26 degrees this am in Punta Gorda,FL

[sonoranfans]

I am just curious, have there been many freshwater fish dying due to the cold? I would imagine that in South Florida some fish like the peacock bass that are in the cannels may be affected. They are like tropical palms and can not take anything remotely cold.

I feel for you all experiencing the cold this year.

dk

I havent heard about fish kills yet, Don. I am not in south forida, but central west coast florida(near bradenton). We have had more frequent, shorter bursts of cold this year,interspersed with a few warmer days. Last year we had 10 consecutive days of 26-36 low temps, coldest 10 day streak in 30 years, and there was a huge fish die off in the gulf. I saw 5 ~3' groupers dead on the beach one day at the mouth of tampa bay. I also remember seeing some small freshwater ponds with small dead fish all over the place in Largo last year. Water temps are 54-55F in the gulf, I think water temps went lower(50-51F?) last year during the 10 day cold event. It seems we are getting repeated 3 day events spaced by 2-3 day modest warmups and perhaps this means that water temps dont fall as low. We are supposed to warm up to 65 today, 72 tomorrow and into the 76-79 range over the weekend so the water, especially the freshwater, should warm up a bit this weekend.

Edited December 29, 2010 by sonoranfans

[amazondk]

Thanks Tom,

I was curious. Fish are know to die here sometimes if the air temperatures get below 70 F.

dk

[koolthing78]

From what I've read, a lot of the tropical fish ...farmers (?) are reporting a total loss. Not the same as native fish dying in huge numbers, but it must be a real bummer to have this happen after just having gone through it last January.

[Alan_Tampa]

about 60F water temp is what most tropical freshwater fish can take, and then only for a while. In 1996 is saw dead tropicals: cichlids, oscars and some others along US 41. Good ole tilapia take cold like champs, however.

the peacock bass species in south florida is the smaller one than the common biggun down by you don, the reason we have that one here is it can take a few degrees of colder water, briefly anyway.

Alan

[amazondk]

Alan,

I tried to catch some S. Florida peacocks around Fort Lauderdale. But, no luck. I had read that they were not a species common around here. We have I think 6 varieties of peacock bass here. They sure are great fish to catch.

dk

[Steve the palmreader]

Last year in the Cape Coral Fl. canals there were many different kinds of extoticsthat died (chiclids, cat fish, and unknowns) It will take afew days for the dead ones to float up. I dont think the cold was as prolonged this year. I didnt notice any dead Snook this year Last year there were more than you could count