I have (or my clients have) caught a bunch of fish over the years that had all sorts of issues from genetic defects to near misses with humans and other critters.

Take for example, the Yuba River above that looks like he had a run-in with perhaps an eagle or osprey.

What’s amazing is how resilient fish can be. Even with crazy injuries or debilitating disfigurements, they seem to somehow survive.

I wish I could find all my pix because I have some really interesting ones but here’s a small sample of some of the fish I have caught with issues:

Not an Exit: This striper ate what looks to be a plastic worm hook…and then somehow it worked it’s way out through the fish’s side…

Sliced: This Alaskan king salmon probably tangled with a hungry sea lion that almost opened it completely from stem to stern like a zipper…

Once Bitten, Twice Shy: Here’s a Kodiak Island chum salmon that also appears to have narrowly escaped the deadly jaws of a sea lion or seal…

Wedgie: When spooning for stripers, this happens a couple times of year — the fish grabs the lure in such a way that it gets wedged in its mouth so perfectly that we land him without the hook ever touching flesh…

Snagged: This poor King obviously ran a gauntlet of snaggers and narrowly escaped because the “angler” was using line that was too light (despite the fact that he/she was using what appears to be an expensive Gamakatsu treble)…

Kissy Face: At first I thought this Togiak River coho salmon had been to a tattoo shop, but upon closer inspection, he dodged a bullet when a blood-sucking lamprey tried to attach to his hard gillplate and not his softer underbelly…

Worrying to Much?: I’m not sure exactly what’s going on with this nice bass but she’s got a pretty nasty looking sore on her belly. Do bass get ulcers….? ?

Bustin’ Out: This Chinook salmon spent what appears to be a nearly lethal amount of time in a gill net before busting the mesh and pushing through…

Rectangle Trout: I caught this uber skinny, almost perfectly rectangle-shaped brown trout in the fall, when fish are typically packing on the weight. Though I released him, I’m guessing he didn’t make it through the long winter…

Cheeky: After eating what appears to be a bait hook, this Striper somehow managed to work it nearly all the way out…through his cheek!

Scarface: You’d have to assume this Sacramento River king salmon had a pretty serious run-in with a hook of some kind. Because the wound doesn’t look super fresh, I’m guessing the encounter occurred at sea but who knows? it didn’t stop her from biting another hook…

The Over-Eater: Small striped bass are notorious for trying to eat stuff that’s larger than they are, but this guy took it to the next level! I suppose as a little fish, everything you can get into your mouth is one less thing that can eat you!

Speed Governor: It looks like a sea lion just about rendered this Klamath River hatchery steelhead dead in the water by eating half of its motor. It’s amazing that this fish was able to get away…and, when hooked, it fought amazingly well…

Mixed-Up Striper: This little Striper apparently couldn’t figure out which way his stripes were supposed to go. Maybe he wanted to be a trout instead…