Inner Boston Harbor Bass with Sea Lice

[BasicPatrick]

Originally Posted by tynan19

Sea Lice is picked up in the open ocean. So if the fish have them they are fresh run stripers not holdovers.

I am sorry Tynan but I would disagree with your description. Let me give you a few examples of my own experience with reports of sea lice and the age old "MYTH" that the presence of sea lice is a "firm" indicator of just arriving striped bass.

1...ABI Tagging Program (now out of business) noted at least three examples of SB caught with lice, released with lice and recaught with lice in the summer months. On one occasion the bass was caught and re caught two weeks apart in the same location, Point Allerton off Hull. Sea Lice on the fish at all times.

2...A few years ago during TRI State, a group of us were fishing in a river in Maine about a mile inside the mouth. When we came out of the river...all of us had Waders covered with sea lice.

3...I have not met a working marine biologist that has told me that sea lice are only found in deep cold water.

Now let me add that I beleive Sea Lice can be one indicator if used with others to determine that a fish is "fresh" and not a holdover. My point is that Sea Lice alone incicate nothing more than the presence of Sea Lice.

[thefishingfreak]

i agree with Patric about the sealice.
i've caught holdovers in march {WAY before the herring and mackeral ever made it to the cape} covered in sealice.


but,,,,,
there are fresh bass in the harbor! right behind the herring. some nice ones too

[killerlexus]

i have seen carp and large mouths with red spots called lice, i doubt they go to the open ocean, especially in the upper parts of the rivers like the mystic and charles,

[ridler72]

I am going to stick to sea lice on Stripers= fresh bass. Maybe my excuse to fish more. Routine and it feels like Christmas.

I have been into holdovers on both salt and fresh in and around areas of Metro Boston since the first day of spring for years now. I believe they spawn in the Mystic River. Wish I could witness a spawn to confirm. None of these fish had a smidge of sea lice. Now we have a school that has come covered in Sea Lice. I dont think they picked it up in the Mystic, Boston Haba or other. Who knows where they pick it up. I just know that they are new to the area. Signifies a migrating fish from somewhere. Maybe I might get a tagged one to help find out.

[dragnfly14]

Hi Guys,

I can't weigh in here with any scientic knowledge on Sea Lice but it seems to me that most all the fish I've caught with Sea Lice on them were holding in or very near Eel grass. That's why I always figured the fish picked up the lice. I'm only guessing from my experience.

[Flaptail]

There is only one thing you can be sure of when you get sea lice and that is that there are a lot of fish holdover or fresh. Sea Lice are prolific on fish in tightly packed or large schools. They need a host and bass are one of the many species that they can be found on. I have seen schools of freshly arrived fish though on the Monomoy flats which have literally numbered in the thousands all rolling on the bottom in an effort to rid themselves of these pests. Fish we caught that day could be wiped of them and you would have half a handfull. Sea Lice, as far as my experience goes, mean a good number of fish are present, meaning a large school, that's all.

[Karl F]

Flap, and Patrick... whats your take on "bright" fish.. (I don't mean their IQ).... I don't take too much stock in the sea lice =fresh arrivals, but I do in the color of the fish... I think the ones that are almost black backed with dull sides are holdovers the lighter colored (or "bright") ones (just starting to see more) are fresh.... they also seem to have a little more "ooomph" while on the line....

what do you think Flap, and BP?


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