Unique Largemouth Bass JPP

[wsm2c]

We were out crappie fishing today and I hung this Largemouth. I did a little research and the exact cause of the spots is unknown but thought I would share it. At first I thought it was some type of hybrid smallmouth/largemouth because the color of the spots were bronze and the mouth seemed small for a largemouth. The lips on the fish were solid black. Has anyone else caught a bass like this around middle Tennessee?

[MattR]

I caught one like that a few years ago, always wondered about it. The fish isn't nearly as big as it looks in the picture btw.

[Travis C.]

I have caught some before but never knew what it was. Always reminded me of camping with your buddies and you being the first one to fall asleep...out comes the permanant marker! :D

Found this:
http://www.fish.state.pa.us/newsreleases/2012press/bass-spots.htm

[Headhunter]

caught many like that out many different bodies of water.

[Reel Tune]

The blotches you are seeing are changes or a lack of pigmentation. It is not real common, but you will find this is all different waters all over the country. I first noticed this in the early 90's when I would bass fish with my dad in an employee’s area of a power plant lake (hot water discharge). I originally thought it was some kind of chemical from the power plant, or birth mark of some sort. But come to later find out it's just a lack or change in pigmentation, and perfectly normal.
Jeremy