Dead Fish or Just Pretending?

[do it easy]

I was ice diving in a local quarry the other day and we came across a "dead" fish. It was negatively buoyant and lying on it's side on the bottom. I think it was a blue gill, but it was pale white. Again, I thought it was dead, so I picked it up and it didn't move or flinch.

There were other species of fish still swimming around, and I didn't see many other fish that I thought were alive- I assumed they were all hiding somewhere. The water temp was 36f.

My question is- Is it possible that the fish was just in torpor or hibernatiing and woudln't react to being touched?

 

[1_T_Submariner]

I think the color might indicate that it was dead. I'm no expert, just my opinion.

 

[divinginn]

sounds dead to me,i saw a stripedbass yesterday by its self,laying on the bottom like a catfish,not normal behavior for a striper,they usually are in large schools chasing herring around,the temp was about 45 at 25 or so ft,just very unusual to me.

 

[knotical]

When fish go dormant in the winter, they usually hide first. Since it was just lying out in the open, I’d guess it was dead.

 

[DavidPT40]

Reminds me of the time I was diving in a quarry, and put my hand on a big white rock. When the rock rolled over, I discovered that it wasnt a rock at all. It was the massive, decaying carcass of a long dead catfish. Chunks of flesh flew off, and I nearly barfed in my regulator as I tried to put as much distance between myself and catfish as possible.

 

[Land Locked]

DEAD! Saw one yesterday, white and motionless!

David! Where have you been???

 

[DavidPT40]

Hey Landlocked!

I usually cruise the Marine Science and Physiology forums here on scuba board. I haven't been diving in a while, seems like the water is only warm enough for me between June and October. I'm probably the only person in the world thats shivered during dives in 86 degree water (I need to buy a hood!).

I saw the dead fish at Joes Quarry a long time ago. It must have died of old age, because that thing was huge.

 

[Land Locked]

Those big cats are pretty disgusting when they go, I've run into a few
of them out there. I saw a small bass in the shallows this weekend,
I think the bad weather is catching up with them.

I got chilled in the pool once, I can't wait for summer to get here!

Keep in touch with the KPP.

 

[MantaRey]

My guess is that he died from being in 36F water. Ouch! :-D

 

[Mr.X]

I've seen fish like yellow perch just lying there! It was apparent that they tried to seek cover of some type, but didn't quite get there. This was in the St. Lawrence and the water temp was in the 33-34F range. There were several of them.

It seems the poor guys just can't take it and I bet your bluegill was just like them?

X