Fish ID Guide

42 Pages·2016·0.92 MB·English

mississippi department of
wildlife, fisheries, and parks
Freshwater
Fishes
Common to
mississippi
a fish identification guide
MDWFP • 1505 EASTOVER DRIVE • JACKSON, MS 39211 • WWW.MDWFP.COM
Foreward
Mississippi’s freshwater lakes, rivers, creeks, and ponds are home to an amazingly diverse
fish community. Over 280 species swim in these waters, the vast majority of which are
native, with the remainder being introduced, transplanted, or estuarine or marine species
that commonly enter fresh water.
To help identify your catch, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks
(MDWFP) provides this fish identification guide to 39 common species. Each species is
displayed in a photograph and has a description of their preferred habitat and food. Of
course, state records for each species are subject to change. For updated information on all
of our state record fish, visit http://www.mdwfp.com/fishing-boating/education-outreach.
Our waters provide exciting fishing opportunities for anglers of all ages and experience.
With over 220,000 acres of water and 120,000 miles of streams, anglers have year-around
places to catch a fish. To find access near you, visit http://www.mdwfp.com/fishing-boat-
ing/ramps-piers.
The partnership between our anglers and boaters, state and federal fish and wildlife agen-
cies, and the fishing tackle manufacturing and boating industry is the backbone of Missis-
sippi’s fisheries and boating access programs. The continued operation of our State Fishing
Lakes, fish hatcheries, fish sampling, youth fishing rodeos, and boat ramp construction
projects is tied to the continued success of the Sport Fish Restoration Act. The best part is
these activities and programs are funded entirely by those who enjoy them, making for a
truly “user pays, everyone benefits” system. For more information about fishing licenses
and requirements, visit http://www.mdwfp.com/license.
The MDWFP is an equal opportunity employer and provider of programs and services. If anyone believes they
have been subjected to discrimination on the basis of political affiliation, race, color, national origin, marital sta-
tus, sex, religion, creed, age, or disability, they may file a complaint alleging discrimination with either the Missis-
sippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, Office of Administrative Services, P.O. Box 451, Jackson, MS
39205-0451, or the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 1801 L. Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20507
Table of Contents
Contents page number
• White Crappie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
• Black Crappie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
• Magnolia Crappie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
• Largemouth Bass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
• Spotted Bass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
• Smallmouth Bass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
• Redear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
• Bluegill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
• Warmouth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
• Green sunfish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
• Longear sunfish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
• White Bass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
• Striped Bass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
• Hybrid Striped Bass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
• Yellow Bass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
• Walleye . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
• Chain Pickerel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
• Channel Catfish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
• Blue Catfish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
• Flathead Catfish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
• Black Bullhead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
• Yellow Bullhead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
• Shortnose Gar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
• Spotted Gar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
• Longnose Gar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
• Alligator Gar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
• Paddlefish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
• Bowfin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
• Freshwater Drum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
• Common Carp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
• Bigmouth Buffalo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
• Smallmouth Buffalo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
• Gizzard Shad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
• Threadfin Shad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
• Shovelnose Sturgeon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
• American Eel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
• Grass Carp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
• Bighead Carp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
• Silver Carp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
White Crappie
(Pomoxis annularis)
Other Names including reservoirs, oxbow lakes, and rivers. Like other
White perch, Sac-a-lait, Slab, and Papermouth. members of the sunfish family, white crappie are nest
builders. They produce many eggs, which can cause
Description overpopulation, slow growth, and small sizes in small
White crappie are deep-bodied and silvery in color, lakes and ponds. White crappie spawn from March
ranging from silvery-white on the belly to a silvery-green through May when water temperatures are between
or dark green on the back with possible blue reflections. 58ºF and 65ºF. White crappie can tolerate muddier
There are several dark vertical bars on the sides. Males water than black crappie.
develop dark coloration on the throat and head during
the spring spawning season, which can cause them to be State Record
mistaken for black crappie. White crappie have five or The current state and world record white crappie was
six spines on the dorsal fin, whereas black crappie have caught by Fred Bright from Memphis, Tennessee in
seven or eight spines. White crappie typically weigh 1 1957 from Enid Lake; it weighed 5 pounds 3 ounces,
to 3 pounds, grow to 14 inches or more, and live up to and was 21 inches in length.
10 years.
Fishing Fact
Habits and Habitat Popular baits for white crappie include jigs, small crank
Adults feed on small fish and insects. Crappie prefer baits, and minnows. These fish are often found around
deep water near drop offs and areas of cover. White structures, such as logs, brush piles, and cypress trees.
crappie can be found in many different types of habitats,
4
Black Crappie
(Pomoxis nigromaculatus)
Other Names Habits and Habitat
White perch, Calico bass, Speck, Strawberry bass, Black crappie are most active at night or in the early
Papermouth, Speckled perch and Slab. morning. Adults feed on insects, insect larvae, and fish,
such as sunfish and minnows. Black crappie prefer
Description shallow water lakes and sloughs and are more abundant
Black crappie are deeper bodied than the white crappie, where there is clear water and aquatic vegetation. They
and bluish green or gray in color on top with white or spawn in early spring when water temperatures are
silver underneath. Irregular black spots are scattered on between 58ºF and 65ºF.
the body. A small percentage of black crappie in some
lakes has a distinctive dark stripe running from the top State Record
(dorsal) fin to under the mouth. These “blackstripe” or Mississippi’s Rod and Reel record is 4 pounds 4 ounces,
“blacknose” crappie are a genetic color variation and are caught in 1991 at Arkabutla Lake by Gerald Conlee.
not a hybrid or subspecies. Black crappie have seven
or eight spines on the dorsal fin, whereas white crappie Fishing Fact
have five to six spines. The black crappie is most easily Baits used for white crappie are also used for black
confused with the white crappie, especially the white crappie.
crappie males in breeding season (see White Crappie
section). Black crappie weigh 1 to 3 pounds, grow to 12
inches or more, and can live up to 10 years.
5
Magnolia Crappie
Other Names
Blackstripe, Blacknose, Speck, Speckled perch.
Description
The Magnolia crappie is spawned in a fish hatchery and
is a cross between a male black-striped black crappie
and a female white crappie. The eggs are subjected to
several thousand pounds of pressure resulting in the
formation of three sets of chromosomes. The fish are
sterile hybrids unable to reproduce.
Habits and Habitat
Habits and habitat are similar to white and black crappie.
State Record
The current state record Magnolia crappie was caught
by Tom Box from Lake Charlie Capps and weighed 3.46
pounds.
Fishing Fact
Since the Magnolia crappie are sterile, triploid hybrids,
they are suitable for small lakes and ponds.
6
Largemouth Bass
(Micropterus salmoides)
Other Names bass seek protective cover such as logs, vegetation,
Green trout, Bigmouth bass, Bucketmouth bass, rocks, and even man-made structures. They prefer
and Hog. slow moving water but will survive in a variety of
habitats including streams, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.
Description Spawning occurs in spring when water temperatures are
There are two subspecies of largemouth in Mississippi from 60ºF to 75ºF. Males build the nests next to areas
waters. The northern largemouth bass, Micropterus having brush piles, near underwater logs, or in areas
salmoides salmoides, is native to Mississippi. The under overhanging tree limbs. The male cares for the
Florida largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides nest, protecting it from predators and keeping the eggs
floridanus, has been introduced into many Mississippi fanned until the eggs hatch. He also guards the young
lakes. Largemouth bass are usually green with dark for a week or more after the hatch.
blotches that form a horizontal stripe along the middle
of the fish on either side. The underside ranges in State Record
color from light green to almost white. Their upper Mississippi’s Rod and Reel record is 18.15 pounds,
jaw extends far beyond the rear margin of the eye. caught in 1992 in Natchez State Park Lake by Anthony
Largemouth bass can reach weights greater than 10 to Denny.
15 pounds, with females growing larger and faster than
males. Largemouth bass can reach lengths greater than Fishing Fact
26 inches. Largemouth females can live up to 10 to 12 Spring through fall is a great time to fish for largemouth
years with males living between five and seven years. bass with best success usually occurring during the
evenings or mornings using minnows, artificial baits,
Habits and Habitat and even frogs. The largemouth bass is also Mississippi’s
Adults feed almost exclusively on other fish, insects, state fish.
and large invertebrates such as crayfish. Largemouth
7
Spotted Bass
(Micropterus punctulatus)
Other Names crustaceans to larger aquatic and terrestrial insects,
Kentucky bass, Diamond bass, Creek bass, Red-eye crayfish, and small fish. Spotted bass live in streams
bass, and Spot and rivers, preferring faster waters than largemouth
bass. They have adapted very well to reservoirs, and are
Description often found around rocks or rip-rap. These fish spawn
Spotted bass are slender with rows of dark spots on the in mid-April through June. Spawning occurs in water
lower sides. These spots form horizontal streaks. Spotted temperatures of about 63ºF to 78ºF. Female and male
bass also have a stripe along the middle of each side that spotted bass are mature at the age of two years. Spotted
form diamond-shaped blotches. The back of these fish bass like other bass are nest spawners. The males build
is a dark mottling against an olive green color. The top nests and guard the nests until the eggs hatch.
and sides of these fish are dark, but the underside of
the body is white. Spotted bass can reach lengths of 24 State Record
inches but are usually smaller with maximum size less Mississippi’s Rod and Reel record is 8 pounds 2 ounces,
than either largemouth or smallmouth bass. These fish caught in a farm pond in 1975 by S. R. Grantham.
usually live no more than six years. Females tend to live
longer and grow faster than males. Fishing Fact
Spinner baits, jigs, crank baits, plastic worms, and live
Habits and Habitat worms are popular for landing a spotted bass.
The diet of spotted bass changes as the fish grow,
changing from plankton, small aquatic insects, and small
8
Smallmouth Bass
(Micropterus dolomieu)
Other Names Pickwick Lake. The diet of smallmouth bass changes
Brown bass, Brownie, Bronze back, and Smallie. as they grow, changing from plankton, small aquatic
insects, and small crustaceans to larger aquatic and
Description terrestrial insects, crayfish, and small fish. Spawning
These bass are slender with a projecting lower jaw and occurs during the spring (April – May) with water
an upper jaw that never extends further back of the temperatures around 60ºF to 78ºF. Smallmouth bass
eyes. Cheeks display at least three dark lines, but no construct nests in gravel and also under tree roots and
dark lateral line appears on the side. Smallmouth bass stumps. Males can spawn with different females, and
are an olive green or a brown color on the head as well males guard the nests after spawning and immediately
as the back area with the belly area a cream or white after hatching occurs.
color. The sides are yellowish green with bronze vertical
markings, and dark brown markings are seen down State Record
both sides of the head. Smallmouth can reach lengths Mississippi’s Rod and Reel record is 7 pounds 15 ounces,
of over 24 inches and weights of almost 8 pounds. caught by Thomas Wilbanks in Yellow Creek (Pickwick
Lake) in 1987.
Habits and Habitat
Smallmouth bass prefer cool streams as well as clear, Fishing Fact
cool reservoirs and lakes with rock or gravel bottoms. Crank baits, jigs, minnows, or crayfish (artificial or
In Mississippi, smallmouth bass are only found in the natural) are excellent baits to use when trying to catch
Tennessee River and Bear Creek systems, especially smallmouth bass.
9
Redear Sunfish
(Lepomis macrolophus)
Other Names discover the crushers they use to crunch up snail and
Chinquapin, Shellcracker, Stump knocker, Government clams shells. Because of their feeding habits, they are
bream, Cherry gill. usually larger than bluegill in the same waters. They
prefer clear quiet waters with abundant vegetation.
Description Spawning occurs in spring and early summer in water
Redear have an elongated body, small mouth, and temperatures near 70ºF. Redear normally only spawn
pointed snout. Redear are dark olive with yellow on their once each year, whereas bluegill may spawn multiple
sides and belly. These fish are identified by a distinctive times a year. Redear construct nests close together
red edge (in males) or orange edge (in females) on the when spawning.
gill cover (ear flap). The red margin on the “ear flap” is
where they get their name. Redear usually weigh less State Record
than 1 pound but can weigh over 4 pounds and reach Mississippi’s Rod and Reel record 3.33 pounds, caught
lengths of 14 inches. These fish usually live between five by James K. Martin at Tippah County Lake in 1991.
and six years but can live as long as nine years.
Fishing Fact
Habits and Habitat Fishing on the bottom using natural baits such as
Redear feed on the bottom for snails and clams as well earthworms and grubs is an effective way to fish for
as insects, insect larvae and crustaceans. Reach down redear. They are less likely to take artificial baits than
their mouth into their throat with your pinky and you’ll other sunfish.
10