About this time of year I find myself obsessing with the water temps, hoping we don’t get another trout kill. Because I was interested (and because I am a geek) I plotted the years 2007-2011 as an overlay. Thought it would be interesting to others as well.
The years 2007, 2008, and 2011 are plotted in green as these were good years with little or no trout killoff. 2009 and 2010 are plotted in red, as these were very bad years for trout.
2009 had a single period of around 1-2 weeks where the water dipped below the magic 45F, and 2010 had a prolonged amount of time around that temp. The minimum for both years was about the same ~ 42F
I didn’t include this year, but the temps dropped quickly through the 60s in early Nov and are holding around 55F at the end of Nov.
Let’s all hope for a warming trend the rest of the winter!
Interesting. Though I don’t get out regularly, I noticed a pretty decent drop in the temp in about a 2 week span. Next time do it in blues and yellows for us red/green color blind folks.
i am no scientist,but predict another bad year if the temps dont rise soon… this past week, water temps were 52-54. We still have 3 months of winter to go.
Water temps. in the creeks right now are in the low to mid 50s but just offshore the temps are in the upper 50s to near 60. Although we have been slightly below average for Nov. air temps., there is still plenty of stored heat in nearshore waters which will moderate water temps. inshore with the predicted weather this week. Water temps. should come up to the upper 50s by Saturday which is about normal. We get critical when the nearshore waters cool below 50-52, and then we get 2-4 nights consecutively of teens to low 20s air temps. This could happen anywhere between late December to late february, but no worries now for the short term.
quote: Because I was interested (and because I am a geek) I plotted the years 2007-2011 as an overlay. Thought it would be interesting to others as well.
I’m glad we have geeks like you I think it’s very interesting myself, thanks for sharing it.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Marine Surveying & Repair
Thanks, David. I feel a sharp drop in water temp, rather than low temp is what hurts our fish. The trout on the Chocktawhatchie Bay Fl, where I guided, start leaving the bay and going up the rivers, in August. The water gets just as cold in the rivers as the bay, however the bay, with it’s thousands of acres of really shallow water, experiences sharp water temp drops. You cannot find a trout in the bay during the winter. Bob
I always look forward to the fall because the water temperature drops and the fish bite heats up. This year I felt a little cheated due to the relatively quick cool off. Because of the rough surf the last couple months I was restricted in my pursuit of migrating bull reds and now that the surf has calmed the bulls appear to have all gone to Florida. Oh well…
Surely the water temp is very important as well, being that they are cold blooded and the fish will be unable to defend themselves against predators (dolphins, cormorants). Read somewhere that a gradual drop in temps allows the fish time to get to a warmer place (deeper water, I guess, or offshore). A quick change would not allow them that time. I think this is what your point was, Bob?
Thanks
If I were a marine biologist, this would be something I would research!
I think it’s very interesting myself, thanks for sharing it.