Saw something gross on a fish recently

[shimano25]

Not too long ago I caught two sunfish in a river (the river was turbid) and I saw several reddish bulbous lesions all over their bodies (never saw this before). Can someone tell me what that is? Are the fish diseased or something? It was just plain gross to look at that I threw both fish back quickly.

 

[diggyj]

LOL Hope you washed your hands.

I caught a Largemouth bass this year with something similar on it. Not sure what it was. Disease or fungus of some sort.

Dirk

 

[openfire]

I have no idea what that is but it sounds disgusting... Perhaps frozenfire may know what it is?

 

[nocatchyname]

Sounds like some type of worms.

Quick google search...did it look something like this?

Fish that are infected can be seen with a whitish red worm-like thread, approx 1/4 of an inch long. These parasites are found anywhere on the body of the fish, including the eyes,the gills and fins. Raised ulcers may sometimes appear at the site of where it has attached itself. Consequently, a secondary bacterial infection may occur.

Quote taken from this site. http://freshwatercichlids.com/anchor-worms