dead Fish ?

Had a fisherman tell the fishing was good at the Coast Guard ramp under the new Memphis Bridge. I went there today and there were alot of dead fish on the bank. I didn't know what kind they were. My guess was Talapa. They were about 10 inch long light blue back and slinder body. There was fifty or so along the 20 yards of bank I walked. What do you think they are, and what killed them?

Big shad?

Might have been skipjack, folks use them as cutbait for cats, and also catch them when using jigs and small crank baits. Lots of folks just throw them up on the banks when they catch them, think they are "trash fish"

Could they have been small big-heade carp? Google 'big head carp' and you'll find pictures of them.

+1 on the skipjack