Do Not Shoot the Messenger

[Green Cart]

I cannot believe that someone did not bring this up early, but I had been busy switching to my new PC system and server at the same time. For a while P&S would not let me in (SMILE)

I hate to alarm you, but all rockfish lovers should read the article.

Rockfish Disease (http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2004/04_23-39/top)

I guess we should start wearing gloves and watching our hands more often. I am depressed. I am very close to retirement and plan to go fishing for rockfish more often. Maybe I should retire to my birthstate of Florida to fish for pompano (SMILE)! At least, I would not have to worry about buying bloodworms there. Actually the bloodworm problem would just be replaced by running around to buy live shrimps and worrying about them either jumping out of the bait bucket or keeping them alive. The bloodworms bite, but the live shrimp also have a sharp horn.

[OldBay]

I agree with the biologists comments "fish handler's disease has an exaggerated reputation ".

Fish handlers disease is a a very minor (in my experiences) infection resulting from getting fish slime in cuts. If you get "striper thumb" from lipping a lot of fish, and then the next day your thumb feel stiff, you have fish handlers disease. Wash with soap and hit the area with peroxide. You're good to go in a couple days. I used to handle a lot of fish at work on a comm Sea Bass boat, and after 4 days out it would get to the point where I couldn't move my thumb and first 2 fingers. Peroxide for a couple days and I was good to go. My thumb hasn't fallen off yet. :p

I guess it you are old, or your system is weak for some other reason, then you may want to wear gloves. I think that Mr. Pork Chop hand in the article is the exception, not the rule.

[Bonito6t9]

I was fishing the James about a year and a half ago in my 12ft jon boat and as i was going under the Varina-Enon bridge i saw striper floated up to the top of the water... so i pulled up beside a good 15lb and decided that i would pick it up... well on its side looked like his scales and skin had been eatin away almost like an acid... thank god i have gloves on i couldnt go through what u went through man...tightlines


Fred

[OldBay]

In general it is a good idea to Not handle fish with Leisions, or fish that are decaying (which is what it sounds like you encountered). Fish with mycobacteriosis usually look healthy according to the article. If you had casual contact with a few fish a day, you probably wouldn't have any idea you even came in contact with the mycobacteriosis at all. Prolonged explsure, or deep puncture wounds are more likely to bring about he fish handlers "disease". Also, those with a weakened imune system are more vulnerable.

Quote from article:
"Most agree that fishermen should be cautious when handling fish with lesions, which afflict some stripers infected with disease. The vast majority suffering from mycobacteriosis, however, exhibit no outward symptoms."

[Manayunk Jake]

Greetings OldBay et al!

The most likely scenario for contacting mycobacteriosis is cleaning infected fish. Infected fish show gritty nodules on the reproductive organs. Put an infected fish and a sharp knife together, and you can see the danger.

Fish can have lesions and strange scale patterns/patches for many reasons (bad handling of C&R fish is probably number one.) Any fish that lookes "wasted" (big head with skinny body) should not be eaten.

[cocoflea]

Can anyone tell me is this just Chesapeake Bay Stripers or has this also show up in the Hudson Stripers

[sand flea]

Wanna' hear something really nasty? Mycobacterium is actually a type of tuberculosis.

Most of the bay stripers you see with sores have mycobacterium, although people keep calling it pfiesteria, a far rarer disease.

Don't mess with fish with visible sores. Put them back and don't handle them too much. If you have open cuts on your hands, consider wearing a latex glove.

True, it won't hurt most of us but several watermen have actually had their hands amputated from this in the last few years.

[can't fish today]

Yep, the genus Mycobacterium includes tuberculosis as well as leprosy and other nasties.
More info (http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Mycobacteria)