Red sores and striped bass
 

Here is a photo of one of many striped bass taken this season in the Newport area with red sores. Be aware this was the "better looking" side of this particular bass.
Have sent these photos to marine bios for examination - not sure its myco. Have also received reports from Long Island and Buzzards Bay areas with similar looking bass- this can't be good. If anyone has other photos of bass like this please post or send me a PM.
Thanks
DZ

Caught one in Boston Harbor the other day...keeper but I let it go! Did not want to eat that one??

Had a lot of fish last year June in the Taunton River same red sores
didnt seem to affect appetite or the way they fought the links below
show people are on it


http://www.onthewater.com/advisory-r...-striped-bass/

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/vm059

Dennis heres one caught in Newport from about a month ago.

Attachment 56819

I am happy to say that out of over 300 keeper size (15# and up) I have had maybe 2 with red lesions. None in the Canal and the 2 I did have were from south of the bridges in Narr bay.

Thanks for the links. Fish we've taken also appear to be OK. Real issue will be whether they are safe to consume or touch.

DZ

DZ if you need any details to submit shoot me a PM.

Ditto for me in the canal and on the cape this spring didnt see much of it at all save a few random solo spots on the tail on only a few fish. However last year they were all over the place around here

We've seen this in the past but that does seem like a lot more on one fish than I remember. I think its spreads amongst the hold overs as they huddle close together in the winter. I hope the Bio guys have a more definitive answer.

I think in previous discussions this was said to be possibly caused by a parasite or bacteria that they encounter when the water is warm...it does look awful.....

" It is important to note that striped bass are susceptible to other viral, bacterial and parasitic infections; therefore not all striped bass with lesions on the skin have mycobacteriosis."


this is from 2012

"According to MarineFisheries, the information available at this time indicates a slightly elevated occurrence of skin lesions on area striped bass to likely be of viral or bacterial origin, but not clearly associated with Mycobacterium.

MarineFisheries staff has been collecting information from anglers on the occurrence and geographic distribution of the skin lesions. Coastwide, the frequency appears to be low (less than five percent) but is higher in fish from southern Massachusetts, primarily Buzzards Bay and the Cape Cod Canal. Internal and external examination of afflicted fish has not indicated that these lesions are associated with Mycobacteriosis. The examination of several dozen randomly collected striped bass showed no signs of abnormalities in their spleens, the hallmark indicator of the disease.

Lesions on the skin of stripers are a relatively common occurrence and have many causative agents. The elevated frequency seen in some areas this year may be the result of anomalously high spring and summer water temperatures seen in Massachusetts and more southerly waters.

MarineFisheries says that fish with mild skin lesions are safe to handle, but the agency offers some common-sense fish handling guidelines: wear heavy gloves to avoid puncture wounds from fish spines; if cuts, scrapes or other open or inflamed areas of your skin are present, cover hands and wrists with an impermeable barrier like a rubber or vinyl glove; wash hands thoroughly with an antibacterial soap after handling fish; wash all cutting boards, surfaces, knives and other utensils used to process raw fish with warm soapy water; discard fish with large open lesions or darkened patches in the fillets; and persons who exhibit signs of infection on their hands after handling fish should contact their physician immediately.

According to VIMS there is no evidence that humans can contract mycobacteriosis by consumption of cooked fish. However, because of the risk of infection via handling, any striped bass that exhibit external signs of mycobacteriosis (unsightly skin ulcers) should be released or disposed of. Do not keep or eat a fish that you would not buy in a fish market, advises VIMS. Any fish that are consumed should be cooked thoroughly. M. shottsii, one of the bacteria responsible for causing mycobacteriosis in striped bass, prefers to grow at temperatures below about 86 degrees and is killed after heating to temperatures greater than 170 for 20 minutes."

It's the same thing every year. It's gross but not at all new.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

DZ ,
Denis & I were into a heavy schoolie bite a couple of NoV or Dec ago .
He,s a bean counter so when he says we caught 125 .. we probably did // at least 75% had the sores ........I,ve been seeing them for years .. But never take any photos of it .I kinda want to remember what the clean one look like :fishin:

Thanks everyone - I just want to start documenting this - seems like its starting to become more prevalent. Maybe some public relations/article to make sure that fishermen and the general striped bass eating public are aware. Not sure if the fish dealers would even accept fish with theses sores but I don't fish commercially. Maybe someone can chime in on that aspect.

Thanks again,
DZ

DZ Get ahold of Jimmy White .>>>>>>>>.............................. he,s been on this for years & he even has a really good presentation . I also think Mike L has photos ..

Dz I have sold quite a few fish that had sores all over them this year. Mostly fish from buzz bay and the islands. Chatham fish had no sores.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Thanks everyone. Making progress - Principle Biologist for RIDEM hasn't seen this and would like a bass afflicted with sores delivered to their Jamestown Office for testing. I'll be on the lookout for some with sores. If anyone catches any near Newport/Jamestown area and would consider donating it please contact:
Nicole Lengyel
Principal Biologist
RIDEM Fish and Wildlife
3 Ft. Wetherill Rd.
Jamestown, RI 02835
Office: (401) 423-1940

Thanks for any assistance.
DZ

Anyone boat fishing from Newport can easily deliver a fish to ft wetherill. They are right on the water and have a dock.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

If I get one with sores ill shoot over to the docks and drop one off.