill
Date:	7/29/2019 12:14:09 PM (updated 7/29/2019 12:15:07 PM)

My kids noticed the same thing, they were around Chimney Rock. I wasn't there but they said they were baitfish. They said they looked like herring, but my theory is that they were actually (native) threadfin shad. I base that theory on the fact that shad don't go as deep as the (illegally introduced) herring and are therefore more susceptible to fish kills. Again, another theory here, but when lakes like Martin get hot in late summer, hot water = low oxygen content in the shallower depths and it does historically result in some kills of smaller baitfish. Again, these are all theories because I didn't see them myself this weekend. Just going on the past years.

Name:	lucky67 -	Reply
Subject:	Fish Kill
Date:	7/29/2019 12:18:08 PM

oxygen depletion due to heat

Name:	Aardvark -	Reply
Subject:	Fish Kill
Date:	8/1/2019 7:16:51 PM

When this happens, the larger striped bass begin to die.  They can't handle the water temps and low oxygen the way the smaller stripes can.  There have been reports of 40-50 pounders floating in the river areas.  Unfortunately, it is a part of summertime on the lake.