Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Dead Fish

Hey everyone, I need some feedback.

My walk around the pond yielded some unexpected results. I found four fish dead.

Here's what's strange:
1.) The dead fish were all carp. Stranger still, we didn't stock any carp.
2.) The other fish in the pond looked healthy; eating fish food fine and bluegill bedding already in my gravel areas!
3.) One fish had a large hole in the side and the others were dead but not eaten or even chewed on.

I have my theory/suspicions but before I say what I think is the cause I'd like to hear from some of you that have experienced something like this before.

Size of the dead carp? If they were notably bigger than any other fish in the pond, it might have been low oxygen.

Wish I had a picture. They were all about the same size...8-10 inches.

When you see fish with a hole in the body, that usually means the herons have decided to dine at your pond.

As your water warmed up this spring, you may have reached the point where the carp like to feed or even just "loaf" at the surface of the water. That may have made them the FIRST targets of the herons.

If the herons really like your pond, then your other fish will become targets in the future after the easy meals are cleaned out.

Hole on one side = GBH. Hole(s) on both sides means Osprey or Eagle.

This was my assumption as I have seen some fishing before. I appreciate the confirmation.