LJ Hitchikers - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

swinginFish · 07-18-2014, 12:24 PM

Had three of these guys protruding from the left side of a 12 lb YT caught at LJ on Wed. DFG guy on the beach was stumped - me too (and I've fished the S. Cal area for over 50 yrs). Internet sketchy on ID, but did find some stuff out ("Anchor Worm"). Three-horned heads were embedded in/near fish's vertebrae, with half of length ("tail) outside of body. Were two long flagellum extending from before the tail-like body of each critter. Am wondering if others have pulled in local fish with similar parasites? More pics by clicking HERE.
Avery

blitzburgh · 07-18-2014, 12:57 PM

Dude WTF???

Nasty lookin'

bwana · 07-18-2014, 01:13 PM

Probably a PETA raised parasite to get us all to stop eating fish.

I would be pissed if I saw that on my fish. Good thing it was protruding so you saw it instead of hidden in the guts.

cell128 · 07-18-2014, 02:34 PM

I wouldn't eat that yellow if I were you!!! Ship it to me and I'll dispose of it

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dos ballenas · 07-18-2014, 02:50 PM

yes, it is an anchor worm........... I have seen them in countless fish locally in the southern CA bight.... from yellows, to dorado, albacore, pacific saury, swordfish, etc............. cut it out and eat around it. Totally safe. Do not throw the fillets away.

salty pirate · 07-18-2014, 03:04 PM

Some fish are loaded with them. Seen them slurp back into the flesh, so there are probably some that you missed. Cook em up

taggermike · 07-18-2014, 08:19 PM

Yep, that's an anchor worm. They're common parasites of our local fish. But that's a damn big one. If I recall correctly anchor worms are actually copepods related to sea lice. Any way, the fish is safe to eat so enjoy. Mike

DanaPT · 07-19-2014, 05:15 AM

mmm sashimi!

CKallday71 · 07-19-2014, 08:56 AM

Just protein. I'd be willing to bet in some Asian culture those things are a delacacy.

DanaPT · 07-19-2014, 08:25 PM

that worm doesn't even look real. nasty.

philr21 · 07-21-2014, 01:40 PM

Just when you thought parasites couldn't be any nastier.... something else comes along.

The yellows I filleted here in Korea the other day had worms in the meat too.

07-18-2014, 12:24 PM	#1
swinginFish Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 173	LJ Hitchikers Had three of these guys protruding from the left side of a 12 lb YT caught at LJ on Wed. DFG guy on the beach was stumped - me too (and I've fished the S. Cal area for over 50 yrs). Internet sketchy on ID, but did find some stuff out ("Anchor Worm"). Three-horned heads were embedded in/near fish's vertebrae, with half of length ("tail) outside of body. Were two long flagellum extending from before the tail-like body of each critter. Am wondering if others have pulled in local fish with similar parasites? More pics by clicking HERE. Avery

07-18-2014, 12:57 PM	#2
blitzburgh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Menifee Posts: 2,509	Dude WTF??? Nasty lookin' __________________ ”The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it.” ~Thomas Jefferson.........maybe

07-18-2014, 02:50 PM	#5
dos ballenas Vampyroteuthis infernalis Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 585	yes, it is an anchor worm........... I have seen them in countless fish locally in the southern CA bight.... from yellows, to dorado, albacore, pacific saury, swordfish, etc............. cut it out and eat around it. Totally safe. Do not throw the fillets away. __________________ ____________________________________________

07-19-2014, 08:56 AM	#9
CKallday71 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: The 951 Posts: 430	Just protein. I'd be willing to bet in some Asian culture those things are a delacacy. __________________ I fish therefore I am. Selling cars since 2006. If you love what you do you never WORK a day in your life.

07-18-2014, 01:13 PM	#3
bwana Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: El Toro, CA Posts: 244	Probably a PETA raised parasite to get us all to stop eating fish. I would be pissed if I saw that on my fish. Good thing it was protruding so you saw it instead of hidden in the guts.

07-18-2014, 02:34 PM	#4
cell128 lizard king Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Lakewood Posts: 520	I wouldn't eat that yellow if I were you!!! Ship it to me and I'll dispose of it Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

07-18-2014, 03:04 PM	#6
salty pirate Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: where the hell is Temecula Posts: 268	Some fish are loaded with them. Seen them slurp back into the flesh, so there are probably some that you missed. Cook em up

07-18-2014, 08:19 PM	#7
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	Yep, that's an anchor worm. They're common parasites of our local fish. But that's a damn big one. If I recall correctly anchor worms are actually copepods related to sea lice. Any way, the fish is safe to eat so enjoy. Mike

07-19-2014, 05:15 AM	#8
DanaPT Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: South OC Posts: 1,605	mmm sashimi!

07-19-2014, 08:25 PM	#10
DanaPT Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: South OC Posts: 1,605	that worm doesn't even look real. nasty.

07-21-2014, 01:40 PM	#11
philr21 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Yokosuka, Japan Posts: 228	Just when you thought parasites couldn't be any nastier.... something else comes along. The yellows I filleted here in Korea the other day had worms in the meat too.