Rare genetic anomaly causes largemouth bass to turn orange Xanthism causes orange color in Fox Lake bass
TITUSVILLE, Fla. – One lucky angler in Titusville caught a rare orange largemouth bass in Fox Lake this summer.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute posted on Facebook that Jeff Puckett was fishing at Fox Lake when he caught a largemouth bass with bright orange colors.
Officials said a rare genetic anomaly called xanthism causes abnormal pigmentation in animals, causing them to turn orange, much like albinism causing a lack of pigmentation.
The Freshwater Fisheries Research Long-Term Monitoring Program has sampled 255,632 largemouth bass from 175 different water bodies over a 10-year period. The group has no reported sightings of this genetic phenomenon.
The only previous sighting of the orange largemouth bass came during an electrofishing trip nearly 30 years ago, officials said.
Copyright 2015 by ClickOrlando.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Police and fishermen help rescue stranded French bulldog ▶ 0:47
Police and fishermen help rescue stranded French bulldog
Cocoa Beach police to Surfing Santas attendees: Park where you should, for goodness sake ▶ 0:53
Cocoa Beach police to Surfing Santas attendees: Park where you should, for goodness sake
Volusia Sheriff: Drunk man broke into home while girl was alone ▶ 1:19
Volusia Sheriff: Drunk man broke into home while girl was alone
Judge sets bond for woman accused of pushing child under water at Gaylord Palms ▶ 0:44
Judge sets bond for woman accused of pushing child under water at Gaylord Palms
Lake County 4-H ‘Goat Busters’ track down escaped goat in woods ▶ 0:46
Lake County 4-H ‘Goat Busters’ track down escaped goat in woods
Artifacts removed from Pulse site for preservation as building nears demolition date ▶ 0:58
Artifacts removed from Pulse site for preservation as building nears demolition date
‘Faith, hope, pixie dust:’ Central Floridians test luck in $1.6B Powerball race ▶ 1:14
‘Faith, hope, pixie dust:’ Central Floridians test luck in $1.6B Powerball race
Did Florida Congress members keep pay during government shutdown? ▶ 0:28
Did Florida Congress members keep pay during government shutdown?
Persistent internet sales pitches cause frustration among St. Cloud homeowners ▶ 0:49
Persistent internet sales pitches cause frustration among St. Cloud homeowners
Volusia sheriff confronts suspect accused of defrauding over 100 students of overseas trip ▶ 0:34
Volusia sheriff confronts suspect accused of defrauding over 100 students of overseas trip
✨What is the Merry Menagerie at Disney’s Animal Kingdom? ▶ 1:21
✨What is the Merry Menagerie at Disney’s Animal Kingdom?
Florida families allege Hurricane Roofer cashes checks but failed to deliver roof replacements ▶ 0:37
Florida families allege Hurricane Roofer cashes checks but failed to deliver roof replacements
Did Florida Congress members keep pay during government shutdown? ▶ 0:28
Did Florida Congress members keep pay during government shutdown?
Surfing Santa at Cocoa Beach ▶ 1:37
Surfing Santa at Cocoa Beach
Drone deliveries coming to Central Florida ▶ 0:27
Drone deliveries coming to Central Florida
Looking for festive fun this season? Here are 6 things to do this weekend! ▶ 0:48
Looking for festive fun this season? Here are 6 things to do this weekend!
Florida license plate frame law’s confusion forces state to clarify the rules ▶ 0:45
Florida license plate frame law’s confusion forces state to clarify the rules
Man accused of dumping missing Brevard County woman’s body after sex, fatal overdose in 2023 ▶ 0:55
Man accused of dumping missing Brevard County woman’s body after sex, fatal overdose in 2023
Ocoee woman accused of sending sexual videos of 13-year-old to prison inmate ▶ 1:04
Ocoee woman accused of sending sexual videos of 13-year-old to prison inmate
‘Breath of fresh air:’ Neighbors relieved as Brevard County condemns home of woman who dumped feces in yards ▶ 0:50
‘Breath of fresh air:’ Neighbors relieved as Brevard County condemns home of woman who dumped feces in yards
Central Florida congestion woes increase as construction goes on ▶ 1:03
Central Florida congestion woes increase as construction goes on
Prosecutor pinned for ‘oversight’ after man accused in Orlando jogging attack takes plea deal ▶ 0:55
Prosecutor pinned for ‘oversight’ after man accused in Orlando jogging attack takes plea deal
Florida’s bear hunt is underway, but FWC is not actively saying how many have been killed ▶ 0:52
Florida’s bear hunt is underway, but FWC is not actively saying how many have been killed
ADA compliance lawsuits hit Central Florida businesses, raising concerns about accessibility and legal challenges ▶ 1:13
ADA compliance lawsuits hit Central Florida businesses, raising concerns about accessibility and legal challenges
See the moment a plane crashes into a car on I-95 in Brevard ▶ 0:41
See the moment a plane crashes into a car on I-95 in Brevard
Previous photo Next photo 
