Whats wrong with this Bass? 2024
steezy reply :
Ive caught several in the same pond this year that were like this.
The fish appeared to be strong and fought hard when hooked.
Anyone got any idea what is wrong with the area near the tail?
J Francho reply :
I'm at work, so I can't access my textbooks right now. I will try to take a look tonight. You might also want to send the pics to the TPWD as well.
SWH reply :
I have no idea. If i was to guess it could be as serious as a tumor/cancer, or as simple as just a growth/mole.
Paul Roberts reply :
It's an infection of some type. Check this out:
http://www.bigindianabass.com/big_indiana_bass/2009/06/intersex-fish-research-update.html#comments
steezy reply :
I just sent an email with pics to the local state fisheries rep.
JigMe reply :
Looks like an infection of some sort.
J Francho reply :
An infection was my 1st call, as well. But there isn't any of the typical necrosis or redness you often see. I seem to recall something similar in a pond koi in one of my books. It wasn't a bacterial infection, either.
L a r r y reply :
Hey....I've seen that fish before
Mattlures reply :
looks lika a scar from an injury. Posibly a bird attack or a bigger fish or turtle etc tried to eat it.
Bassnajr reply :
I caught a fish, 6 lber. with a large lump. (See photo)
Looked like she swallowed a golf ball....tumor maybe???
Tin reply :
Did Larry lay that one on the grass and remove its' slime coat? :
Tin reply :
QuoteI caught a fish, 6 lber. with a large lump. (See photo)Looked like she swallowed a golf ball....tumor maybe???
(Arnold voice)... "IT IS NOT A TUMA!!!"
bassmedic46 reply :
X2Quotelooks lika a scar from an injury. Posibly a bird attack or a bigger fish or turtle etc tried to eat it.
whoopbazz reply :
As being an old fish farmer...but not of bass. It reminds me of a virus that trout get. It trout they were more red...hence the nick name Strawberry disease.
This looks very similar except for the reddness.
ilovefooffur reply :
Poor thing. :'(
SWH reply :
That was perfect TIN certainly could be someone laid it down and messed up its slime coat... ;D
mrlitetackle reply :
QuoteQuoteI caught a fish, 6 lber. with a large lump. (See photo)Looked like she swallowed a golf ball....tumor maybe???
(Arnold voice)... "IT IS NOT A TUMA!!!"
;Dnice ;D
...as for your fish steez,
i have no idea... let me know what you find out though.
Dalton Tam reply :
Let me ask? Did you catch this fish shallow and is it sandy where you are fishing? I'm not expert but when we catch fish like that it usually happens in the spring when the fish are in the shallows fanning. My dad says sand gets underneath their scales and causes an irritation and kinna like a rash for fish. Just a theory but I haven't researched it.
steezy reply :
QuoteLet me ask? Did you catch this fish shallow and is it sandy where you are fishing? I'm not expert but when we catch fish like that it usually happens in the spring when the fish are in the shallows fanning. My dad says sand gets underneath their scales and causes an irritation and kinna like a rash for fish. Just a theory but I haven't researched it.
Caught it a few days ago (October) in 2-3' of water on a crankbait and the bottom of the pond is muddy.
Mattlures reply :
Now thats a diseese or infection of some kind. Maybe its bass herpees
Nice big smallie though
L a r r y reply :
QuoteDid Larry lay that one on the grass and remove its' slime coat? :
Ummmm please don't call PETA on me ;D
L a r r y reply :
QuoteThat was perfect TIN certainly could be someone laid it down and messed up its slime coat... ;D
I wonder who that could have been 
Chris reply :
looks like a fungus
steezy reply :
Well it turns out that one of my wifes uncles is a freshwater biologist and he has assured me that the condition as probably caused by handling the fish incorrectly therefore damaging the slim coat and causing the inflammed areas to form. He could not stop stessing to me the importance of handling fish properly and to always try to wet your hands/fingers before touching a fish. I told him I shore fish a lot and he suggested that I keep a small container of pond/lake water close by so I could wet my hand prior to touching a caught fish. Fishing in a boat should be easier since you can simply dip your hand in the water before touching a fish.
BTW, the local Texas wildlife/fisheries rep never responded to my email or phone call, what a waste.
L a r r y reply :
Steezy, with what you jus said, I wonder who else has caught this fish besides me and you. When I caught it, it had the same swelled area and we were both in awww at what was happening with it. I'll be sure and handle any other fish alot more carefully.
J Francho reply :
Sorry this took so long to respond, but I've been busy, and this took a back burner. I had a suspicion about a parasite I've seen in pond fish, mainly goldfish and ornamental carp, but I've seen it go widespread in other "mixed species" ponds as well.
They look to be secondary infections caused by anchor worms, Lernaea sp. The females look like a "Y" with the base stuck in the fish. The two legs of the "Y" are egg sacs. The site where the parasite attacks usually gets infected, and the swelling is that secondary infection.
Here is a link to an image showing the little critters. They are a around a cm in length: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/LacrosseFishHealthCenter/Images/Anchorworms.JPG
The life cycle of anchor worms is 20 days @ 70°F. So, in the warmer climes, it wouldn't be unusual to see the infections, but not the parasite.
If there are coldwater species mixed with the bass, such as koi, goldfish, comets, etc. I would say that is the source. The parasite usually runs rampant in a stressful environment, where many environmental parameters are not optimal. Heat, or huge temperature fluctuation, with no ideal water retreats would one stress that might cause an outbreak. Otherwise, it could be just one sick fish.
If you catch anymore, I'd say sacrifice it, put it on ice, and bring it to either the TPWD or your biologist friend for further analysis. You wouldn't want that honey hole of yours to crash and burn.
steezy reply :
JFrancho,
If I catch another sick one I'm going to sacrifice it and my biologist relative is going to open it up and confirm the issue.
Thanks for all your input.
J Francho reply :
Do either of you remember if those little brown things were attached to the body of the fish, or were they just debris from the water? They really look the female anchor worms. The puffy, swollen areas near the caudal peduncle (base of the tail) are what is left behind. The fishes body encapsulates the resultant infection in order to keep from spreading into a systemic infection.
steezy reply :
just debris from the water
Mattlures reply :
A container with lake water? :-?
Why would you need to do that, your standing right next to the lake!
steezy reply :
QuoteA container with lake water? :-?Why would you need to do that, your standing right next to the lake!
some of the shoreline is either very steep or is a rock wall that is 3ft above the water.
Hornytoad 10 reply :
snapping turtle
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