How to Identify a Black Crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus)

• Body shape: A pan-sized fish, deep-bodied and laterally compressed, colored silver and black.
• Dorsal spines: Black crappie have 7 or 8 dorsal spines (white crappie have only 5-6).
• Body markings: A green back, silver or white sides with black or green speckles, and a silver or white belly.
• Mouth: A large mouth.

The black crappie has 7-8 dorsal spines and irregularly scattered spots on the sides; the white crappie has only 5-6 dorsal spines, and its spots are often arranged in vertical bars. See the White Crappie page for its full mark list.

A freshwater fish found in creeks, rivers, lakes, and ponds; prefers clear water with little or no current and many hiding places. Native to the Atlantic Slope from Virginia or North Carolina south to Florida, the Gulf Slope west to Texas, and the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence and Mississippi River basins from Quebec and Manitoba southward.

Lay the fish flat on its side in even light and photograph the whole body first, then the details below. Get a close, sharp frame of the head: mouth, jaw length and any barbels. Raise the dorsal and anal fins fully; ray counts and fin edges only read when the fin is spread. Shoot the side of the body before the fish dries; spots and stripes fade fast out of water. The app reads the photo and names the likely species; use the marks on this page to confirm it.

Size and daily limits for this species differ by state and by water, and some waters are catch-and-release only. Check the current regulations for where you are fishing before keeping any fish; if you are unsure of the species, release it.