Bass for of Roe

[big jay]

I had 4 bass today all about 36" that all came from the same body of fish.
When I filleted them they were all full of roe. I see one every now and again that hasn't dropped her eggs, but this seemed really out of the ordinary.
Anyone have ideas as to why this occurred?

[Rockfish9]

Originally Posted by big jay

I had 4 bass today all about 36" that all came from the same body of fish.
When I filleted them they were all full of roe. I see one every now and again that hasn't dropped her eggs, but this seemed really out of the ordinary.
Anyone have ideas as to why this occurred?

yes I've seen it a few times... according to a marine fisheries biologist I spoke with a few years back she told me not all spawning age females spawn each season even though they develop eggs... the eggs will eventually be absorbed into the body... they turn green as they are getting absorbed.

[big jay]

Thank you Rockfish. I didn't realize they absorb them. On set of roe was green, the others still orange.
I see it here and there as well, was wondering if there might have been a reason a whole school (I'm just guessing from the sample) wouldn't spawn. I know enviornmental factors play a role on spawning success, maybe that had something to do here?
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[oldroe]

Did you eat the roe. We have many Russian people here on the north shore of Lake Ontario. Had one guy get a hunk of spawn off me and he ate half on the spot and fished with the rest.

[big jay]

Nope. It kind of freaks me out. And my customers didn't seem the type to go diving in to it either.
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[niko]

Haven't seen any roe, few years ago had a few like that. My fish have been full of 4 inch squid
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[thefishingfreak]

Hopefully they are spawning somewhere up here. Wouldn't surprise me to see them spawning north of the cape. There's lots of holdovers, all it takes is a couple to be born here and they will return to their place of birth like many other fish
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[big jay]

I wouldn't be surprised if they are. Seems like every year people are catching bigger holdovers.
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