Smelt caught in Bethel with fungal infection previously found in the Norton Sound region.
Mary Matthias writes:
While we were catching smelts, we caught more than a few that had sores on them that looked like this spread out on different parts of the fish's body. We have never seen this kind of open infection in smelts during the smelting runs right after spring ice breakup.
LEO says:
In 2015, a LEO Observer from Kipnuk submitted an observation of a similar infection on smelt caught near the mouth of the Kugkaktlik River, about ten miles downriver from the village of Kipnuk. The infection was identified by ADFG Fish Pathologist Jayde Ferguson as Phaeohyphomycoses. Dr. Ferguson recommended that residents not eat the fish. This observation has been shared with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game Fish Pathology Lab.
Ted Meyers, State Fish Pathologist at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game writes:
The lesions pictured on the smelt are consistent with a fungus infection that has been observed in other forage fish species in Alaska. The actual causative agents are numerous species that are more frequently encountered after high water flows that dislodge sediment and fungus on land as well as in watersheds.I have attached a summary of what we know so far about these types of fungal lesions:
From ADFG Informational document: Phaeohyphomycoses of Saffron Cod and Possibly Other Fish Species
Phaeohyphomycoses is a common fungus found on plants, wood, paper and fiber products that can develop both in and outdoors. Although the exact mode of transmission is unknown, the Phaeohyphomycoses fungus may also appear in seawater and sediment, infecting fish who have existing injuries.
Reports of infections are most commonly made to ADFG in late fall and early winter months. Beginning in 2005, reports of this fungs have been made by subsistence users in the Norton Sound area, who observed black, oval, lesions on tomcod and smelt.
This fungus may infect people who are immunosuppressed, and may also present an allergic threat.
Read more on Phaeohyphomycoses in the attached document- Phaeohyphomycoses of Saffron Cod and Possibly Other Fish Species
Observations From Members 
