Mid River Floaters/Fish Kill Potomac

[bluefishnc]

Just got down to our river place mid Potomac river. River is covered up in floaters. Striper, perch, cats, etc.. in tide line and all over beach. Anyone else hearing or seeing this. I am on VA side. Gross. Worst I've ever seen by far. 100s if not 1000s in tide line. Big and small fish alike.

[Big Mike]

We’ve had a couple of reports of fish kills in the Potomac this year. Most likely cause is oxygen depletion due to a localized algae bloom. Sorry you’re surrounded by one.

[ski357]

Where are you approximately "mid" Potomac? I heard about a spill above the 301 bridge a few days ago on a rec kayaking forum.

[bluefishnc]

Where are you approximately "mid" Potomac? I heard about a spill above the 301 bridge a few days ago on a rec kayaking forum.

Across from St. Clements on VA side

Against my better judgement I'm going out this am and hoping the wind switched and blew that mess away.

[ronaultmtd]

Haven’t seen anything like that from Piney Point to PLO...but a spill/fish kill around Morgantown PEPCO generating station could take a few days to get to Hampton Roads and the Ocean...the bay flushes itself over several days..

[bluefishnc]

Haven’t seen anything like that from Piney Point to PLO...but a spill/fish kill around Morgantown PEPCO generating station could take a few days to get to Hampton Roads and the Ocean...the bay flushes itself over several days..

I posted this on PRAC too. One of the guys over there linked an article. 5.2 million gallons of raw sewage spilled at a feeder creek near Fort Washington 4 days ago. That is most likely the issue. Fewer floaters this am. Stink on the river is bad. Vultures are feasting but it should mostly be past I would guess by the end of the day and by the weekend it should be "normal" in terms of water quality I'd guess with the tidal influence down here and dilution.

[bluefishnc]

Went out this am. Caught 10 or so striper with 3 19 to 20.5" and a few perch as by catch. Cleaned a ghost trap off the river as well. It had 6 keepers and 5 cats in it. They really do need to implement those biodegradable cull rings ASAP. It would likely do wonders to the fishery. I'd be more than just about anything they are doing now.

On the fish kill the floaters have mostly ended. It looked to be mostly gizzard shad followed by perch and then cats and striper. Great looking day and smell is improving so hoping by Saturday we will be back to normal.