Freeze-related fish kill: Will it happen?
Everyone is talking about the cold weather that is here and the even colder weather coming to the Texas coast.
Will it cause a freeze-related fish kill like the big kills in 1983 and 1989?
Here's an update I got from Texas Parks & Wildlife Department biologist Lance Robinson this morning...
"I suspect there could be some localized fish kills in some back marshes
with the onset of this winter front. However, since it's already been
pretty cool leading up to this latest front this should have already
started to move fish toward deeper water where temperatures are more
moderate. The biggest problem with cold kills is the speed in which the
temperatures drop - fast, and fish become cold stunned and can't move
ahead of it; slow, and they will. Their proximity to deep water also
plays a role. If fish are a long ways from a ship channel or Intracoastal Waterway then
they can get caught with a fast approaching cold front."
Here's something really interesting..."For spotted seatrout, water temperatures below about 45 degrees
with the onset of this winter front. However, since it's already been
pretty cool leading up to this latest front this should have already
started to move fish toward deeper water where temperatures are more
moderate. The biggest problem with cold kills is the speed in which the
temperatures drop - fast, and fish become cold stunned and can't move
ahead of it; slow, and they will. Their proximity to deep water also
plays a role. If fish are a long ways from a ship channel or Intracoastal Waterway then
they can get caught with a fast approaching cold front."
Here's something really interesting..."For spotted seatrout, water temperatures below about 45 degrees
become lethal. Red drum are a bit more hardy and can tolerate
temperatures down to the mid-30's; flounder to the low 40's".
temperatures down to the mid-30's; flounder to the low 40's".
For even more detailed info click here to go to an exclusive coastal freeze thread on the Texas Fish & Game forums.
Posted by Flounder Revolution at 1/5/2010 7:47 AM 
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: Chester Moore flounder stocking flounder conservation flounder revolution flounder replica program Texas flounder stocking
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: Chester Moore flounder stocking flounder conservation flounder revolution flounder replica program Texas flounder stocking
It's always so interesting to read your perpectives on the outdoors.
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