I went down to the boat landing on Sol Legare island this morning and unfortunately found two BIG flounder on the bank. Both were approximately 24". Both had their guts or swim bladder hanging outside the gut cavity. Other than that and being dead, they were in good condition. I would think that these bottom huggers would be the last to be effected, especially that close to the open ocean and deep water. Any insight on the guts being outside their cavity? The fish were about 20 feet apart. I moved one closer to get the pic. The cd shows they are BIG.
Good Luck, O.C.
My best guess? Someone caught these off shore in deeper water, they suffered barotrauma from the change in pressure, and somehow either got off the line or got dropped in the drink on accident?
I dont know how the swim bladder would do that without a pressure change - seems like it would take a rapid temp increase or pressure decrease to bust out.
Mhebbard, I don’t think the swim bladder pops outside the abdomen because of pressure from being pulled up from deep water. Wouldn’t it be out of the mouth instead?
I do know that fish which are on the way to decomposing get belly-burn, and then all their giblets poke through the deteriorated abdomen.
My best guess is that one of the seafood retailers that sit on the water near there (Crosbys, Backmanns, etc) or whatnot had a few large flounder that were too deteriorated to sell, and they just tossed them in the water… and OldCat found them after they washed up on shore.
If that’s the case, it explains the size— they probably were from an offshore troller but spent some time in seafood market purgatory before being “released”.
Saying “I am offended” is telling everyone else that you cannot control your own emotions, and thus you need everyone else to do it for you.
yeah i vote the seafood market toss out. i mean, even big flounders do like shallow water, but it would be a pretty dumb flounder to hang around if the waters getting cold.
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