This yellow walleye was caught on a guide trip last week just south of New Town. Has anyone ever seen anything like this?
I emailed the G&F and here was their response:
Hi Matt, this is the second yellow fish we had reported this year. The first was a burbot that was caught on the river this spring. I'm assuming this walleye was caught on Lake Sakakawea?
Not sure if this is the actual cause or not, but the most likely explanation is a condition called "Xanthochromism", which is a genetic mutation that causes a very bright expression of yellow pigment in organisms. See a brief explanation here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xanthochromism
Near as I can tell, it just affects the pigmentation and not the quality of the flesh itself. It's certainly uncommon in wild fish - in my career the two reports this year are the first and second I've heard of! Thanks to the internet, I've learned it's fairly common in the aquarium trade to breed color into captive fish.
Thanks for the interesting report.
Scott
Scott Gangl
Fisheries Management Section Leader
North Dakota Game and Fish Department
100 N Bismarck Expressway
Bismarck, ND 58501
I emailed the G&F and here was their response:
Hi Matt, this is the second yellow fish we had reported this year. The first was a burbot that was caught on the river this spring. I'm assuming this walleye was caught on Lake Sakakawea?
Not sure if this is the actual cause or not, but the most likely explanation is a condition called "Xanthochromism", which is a genetic mutation that causes a very bright expression of yellow pigment in organisms. See a brief explanation here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xanthochromism
Near as I can tell, it just affects the pigmentation and not the quality of the flesh itself. It's certainly uncommon in wild fish - in my career the two reports this year are the first and second I've heard of! Thanks to the internet, I've learned it's fairly common in the aquarium trade to breed color into captive fish.
Thanks for the interesting report.
Scott
Scott Gangl
Fisheries Management Section Leader
North Dakota Game and Fish Department
100 N Bismarck Expressway
Bismarck, ND 58501
