White crappie

What it is

The white crappie is a deep-bodied freshwater fish with a flattened shape. Its depth is roughly one-third of its length. The fish displays a silvery colour with green or brown shades on its back and a white belly. Distinctive dark vertical bars run along its sides, numbering between five and ten. This pattern differs from the scattered spots seen on black crappies. The dorsal fin starts further back on the body compared to its relative, and it possesses six spines rather than seven or eight. Small conical teeth line its mouth in two rows.

Where it lives

This species is native to North America, with a range extending from New York and southern Ontario westward to South Dakota. Its distribution reaches southward to Texas. It inhabits the Great Lakes, Hudson Bay, and Mississippi River basins. White crappies thrive in large rivers, reservoirs, and lakes larger than five acres. They are particularly common in low-velocity areas such as river pools and backwaters. The fish tolerates turbid or murky water better than black crappies, often outnumbering them in such conditions and in areas lacking rooted aquatic vegetation.

How it lives

White crappies use a pause-and-travel search strategy, swimming intermittently and hunting while stationary. Larvae and juveniles feed on zooplankton and small invertebrates. Adults, defined as those over 12 centimetres, eat small fish like minnows and young shad, as well as crayfish and hellgrammites. Diet varies by location, including mayflies in Mississippi and gizzard shad in Illinois. In some regions, they consume small carp, yellow perch, and even other crappies. Feeding activity peaks from June to October, slowing in winter.

Breeding and life cycle

Spawning occurs in May and June when water temperatures reach 13 degrees Celsius. Males build bowl-shaped nests on the bottom near brush, rocks, or logs in shallow water. During this period, males develop dark throat colouration. Females lay between 5,000 and 30,000 eggs. Males guard the nests until the fry swim away to ensure genetic success. Fish grow rapidly, reaching 7 to 12 centimetres in their first year. They typically mature in their second or third year.

Fish and people

The white crappie is a valued sport fish. The International Game Fish Association records include a weight record of 2.35 kg caught in Mississippi in 1957, and a length record of 39 cm caught in 2022. The USS Goldring was named after this fish, which is also known locally as goldring or sac-a-lait. Anglers target them in quiet, shallow waters during the day and open water at dawn or dusk.

Status and threats

The species has a large geographic range and a stable population. It is listed as Least Concern for conservation efforts. White crappies generally live for three to four years in unmanaged waters, but can reach six years in managed environments. The maximum lifespan is eight to ten years. Their tolerance for murky water helps them maintain numbers where other species might struggle.

Relatives and look-alikes

The white crappie is one of two crappie species, the other being the black crappie. They are morphologically similar but differ in markings and fin spines. Black crappies have random spots and seven or eight dorsal spines, whereas white crappies have vertical bars and six spines. Both belong to the family Centrarchidae.

Questions people ask about White crappie

Good reading and sources

• White crappie on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
• Wikidata recordOpen data