Crappie are popular freshwater fish found throughout North America. Part of the sunfish family, they are known for their appeal to recreational anglers. Often called papermouths or speckled bass, crappie are sought after for sport and their mild-tasting flesh.
Identifying Features
Crappie possess a distinctive physical appearance. They have a deep, laterally compressed body, giving them a thin, plate-like or oval shape. Their coloration typically ranges from dark green or olive on the back, transitioning to a silvery-yellow or white on their underside. The head of a crappie is relatively small, featuring a large mouth where the upper jaw extends past the center of the eye when closed.
Their connected dorsal and anal fins increase in size towards the rear, ending in a rounded, soft edge. The number of hard spines in these fins is a key identifier, varying between the two crappie species. Crappie commonly average 10 to 11 inches in length and weigh around half a pound to one pound. Larger individuals can exceed 15 inches and weigh over two pounds, with record catches surpassing five pounds.
Habitat and Diet
Crappie thrive in various freshwater systems, including lakes, ponds, slow-moving rivers, and reservoirs. These fish prefer environments with minimal current and often congregate around submerged structures. Such structures include brush piles, fallen trees, docks, and aquatic vegetation, which provide shelter and ambush points. They are schooling fish, often found together around these underwater features.
The diet of crappie changes as they mature. Young crappie primarily consume microscopic organisms like zooplankton, insect larvae, and microcrustaceans. As they grow, their diet expands to include larger prey. Adult crappie commonly feed on smaller fish, such as minnows and juvenile shad, along with larger insects and crustaceans. Their opportunistic feeding habits mean their diet varies based on location and prey availability.
The Two Main Types
The crappie genus comprises two species: the Black Crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) and the White Crappie (Pomoxis annularis). While similar, they are distinguished by physical and habitat differences. One reliable way to differentiate them is by counting the hard spines on their dorsal fin. Black Crappie typically have seven or eight dorsal fin spines, whereas White Crappie possess five or six.
Black Crappie usually exhibit irregular dark blotches or speckles across their body, sometimes making them appear darker. White Crappie often display dark blotches arranged in five to ten vertical bars or stripes along their sides. Black Crappie generally favor clearer water with abundant aquatic vegetation, while White Crappie are more tolerant of turbid or murky waters and can be found in more open areas.