possible bass with oil on it? is it possible?

[striperaholic]

I went fishing two nights ago in the GE Inlet. Caught a nice 22" fat striper, I looked it over and released it but now I realize that the mud that was on it's belly may have been oil from the delaware. I thought it was just feeding close to the bottom and got some mud on its lower body. Now that I think about it, I feel may have beeen oil or tar on it. I hope not. This fish did appear healthy at that moment. Anyone have any input on this possible nightmare?

[fatboy]

I highly doubt it in G.E inlet. The fish are usually moving the other way this time of year.

[striperaholic]

thats what I figured but it stuck like glue. I have tagged alot of striper for als and all returns were north of here none south no matter what time of the year it was.

[Fly Ty R]

It's possible. The GE isn't far at all from the Del. I haven't seen any oil in the Del where I am yet, but that doesn't mean it's not under the surface.

[TWIN D'S]

That oil from the spill is as black as black can be. It won't be mistaken for mud.

[Bob ECT]

Did it smell like oil? It should be pretty easy to smell, very strong.

[aquasport190]

but that doesn't mean it's not under the surface. Doesn't oil float on top of water?

[TWIN D'S]

Originally posted by aquasport190:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr /> but that doesn't mean it's not under the surface. Doesn't oil float on top of water? </font>[/QUOTE]This stuff is so dense, any matter, dirt etc. that attaches to it causes it so sink in the water. Heavy crude oil.

[BLUEFINN]

My friend from PA Ed hunts ducks in the area neer the Eddystone power plant and got caught in the mess the day of the spill! He told me of the small stripers jumping thru the oil neer the old pileings from a pier that once stood there decades ago.

We see small bass feeding in that area all year long and a lot of splashing and jumping,There no doubt that when they jump or swim thru that mess it will attach to there body and defeat the protective slime I feel the result will be disease and death for a large number of those small fish.

[MAKO19]

I was also thinking about when these fish make there way up the Delaware in the Spring to spawn, it may not be safe to eat them next fall. I wonder if they will sense it and stray away from contaminated areas. I heard that some of the oil has made it as far as the ocean. It is a real shame this had to happen!

[fishkiller2000]

yeah i dont think you would of got any oil down there. spill was way up by philly, crude oil floats pretty well:0

[striperaholic]

I couldn't see it real well it was dark and I was useing a led light. I didn't think it was possibly oil till the next morning. I just figured it was feeding in a muddy bottom area at that time.

[profisher2004]

crude oil shall sink and clump up in cold water and weather and this spill can not be contained untill late july when the water heats back up and the oil well separate from being tar balls and float to the surface this can and probably will be a severe problem for the del bay .

[Red_Cherokee]

I think come springtime we will start to see the devastating effects of this spill. How they still agree to allow single hulls up the river till 2015 I will never understand. :mad:

[DaveC]

Striperaholic, Was it from the banks? I am saying that because if you were fishing from a sodbank it was definitely mud. I have had that happen many times when landing a fish on the banks. If so, rest assured that it was mud.

On another note....that oil spill is going to affect the entire DE bay ecosystem for quite some time according to the experts. I, for one, will not eat fish from that body of water until tests are done and I am told that it is safe. Even then I will be skeptical. As far as I am concerned it will be totally catch and release on the DE bay and even on the Jersey shore for a while. Call that drastic if you may but I don't need to eat fish that bad.

[ 12-21-2004, 08:00 PM: Message edited by: DaveC ]

[striperaholic]

I caught the fish from my boat. Like I said it was dark and I couldn't really see good. If at that point I did think it was oil I would of touched it or scraped it off to see. Now I regret not checking further.

[Fly Ty R]

"As far as I am concerned it will be totally catch and release on the DE bay and even on the Jersey shore for a while."


Could this mean the end, or even just a break, of the Del Bay slaughterfest in the spring? One can only hope :rolleyes:

[DaveC]

FlyTyR: For the record you are talking to one of the biggest proponents of C&R there is. Ask anyone on here. ;) Right Ron?

[hipkvw]

Stop the slaughter! ;) smile.gif