Black crappie

Pomoxis, the genus name, is Greek: "poma, -atos" and "oxys" meaning sharp operculum. This references the fish's spined gill covers. The species name, nigromaculatus, is derived from Latin and means "black-spotted". ==Description==

Black crappies are most accurately identified by the seven or eight spines on its dorsal fin (white crappies have five or six dorsal spines). Crappies have a deep and laterally compressed body. They are usually silvery-gray to green in color and show irregular or mottled black splotches over the entire body. Black crappies have rows of dark spots on their dorsal, anal, and caudal fins. Crappies are typically about long. The current all-tackle fishing world record for a black crappie is . The maximum length reported for a black crappie is and the maximum published weight is just under . ==Distribution==

The black crappie's range is uncertain, since it has been widely transplanted, but it is presumed to be similar to the white crappie's. Its native range is suspected to be in the eastern United States and Canada, and as of 2005, populations existed in all of the 48 contiguous U.S. states. Introduced populations also exist in Mexico and Panama. ==Habitat==

The black crappie's habitats are lakes, reservoirs, borrow pits, and navigation pools in large rivers. They prefer areas with little or no current, clear water, and abundant cover such as submerged timber or aquatic vegetation, as well as sand or mud bottoms like those found in lakes, ponds, streams, and sloughs. A commercial supplier of the fish, however, claims that it can be safely stocked in ponds as small as in area. ==Diet==

Crappies feed early in the morning and from about midnight until approximately 2 am. Individuals smaller than about in length eat plankton and minuscule crustaceans, while larger individuals feed on small fish (like shad), as well as minnows. and crustaceans. The same study also showed that young, small crappie tend to feed on small aquatic invertebrate animals and changed to a fish-filled diet as they matured to adulthood. Its diet, as an adult, tends to be less dominated by other fish than that of the white crappie. ==Relationships with humans==

Crappies are a very popular sport fish, as they are easy to catch during their feeding times. There are minimal number and size restriction limits for fishing the crappie species. ==Angling==

Crappie are commonly caught on small jigs and minnow rigs. Unlike their cousins, the white crappies, black crappies are more commonly caught in clear water around structure. A common technique is spider rigging, in which one usually has eight long rods protruding from the boat, all rigged with minnows. Fishermen can also troll for crappie with small cranks. When trolling, one should use electronics to locate suspending groups and bring one's lure near them. Another technique for fishing docks is dock shooting, or arrow casting. To arrow cast, one should use a spinning reel. Fishermen open their bail, hold the lure and push the rod forward so that the rod is bent. They then aim the lure where they want to cast, and they simultaneously let go of the lure and release the line. This technique is used to cast the lure into the small space under a dock or tree. ==Conservation status==

Black crappies can be safely harvested under minimal, reasonable regulations, as long as there is no permanent damage to the fishery or environment. The black crappie is not listed as a species under threat on the IUCN Red List. ==Reproduction and life cycle==

Black crappies mature at two to four years. Growth during the first four years of their life is faster in the warm waters of the southern part of its range than in cooler waters in the north. Males use their bodies and tails to sweep out an area of sand or mud in shallow water (between one and six feet deep) usually near a shoreline and vegetation to create a nest. Female crappies produce an average of 40,000 spherical eggs, the number depending on their age and size. After spawning, the male watches over the nest until eggs hatch, which is usually about two to three days. Newly hatched fish larvae are about long and appear translucent. They stay in the nest for several days before moving to shallow, sheltered waters. ==References==