whats wrong with this fish

Saltwater Inshore Reports
1

This is my first post and but I have been reading for many years. Thanks to all of you who have taught me and others by sharing their knowledge!

For the report…

Fished 12.28 the last 3 hours of the outgoing tide and caught 12 red fish, 2 under slot, 5 in the slot, and the remaining within 3 inches over. All fish caught on quartered crab purchased from Crosby’s. All fish caught in creeks off docks in 2 to 5 foot of water.

As I said, I have never posted, but I also have never caught a fish that looked like this one so I wanted all of your experience to help me out. What do you guys think is wrong with this fish? He had sores all over him and all of his tail and fins look as though they have been nibbled off?

2

Looks like he came in 2nd in an A-1 razor fight. Seriously though that is weird. We have some local experts that I am sure will come along soon with some more helpful insight.

3

I think you should of put him out of his misery…

Hunter P. Hames
11’ Tarpon 100
19’ Sea Fox 125 merc

4

Nah, he’ll be fine. Looks no worse than I did after my first fistfight. Fortunately my sparring partner walked away equally decorated.

Anyhow, my guess would be that he got messed up in a school of munchy trout or perhaps bluefish, but blues would be odd this time of year. This doesn’t appear to be fin rot (pathogenic).

5

I thought it was strange too. here is another picture of it

6

Maybe hearded up and chased around by a dolphin or two?

miss’n fish’n

212 SEAHUNT CC
Sea Squirt 16

7

x2 on flipper

8

Bacteria of some sort eating away at it

Iain Pelto
Sea Hunt Triton 160 w/ 90 ETEC “JB3”
Native Manta Ray 14

9

He lived to tell what it’s like having flipper hot on your tail.

Scout '282
tidewater '21

Oscar '10

10

Definitely looks like Flipper got his tail, but he’s got to have some kind of tissue-eating bacteria to explain the other fins.

11

X5 on flipper. The drum probably swam up in some rocks/pilings and got beat up from the oysters and barnacles.

Umm, you gonna eat that?

Thousands have died to save my freedom. Only one has died to save my soul!

12

I’m leaningtowards Raddady. But I’ma wait on Barbawang

13

Initially attacked by flipper, then weakened, and now succumbing to an infection.

14

I doubt that fish was intended for food. I have seen dolphin play with reds for 15+ minutes rather than eating them. That would probably explain why the other fins are torn up because they were used to toss the fish around.

15

I’m with Carter on this one. Last winter I had to sit and watch a pod of dolphins play volleyball with a redfish for about 15 minutes. Wish there was an open season on flipper…

Who’s Ready for a Sleigh Ride? www.KayakFishSC.com

16

Jerry’s Fish

Vinman
“Every saint has a past, every sinner a future”
www.summervillesaltwateranglers.com
2011 Carolina Skiff 178DLV
90 HP Honda

17

flipper? good grief, charlie brown. that fish clearly has an infection.

18

Infections in wounds caused by flipper. He didn’t put neosporin on them like he should have :wink:

miss’n fish’n

212 SEAHUNT CC
Sea Squirt 16

19

I’ve caught these like this in late summer and fall. My guess is infection. Had one so gnarled up you had to huff puke to hold it.

Vinman
“Every saint has a past, every sinner a future”
www.summervillesaltwateranglers.com
2011 Carolina Skiff 178DLV
90 HP Honda

20

send info to SC fish and game,they most likely have more info. Stripers have a similar infection problem Macro Bacteriosus

I only fish on days that end in"Y"