Frozen Fish

Snow, sleet and freezing rain on the Texas coast dealt a blow to forage and game species.

The uncustomary blast of cold weather that swept through the southern US in mid-february not only caused untold hardship on the people of Texas, but the freezing temperatures also dealt a lethal blow to coastal fisheries.

From Brownsville in the south to Port Arthur on the Texas-louisiana border, significant fish kills were reported in most major bay areas, including

UGLY SIGHT: Freezing temps are to blame for major fish kills throughout the Texas coast.

Laguna Madre, Galveston Bay, Matagorda Bay, San Antonio Bay, Aransas Bay, Corpus Christi Bay and Sabine Lake.

Most heavily impacted were waters south of Galveston Bay.

At one point during the severe, weeklong event, Galveston reported a low temperature of 20 degrees.

Initial surveys by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department estimate the freeze killed some 3.8 million fish, comprising 61 species, 90 percent of which were forage fish like silver perch, hardhead catfish, pinfish, bay anchovies and striped mullet.

While of little direct interest to recreational anglers, these species represent critical food sources that gamefish rely on.

Recreationally important fish populations that suffered losses include redfish, spotted seatrout, sheepshead, gray snapper, snook, black drum and tarpon.

Particularly hard hit, according to the TPWD, was the Lower Laguna Madre spotted seatrout population, with 104,000 fish killed. The Upper and Lower Laguna Madre