[Mad Plugger]

was out fishing tonite and saw birds working picking something up out of the water .went in closer with the boat and ancored up and saw giant worms they were about 1 1/2 to 2' long and were brownish in color there body was about 4 or 5 inches long and the rest was like a long flat tail. anyone know what they are?thanks bill-by the way water was 47 deg. and no fish

 

[BIGGESTJACK]

I DON'T KNOW BUT AM CURIOUS TO FIND OUT? WAS THERE A TREMONDOUS AMOUNT OF THEM.

 

[windmeup]

I was in the creek of Fortesque, These long white things on the outgoing tide were drawing our attention, they looked loke worms but after picking tem up it was a long flat tupe.??? Millons going out-tide. What the heck werte those?

 

[jbones11]

Whale sperm, without a doubt.

 

[chunking]

Actually caught what you just described on a hook a few years ago.

Threw a line off the dock around this time of year with small hooks for winter flounder while I worked on my boat.

When I tried to reel it in it was stuck. After a while it pulled loose and a long white worm almost flat came in with the hook way down deep. I have a book at home with info on it and I will check it out tonight and post it later.

I do remember that it is common for our area but it was one disgusting looking critter.

 

[BIGGESTJACK]

BIG BAIT BIG FISH?

 

[snichols]

I don't know what they are but I call them "Linguine Worms".

They are whitish, flat and fish definitely eat them. In the fall I have had fish regurgitate them on the beach, I have also snagged them off the bottom when reeling in.

Too nasty to try using for bait until I find out more about them. Chunking, please post any info.

Thanks.

 

[OCChaos]

I believe they are a type of tape worm. Years ago when I'd dig for clams and/or worms in Shark River at low tide, we would dig one of these white tape worms up on occasion.

 

[flukerat]

many years ago I remeber a whole lot of them swimming around in the water, millions maybe this was in the back near TI gross, but i was still thinking about grabbing some for bait, just couldn't bring myself to touch them, chunking any info would be great.

 

[BIGGESTJACK]

ARE THEY THICKER THAN A PENCIL??

 

[Mad Plugger]

they were about a half an inch round and there "heads" were about 4 or 5 inches long. and yes they were slimy i had a hard time picking it up off the deck to put it back in the water.let me know what you find Fred.bill

 

[FLUKENEWSTY]

I saw these things last season but they were not a foot long, maybe 6 inches but they were white and kind of transparent.I tried grabbing them but they were to slimy. My dad said they were sea worms, but that sounds too simple for somthing like those things.

 

[Dr. Bass]

GOt them last year. Wetlands had no idea what they were. Looked like a tape worm.

 

[chunking]

Sounds like we have a few different worms being mentioned here.

Checked my books and there are hundreds of sea worms in our area. Most are in burrows or under rocks for protection so we just don't see many.

The one I mentioned looks like the Milky Nemertean. Up to 48" long and 5/8" wide.
Milky white, yellowish or pinkish in young forms, mature males red, females brownish. No eyespots; mouth an elongate slit.

Burrowing in sand or mud under rocks in sheltered bays and estuaries near low tide line and below. They range from Maine to Florida and Texas.

The nemertean is by far the largest ribbon worm on the Atlantic Coast of America.

 

[fshlot]

Nice research Chunking...Very interesting..Now,only if we can find some bloodworms that big!!!!

 

[Jimbo]

Is this it?

http://www.enature.com/fieldguide/showSpeciesSH.asp?curGroupID=8&shapeID=1070&curPageNum=1&recnum=SC0123

 

[chunking]

Thats the one I was talking about. Imagine pulling your line in and having your hook about three inches inside that.

It took a winter flounder hook with a piece of clam on it.

 

[BIGGESTJACK]

FREDRICK---DO THESE WORMS MAKE A MOVE AT THIS TIME OF YEAR?

WINDMEUP--WHAT TIME OF YEAR DID YOU SEE THEM??

 

[chunking]

Hey BIGGESTJACK.

Yes they do. Right about now they pack into busses and cars and head for spring break in Florida to get drunk and party.

They are freakin worms and I've seen one my whole life. I do have a life JACK.

 

[snichols]

Jimbo,

I must see them when they are young since they are lighter in color, but those are definitely the worms that I was talking about.

Thanks to both you and Chunking for the info.

[ 03-05-2004, 08:38 AM: Message edited by: snichols ]