I am at a loss as to how to deal with slaughter fish. While swimming underwater my character is unable to cast spells or use weapons.

Has anyone figured out a way to deal with these pests???

I've shot them from shore with arrows.

Otherwise... flame cloak works. Just put it on before you go into the water.

Also I kill them with console commands.

I usually let them chase me outta the water

http://i.imgur.com/GF6HV.jpg <--- like this

Then I kill em.

Flame cloaks, jet spells like flames or bows/crossbows, or you can get into the water to your knees and wait for them to come and chew on you and then smack them on the head with melee weapon of your choice.

All these, however, require you to usually get very well into the water to have them "see" you, after which you need to get out to be able to kill them, so in short, no, there is no effective way to get rid of slaughterfish. We can only hope Bethesda discards this idiotic change in TES VI.

This is a bug that doesn't happen more than it does, definitely not an efficient way of killing them. It's much more fun though, unlike chasing a deer or a bunny only to see it run into the water and continue running through it like they're on solid land.

Flame Atronachs are the Slaughterfish's mortal enemy. The best thing is, they can see the ones you don't.

+1 I couldn't agree more. I don't know what they were thinking when they did this.

the same thing they were thinking with fallout 3. No combat in water, since it means having to figure the physics out.

Ranged attacks are out from go, but how much does it reduce/hinder the pc... never mind the fish have no issues

That's how I get them too.

Alternatively, I spend as little time in the water as I can and hastily get out when one finds me. They're kind of a pain in the ass, but I like that they're there to fill the water predator niche.

Just get into the water until they come up to the shallows and then get out and smack them with your weapon.

Well the best way I found to deal with them is a shout from shore when they are within range or a aoe spell. Catch them in the area of effect.

Haven't tired cloaks, never really used them.

Destruction spells or shouts like Fire Breath work well for me. The summon flame atronach spell is also extremely useful as others have said.

Flame cloak is great against them. Just cast it before you go into the water, and instant fried slaughter fish.

You attack them underwater! Oh wait.

You can attack them under water. Cast a flame cloak, go swimming under water, and instant fried slaughter fish. lol

Oblivion was great for that......

Does anyone have an idea why combat underwater was removed? I figured Fallout 3/Fallout NV didn't have it because of realism or something but...I'll never forget figuring out the hard way that there was no combat underwater for the first time in Skyrim.

Shout Fire or Frost Breath into the water. The wave front makes it far easier to aim than projectiles.

Also, Ice Storm spells also work for similar reasons.

What's realistic about that? Many guns can still function under the water. Sure, they ain't gonna work as nicely as above it, but you can still pop someone from up close.

Removing it meant not having to desing underwater content, and not having to bother with physics and animations, and who knows what else. It saved them a lot of time, but turned our characters basically into Magikarps. XD

If you tried using a bow under water the arrow will simply float to the surface in Oblivion.

I was referencing to his mention of Fallout, but even in Oblivion if the fish would be close enough to you the arrow could still hit it. I mean of course, it was useless, but we still had an option to at least try and use it.

Not to mention how potent should shock spells be. I wish we'd see something like in Bioshock, where shooting a body of water with thunder bolt would fry everyone standing in the water. Or how cool would it be if spells like Frostbite could freeze the water for a short time enabling you to walk over the water. Or using flames to melt down small chunks of ice. So much potential, so little done with Destruction Elementalism.

Ebony Mail.