Check this fish out. I've seen plenty of fish with the black pigmentation spots but nothing like this before. It looked like someone dipped his tail into ink.

looks like a pollutant like oil or something. Or maybe that bass is just special.

Perty fish

Melanoma.  I've read that it eventually does the fish in, but it must take years, because I've seen some huge fish with it.

I'm going to get my friend to ask one of the state's fisheries biologists about it. I've heard so many different takes on the black pigmentation so I'm not sure what to think.

Not the best depiction, but here's one with some at the base of the tail, and along its back, near the soft dorsal fin rays. Not as dark as yours, and definitely not normal coloration.

If its even, its usually just normal dark coloration from being in shallow weeds, like this guy:

I'm going to get my friend to ask one of the state's fisheries biologists about it. I've heard so many different takes on the black pigmentation so I'm not sure what to think.

There is another "black spot" disease that is common in bass, but its lots of smaller dots, peppering the body.  Those are caused by trematodes, which are generally harmless, and whose life cycle involves fish, birds, and snails.

personally,

dont know what the cause is.. but sure is a new sight to me....

thanx for sharing the interesting pic dan.