BabyShark Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 So I went for a quick flick this morning in the bay and caught a nice trevally. When I got it home I put it in the sink and noticed something in its mouth moving slowly. I pulled it out and saw another bigger one in its mouth. I googled it and found out they are a crustacean parasite that eat the fishes tongue, then continue to suck it's blood and it then replaces the fishes tongue. Ive never seen or heard of anything so disgusting, it's put me off eating the fish! Has anyone else came across them and nearly vomited? https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/phenomena/2013/02/28/tongue-eating-fish-parasites-never-cease-to-amaze/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berleyguts Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 It’s commonly called a “doctor”. I’ve found them in silver trevally and yellowtail. Fairly common. My wife once caught a trevally with one in it and hasn’t eaten trevally since! I have. They don’t really affect the flesh as they’re basically feeding on what’s coming into the fish’s mouth. They can be a bit off putting though! 😂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wazatherfisherman Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 Hi BSDD as Baz says above, they are common in many species. When Luderick fishing, some times after hooking up, you lose the fish and find the doctor on your hook. Showing guys how to use your finger to remove hooks from Luderick it always creeps people out when the doctor grabs your wet finger. Have seen them snuck into rock plates a few times by practical jokers Leatherjacket sometimes have them sticking out of their belly also. Pretty much harmless to humans bar the creep factor 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
recurve Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 When I was fishing in Wellington and Kapiti Coast in NZ we saw these a lot. In all sorts of fish. I'm guessing the must like colder water as fishing in Wollongong I have not come across one yet. They were so common over there we really thought nothing of it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BabyShark Posted May 12, 2020 Author Share Posted May 12, 2020 33 minutes ago, Berleyguts said: It’s commonly called a “doctor”. I’ve found them in silver trevally and yellowtail. Fairly common. My wife once caught a trevally with one in it and hasn’t eaten trevally since! I have. They don’t really affect the flesh as they’re basically feeding on what’s coming into the fish’s mouth. They can be a bit off putting though! 😂 Thanks @Berleyguts I'm with your wife, I'm not eating it! I wonder why its called a "doctor"? It's a parasite!! I still want to vomit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingie chaser Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 Throw it on a hook, bet it gets you into another fish 😉 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BabyShark Posted May 12, 2020 Author Share Posted May 12, 2020 @recurve I'm in Port Stephens and the water is about 21deg, so I'm not sure about water temperature. This is the first time I've seen one before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelm Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 They have been called doctors since god knows when, as mentioned, common in Yellowtail and Trevally, but often found in other species too, Leatherjackets are probably the most common fish to have alien things in/on their body. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BabyShark Posted May 12, 2020 Author Share Posted May 12, 2020 1 minute ago, kingie chaser said: Throw it on a hook, bet it gets you into another fish 😉 I don't even want to look at it let along put it on a hook. I'm totally grossed out by them. If I knew this was in the fishes mouth, I would have thrown it back! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingie chaser Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 5 minutes ago, BabySharkDooDoo said: I don't even want to look at it let along put it on a hook. I'm totally grossed out by them. If I knew this was in the fishes mouth, I would have thrown it back! LOL You do know many culture eat bugs for breakfast right 🤣 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Clain Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 Doctor parasite. Yakka, Trevallys. The reason some of you might find some in other spaces is because I think they transmit from within the schools. I have caught Yakkas from a school that almost all had doctors and then caught many in other spots where there are no doctors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BabyShark Posted May 12, 2020 Author Share Posted May 12, 2020 Thanks everyone for replying. I prefer snakes to these parasites. All species of fish mentioned will be throwbacks for me, just in case there's a doctor onboard! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryant fish Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 Caught a few with those horrible bloody things mainly leather jackets couldn't eat them after seeing that yuck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zmk1962 Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 Very common in Hawkesbury yakkas. Pretty sure they were the inspiration for the Alien movies- can you see the resemblance? cheers Zoran 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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