Black Crappie

Pomoxis nigromaculatus

Least Concern Freshwater

Longueur maximale

49,0 cm

Poids maximum

2,7 kg

Couleur

Silver-green to olive-gray body heavily …

Plage de profondeur

0-?m

Famille

Centrarchidae

Catégorie

Game Fish

Overview

A deep-bodied North American sunfish, the black crappie is speckled with irregular dark blotches scattered randomly rather than arranged in bars, which separates it from the white crappie. Native to lakes, ponds, and slow rivers from the Great Lakes to Texas, it favours weedy reservoir backwaters and vegetated coves and has been introduced widely in the West. It grows to about 49 centimetres and is most actively caught in spring, when spawning fish move into shallow water near cover. Anglers value its sweet, tender, fine-flaked white flesh, considered among the best of the panfishes and typically pan-fried or battered. Abundant across its range, the species is assessed as Least Concern and readily takes minnows and small jigs.

À propos

The black crappie is a popular panfish found throughout North American lakes and reservoirs. Known for its delicate, sweet-tasting flesh, it is most actively caught during spring spawning when it moves to shallow water near cover.

Physical Description

Measurement	Value
Maximum Length	49,0 cm
Maximum Weight	2,7 kg
Plage de profondeur	0-?m

Coloration

Silver-green to olive-gray body heavily speckled with irregular dark black-green spots scattered randomly without forming vertical bars; dorsal and anal fins spotted; belly is silvery-white.

Habitat & Distribution

Estuaries

Type d'eau

Freshwater

Plage de profondeur

0-?m

Aire de répartition

Native to freshwater lakes, ponds, and slow rivers of the eastern United States and southern Canada from the Great Lakes to Texas. Found in weedy reservoir backwaters and vegetated coves; introduced throughout the West.

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Conservation Status

Least Concern IUCN Red List

Black Crappie is classified as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Comestibilité et gastronomie

Goût

Sweet, tender white flesh with fine flakes and very low fat; considered among the best-tasting panfish. Delicious pan-fried with light seasoning or battered and deep-fried.

Informations sur la pêche

Poisson de pêche sportive

Oui

Cote de combativité

3/5

Appât recommandé

minnows, jigs, small crankbaits

Taxonomy

Ordre	Centrarchiformes (Sunfishes)
Famille	Centrarchidae (Sunfishes)
Espèces	Pomoxis nigromaculatus

Names in Other Languages

Language	Name
Spanish	Crappie negro

Foire aux questions

Can you eat Black Crappie?

Sweet, tender white flesh with fine flakes and very low fat; considered among the best-tasting panfish. Delicious pan-fried with light seasoning or battered and deep-fried.

How big does Black Crappie get?

Black Crappie can grow up to 49.0 cm long and weigh 2.7 kg.

Where is Black Crappie found?

Is Black Crappie endangered?

The conservation status of Black Crappie is Least Concern according to the IUCN Red List.

What family does Black Crappie belong to?

Black Crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) belongs to the family Centrarchidae (Sunfishes) in the order Centrarchiformes (Sunfishes).