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[BackOnTheWater]

Strange but beautiful...caught this week on Lake Chickamauga by a friend.

[roadwarrior]

I have recently caught a bass with the distorted pigmentation at one of my local ponds. I had seen the fish on several occasions over the past couple of years. Upon VERY careful examination, the fish appeared to be healthy and the marking appeared to be "natural" as opposed to a fungus or any kind of growth.

If there is another explanation for this strange phenomena, I would like to hear what caused this coloration.

[Root beer]

That bass is in the navy seal. ;D

[slomoe]

Here's another thread on the subject with some info.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1196030554

[Dan:]

That bass is in the navy seal. ;D

that's the first thing I thought, that it looked like camo.

That is a very good example of a fish with extreme pigmentation, I don't think I've ever seen one that black.

[rondef]

It is called hyper-pigmented melanosis and it is nothing to be worried about, according to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.  I found that out after I caught one and reported the condition.

[Sam]

Thanks for sharing.

If I had caught a bass that looked like that I probably would have freaked out thinking the water was diseased.

So now I know.

Rondef, where in Virginia did you catch that sucker?

[rondef]

I have caught two like that in Lake Mercer, one that was 3lbs and one 2lbs.

[LCpointerKILLA]

thats a really nice fish, though.

[Jake.]

thats a really nice fish, though.

x2

It looks healthy, and with cool colors.  8-)