Fish Diseases and Parasites Items
Anglers may occasionally encounter signs of disease or parasites in fish that they catch. Often more information is desired by anglers in order to make decisions about keeping, cleaning, or cooking these fish.
Various types of information is available to help anglers and pond owners identify the types of diseases or parasites that may be involved. Links to more information are presented below. In addition to this information, anglers may wish to consult the annual guidelines for eating fish from Georgia waters for further information to help guide decisions about consuming various species of fish.
General Disease Resources and Information
Angler's Guide to Fish Diseases and Parasites (University of Georgia, 1991)
Common Freshwater Fish Parasites Pictorial Guide: Crustaceans (University of Florida Extension)
Largemouth Bass Virus
Whirling Disease Initiative (Montana State University)
Other Diseases and Disease Agents
Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia or VHS (USDA APHIS alert)
Report poaching and wildlife violations. You can receive a cash reward if your tip leads to an arrest—even if you wish to remain anonymous.