Water conditions, genetic mutations can impact colors in fish

By MATT WILLIAMS/For The Lufkin Daily News
Feb 10, 2024
Feb 10, 2024 Updated Feb 10, 2024

Fishing guide Noel Ibarra displays the 32.06-pound blue catfish he caught out of two feet of water on Feb. 4 at Lake Ray Hubbard. Ibarra thinks the fish may have been albino, but fisheries experts say the cat’s pale color may be the result of being caught from muddy water. Another possibility is the fish may have been “leucistic” or part albino. Fisheries biologist Jake Norman says a true albino will be stark white in color with pinkish fins and eyes. Either way, it’s a really cool cat.

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Fish 2 — In 2022, Ibarra boated this rare piebald blue cat at Lake Tawakoni. Piebaldism is a natural pigmentation mutation that can occur in all sorts of animals, including white-tailed deer.
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Noel Ibarra has a rich history for sniffing out fat cats. To wit:

During winter 2019, the 44-year-old Lake Tawakoni/Ray Hubbard fishing guide steered 12-year-old Brayden Rogers of Cisco to a youth state record blue cat weighing 67 pounds. Rogers’ record from Tawakoni has since been broken by Cade Childress of Pickton. Childress’ 72.4-pounder also was caught at Tawakoni.