Black Spots on Bass?

[Shimano4Life]

I have caught several fish with the large blotches and spots of black all over them. I have always heard that this is a sign of "health" or a "healthy fish population". Caught a few from Cedar Creek with these spots, as well as one this past Monday (MLK Day, 1/18/2010). The one I caught from Dale Hollow had the spots all over the tail, which you can see in the pictures.

CAN ANYONE GIVE ME A REASONABLE (maybe biological) EXPLANATION ON THIS?

Are they birthmarks in the fish's DNA, or is it some kind of disorder with the fish?

Dale Hollow 1/18/2010 (look at the tail in these)

http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/x...-1-18-2010.jpg

http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/x...-18-2010-1.jpg

Cedar Creek 3/2009 (can't really see the spots in these pics very well)

http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/x...edarCreek2.jpg

http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/x...edarCreek1.jpg

I'm sure alot of fishermen wonder about this...................

[lroberts]

I'm not sure about the spots...i just wish i was out there catchin' em like that...had to work that day!

[crappiepappy]

Here's all I know about this "black blotch" mystery : http://www.wmi.org/bassfish/articles/T205.htm

I've seen Bass with black blotches, in Cedar Creek, moreso than anywhere else I've ever fished for Bass .... so, the idea that it's from C&R/handling may have some merit ... IMHO.

...Pappy

[AndyG]

Same deal as CC on Lake Fork. About every bass you catch there has them. I dont know how a healthy bass population causes this... I guess they have birth marks just like we do.

[kygorski]

I'm not positive, but I think I remember some thing said about a parasite, that comes from fresh water snails. I have caught gills crappies and perch with these spots also.

[smljaw]

All I know is that I know right where you caught those fish at Cedar. What a great spot! I've had some awesome bites there in March/April. 2 days in particular that I'll remember for life! DYNATRAK knows what I'm talkin' about.

As for the black spots, not too sure. That "spot tail bass" pic from Dale is really cool looking for sure!

[mhall]

I overheard Harold Knight talking to somebody at a Strader show one year about fishing Barkley. The fella asked Harold about black spots on the bass and that he caught alot of them like that down there. Harold said a Biologist told him it's not always a bad thing and that it can mean a very healthy and abundant population of bass. There is a disease that can cause a similar look though and it can actually kill bass.

Just some overheard stuff, but I have caught bass like that out Of Barkley, Barren, and Kentucky lake and they sure looked healthy to me.

[smuckey41]

I overheard Harold Knight talking to somebody at a Strader show one year about fishing Barkley. The fella asked Harold about black spots on the bass and that he caught alot of them like that down there. Harold said a Biologist told him it's not always a bad thing and that it can mean a very healthy and abundant population of bass. There is a disease that can cause a similar look though and it can actually kill bass.

Just some overheard stuff, but I have caught bass like that out Of Barkley, Barren, and Kentucky lake and they sure looked healthy to me.

mhall i have herd the same thing that it mint they where healthy. thats what i was told so i dont know how true it is. all i know the ones i have seen look healty to me to.

[mhall]

mhall i have herd the same thing that it mint they where healthy. thats what i was told so i dont know how true it is. all i know the ones i have seen look healty to me to.

That's our story and we're sticking to it.

[phoenix]

I have caught several LM in Dale with these black spots, in some cases the fish wa nearly entirely cover with the black stuff, looks like a fungus to me, but i was told it was the LMBV(largemouth bass virus). Several of the fish at Dale that had a lot of this on their body, were definitely not healthy. I have seen several LM floating dead or near dead with this stuff all over them at Dale over the last few years, not great numbers but 2 or 3 a year.

[21ssExtreme]

I caught a lagemouth at Dale Hollow last fall that had a lot of dark spots on it. I ask a guide that I saw that evening at the One Stop about the spots, He said that when the bass are on wood they get those spots.

[Rudypoo4444]

I have caught a lot of "black spot" bass from Barkley lake. Seems like we catch a few every time we fish there, and they all look very healthy.