Dead Fish Mystery in Redondo Beach: A Slimy, Reeking Flotilla of Anchovies Washes Ashore
Photos by Ted Soqui
Ted Soqui This is not an abstract painting.
Updated after the jump: Officials indicate most of the fish might be sardines and that, yes, the wind might have been a culprit.
All we need is some freshly baked pizza and maybe Jonathan Gold to help us eat 'em. Because a bonanza of anchovy has washed up in King Harbor in Redondo Beach this morning.
A Redondo Beach official confirmed the influx of dead, floating anchovy for the Weekly (like we needed that extra nod). Fox 11 News appeared to break the story this morning with footage of a sea of silvery fish floating sideways. They went with "millions."
The Daily Breeze newspaper, however, is going with ... "billions."
Ted Soqui You never believed there were 'other fish in the sea.'
Did you hear that Carl Sagan? Billions!
Anything to do with last night's crazy wind?
Don't know. It's a mystery. Locals didn't report any red tides that would have sucked oxygen out of local waters.
In any case, Sgt. Phil Keenan of the Redondo Beach police says the city needs to do something or else things will get funky fast.
Ted Soqui Barrel optional.
"We need to get rid of them," he told the Breeze. "This is going to create a terrible pollution and public health issue if we don't."
It'll also be a terrible waste of a perfectly good topping.
Update: Officials indicate to City News Service that most of the fish are sardines (just as funky/yummy, but maybe not as good for pizza).
The horror: A day that will live in infamy -- for fish.
And yes, last night's high winds, from the northwest, could have pushed the fish into the southeastern pocket of the Santa Monica Bay. What's more, the sardines require lots of oxygen but could have ended up being deprived of it when they were all cornered in King Harbor.
So says Keenan. But he's a cop, so who knows.
First posted at 11:12 a.m.
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