-- Last Updated: Aug-11-10 12:04 AM EST --
...... hook was still closed , and there wasn't any of the fish left on it , and you didn't mention any type of distortion to the stringer ??
I'm guessing your stringer is one of those metal chain type , or at least the hook clasping part is metal to lock closed . Was it one of those types ??
Years back a couple buddies of mine fished some select Delaware ponds . I went with them on occassion . They (we) had discovered a few "very special" ponds for Crappie ... I mean monster Crappie too , *that is/was the secret" !! The 3-1/ pounder hangs on a tackle shop wall to this day , and many came close to it , all were huge .
Anyway , we were at this one pond and had a full stringer of big ones (maybe 10-12) . Then all hell broke loose , the chain stringer hanging over the side of the Jon boat went balistic . As quickly as possible we hauled it up , every fish on there was torn to shreds , not a whole or eatable fish left . It happened just that fast too . My figuring is a bunch of turtles all gathered round , and all at once made the attack ??
It was definately turtles , the rip and tear marks told that much . These waters had plenty of large Jack Pike in them but it was not them .
Have had a Muskie chomp a Smallmouth off just behind the head . Another time a Bluefish chomped a white Perch in half . Both of those fish were beiing reeled in (not as bait) .
Your missing fish has a real mystery to it because it was "all" missing , and the stringer hook was still closed . I guess it's possible to rip one completely off , the metal hook would have to literally tear through the fish though and seperate it's gill from it's head/mouth somehow ??
Mysteries like that are freaky to me !! I believe you though ... but you are gonna be scratching your head on this one for a long time to come .
Unless of course you secretely let it go because you got tired of draging your Buds fish around for him , lol ??