Caught a largemouth bass in Lake Ontario with black blotchy markings on its body. These ink-like spots go by a few names and have been the subject of many studies of late.
The lesions are called Hyperpigmented Melanistic Skin Lesions or (HPML) by some, Melanosis aka Blotchy Bass Syndrome (BBS) by others. Genetic analysis on the lesions has found genes belonging to a virus in a newly described family called Adomaviridae.
It is unknown whether this virus has any directly adverse affects on the fish. it is thought that it may indirectly affect their ability to camouflage and therefore hide and hunt as effectively.
He seemed perfectly healthy otherwise and hd no trouble taking down a 6” glidebait from the cover of a laydown.
Have you ever caught one with these markings?
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Worms, don’t eat lol
Ayy, that’s melanosis. It’s almost like the reverse of albinoism and vitiligo. Basically a skin condition that messes with the skin cells’ ability to control its natural pigment.