Kayaker slapped by fish

Brad Pennington, 43, of Houston said he was attempting to tie his kayak to a three-man canoe to receive help repairing a damaged rudder about 11 a.m. Tuesday when he was hit in the face with what he initially believed was a brick, the Columbia Missourian reported Friday.

Pennington said the men in the canoe explained he had been hit by a 20- to 30-pound fish.

"I just went down the river laughing afterwards," said Pennington, who dropped out of the race at Lexington, Mo., due to his damaged rudder. "I got face-slapped by a flying fish."

Duane Chapman of the Columbia Environmental Research Center said silver carp have been known to break noses and jaws.

"The silver carp jump in crazy ways," Chapman said. "Their sides have rough parts on their pectoral fins that can cut a person's face and their heads are hard and can cause serious injury."

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