What causes these?

[Joenothum]

Went up to Cape Fair and BATTLED the wind.  Found a decent spinner bait bite, had a 5# fish literally fall out of my hands as I was bringing it into the boat.  About a dozen casts later caught this nice one.  The picture doesn't do it justice but this fish was really dotted with those dark colorations.  If you look closely at the fins you can see them.  There were a few on his side and a big one its head.  I wish I held the fish up to let the light shine through the fins to show them more.  Is this just a genetic thing?  I've noticed more and more photos on social media with the same colorations.  Anyone know what causes it?

[Hammer time]

Lots of largemout, spots and even brownies will develop these black splotches or marks on their bodies during winter through spring, I'm no fish biologist, but sure they can shed light on the phenomenon.

[bluebasser86]

Hyperpigmented melanosis, it's harmless and supposed to be a sign of a healthy body of water and a healthy fish. 

[96 CHAMP]

nice fish

 

[Sore Thumbs]

Great looking fish

[Bill Babler]

Unlike Hammer, I have never seen it on any of our black bass species other than LM.  Usually start seeing it in late November and it is pretty much gone by April.  Thanks bluebasser, great info. 

No contradiction to Hammer in the least, I personally have just not seen it.

[Nitro 750]

Good fish!!!!

[Champ188]

Congrats on beating me to dunking a spinnerbait in 2017

 

[abkeenan]

5 hours ago, Bill Babler said:

Unlike Hammer, I have never seen it on any of our black bass species other than LM.  Usually start seeing it in late November and it is pretty much gone by April.  Thanks bluebasser, great info. 

No contradiction to Hammer in the least, I personally have just not seen it.

I've seen a few smallies in the dam area that have had it. Never any K's though.

[Joenothum]

2 hours ago, Champ188 said:

Congrats on beating me to dunking a spinnerbait in 2017

 

I got sooo sick of throwing the stupid A-rig I figured it was the next best thing.  I had a 5# fish at the boat and got so excited when I lifted it out of the water I lost my grip on it and it fell and hook popped out and gone.  It was a nice one I was so mad, just made a careless mistake trying to boat it. It was on a spinner bait as well.