Missouri fishermen warned about Sandy Flesh disease

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Following the recent discovery of Sandy Flesh disease in walleye caught in Bull Shoals Lake in Arkansas, the Missouri Department of Conservation is warning fishermen in the Show Me State who frequent waterways near the state border to be on the lookout.

The Missouri-Arkansas state line bisects Bull Shoals Lake, which is the reason for concern. Spearfishermen caught the infected walleye in September.

The first and only confirmed report of Sandy Flesh disease in Missouri waters was at Table Rock Lake in 2019, according to the MDC.

“Because of the recent case in Bull Shoals, which spans two states and has connectivity to a number of streams and other reservoirs, it makes sense to ask anglers to look for this disease in Missouri, too,” MDC Sport Fish Ecologist Robert Weber said. “Though we’re still learning more about this uncommon disease, angler reporting of potential cases of Sandy Flesh disease will keep us better informed and help track its prevalence.”

The disease is primarily found in mature walleye but has been seen in yellow perch on rare occasions.

If caught, the MDC encourages anglers to dispose of infected fish by burying the carcass or throwing it in the trash. Do not toss the remains in the body of water where the fish was caught.

Sandy Flesh disease is a degenerative muscle disease. It does not produce external symptoms in infected fish. The only way to know is by cleaning and filleting the fish. Diseased tissue appears tough and coarse, with yellowish-brown muscle tissue knotted with the muscle fibers. An MDC spokesperson said it resembles freezer-burnt meat.

There are no external signs of Sandy Flesh disease on an infected fish; it is only visible once the fish has been cleaned and filleted. The affected tissue resembles freezer-burnt meat. Characteristics of the diseased flesh include tough, granular, coarse, and yellowish-brown muscle tissue with knotted muscle fibers.

And while the disease is believed to be non-transmissible to humans, the MDC always recommends not consuming any meat from diseased fish or other wildlife.