Record Smallie/Largemouth bass Caught and Certified

[Maverickpro201]

https://www.wired2fish.com/record-fish/smallmouth-x-largemouth-hybrid-bass-certified-as-world-record-by-igfa/?fbclid=IwAR1nYFrC3bre8vn4XrwKQQ9T4HuNC_J3TWtZ-eJ_wQYQAJ_pC_ZIFt-hytY

And they said they couldn't cross 

[tjm]

How do you identify a small/large hybrid, without a DNA analysis?

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

6 minutes ago, tjm said:

How do you identify a small/large hybrid, without a DNA analysis?

IT says in the article they too tissue samples 

[jdmidwest]

Covid is changing the world

[tjm]

8 hours ago, aarchdale@coresleep.com said:

IT says in the article they took tissue samples 

That's why I asked. I thought it unlikely that they DNA test every fish that gets weighed and at first glance I'd not have thought hybrid, so there must be a marker that caused them to go to that trouble.  The Texas small mouth record is 7lbs14.88oz, so why would the think "got a record fish" ? again there must be a marker.  But I know nothing about keeping records and maybe they all require DNA testing.

As to it not happening, all sunfish hybridize when planted in strange waters where spawning conditions are marginal or limited. Texas almost destroyed their endemic bass by stocking small mouth on top of them. Hybridization  doesn't happen normally though or there would not be separate species or subspecies. In natural conditions the spawning fish would be using different locations, water depths, temps etc. that would make hybridization unlikely.  Hybridization in black bass seems to be an undesirable devolution based on the experimentation done back in the '60s. We need to stop messing with introducing  stocked fish and keep the waters as close as possible to the way they were found or we will cause the loss of many native  species as they hybridize or get overcome by the introduced invasives. If I want to catch a Florida bass, I should get my butt off the sofa and go to Florida, not request the state bring the fish to my home waters.

[Gavin]

Interesting fish. At first glance its certainly a hybrid. There are lateral line markings (similar to a largemouth or spot), and horizontal bars below the lateral line (like a largemouth or spot). Not a great pic with its mouth closed, but it appears to have a bigger gape than a smallmouth,  spotted bass, or Coldwaterfisher after a liter of Tito's😀. Would have never guessed smallie/largemouth cross.

[fishinwrench]

Just out of curiosity.....if MDC was intentionally crossing those species and stocking them heavily into our reservoirs, what would be your reaction?

[Quillback]

In other news of our local bass fishing:

Angler Josh Rogers caught a cool looking Largemouth Bass on Beaver Lake over the weekend. The angler caught a gold colored Largemouth Bass that has a genetic anomaly. The unusual bass has what is known as Xanthochromism (loss of darker pigment and pigmentation is replaced with yellow). This is very rare and does occur naturally. Josh needs to buy a lottery ticket, because he caught a fish in a million!

[Devan S.]

2 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

Just out of curiosity.....if MDC was intentionally crossing those species and stocking them heavily into our reservoirs, what would be your reaction?

Bass are money fish.....therefore most of the run and guns would be all for it. Least likely fish to be filleted yet the loudest people when it comes to wanting fish stocked to protect their play toy.

These people don't care about your white bass problems. 

[ColdWaterFshr]

1 hour ago, Quillback said:

In other news of our local bass fishing:

Angler Josh Rogers caught a cool looking Largemouth Bass on Beaver Lake over the weekend. The angler caught a gold colored Largemouth Bass that has a genetic anomaly. The unusual bass has what is known as Xanthochromism (loss of darker pigment and pigmentation is replaced with yellow). This is very rare and does occur naturally. Josh needs to buy a lottery ticket, because he caught a fish in a million!

Looks more like the bass just prefers extra wing sauce.  I've come out of a bar with that orange stuff all over me.