Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Ulcers on bass

Longhorn,

It's very likely that these lesions are caused by fungal infections that occur in areas where the protective slime has been removed through handling and hooking. I have seen these on bass where you could actually see the outline of a thumb on one side and fingers on the other. Those around the mouth are most likely from hook wounds. If the fish are otherwise healthy, they should recover. If you catch a fish like this, try releasing it with a minimal amount of contact and wet your hands before you touch them, that will minimize the loss of slime.