Sick Carp

Type: Chesapeake
Region: Upper Bay
Location: Below the Susquehanna Flats

Last Saturday my friend Matt and I were fishing for rock below the Susquehanna Flats. As nightfall approached Matt noticed what he thought was a tail splashing about 50 yards away near a shallow rock jetty. The binoculars confirmed what looked to be a carp. We decided to motor over to get a closer look thinking if it was a carp it was probably eating off the rocks, but it still looked strange. As we moved in I figured it would swim off but it did not. I noticed it was inverted (belly up) in 1.5 feet of water. Matt netted it and we took a quick picture. The carp did not look damaged and we placed it back in the water. It immediately inverted and started splashing its tail again. I thought it must have been sick and thought about a mercy killing but not knowing enough figured I would let nature take its course. DNR, any ideas? Carp do not eat inverted and this behavior is not "normal?"

DNR Response: As described, the fish was definitely under distress, you did the best thing by letting nature take it's course.