July 29-30th Fish Kill @ Perdido Pass

Apparently a fairly sizable fish kill occurred just north of Perdido Pass this weekend.
Quite possibly as a result of a Harmful Algae Bloom (or HAB).
The pictures I saw show mostly dead harvestfish floating but a report of gamefish species as well.

If anyone has any water samples or collected any of these dead fish from that area this weekend, they should contact Alabama Marine Resources Division in Gulf Shores or contact Clay Bennett at Dauphin Island Sealab who investigates HABs.

https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...f0&oe=59F8B810

https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...b4&oe=5A03076A

I have a friend that picked up live crabs in that area calling it Jubilee are they safe?

I've never heard of a Jubilee in lower Perdido Bay, a Jubilee is more of a low dissolved oxygen event, not a fish kill. Most critters that aren't harvested survive a Jubilee.

These pictures are showing a flat out fish kill.

If there is any chance of it being a HAB event, I would not eat the crabs collected during the event. Some of the HAB toxins can be pretty nasty.

Thanks Carl saw the post in PFF on sat afternoon, Thanks for the info if it was a algae bloom will that cause a oxygen consumption or is it a bacterial problem if you know.

I haven't heard yet, will pass along any info I get!

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Originally Posted by CarlF

I haven't heard yet, will pass along any info I get!

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I dropped a link to the pictures on ALMRD fb page this am, but haven't heard anything back yet...

The O2 level in Perdido Pass dropped way down Sunday am during that NEAP tide...
http://www.mymobilebay.com/stationda...e=5&SciUnits=1

Report fish kills ASAP to Alabama Marine Resources Division

Fish Kill and Strandings | Outdoor Alabama

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Reporting Information:

FISH KILLShttp://www.outdooralabama.com/sites/...ces100x100.gifAlabama Marine Resources Division (AMRD)

DAUPHIN ISLAND, AL	(251) 861-2882
GULF SHORES, AL	(251) 968-7576

Include the following information:

Date & time fish kill was observed Location of fish kill Contact information of reporting party Species of fish involved Approximate number of fish

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WE have a Jubilee going on near Gulfport, but like it's previosuly stated.... They usually live on if not harvested... If these guys are DED(dead) I would feed them to the wife 1st...

AL MRD is aware of the fish kill but doesn't have any additional information to provide.
I am not sure if Health Dept or ADEM was able to get water samples.

a buddy of mine has pictures on Facebook. Hundreds of juvenile pompano mixed with other species.

Let's hope they weren't pompano, but the frequently mis IDed Harvestfish (which look similar)...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peprilus_paru
http://www.gulfshorespierfishing.com...tid=6465&stc=1

So those are harvest fish. I was calling them incorrectly. Great---something else added to my vast store of knowledge. Now, if I can just remember it.

I have forgotten so much that my store of knowledge has become half-vast.

I was down at the pass fishing last week and these guys were there in abundance (harvestfish), closer to the bottom, with massive schools of pilchards on top. Seemed the pilchards would lose a few every couple of minutes to either a lack of oxygen or bluefish/ladyfish. It was hot out there with not much current. didn't see any of the harvest fish dying off though.

They are actually in the butterfish family, I've eaten them (or a similar butterfish), grilled while in Japan and they were very tasty.

I didn't try to mess with them, sure there were some bigger ones mixed in, but most of them looked about the size of my hand. They were just casually rolling on their side every now and then. Did muster up a few Spanish, Mangroves, and 2 flounder though.

They pan-fry very well also.
These are some I snagged off the pier a few summers ago...

http://www.gulfshorespierfishing.com...tid=6467&stc=1

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Originally Posted by tyjordann

I was down at the pass fishing last week and these guys were there in abundance (harvestfish), closer to the bottom, with massive schools of pilchards on top. Seemed the pilchards would lose a few every couple of minutes to either a lack of oxygen or bluefish/ladyfish. It was hot out there with not much current. didn't see any of the harvest fish dying off though.

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Which night (time) was that?

I fish down there quite a bit, always in the mornings though. I live in Daphne. Don't guess I have ever tried fishing down there at night. I am usually back home by lunch time.

If you are asking which particular days I was referring to, I fished the 25th and 27th of last month

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Originally Posted by tyjordann

If you are asking which particular days I was referring to, I fished the 25th and 27th of last month

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Yessir. Thanks, that makes sense now because the O2 'crash' didn't happen until nearly midnight Saturday July 29th and the early morning hours of Sunday July 30th...
http://www.mymobilebay.com/stationda...e=1&SciUnits=1

Well, I wasn't so far off after all. I thought they were butterfish. Thanks, Carl, that takes away the sting of being incorrect.

Talked to someone down there today and there is some thought that this might have been a combination of factors, possibly, and this has no sample based evidence, that there may have been a mix of low DO and a brown tide.
Turns out the comment about a jubilee type event was correct, multiple reports of crabs, flounder, stingrays and eels swarming the beach inside the pass
Very strange event, I've been here since 1997 and I dont recall this happening at this magnitude in this location before.

Are you aware of any pathogens associated with brown or mahogany tides?

https://tpwd.texas.gov/landwater/wat...tide/faq.phtml

Really outside my area of expertise. I seem to remember brown rides showing up a few years back in weeks bay, I will shoot the WBNERR an email and see what info they have.