Monday, August 14, 2006

Sneads Ferry Fisherman Lands Albino Flounder

A Sneads Ferry fisherman may have caught the fish of a lifetime. Billy Ray Sanderford was fishing in the Neuse River near Gray's Point when he hauled in an extremely rare and completely albino flounder. Color variations and other genetic anomalies such as two dark sides or eyes on the right side instead of the left are unusual, but many fisherman have landed odd flounder. Sanderford's catch is unique because his 14 1/2 inch flounder was completely white on both sides. Flounder rely on their ability to camouflage themselves on the bottom for protection from predators therefore few truly albino flounder survive adolescence. Sanderford kept the fish alive for several hours trying to locate a marine researcher who was interested but the fish did not survive. He now plans to show the flounder to a group of marine biologists and may have the fish mounted when they are finished. More on the albino flounder is available from the New Bern Sun Journal.

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