weird crappie

[slabscab]

I have got a couple fish like this in the last couple years. What would cause this? should it be removed to keep the gene from spreading? or just tossed back? They were from LOZ this one was caught today

[Jigging15]

Looks like some one tried to step on it when it was smaller to make it stretch to 9". Never seen one like that. Have seen some crazy ones that looked like they had been hit by a bird and healed up funny. But they always had a cut or mark on them. Would have to so some crazy knife work to get this one filleted out.

[MOfishmgr]

It's not unusual for a fish to have a deformed spine. This one looks like that to me. Kinda like scoliosis in people. We see it a lot in hatchery raised fish but it's not uncommon in wild fish either.

[vic n]

That looks like it would be a decent sized fish if it were all there!

[Joedog]

Yeah....I agree....that's weird.

So...eating that fish will give you scoliosis??

[NYHellbender]

How big was this fish? Looks like it had some girth to it. <*))><

[slabscab]

The fish fought like its whole body was there. It was 10inchs if it had its whole body probably would of been a 13 inch fish. It got feed to the barn cat I didnt want to glow in the dark after eating it.

[LSL Angler]

I don't think that i would go swimming in that area!

[bwillaub]

Sufferer from "short tail syndrome"?

[G.Gordon]

Weird belly.

I've seen my share of "question mark" spines in fish I've cleaned. I thought it was just in my HOA lake from the "stocking" supply they ordered, but have since seen several out of Truman. Not as obvious as yours, but when you clean em that spine is crooked as a north Arkansas country road.