Black & White Crappie - Species Report

Black Crappie and White Crappie
Pomoxis nigromaculatus and Pomoxis annularis

Papermouth, sac-a-lait and speckled perch are just a few of the nicknames people have given the crappie. Two species are found throughout North America: the black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) and the white crappie (Pomoxis annularis). They are members of the sunfish family, which also includes the largemouth bass and the bluegill. Crappies are two of the largest panfish species. Over the years, their sportiness on light tackle and their quality as tablefare have led to increasing popularity among freshwater anglers. Today, these crappies are two of the most fished-for species throughout North Caro-lina and much of the southeastern United States. About one-third of all sportfish harvested in the Southeast are crappies.

History and Status
Crappies are native to North Carolina and can be found in most waters throughout the state. They are quite hardy and tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions. In North Carolina, the black crappie flourishes in Piedmont reservoirs and Coastal Plain rivers. The white crappie flourishes in the more turbid reservoirs of the Yadkin River watershed.

Description
The black crappie is distinguished by the irregularly-spaced black blotches on its silvery-green to yellowish sides. In the white crappie these blotches often form vertical bars. The black crappie has a dark-green, olive-colored back and a thin, compressed body, which is somewhat deeper than that of the white crappie. Its dorsal and anal fins are about the same shape and size and colored with rows of greenish-black spots. The black crappie has seven or eight spiny dorsal fin rays, while the white crappie has only five or six. Because hybridization sometimes occurs between black and white crappies, and water quality often affects fish coloration, counting spiny dorsal fin rays is the best method for distinguishing between the two species.

Habitat and Habits
The black crappie is usually found in cool, clear ponds, reservoirs and slow-moving rivers, while the white crappie prefers more turbid waters. Crappies tend to congregate around areas with abundant aquatic vegetation, brush piles or other types of cover. Crappies have an extraordinarily high reproductive rate.

The spawning season for both species in North Carolina lasts from about March through May. The black crappie spawns when water temperatures reach the 60- to 68-degree range, and the white crappie spawns when water temperatures reach the 58- to 64-degree range. Crappies become sexually mature at 2 to 3 years of age. Males select the nest sites and clear circular beds 8 to 15 inches in diameter. The beds are often located in water that is 3 to 8 feet deep. Black crappie nests are frequently found in gravel or in soft, muddy river or lake bottoms. White crappie nests are often located near structures such as brush piles, stumps or rock outcrops. Females spawn with different males over several nests. Each spawning black crappie female produces between 11,000 to 188,000 eggs, while each white crappie female produces 2,900 to 91,700 eggs. Males guard the eggs, which hatch within three to five days. After the eggs hatch, males continue to guard the fry (newly hatched fish) for a few days until the young leave the nest.

Microscopic animals, called zooplankton, and insects are the preferred foods of the young-of-the-year black and white crappies. On this diet, they can grow up to 4 inches long during their first year. When they reach 6 to 8 inches in length, the young crappies eat mostly smaller fish and minnows. Adult crappies prefer forage fish found in the open-water areas of reservoirs, particularly threadfin and gizzard shad. They are, however, often willing to feed on anything that fits into their mouths, including their own young. When little or no prey fish are available, which is often the case during the winter and early spring, adults will shift back to feeding on insects.

The black crappie grows slower than the white crappie. But because of its stockiness, a black crappie will weigh more than a white crappie of similar size. The rate of growth depends on habitat, food availability and the crappie population size for a given body of water. Too many crappies and not enough food results in slow growth or stunting. The tremendous reproductive capability of crappie species often results in stunting, particularly in small ponds.

Range and Distribution
The native range for the black crappie extends from the upper St. Lawrence River and Manitoba south to northern Texas, including most midwestern states but excluding the northeastern seaboard. The native range for the white crappie extends from Southern Minnesota and the Great Lakes region south to Texas and western Florida. Demand for crappie fisheries has led to their introduction in all suitable areas throughout the United States.

People Interactions
Crappie species are most often encountered by anglers. Fishing for crappie is very popular in North Carolina, and fishermen consider crappies to be excellent sportfish. They can be caught on a variety of fishing equipment including cane poles, spinning and bait-casting outfits, fly rods and ice-fishing gear. Anglers usually try to locate a school of crappie and fish for them using minnows, small jigs or a combination of the two. Care is required when setting the hook or when landing the fish because their soft, papery mouth tears easily, allowing hooks to pull out. Crappie species are most active and easily caught at night and in the early morning.