Help! Mystery Stuff Growing On Mermentau Cypress Knees

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10-17-2016, 04:40 PM
mermentau

Help! Mystery Stuff Growing On Mermentau Cypress Knees

Three fish today, and now to the interesting part. Don't ask why no pictures because I have no excuse. A lot of the cypress knees by the swamp edge have a strange bright pink stuff growing. They are the shape and size of a band aid, but raised along the middle. They are all exactly perpendicular to the water or vertical aligned. Smashed one and it is very soft with a liquid like interior that's thick like honey.

The first ones I saw I was sure someone had flagged a spot to tie a boat maybe for a squirrel hunt then I notice there were lots of them in many areas along the river. I've been on the water year round since 1972 and never saw that. Has anyone any idea what that is? The nearest image I could find is this (4th one down). The ones I saw were solid shapes like a band aid with no gaps, but the color is real close.

I will get a picture if they are still there when I go back. Looks like from outer space.
10-17-2016, 05:58 PM
jig rig

Hey MMT,

They are non native Apple snails. I posted about seeing them this pass winter in the Des Allemnds area.

Invasive apple snails wreak havoc in Orange Grove marsh - Louisiana Sportsman News Breaker, LA
10-17-2016, 06:35 PM
Tracker123

Very interesting JR, didn't know that. Thanks for posting.
10-17-2016, 07:04 PM
mermentau

CDC and JR what a combination for a wealth of info. I think apple snail eggs is exactly what I saw. I'll call that hotline mentioned in the article and make sure they have this area on record. It says they have been spotted in the Mermentau, but I'll make double sure.
10-17-2016, 09:11 PM
PawPaw Gene

The snails have infested all the fresh water areas around Houma. Looks like some teenagers have been chewing bubble gum and stuck it to the trees, knees, and lily pads.
"gene"
10-17-2016, 09:58 PM
Pastor

WOW! Do they have or will they have an adverse affect upon the fishery?
10-19-2016, 06:44 PM
mermentau

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pastor

WOW! Do they have or will they have an adverse affect upon the fishery?

My guess if they eat all the water plants that they say it will. People get them for aquariums to eat the slime and the slime on the lay downs draws bait fish it seems.