Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations incredible fish story

I thought I had seen it all. After seeing a huge splash in the middle of my pond yesterday I noticed something floating. My daughters took the boat to investigate. They netted and returned with the strangest thing I have ever seen in 50 years of bass fishing. A bass weighting approximately 2 1/2 lbs, 15" long had tried to swallow another bass approximately 1 1/2 pounds, 12" long. Of course, he got no further than the head which was lodged in his big mouth. With much difficulty I dislodged the two. I was able to revive the overly optimistic predator but his poor lunch was too far gone. So much for the fact that a bass can eat only 1/3 it's size. He might not be able to eat it but he'll sure try.
However, I was discouraged that they would eat each other. I've got plenty of blue gill for them and don't want to loose my bass.
Have any of you ever seen this? why would it happen?

You got to remember that bass will eat anything they can get in there mouth that is moving..sure they probebly canbolise each other all the time..

I've seen this 4 times! Bass eat other bass all the time and as big pond said will eat anything they think they can get there mouth around. BTW great trip with Shawn in MO, got some meat for the freezer.

yea i saw this once too out in the middle of the lake...the two were floating both were between 3 and 4 lbs.....we revived them

I found two fish like that this past winter. a 10"er was stuck in a 12"er. I have a picture but can't figure out how to post it.
-Scott

It is just like when people catch a 4" perch on a 5" rapala. Fish don't reason they just react. Movement + correct distance = food! So what if you can't swallow it. I have heard of northerns following walleyes into boats. Or big northerns choking on lake trout left overnight on a stringer. Sometimes fish seem really stupid, untill your not catching them.

I, too, have seen bass eating slightly smaller bass.
First time I saw it, a two inch bass had swallowed a one inch bass in my fish hauling tank, on the way back from a hatchery.
I have seen an 8 pound bass with a three pounder wedged in its maw. Both died.
I electrofished an 18 inch, three pound bass with a 13 inch 1.2 pound bass in its gullett. I have seen 12 inch bass with a 9 incher swallowed whole.
Greedy creatures.