Crappie Fish

There are only two recognized species in the crappie genus: the black crappie fish and the white crappie fish.

The crappie fish is a genus of medium-sized freshwater fish, native to North America. Popular in both recreational and commercial fishing circles, it is commonly referred to as a type of “panfish.” That’s because its body is small enough to fit inside a frying pan. Beginner and expert fishers both consider the crappie to be an interesting and fun catch.

4 Incredible Facts!

• The white crappie fish is the official freshwater fish of the state of Louisiana.
• You can guess a crappie’s weight by its length since they are proportional.
• The crappie fish goes by many different regional and local names, including paper mouths, strawberry bass, speckled bass, calico bass, speckled perch, white perch, and (in Louisiana at least) the sac-a-lait, which actually means bag of milk in French, referring to its silvery-white color.
• The crappie can detect small vibrations in the water. It also has good vision in low-light conditions, thanks to a high concentration of red-sensitive pigments and an additional lens in the eyeball.

Classification and Scientific Name

The scientific name of the crappie genus is Pomoxis, a Greek term that directly translates as sharp (oxys) lid or cover (poma). With a pronunciation of PO-mock-sis, the name is a reference to the spiny gill cover on the side of the fish. The crappie genus is a member of the sunfish family, along with bluegill, rock bass, and largemouth bass.

There are only two recognized species in the crappie genus, both of which are quite similar in distribution and appearance.

• White Crappie: This white-speckled species (Pomoxis annularis) more often swims the turbulent waters of rivers and reservoirs.
• Black Crappie: This species (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) more often prefers clear water lakes, but its range does overlap with the white crappie in some places.

Appearance

An oval-shaped body, silvery-green scales, a downturned mouth, spiny fins, and gill covers characterize the crappie fish. The two species in this genus are fairly simple to distinguish from each other. Irregular black spots around the body identify the black crappie fish. The white crappie fish has faint vertical stripes instead; it also has fewer spines on the dorsal (top) fin.

The length of the typical crappie is around 10 to 11 inches, but the largest ever recorded fish was more than 19 inches long. The weight is proportional to the length, so the 10-inch crappie is about half a pound with the black crappie always a bit heavier than the white crappie. At 18 inches, the white crappie is close to 3.7 lbs. and the black crappie is 4.2 lbs.

Distribution, Population, and Habitat

The crappie can be found throughout the ponds, rivers, and lakes of North America, usually hiding within vegetation, rocks, or fallen trees. While it was originally a native of the eastern United States and Canada, this fish has been transplanted throughout the entire continent.

Predators and Prey

The crappie is a medium-sized predatory fish with a very diverse and eclectic diet. It is an important part of the freshwater ecosystem, providing nutrients for other predators.

The crappie is primarily preyed upon by larger fish such as the largemouth bass and channel catfish. The eggs and juvenile crappies are most vulnerable to predators, but even the adults can be consumed by particularly large freshwater fish. Schools offer the most protection against this danger.

Upon first hatching, the juvenile crappie feeds upon zooplankton (tiny animals floating in the water). After reaching adult size, they then feed upon crustaceans, insect larvae, and smaller fish, including the young offspring of their own predators.

Reproduction and Lifespan

Upon the arrival of the spawning season in the spring or early summer, the male crappie will create a nest in the river or lake ground by clearing out sand, gravel, and mud. The female will then visit various nests and mate with several males she has personally chosen. The mating process involves the simultaneous release of female eggs (she can produce an average of 40,000 eggs, depending on her size and age) and male sperm, which fertilize right there in the nest.

After fertilization is complete, the male will stand guard over the eggs for the next few days until they begin to hatch. The surviving juvenile will move to deeper water and begin to feed without the protection of their parents. At this stage, most of the young are lost to attrition; they make up for this in the sheer number of eggs produced. It takes about two to four years for the fish to reach sexual maturity. The oldest known crappie was about 15 years old, but the typical lifespan is around seven years.

Fishing and Cooking

The crappie is a very popular choice in both recreational and commercial fishing. Its white, flaky flesh is said to have a mild, but sweet, taste with very little fishiness to it. Popular methods of cooking include frying and filleting. Local governments may carefully regulate how many crappies may be caught, but otherwise, they are incredibly abundant and available all year round, even during the winter, when ice is heavy on the water. Many different types of lures and rods work well with this fish.

1. U.S. Fish & Aquatic Conservation, Available here: https://www.fws.gov/fisheries/freshwater-fish-of-america/black_crappie.html
2. Animal Diversity Web, Available here: https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Pomoxis_nigromaculatus/
3. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Available here: https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/species/pomoxis-nigromaculatus
4. Rudow's FishTalk, Available here: https://fishtalkmag.com/blog/fishing-beginners-crappie-fish