Why Do Bass Have Red Eyes?

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If you ever go fishing for bass, one of the freakiest things that you might ever see is a bass with red eyes. Although it looks super weird, no worries, it’s not a Dracula bass. It is completely normal. Well, maybe not completely normal, but it does happen more often than you might think. So why do bass have red eyes?

The main reason why bass are thought to have red eyes is due to adaptation to nature. The red eyes may actually help them see better during the night and in dark waters. Both genetics and pigment discoloration may also play roles in bass having red eyes.

bass with red eyes

Contents

What Does It Mean When A Bass Has Red Eyes?

When it comes down to it, a bass having red eyes really doesn’t mean all that much. As we have covered in the opening paragraph, the reason why bass have red eyes is multifaceted.

A bass could have red eyes simply due to adaptation or in other words, due to Darwin’s old but still relevant theory, the Survival of the fittest.

It is thought that the red eye color of some bass is a direct result of centuries of adaptation. Over many hundreds of years, bass living in very dark waters may develop these red eyes.

We aren’t going to go into the science of it here because it is extremely complicated, but the bottom line is that when bass have red eyes, it is very likely that they can see much better in the dark.

Simple genetics and DNA may also play a large role in why bass sometimes have red eyes. In some cases, it is thought that those red eyes are a result of nothing more than some simple pigment discoloration, or in other words, something like an error with the DNA.

This is not unlike how people develop albinism (a total lack of pigment in the skin and hair). On that same note, a bass may also inherit those red eyes from its parents, or in other words, it’s a simple genetic trait that is passed on one from generation to the next.

With all of this being said, none of these things are completely mutually exclusive. For instance, bass 300 years ago may have developed red eyes to see better in the dark, but since then, due to genetics, those red eyes were passed along from one fish to the next.

Adaptation, or those things that animals develop due to survival of the fittest, get ingrained into the genetic makeup of that animal.

** With everything that we have just discussed, do keep in mind that these are all just guesses or estimates based on research. However, exactly why bass sometimes have red eyes has not been proven 100%.**

What Types of Bass Have Red Eyes?

There are several types of bats out there that may have red eyes.

Red Eye Bass

The most commonly known type of bass that has red eyes is the red eye bass. Nice and simple right? Yes, all red eye bass have red eyes.

When it comes to red eye bass, exactly why they all have red eyes is not really known, although genetics would seem to have a large role to play.

Rock Bass

Another type of bass that tends to have red eyes is the rock bass, although these fish may have red eyes due to any of the reasons that we have discussed above.

Not all rock bass have red eyes however, just some of them. People often mistake red eye and rock bass for each other, but they are different.

And the Others Too

When it comes down to it, while it is more common in some bass species than others, there have been bass found with red eyes from mostly all species.

There are examples of largemouth, smallmouth, white, and spotted bass, all of which have been found with red eyes. When it comes to why these fish have red eyes, it is generally thought to be due to adaptation and pigment discoloration.

Related: Spotted Bass VS Largemouth Bass.

FAQ

Can a Largemouth Bass Have Red Eyes?

Yes, largemouth bass can have red eyes, with the prime cause being a variation in the eye pigments. It’s not some kind of horror movie monster, just a fish with some pigmentation issues.

Do Smallmouth Bass Have Red Eyes?

Just like largemouth bass can have red eyes, small mouth bass can also have red eyes as well.

The cause of these red eyes is generally a mix of genetics and pigmentation discoloration.

How Do You Catch Red Eye Bass?

This is a question that many people have, although that being said, it’s actually quite irrelevant.

Although a bass with red eyes may look a bit freaky, and yeah, can probably see a little bit better in the dark.

The fact of the matter is that catching one is the exact same as catching any other bass. As long as you’re in the right location, you are using the right lures and baits, and you are fishing during the right time of day, then catching a red eye bass or any other species of bass with red eyes is no different than catching a bass without red eyes.

Bass with red eyes don’t have superpowers. Just use your usual bass fishing equipment. In terms of finding where there are red eye bass or bass with red eyes, this is a different story.

You are best off going online and looking at fishing forums and finding other people who have already found bass with red eyes.

Related;

Conclusion

Although bass with red eyes might look super freaky, it’s actually a pretty normal occurrence, and it doesn’t mean that they are some kind of super villain or horror movie monsters. They are just normal fish that may or may not see a bit better in the dark.

Jason Downs

I created Fishtackly to share my 30 years of fishing experience and knowledge with others with the aim to help, and hopefully get more people involved and educated in this fantastic hobby that I love.