I've found 1,000s and 1,000s of dead sprat ?

[flynnboy]

Hi Guys

This last couple of days there have been 1,000s upon 1,000s of dead sprat washed up on the beach and lying dead in rock pools. I was new to the salt last year and so don't know if this is normal for this time of year, or whether it is something ecologically worrying ? Any comments ?

I have pictures but I cannot figure out how to post them ? If I click on img I just get this -

[Tommy B]

That is probably just mackerel chasing them up on to the beach I have seen it before in Dun Laoghaire and Killiney.

[flynnboy]

That is probably just mackerel chasing them up on to the beach I have seen it before in Dun Laoghaire and Killiney.

Well I did wonder about that. In fact there were sandeels mixed in there also. But, in fact my wife found them while walking the dog yesterday and today and I found them several miles away from the beach where she found them - all part of Inver Bay here. They were spread over a wide area on the beach as well as in rock pools. It all seems a little suspect to me. I never found anything like this at all at any time last year.

[Johnmchale]

It's interesting but fairly common. As op said it's just mackeral chasing them on shore
usually means a good season though , lots of plankton , the food chain is happy from the bottom up

[Tommy B]

Its a great sign shows that there is something major chasing them if they are all over the bay. If it was me I would be up early with a set of feathers. The time I seen it happen in Dun Laoghaire it was at the back of the east pier and it was a huge shoal of mackerel that stayed there all day. The next day all the rock pools where covered with sprat all dead and the shoal of mackeral moved into the harbour. It was the best year ever I seen in Dun Laoghaire for mackeral. Also you should freeze a load of the sprat its great bait for everything.

[Stephen8wood]

I saw the same last year in wexford the morning after a mad mackerel invasion.

[hugo]

Natural phenomenon all right, the sprat/sandeels go into a panic when the whole predatory circus is after them, and commit suicide on the shore. Very common on the south coast, but usually later in the summer, must be a good sign right enough

[Ray of Hope]

I had the same experience many years ago. I first noticed them whilst out walking. I went back later with the rod. There must have been at least 50 anglers on the beach. I was catching mackeral by the bucket load. We all were. Good sign alright.

[pete]

What size were they Flynnboy? Caught pollock last night that had a load of very small herring or sprat fry in bellies. About an inch long.