Chesapeake's Rockfish Overrun by Disease

[ferrell]

This article was front page story on Sunday, 3/11

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/10/AR2006031002416.html

[Antman40]

You guy's down on the "neck" are a little behind the times aren't you? Or maybe it just's take the D.C. paper longer to get to you guys...[grin]

I'm just poking fun......Check out the Chesapeake board......they have been talking about it all day.

Tony

[bob reed]

ACTUALLY WE HAVE A LOT BETTER THING TO DO THAT SIT AROUND ALL DAY READING THE DUMB ASS WASHINGTON POST!![excited]

[capt. dave]

Now Bob-A-Loo, was that nice? We have the upmost regard for the Post. It makes a good wrapper for the fish we clean. Oh yes, it's also good for filling up the recycling bin.[grin]

[rocksandblues]

i caught a lot of resident rocks last year in the lower potomac. I think this article was a little "chicken-little-ish" One of my pet theories (dumb redneck) is that there are a lot of these fish getting caught and released all summer. This is good. But i wonder how many of these sores are caused by rough catch and release. IE hands all over removing protective slime.

[billfish]

Word of caution. I don't know what the articale said. But the " Fish Handlers Sickness " is real, real bad stuff. You can die from it in one week!!! No kidding. My wife is an ICU nurse and had a waterman in good health die of it in one week!! Had other friends very sick for weeks with this stuff,2 years ago, Still not right!!
Bill

[capt. dave]

Billfish, you are very right about the Watermens Disease. I don't think there was an attempt to minimize that problem. We were just having fun putting down the Washington Compost.

[jwas1]

Vibrio is the so called flesh eating bacteria that progresses very rapidly.
Rockfish have Mycobacteria which progresses more slowly. Often requires surgery after it takes hold. My fishing buddy had two trips to the plastic surgeon to get rid of nodules on the back of his hand. I may give in and wear gloves when cleaning rockfish this year. If you want to look for disease in fish without skin lesions, check the spleen and liver, you will see multiple white lumps.
http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic281.htm

[Ginger]

I had myco bacterum marinum two years ago. Spent one and a half years on antibiotics which cause me significant indigestion. Two surgeries to clear out the nodules and infection. Lost feeling in one finger and some strength in that hand. No fun. I see no humour what so ever in the infection reported in the Washington Post. If you have a deep cut or puncture wound do not get bay or creek water in it. Wear protective kevlar gloves when you clean fish. Carry peroxide and chlorox on the boat. I you get cut or if you noitice an inflamation go right away to a local Northern Neck doctor who has probably seen it before. Don't put off seeking medical advice. Lastly, don't stop fishing but do be aware.

[fish22485]

All of whats been said/warned is true, however in all the years and hundreds of rockfish i've caught 3 have had the lesions. One might conclude this to be overstated then, if that was their own experience , so differing views will occur as a result. You gentlemen that have had the misfortune to be stricken do us all a favor though by telling us not to take this lightly, we should be prepared as stated with anti bacterial washes etc. but just as important release the fish and handle in the process as little as possible. Use the dehookers..... Bill