Inner Boston Harbor Bass with Sea Lice

[BasicPatrick]

Originally Posted by 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....

Karl,
Once again I am not scientist. I will add that I have never asked one about the "bright" fish theory....

However, my experience leads me to believe more in this as an indicator of a recently arriving migrating Bass.

I would think that migrating fish have a much higher metabolism than holdovers. I think it is accepted that holdovers slow their metabolism down to survive in the cold and food scarce waters during the winter. I figure that the higher metabolism equals more blood flowing, more oxygen flowing and just like most other living things this leads to healthier skin, skin color etc. Makes sense to me that a SB arriving during the migration will be at a much higher metabolism than a SB just "waking" up from the holdover or slower metabolic rate.

Ridler, I am not disagreeing with your call on the new fish. I think that as a fisherman that has been catching holdover bass and is used to seeing the condition of them, you are able to notice when a new group arrives. I was just commenting on using Sea Lice exclusively as a firm indicator of new fish. Energy levels, size, color, & behavior are also part of what I pay attention to when expecting those first migrating Bass.

I also an absolutely sure that there are new fish in the HABA

But what do I know...I can't even drink the hooch Karl sells without getting in trouble

[pete santini]

They were hitting good last night on the freshwater side of the dam biggest was a 34 inch pete

[Nebe]

Old gansett surfcasters will tell you that the freshest arriving bass have sealice in their mouths bacause they have been constantly swimming... once they stop and find a place they like, the lice spread out and over other areas of the body. I never believed it until I caught a keeper on block island last year on my 15th... the body was clean as a whistle, but when I looked in its mouth, it was packed with lice....

[ridler72]

That was some great information gentleman!

My paint don't dry. Always good to learn something more.

[BrianS]

Im glad I asked this

Good stuff

[spence]

Originally Posted by Eben

I never believed it until I caught a keeper on block island last year on my 15th...

15 trips to Block Island before you caught a keeper?



-spence

[Speedy Too]

Just a quick question, is it ok to eat fish with lice on them?

[Flaptail]

It's all protein!

[BasicPatrick]

Just like the owrm in th bottom of the bottle my friend...yummmmy....

but seriously, they wash off

[NIB]

I was always told sea lice means big school o fish. bright fish in are area are chesapeake bass dark ones are hudson fish.The southern bass have more purply hue to em hudson fish look dark an mean like H. Bogart wit a 5 o'clock shadow.