What are the blistery sores on crappie? We caught a lot of fish with them on Palestine and the fish with the sores were all bigger fish, we probably threw back 15 nice keepers yesterday because they had them. They are reddish/snotty and nasty looking mostly on the sides but a few fish had them on top near the dorsal fin. I was assuming it was where they rubbed to loose. Eggs during the spawn but wasn’t certain.

I don't know what it is but some of the crappie I get on Lake Athens have it. I've been told by other anglers that it is only on the surface and doesn't get into the meat but I never take the chance and just turn those fish loose.

The meat is fine on those it is just on the outside of the fish.

Yes it does look nasty.

Actually, I have been told that the TPWD wants you to keep those fish and not throw them back because that fungus or whatever can actually be given to other Crappie.

When you catch one with it...keep them and get them out of the population.

I have caught and cleaned several with it and there is nothing wrong with the fillet. My personal experience.

If you happen to get inside and find something does not look right then just get rid of that part of the fillet.

Just sharing my experience and what I have heard.

Hope this helps.

It’s some sort of virus or something. Usually it’s just on the skin but occasionally it’s into the fillet. I just cut that part out. Pretty common on Fork and Palestine. The crooked spine white crappie is something else real common on Fork.

I am finding a lot of these fish on Athens. A neighbor called tpwd and they said the same as Hogon's post.

Plus #1.

Ok, Thanks. Good info but I don’t know about eating those nasty suckers! You know at one time people in China said it was OK to eat a bat with a virus too and look how that turned out LOL! (Just kidding...kind of)

Slew we had one of those crooked tail ones yesterday as well.

This is a bacterial or fungal infection usually called " Red Sore Disease" pretty common in area lakes

Also referred to as "RSD". As has already been said, TPWD will tell you that it is harmless to humans and it must be caused I have eaten a LARGE number of crappie with it. My Arkansas buddy and I caught several with it in the last 5 days and the fish were cleaned and are in Arkansas.

Caught two with it Saturday in Lewisville. First time I have ever noticed it. One had a patch the size of a silver dollar.