Strange Marks On Largemouth

[BrianSmithFishn]

Anybody ever seen these spots on a bass before? My first time seeing it. Was a healthy good fighting fish so I'm just guessing they are birthmarks or something. Anybody know what causes it or what it is? Thanks..

[BassinLou]

Yeah, I have seen that before. Cause? I have no idea. But like you said, birthmark maybe. 

[MIbassyaker]

Hyperpigmentation. Not uncommon at all. My understanding is that it's probably natural, doesn't affect the health of the fish, and hasn't been linked to any kind of disease or particular environmental condition.

[Big C]

Reminds me of redfish.  I've never seen that before, that's pretty cool.

[Glenn]

No one really knows for sure what causes them.  There's a school of thought that says there's a connection between increased catch-n-release and the blotching, but so far there is no conclusive evidence.  Some think it's related to pollution, but again, no conclusive evidence supports that theory.

 

One thing that is certain, it's not a disease nor parasite; and there's no indication the fish is dangerous to handle or eat.

[mnbassman23]

I fish a certain lake that has a good population of fish like that. I caught around 20 fish this year with those black blotches. These 2 had a fair amount of spots and black heads. 

[Dwight Hottle]

See it all the time on great lakes smallmouth too. 

 

[Spankey]

Trying to look through some pics also to post. Have caught quite a few out here in S.E. Penna. with those marks. All good healthy fish. Posed that question to a few state fishery guys and they said its healthy. Have never caught a sick Susquehanna fish, have never seen a sick Susquehanna fish caught. Birth marks to me.

But the more I think about it I've never seen the spots on a smaller fish. Only on a respectable size, not a dink or runt.

[dtanner1865]

from research ive done on the internet, hyperpigmentation is a sign of a healthy bass community

 

Go Vols

[everythingthatswims]

I only see it on healthy fish, and it definitely only occurs on certain bodies of water I fish

[soflabasser]

Have seen similar spots on the Largemouth Bass I catch. They all appear healthy with no deformities.

[*Hootie]

from research ive done on the internet, hyperpigmentation is a sign of a healthy bass community

I concur. I think that means I agree,....right?

Hootie

[bigbill]

Maybe from the chemtrails there dropping on us. There spraying nano stuff on us. Depopulation

[BrianSmithFishn]

No one really knows for sure what causes them.  There's a school of thought that says there's a connection between increased catch-n-release and the blotching, but so far there is no conclusive evidence.  Some think it's related to pollution, but again, no conclusive evidence supports that theory.

 

One thing that is certain, it's not a disease nor parasite; and there's no indication the fish is dangerous to handle or eat.

interesting this body of water where i caught this fish has very very little fishing pressure, actually "illegal" to fish there and its super clean natural lake. only pollution i could see would be from bird crap lol thanks for the comment

[BrianSmithFishn]

Hyperpigmentation. Not uncommon at all. My understanding is that it's probably natural, doesn't affect the health of the fish, and hasn't been linked to any kind of disease or particular environmental condition.

thanks for the comment ill look up that super long word lol

[BrianSmithFishn]

I fish a certain lake that has a good population of fish like that. I caught around 20 fish this year with those black blotches. These 2 had a fair amount of spots and black heads. 

nice fish! andthanks for the reply

[Gilbone]

Before this summer I banked fished 24/7. During bedding season and right after when the fish are cruzin the banks Ive seen ALOT of Bigger Fish Swimming around with black blotches. At first i thought it was the typical Lake Hartwell Spotted bass but then i hooked up to one after fishing for this one school of fish for a hour. I got him on the dock and it turned out it was a 4lb large mouth. More and more fish i see during the spring have a blotch on them. In the winter i have seen 1 or 2 ive caught.

[MIbassyaker]

thanks for the comment ill look up that super long word lol

Lol, do not be afraid of long words!  Like longer rods, they do sorts of jobs the shorter ones can't always handle well.

[ib_of_the_damned]

i think its bass herpes... berpes would be the technical term...

[desmobob]

Maybe from the chemtrails there dropping on us. There spraying nano stuff on us. Depopulation

 

 

bigbill, did you happen to be you looking up, with your mouth wide open, when they dropped them?  

 

Tight lines,

Bob

[steverowbotham]

we get a fair number of fish like that up here also. Smallies and largies.  They never look sick.