Fish bit someone at St marks sandbar

[procraftwes]

Someone posted on the St marks sandbar facebook group that something bit them and posted this picture.

Call me crazy but that surely looks like the triangle shaped "beak" of a pufferfish and based on how crazy those things are...

Another reason to hate them.

[PhishingNole]

Can they open their jaws that wide? Seems like if they wanted to bite someone there wouldn't be much flesh left.

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[Salty Gator]

Seems possible, bite looks similar, but I’m not sure if they have bottom teeth. What I’m really surprised about is that there is a st marks sandbar Facebook page

[Red Beard]

Agree with the rest of you, looks like a puffer bite. They can be aggressive, I’ve seen them bully and take a stab at sheepshead.


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[procraftwes]

Seems possible, bite looks similar, but I’m not sure if they have bottom teeth. What I’m really surprised about is that there is a st marks sandbar Facebook page

It's actually a good way to find out the real conditions since people regularly post while out at the sandbar. It's one of the better local FB groups.

[DEMON]

OK, I'll say it. Do people still use Facebook?

[PhishingNole]

OK, I'll say it. Do people still use Facebook?

Quite a bit more than forums.

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[Red Beard]

OK, I'll say it. Do people still use Facebook?

Quite a bit more than forums.

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[squiffynole]

I've caught three Smooth Puffers this spring - this is bad but I just cut the line with the last two - I don't want to leave tackle out there but on the other hand no way I want to come close to touching those things!

[guthooked]

Are they a non-native invasive species. What I mean is, should I bash them with a bat?

[STMU]

Are they a non-native invasive species. What I mean is, should I bash them with a bat?

Native - yes. Invasive...doubtful, as that would imply they are having some sort of impact on other species. Annoying Nusciance...100%. Bashing them, even in mass, won't really have an impact on the resource or species as a whole. But if they are frustrating the heck of ya, bashing may cause a decrease in blood pressure...but I'm no doctor!

[GaryDroze]

While fishing the St Marks Refuge last weekend, I had to shoo a big one away that kept following me and harrassing the trout on a stringer that I had tied to my kayak. I got out for a minute to wadefish (with kayak in tow) and the puffer kept circling me like a horsefly with fins. Never had this happen before. I sure hope they are not proliferating at wacko pace.

[guthooked]

Been fishing the St Marks area for 15 years and have always caught a few spiny puffers but only in the last two years have I been catching the smooth skin SOB's.

[ropeman]

There have been regular sightings since 2015, but last year was the first time I had seen one. http://www.saltwateranglersguide.com/?p=5808

Luckily I didn't any smooth puffers in Cedar Key this weekend and just one spiny one.

and the puffer kept circling me like a horsefly with fins. Never had this happen before. I sure hope they are not proliferating at wacko pace.

You need to start carrying some heat to keep those things away!

[Salty Gator]

Are y’all catching the puffers on live bait? We’ve been fishing the refuge every weekend since March ( too windy to get offshore) and haven’t caught a single one. Plenty of reds and trout, but no trash fish.