Looks like a Turtle bite?

[OMIGHTY]

Made it out finally! I ran all the way to the honey hole like a kid running to the candy store.  Only my 3rd time out this season. Bite was steady today but had to put in "Work" yesterday. Caught a Lg.Mouth Bass on the tip-up and quickly noticed what you see below. Not many things ran through my head what could of caused it, but an alligator snapping turtle bite? Not sure really? Any ideas from anyone what it could be from?

[wax_worm]

It could also be wound from one of those herons.  They like to sit still in shallow water or on docks (both places LM hang out) and will take a 'stab' at any unsuspecting fish that swims by.  I bet your knife did more damage than the turtle or bird did!!   

[OMIGHTY]

It could also be wound from one of those herons.  They like to sit still in shallow water or on docks (both places LM hang out) and will take a 'stab' at any unsuspecting fish that swims by.  I bet your knife did more damage than the turtle or bird did!!   

Heron never crossed my mind Wax! With the hardness of the gill...not sure if one could put a bite down like that. But who knows... interesting thought and could have been. The knife fillet true tonight....now if this whiskey and Ibuprofen could take care of my back pain... 

[northrn-duck-assassin]

Idk... But nice pile!!

[stag]

Wax is right....my guess would also be a heron....those dudes are meaner than you would think...saw one kill and eat a yearling muskrat....swallowed it whole !

[Cool Cat]

I doubt if it was a heron.  They like to grab the fish whole and I think you guys might be thinking it might have stabbed it with the beak.  Believe it or not, I seen a heron up at Fletcher's Lake in Fulton County snatch up a largemouth probably as big as that one, maybe even a little bigger, and swallowed it whole.  Craziest thing I ever seen.  Thought I'd call the DNR and tell them the herons were grabbing bass under the legal limit LOL.

[Eastbay]

Bass is a nice one for catch and release. But great mess of gills

[OMIGHTY]

I doubt if it was a heron.  They like to grab the fish whole and I think you guys might be thinking it might have stabbed it with the beak.  Believe it or not, I seen a heron up at Fletcher's Lake in Fulton County snatch up a largemouth probably as big as that one, maybe even a little bigger, and swallowed it whole.  Craziest thing I ever seen.  Thought I'd call the DNR and tell them the herons were grabbing bass under the legal limit LOL.

I'M HAVING A BAD DAY...
DON'T EAT MEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! 

[PerchFace]

looks like you need a gaff instead of pulling bass out of the hole with your teeth

[taxi1]

Could have been a strike that got bigger due to an infection.

[Broken_Lines]

I doubt if it was a heron.  They like to grab the fish whole and I think you guys might be thinking it might have stabbed it with the beak.  Believe it or not, I seen a heron up at Fletcher's Lake in Fulton County snatch up a largemouth probably as big as that one, maybe even a little bigger, and swallowed it whole.  Craziest thing I ever seen.  Thought I'd call the DNR and tell them the herons were grabbing bass under the legal limit LOL.

I've seen plenty of heron stab fish, frogs, etc with their beak then shake it off, grab it as it struggles to move, then swallow it whole. I think it depends on how easy of a target the prey is, and the size of it. I've also seen them go after bigger bass like that, just not always very successful!

[wax_worm]

I've seen plenty of heron stab fish, frogs, etc with their beak then shake it off, grab it as it struggles to move, then swallow it whole. I think it depends on how easy of a target the prey is, and the size of it. I've also seen them go after bigger bass like that, just not always very successful!

This ^^^^^^  Just like anyone or anything trying to hit a moving target the heron could have missed slightly and done that damage or 'had' the bass for a short time before it got away and did the damage.