Black Spot Fish Disease - What You Need to Know

Black spot fish disease is caused by a parasitic trematode (a.k.a. fluke or flatworm) in the genus Neascus. Multiple species of Neascus can infect fish. This video describes the life cycle of these trematode parasites and their impacts on fish and humans. If you've caught a fish with raised black spots or bumps in the skin or meat, it is very likely black spot fish disease.
#fishing

[gothickthulu]

Thank you for helping to spread actual helpful information. Especially about something a lot of anglers aren’t always informed about.

[JerryMcCord]

Excellent report. I’ve been trying to explain this to fisherman for years and you tied it all together in one 2-minute video great job!

[wat]

I've definitely seen these on our local fish and wondered what the heck it was, but I realized if it was a big deal that we would already know about it. Good on you for doing your due diligence in teaching the fishing world about this interesting parasite. Good job!

[stephenhumphrey]

Great video as always Nat. I worked a season with a state's fisheries division and these parasites are common enough that we don't even take note of them when doing surveys. The organism infecting these fish are very similar to the organisms that infect us to cause swimmer's itch. Pretty neat I think.

Also I wanted to commend you for your emphasizing not to attempt to "treat" or euthanize a fish that's been infected. Due to the cultural stigma behind parasites many people fail to recognize how ubiquitous they are in the environment. Whether it be invertebrates, fish, mammals, etc., every animal (and plants, fungi, and even some microbes!) has evolved through constant exposure to parasitic organisms. Like anything else, these parasites evolve in a cost-benefit fashion and adaptations that would be a major detriment to the host organism would (usually) make the parasites less fit. I've heard a parasitologist say that any given mammal found in the wild is loaded with multiple parasitic taxa, but the overall detriment to their fitness and health is completely negligible. The ecology of parasites is fascinating!

[DexFisherman]

This is actually very useful. Thanks for the time and effort ❤👍🏾

[dlmsarge]

Excellent, to the point video. We see these a lot up here in Ontario, Canada 🍁 🇨🇦. As you said perch, pike, rock bass and other pan fish seem to be effected most.

[CanyonMitchell]

I filleted a mess of Bass that had this about 15 years ago. I cut the black dots out of the meat. There were not too many in the meat. The next morning I got in my truck to go to work and wrapped my hands around the steering wheel. I felt pain in one of the creases in my finger. I looked and there was a little blood there. I scraped the area with my fingernail and one of these little creatures was revealed. He was trying to burrow into me.

[christopherblevins]

IT'S TRUE!! IT'S TRUE!! You do learn something new every day. That was very interesting!

[pauls]

I've caught fish like that and always wondered what was going on. Great video! 👍

[GetRocStar]

Thank you for this quick & informational video. I’ve always wondered what was going on with those black spots on fish. Whenever I came across one, mainly on yellow perch.

[trumpwon]

The yellow perch seem to be heavily affected, more than any other species in a spillway I fish. But in the lake its not as bad.

[mapleholler]

Very informative and nicely done. Thank you for your time and effort on this video. Have a good day.

[ozzieman]

Thank you for spreading your knowledge about this black spot disease. Although I mainly do catch and release, I’ve wondered what these spots were caused by or if they were harmful to the fish or safe for consumption. Great video!

[mapletree]

Excellent synopsis! I’ll be sharing with friends who ask cause about this your explanation is way clearer than mine! Thanks!

[kayakfishingtactics]

Very interesting and helpful information! Thanks!

[kevinmalott]

Excellent video. I always wondered about those dots. Thanks

[tieoneon]

Great info. And great shot of that spinner blade turning at the end

[tedlivermore]

Always wondered what those were.I remember back in the 70, s i caught a brook trout from swampy creek that was covered in those spots.I kept it but my dad said it might not be safe to eat.Learn something on yt today anyway.Thanks

[briancole]

Good video! Straight to the point and nicely explained.

[dongfloppin]

I use to go fishing with my grandfather when I was a kid. He would get drunk until he couldn't walk and let me drive the boat. He was also known to eat minnows for good luck and he smoked marijuana