Conchs on the beach and conchs in the stomach

[fowlscay]

Took the boat over to " The wedge " after the storm to see what washed up and we found all kinds of stuff including thousands of conch shells . well the next day we went striper fishing a bit off the beach and managed 3 keepers of school size fish . I all ways check to see what they are eating and for the first time in some 30 years i found conch in one of them . Now the big question ?? Where did he eat them ??? did he eat them out of the surf or did he find them on the inshore shoals were we caught him . and how did he get them out of the shell ???? Or did the the rough surf do the shell removal thing for him ???

[paul708]

Nice pics.
thats alot of shells.

[HOLWACHAGOT]

Welks...not conchs.....although....they are pretty much the same. They are out and about when it gets cold like this. Rough weather will put them on the beach in mass sometimes....

As for the rockfish getting them out of the shells.....
When the welks cruise looking for food or when they eat.....a very large percentage of the body is out of the shell....Rock gets hold and it's over...they can give a quick headshake and half the slug. The trap door probably makes a nice handle to pull on....
Awesome post....not often you see that....I'd venture a guess bait is thinning out up there.
Thanks for posting
Holwachagot


BTW.....There's more welk in Campbell's clam chowder than clam......

[THE GOOCH]

Very interesting....the other week on the way out we saw tons of conch pots..., they were all near the offshore shoals, and my guess would be that the dead ones( with their tongues hanging out get tossed back and make for a pretty easy meal for the bass....just a guess but who knows.