Sealice - what do we really know about them?

[Pete]

We've seen them on fish and use them as a barometer of "freshness", but are they really? How long do they survive? Are they benign, or as aquaculturists suggest are they a serious health threat? I've seen pictures of farmed Atlantic Salmon with literally hundreds of sealice causing lesions all over the fish. Some researchers say wild fish do not have sea lice unless they have come in contact with hatchery or farmed fish. What is the truth? Need we worry? What do you know about these sticky little parasites?

[Johnny Mac]

All I'm really able to pick out of that is the freshness issue.

The lice can only live up to 72 hours max after they hit fresh water. You get a fish with lice in a river, your happy. images/icons/smile.gif

[Threemuch]

I doubt that they need to come in contact with hatchery fish to have them. Lingcod frequently have tons of sea lice, and I don't think they contact hatchery fish ever. I would be interested in seeing the research you cite. Do you remember what it was or where you saw it?

As to whether they cause any harm? I have never caught a fish with lesions or anything. My guess is they are harmless, probably living off the fishes slime coating. I have always heard they last 2 days in fresh water. Anyone else?

[Pete]

Here are a couple links to sea lice stuff.

Sea Lice infestation (http://subscriber.scoot.co.uk/james_a_mackie/page2.htm)

Sea Lice discussion (http://www.anglingnews.net/rep_detail.asp?ID=612)

[stlhdr1]

Sealice rule!!! I collect them, no I'm not weird.. I just pull them off the fish, dry them then put them in my swivel box. Everytime I look at them, they bring back unreal memories and tons of them! images/icons/grin.gif We usually collect about 25-40 a year. I have a small box full of them from over the years. I also collect the chum jaws during winter steelhead season, make great ornaments for the christmas tree.
Rumor has it that they live 72 hours= 3 days or so. So you know they're fresh when you get one. Never heard of them hurting the fish or lesions, have seen some wear marks around the **** fins but nothing else.
Keith
images/icons/smile.gif images/icons/smile.gif

[ 10-12-2001: Message edited by: stlhdr1 ]

[Mr. Fisherman]

Salmonator,

I've heard that fish will migrate from the bay to the ocean feeding and waiting for the right conditions to head up the river. If that is true the fish could have spent enought time in the fresh water to darken up and enough time back in the ocean to get lice. Just speculation but the logic is there....

I wouldn't keep a retread though. Toss it back to "recycle it".

[Salmonator]

I think the 72 hour thing might hold true once they are up in the river, but i've caught some pretty dark fish in tidewater that had tons of long-tails hanging off their side. Only other possibility is that they came into the bay dark and hook-jawed?