What is up with this bass?Guys,

[rondef]

I am trying to find out why this bass looks this way.  It has multiple black spots all over it.   Anyone have any ideas why?

[S I G M A]

i caught a bass with those black spots a couple weeks back. i think it may be some type of fungus or parasite because you can scrape the black stuff off them

[rondef]

This black stuff does not come off I tried to see if it could be taken off and it wouldn't come off.

[Jake.]

He's just a big "101 Dalmatians" fan. Geez, some people don't know anything.  :

[paul.]

the black spots are pigmentation marks.  kinda like freckles on people.  seems like i read somewhere that the condition is called "black blotch".  it's harmless.

[rondef]

Thanks for the information.  I did not want to see a disease break out in one of my favorite fishing holes.

[bassnleo]

I've also caught many with similar black spots, just not as many as that one!

Cool!

[Gatorbassman]

I got this from tnfish.org.

It is possible that this condition is genetic, viral, or related to some environmental factor unique to certain bodies of water that stimulates the increased production of melanin. This unusual pigmentation (melanosis) has been observed on bass within most Tennessee reservoirs and in other areas of the country for many years. The Fish Disease Diagnostics Laboratory at Auburn University is currently investigating the cause of hyperpigmented melanosis in Tennessee largemouth bass.

[Jimzee]

I would freak out if I caught a bass like that.  

[frogtog]

As long as he tipped the scales it wouldn't bother me at all.

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

have to throw the obvious here.It must be a spotted bass  

[T-rig]

the black spots are pigmentation marks. kinda like freckles on people. seems like i read somewhere that the condition is called "black blotch". it's harmless.

I agree.

[roadwarrior]

I got this from tnfish.org.

It is possible that this condition is genetic, viral, or related to some environmental factor unique to certain bodies of water that stimulates the increased production of melanin. This unusual pigmentation (melanosis) has been observed on bass within most Tennessee reservoirs and in other areas of the country for many years. The Fish Disease Diagnostics Laboratory at Auburn University is currently investigating the cause of hyperpigmented melanosis in Tennessee largemouth bass.

Wow! This is so weird. I caught a bass last Wednesday afternoon with the pigmentation in my local pond. I had seen this bass (or another with the pigmentation) on occasion for the past year or so, but this was the first time I had caught one. I closely examined the fish and it appeared perfectly healthy, fought nicely and was thick (well fed). I hope you guys are right and this is nothing more than an annomally.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

They almost look like a Peacock got in the bedroom

[mayassa]

Little KOI on its family ;D

[Guest muddy]

Thats a Realtree Bass Pattern

[jeremyt]

He got bass herpes from this past springs spawn! ;D

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Berpes?  ;D

[Davis]

This black stuff does not come off I tried to see if it could be taken off and it wouldn't come off.

I posted the exact same condition in like May or so. Nobody could really tell me what it was. Interesting to see comments now. Here is the smallie I got earlier this year with the same thing. The black stuff didn't come off of my fish either. Part of its body. Looks just like used motor oil because it fades on some parts. But it obviously isn't.

[rondef]

Here is the response I got from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

Ronald,

The pigmentation documented in your photo is quite common in tributaries of the Potomac and the Potomac proper.  Occasionally we also see fish with melanosis at Lake Anna.  This phenomenon is nothing to be concerned about and is not considered problematic.

Thanks for your interest and concern for Virginia's natural resources.

Steve

Steve Owens

Fisheries Biologist

Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries

1320 Belman Road

Fredericksburg, VA 22401

540-899-4169 office

540-899-4381 FAX

steve.owens@dgif.virginia.gov

[BassinWill301]

Yea, I catch alot of bass that have the black "birthmarks" in the Potomac River

[.dsaavedra.]

haha looks like a koi!

but yea ive caught a few fish here and there w/ black spots...nothin as serious as that. all of the fish were big and fought nicely.

[BassinWill301]

same hear, all of the fish i caught with the markings were very healthy

[luckyinkentucky]

Looks like a melanism, or abnormal deposits of melanin in the skin.  This could be caused by diet, or it could be genetic.  It's impossible to tell unless you could trace the bloodline.  

[fishfordollars]

Looks like a spotted black bass to me.