I just have too ask, I'm from North Carolina and been in Texas for about a year, been bassfishing all my life and have never seen these black spots or splotches on bass except here in Texas. I've caught bass in several states across the south and have only seen this on bass in Texas. My son jokingly says its the oil, but does anyone here really know why or what causes this? Is it some genetic marker of Texas strain bass or what?

It's a Texas thing, if ain't from here, don't ask


seriously it's just pigmentation and some say it's a sign of a healthy fishery

Wow. I thought that happened everywhere. Most shows and posts I've read everyone seems to say no one knows for sure but it's most prevalent during the spawn. Maybe something to do with hormones. I just assumed it happened to bass everywhere.

I've heard also that it is a sign of a healthy fish

It happens to the crappie too

I've heard several things, healthy fishery, large quantity of large fish, some sort of camo, I don't know and don't think it's ever really been investigated with a true science. Doug caught one not too long ago with these spots on Hubbard, here is one Dillard caught on Gvine last Sunday.

Not oil. Not limited to Texas. Have heard several reasons for the black spots Healthy fishery, just moved up from deep water, birthmark. Seen this on bass in Fl. Ok. La. and Mn. and Tx. I have caught several and most do come in the spring.

I think it looks BA!!! Lol idk why they do it but i have caught allot of fish with the spots

I catch them often on Hubbard and Fork. We had 2 a couple weeks ago in a tourney on Hubbard that had some spots.

Usually the fish that are all "tatted" up are healthy, maybe they are the new era of fish that like tattoos

Not complaining I actually think it's kinda unique. Caught one on Palistine today that was covered in black spots not a hog but a nice 3.5 pounder, the fish was beautiful.

It means a healthy fishery.

That's the FZ1 mark. I put those on every fish I catch.

This the most "spotted" one I have ever caught. It actually had some black fins..

I was told it's simply the pigmentation in the fish. Kinda like a birth mark. But I have seen it outside of TX.

Doug, that fish looks like it got caught in a barn fire!! Stop punching those fish in the head! Lol.