Caught a few lately that looked like this

[mark-o]

What do y'all think caused this? Gar maybe? The gash is always only on one side.

[Kbob]

I had some here in East Tx with the same marks on them.

[Gamblinman]

Cormorant damage.

[D.O.C. 989]

Cormorant damage.

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     Cranes, Herons, and other birds do that type of damage.
     
     
     
     
  
  
  
  
  

[Nitro450]

Yes. They are correct. I have found dead bass in my pond with the same marks due to blue herons. I caught one in the act once or i would have never knew.

[mark-o]

Well it happened again, either Freddy Kruger or a Cormorant gone Full Auto got this one. Saw the single side first then flipped it around and... surprise. But on a good note it was the smallest of the 7 but they totaled just shy of 10lb.

[BttrBn]

I still the fish swimming upside down if it's from a bird?

[Crestliner16]

Cormorants, are some Nasty birds!They over harvest an area rapidly and kill everything their crap touches. I have watched them dive on a school of fish and afterwards, more than the fish they caught comes floating up. we have a serious problem in my area.And of course they are federally protected! Herons around here only stalk the shore line. I don't know about down south, and the Oklahoma region? I was attacked in my boat by a Cormorant a few years ago, I almost swung at with my St Croix . They have sharp beak watched some eating fish.

[GRR884]

I recently seen a study done on commarants on Kentucky Lake. They were granted permission to trap kill theses and do a study on stomach remains. It showed like 90% of a commarants diet is Shad. Less than 1% was Crappie.

[Cape Fear]

I would say cormorants is the culprit. I fish a lake that has a large population of the nasty birds during the winter and a lot of the yellow perch have the markings on them.

[BRUCE ALMIGHTY]

Caught a bunch of sacs with similar marks on them ,always wondered what caused them.

[mark-o]

Well it ain't just the sacalait they're attacking, dang evil birds.