LittleTrib
7/31/2013 10:46:00 PMThose little blood suckers are also commonly known as "sea lice". They are copepods that latch onto salmon and anadromous trout species in the saltwater. Seeing those parasites on river-caught fish indicate to river anglers that they are "fresh" from the saltwater, as sea louse can only survive a few days fresh water. Though there are also a number of fresh water salmon parasites. Sea louse are generally harmless to adult fish, but can be detrimental to the health of juvenile fish. Hence the danger of fish farms that sit in the path of smolt migration routes. Fish farms are known to be parasite-breeding factories.
aquaking
8/1/2013 7:14:00 PMThanks for your feedback! That's awesome information and I love learning as much as I can about the Great Northwest! Been here 8 years and finally got into fishing for salmon(kokes mostly so far)Hope to share alot of reports and meet some awesome people!
Rob w
8/2/2013 10:53:00 AMthose are "sea lice". totally normal. they do not hurt the fish. when u have em on your fish, you have proof, thats its a nice fresh fish! the freshwater version, copepods, tear up kokanee some years. but sea lice are a welcome sight.