A 15-year-old boy in Tennessee had the fishing experience of a lifetime when he reeled in a truly unique catch—a completely white catfish. Catfish are typically known for their brownish hue with dark spots, but this particular catch stood out in a remarkable way.
On the morning of June 28, Edwards Tarumianz embarked on a fishing trip that would lead to an astonishing discovery. He caught a giant blue catfish, but what truly impressed him and his crew was not just the fish’s size but its extraordinary appearance.
The catfish was entirely white, adorned with bright pink and purple markings around its fins and face. This striking coloration raised questions about the cause, which could be attributed to either albinism or leucism.
Albinism is a genetic condition characterized by the absence of pigment in the skin and hair, observed in various animals, including humans. Leucism, another genetic condition, results in reduced pigmentation, leading to a pale appearance or patches of diminished coloration.
Captain Richard Simms, who guided the fishing trip that day, shared images of Tarumianz and his remarkable catch on Facebook. He expressed his awe, noting that such a find is incredibly rare: “You can fish for catfish for the rest of your life and never catch, or even see, another fish like that. I’ve been catfishing seriously for 30 years, guiding for 17 of those, and that’s the first albino that’s come in my boat.”
While the appearance of this unique catfish puzzled many, biologists from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) could not definitively determine which genetic condition the fish exhibited. Nonetheless, they all agreed that it was a remarkable and rare catch.
This extraordinary catch by a young angler serves as a reminder of the mysteries that nature can offer, even in familiar fishing spots, and highlights the importance of preserving and protecting the diverse wildlife found in our natural environments.
