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Thousands of fish wash up in Apollo Beach pond

Staff photo by JOHN CEBALLOS

Bass, snook and baitfish were among the dead fish.

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By JOHN CEBALLOS | South Shore News & Tribune

Published: October 19, 2009

APOLLO BEACH - Dick Sulick left his house Sunday morning, crossed the street and walked to a nearby pond.

His wife Deanna had told him to come out, and he was met by an unexpected sight.

"There were, what had to be, four or five thousand dead fish in the lake," Sulick said. "I talked to a few people right after that, and they told me the fish started washing up along the shore on Saturday."

This morning, a large number of bass, snook and other types of fish remained belly up on the shoreline of a pond located within the Southshore Falls community in Apollo Beach.

"At first, I thought the change in the weather might have been the cause, but I really believe I smelled a chemical odor coming from the pond on Sunday morning, Sulick said. "I also think it's strange that the seagulls won't even touch the fish."

Sulick likened the "chemical odor" to the smell that comes from a shallow well.

"A few of us called [the] Florida Fish and Wildlife [Conservation Commission] and told them what happened, but we still haven't heard anything back," said Cheryl Wilken, a resident whose home sits along a section of the lake where thousands of dead fish were clustered.

Valerie Dolenga — a spokeswoman for Pulte Homes, which owns Southshore Falls — said Entrex, an independent research company, was hired to consult.

"They're going to be testing the water and the fish, and the results should be in later this week," Dolenga said.

Wilken said the cleanup crew arrived this morning and began gathering the fish.

"More than anything else, it's just a shame," Wilken said. "Hopefully, they'll find out what caused this very quickly."

Reporter John Ceballos can be reached at (813) 627-4762.

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