Poll Question. What Do You Think Caused This Damage to the Bluegill?

[JTN]

One of the many types bigger stork birds that stand in the water an pull fish from above, had a small stork type bird doing that to creek chubs swimming around my minnow trap one day when I went to check it, a lot of minnows had a small piece missing right behind the dorsal fin.

[mperry]

Engine or TM prop?

If not that then going by the bite mark it would have to be a turtle. But I agree with the engine prop.

[bigbass201]

I had someone mention trapped in a fish net. Do you think that is possible? They have fish nets on Lake Erie all the time.

[Cajun Skeeter]

I'm going with snapping turtle beak.

[Rangerdeepv]

Pike.............

[T Top Slim]

That there is a bluegill that survived being used for bait on a trotline, limbline or jugline. I used to use bluegill for bait when fishing for flathead cats, that is the exact location for inserting a 10 ought stainless steel hook. Insert a 10-12 ought stainless steel hook through the back just above the lateral line, flathead love em some bluegill.

I agree.

[Centurion]

Don’t think birds take bites out of fish. They hold the fish, then swallow head first.

[JTN]

Don’t think birds take bites out of fish. They hold the fish, then swallow head first.

Rainy days I’ve sat in my cabin at the lake and watched the stork birds work the shallows they grab from above and flip to swallow occasionally they miss the flip or the fish shakes loose.

[Rider99XX]

Don’t think birds take bites out of fish. They hold the fish, then swallow head first.

The bird doesn't have to take a bite out of the fish. The bite could have caused a wound to the bluegill that festered up and that area rotted out then healed up.

I've also seen more than one blue heron beak stuck through a bluegill.

[billnorman1]

Somebody used that fish for catfish bait, it pulled off the hook.

[rjvana37]

However, that's one tough bluegill.