Hi everyone,
In addition to being a guide, I am the Angler Engagement Coordinator for the Sportfish Center at the Harte Research Institute. I plan to periodically share fishery science content that I believe will help members improve their knowledge. Here's an example for those concerned about how fish will react to cold temperatures. Feel free to ask any questions you may have.
This table shows the lethal water temperatures for selected bay species. Although water temperatures dropped from 70°F to 46°F since Sunday, the decrease was gradual compared to the rapid drop we experienced during the freeze in 2021. This gradual change allowed fish more time to acclimate to the changing conditions. While many species should be fine, subtropical species like snook and tarpon may perish, as they are not adapted to handle such low temperatures.
In the worst-case scenario, if air temperatures remain around or below 32°F for three consecutive days, it can lead to fish kills, with various species affected differently. Thankfully, this did not happen, and I hope it won’t for a long time.
*NOTE: These are only estimates. Factors such as fish size, water depth, bottom composition, rate of temperature change, duration of exposure, and many other variables can affect temperature-related mortality in fish species.
