Freshwater jellyfish

[N Florida Mike]

As we were fishing yesterday, we noticed little, nickel sized jellyfish in my home lake. U.F has an article in them, as does wikipedia. They say little is known of them harming waterbodies, but they are invasive ( non native ) to florida. I wish I had taken a picture but I will if I see them again.

Does anyone know if they hurt anything? This is the first time Ive seen them in my life and 40 + years fishing my lake.

[Gundog]

We have them here in PA as well. They are small and if you weren't looking for them they would be hard to notice. Just looks like a small, pale white cross in the water. I don't think they harm the native environment. Much like you Mike I fished for decades and didn't see them, then one day noticed them in the water. Talked to a Fish&Boat guy at an outdoor show and he told me what they were. 

[12poundbass]

Someone came across them here in Michigan a couple years ago. They said they are rare to see but have been here a while.

[Big-Bass]

Post a picture...I'd love to see what they look like.

[N Florida Mike]

1 hour ago, Big-Bass said:

Post a picture...I'd love to see what they look like.

I didnt think to take a pic but I took a chance and caught one in the palm of my hand. It didnt sting. In the water they pulsate as they swim along.Just like gundog said, there insides are cross-shaped and they are transparent.

[B-Dozer]

Maybe just a big hawker? ?

[Gundog]

Pulled this off the internet

 

 

https://www.heraldmailmedia.com/instant/kayaker-makes-unusual-discovery-in-greenbrier-state-park-lake-jellyfish/article_9450c0ce-acb3-11e8-b547-ab7d0d5d82c0.html

[soflabasser]

Those little freshwater jellyfish can be found in many places throughout Florida. I remember seeing a couple of them many years ago when I was freediving in one of the lakes in South Florida.

[shovelmouth83]

my step son goes to Arkansas Tech, when we were out on the boat fishing he was telling me that lake Dardelle has these so called jelly fish. i have not heard about this ever but... with the Arkansas River that feeds into the Mississippi River i do know that bull sharks can and will come up the rivers and through lock and dams.

[Bluebasser86]

Never seen them but I've heard they're a sign of a healthy ecosystem. 

[ohboyitsrobby]

I've seen some on Ouachita and in a pond that drains through a series of ditches into Ouachita. I was thoroughly amazed when I saw them last year. Had never heard of them.

[TnRiver46]

We have them in places, guy named bassquest on YouTube has a video of them in Chickamauga 

[soflabasser]

23 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Never seen them but I've heard they're a sign of a healthy ecosystem. 

The lake I freedived in that had freshwater jellyfish was very healthy. Caught lots of big largemouth bass, peacock bass, channel catfish, and other species of fish.

[Oregon Native]

Wow....learned something new and interesting.....thanks

[drew4779]

Back in the mid-late 80's, the lake at our boy scout camp in Ohio was lousy with them.  They didn't sting and we'd scoop them up in plastic cups.  You couldn't look at that pond without seeing hundreds of them everywhere.  I've never seen them anywhere else. 

[12poundbass]

I wonder how they'd be with some peanut butter and whole wheat bread?

 

Sorry guys, slow day at work. ?

[N Florida Mike]

Went out the other day and remembered the jellies and told my G.daughter to look for them. She leaned over and said There's one. 

This is it on her finger. Kind of looks and feels like a big contact lens.