El dorado Crappie

[skeeter96]

Craig
Caught a couple of crappie yesterday that looked like they had a piece of Cali-flower stuck on the side of them.
It was about the size of a quarter, what is it and does it hurt to eat the fish if you cut that part off. If you throw them back will it spread to other fish or go away.Thanks for all the work you guys do to keep our lakes maintained and stocked, we don't tell you that enough.

[Craig Johnson]

Craig
Caught a couple of crappie yesterday that looked like they had a piece of Cali-flower stuck on the side of them.
It was about the size of a quarter, what is it and does it hurt to eat the fish if you cut that part off. If you throw them back will it spread to other fish or go away.Thanks for all the work you guys do to keep our lakes maintained and stocked, we don't tell you that enough.

skeeter96,

What you are describing sounds like lymphocystis. Here's a link to another thread in this forum from 2011 with additional info. http://www.crappie.com/crappie/ask-the-biologist/190008-el-dorado-crappie/

The fish should be OK to eat but obviously trim off affected areas and as always use your best judgement...if it looks odd, don't eat it!

Hope this helps!!

Craig

[skeeter96]

Craig
Thanks for the info, that was what was on them. Glad to know what it is.

Loren