Family: Centrarchidae, Sunfishes view all from this family

Description To 3'2" (97 cm); 22 1/4 lbs (10.1 kg). Moderately deep, robust; back olive to dark green, mottled; sides greenish yellow with dark midlateral stripe; head greenish gold. Mouth large, extends beyond posterior edge of eye. 14-15 pectoral soft rays; median fins olive; dorsal fins almost separate, 10 spines, 12-13 soft rays, 3 anal fin spines, 11 soft rays. Lateral line complete, 59-77 scales; 7-9 scale rows above lateral line, 14-17 below; no scales on bases of soft dorsal and anal fins; 24-28 caudal peduncle scale rows.

Habitat Quiet, clear to slightly turbid streams, ponds, lakes, and reservoirs, often with vegetation.

Range S. Ontario south through Great Lakes, Mississippi River system, and Coastal Plain from N. North Carolina to Texas and NE. Mexico. Also introduced throughout S. Canada and United States.

Discussion The Largemouth Bass, one of the most highly sought sport fishes in the United States, is caught with live and artificial bait. It is more tolerant of warm water than the Smallmouth Bass, but at higher temperatures it becomes less active. Adults feed primarily on other fishes. The average life span is about 16 years.

Family: Percichthyidae, Temperate Basses view all from this family

Description To 6' (1.8 m); 125 lbs (56.7 kg). Elongate, moderately compressed; back olive-green to dark blue, sides silvery, belly white; upper sides with 6-9 dark, uninterrupted stripes; median fins dusky. Mouth large, lower jaw slightly projecting. Teeth small, in bands on jaws, vomer, and palatine bones, and in 2 parallel patches on tongue. Opercle has 2 flat spines near posterior edge. First dorsal fin with 8-10 strong spines, separated from second dorsal by deep notch. Scales extend onto all fin bases except spinous dorsal.

Habitat Inshore over various bottoms; some permanently in fresh water.

Range Atlantic Ocean and associated rivers from St. Lawrence River to St. Johns River, Florida; Appalachicola River, W. Florida, to Lake Ponchartrain, Louisiana. Most abundant from Hudson River to Chesapeake Bay. Widely introduced into rivers and lakes in much of Mississippi River system, Colorado River, and coastal streams in Washington, Oregon, and California.

Discussion The Striped Bass is a very important sport and commercial fish throughout its range, and large individuals are caught by surf fishing, especially on the Atlantic Coast. It is a delicious food fish. It is anadromous, and spawns prolifically in fresh water.

Family: Ictaluridae, Bullhead Catfishes view all from this family

Description To 4'5" (1.4 m); 91 lbs, 4 ozs. (41.4 kg). Elongate, slender; back and sides olive-yellow to light brown with dark mottling; belly yellowish; caudal fin dark brown to black, with upper lobe unpigmented; other fins yellowish to light brown. Head large, wide, very flat; eyes small; mouth wide, lower jaw projecting beyond upper, 4 pairs of short barbels. Adipose fin large; dorsal fin spine weak; 14-17 anal fin rays; caudal fin truncate, weakly notched.

Habitat Large creeks, rivers, and reservoirs, usually near cover of rocks, logs, or other debris.

Range Se. Ontario; w. Pennsylvania, sw. Wisconsin and North Dakota, south to Texas and ne. Mexico; east in Gulf drainages to Mobile Bay drainage of Alabama, Georgia.

Discussion The Flathead Catfish, a good sport and food fish, is commercially important in some areas. The young feed on aquatic insects, but gradually shift their diet to fishes and crayfishes as they mature.

Family: Ictaluridae, Bullhead Catfishes view all from this family

Description To 3'11" (1.2 m); 58 lbs (26.3 kg). Slender; back blue-gray; sides light blue to silvery with scattered dark olive to black spots; belly white; fins olive to dusky. Head wide, flat to slightly rounded above; eyes large, above midline of head; upper jaw overhangs lower; 4 pairs of barbels. Adipose fin present; outer edge of anal fin rounded, 24-31 rays; caudal fin deeply forked.

Related Species Headwater Catfish (I. lupus) has shorter pectoral fin spine; 22-27 anal fin rays; caudal fin less deeply forked; found in Pecos River drainage in S. and W. Texas, and E. New Mexico. Spotted Bullhead (I. serracanthus) has pale yellow spots, shorter anal fin, caudal fin shallowly notched; occurs in deep holes or large streams over firm bottom from SW. Georgia to N. central Florida.

Habitat Rivers and large creeks in slow to moderate current over sand, gravel, or rocks; ponds, lakes, reservoirs.

Range S. Quebec west to S. Alberta; central and E. central United States. Widely introduced.

Discussion The Channel Catfish, a very popular sport and food fish, is harvested commercially in some areas. It is the principal catfish reared in aquaculture.

Family: Centrarchidae, Sunfishes view all from this family

Description To 16" (41 cm); 5 lbs (2.3 kg). Deep, strongly compressed, dorsal profile rounded; back greenish, sides silvery green with dark green to black scattered mottlings not forming bars, belly silvery, median fins yellowish green with dusky, wavy lines and white spots. Head long, concave near eye; mouth oblique, extends past middle of eye. Dorsal fins connected without notch, 7-8 spines; anal fin large, 6 spines. Lateral line complete, 36-44 scales.

Related Species White Crappie (P. annularis) has more elongate body; 6 dorsal fin spines; occurs in same habitat in SE. Ontario and E. central United States. Widely introduced.

Habitat Quiet, warm, clear streams, ponds, lakes, and reservoirs.

Range Quebec, Ontario, and S. Manitoba; E. and central United States except Atlantic Coast streams from Maine to Virginia. Widely introduced.

Discussion This is a very popular sport and food fish, especially in the southern part of its range. It is generally less abundant than the White Crappie and less tolerant of silty and turbid waters. It feeds throughout the day and night, but is most active in the evening.

Family: Centrarchidae, Sunfishes view all from this family

Description To 21 1/4" (53 cm). Oval, very compressed. Back rounded; forehead concave; lower jaw projects. Dark green back; sides silvery green, with many blackish spots. Dorsal fins continuous, rounded, 1st with 6 spines; length of dorsal fin base less than distance from dorsal fin origin to middle of eye. Tail fin forked; anal fin high. All fins have wavy black lines.

Similar Species Black Crappie (P. nigromaculatus) has less elongated body, 7-8 dorsal fin spines, and length of dorsal fin base is about equal to distance from dorsal fin origin to middle of eye; southern Canada and east-central and southern United States.

Habitat Streams, rivers, ponds, lakes.

Range Eastern North America from southern Ontario to the Gulf of Mexico.

Discussion Crappies are members of the sunfish family (family Centrarchidae). Sunfishes are one of the most widespread and popular groups of freshwater sport fishes. Except for a single species native to California, sunfishes are indigenous to warm waters of North America east of the Rocky Mountains. However, as a result of their popularity with anglers, their range has been increased by introductions into other areas.

Family: Cichlidae, Cichlids view all from this family

Description To 15" (38 cm). Deep, compressed; dark olive to gray above, sides gray-green to yellowish, yellowish below; dorsal and caudal fins have reddish edges; breeding males bluish to black; young silvery with 6-8 bars. Mouth small; lips of breeding males large blue; single nostril on each side of snout. Dorsal fins joined, 15-17 spines, 10-12 rays; anal fin has 3-4 spines, 9-10 rays; dorsal and anal fins pointed posteriorly. Caudal peduncle short, deep; caudal fin rounded. Lateral line interrupted posteriorly, 29-33 scales in series.

Habitat Warm, sluggish streams, ponds, and canals with abundant aquatic vegetation; also enters brackish coastal waters.

Range Widely introduced in S. United States south of North Carolina, Missouri, and central California.

Discussion The Mozambique Tilapia has been introduced for the purpose of weed control and has escaped from ponds where it was cultured for the tropical fish trade. It feeds on aquatic insects and small fishes as well as aquatic weeds, and competes with native game fishes for food and space.

Family: Clupeidae, Herrings view all from this family

Description To 16" (41 cm). Deep, moderately compressed; back dark blue or gray, sides silvery, belly white; 6 or 8 horizontal dusky stripes on upper sides; dusky humeral spot. Head small, mouth small and inferior; adipose eyelid present. Pelvic fin almost directly under origin of dorsal fin. Last ray of dorsal fin elongate, filamentous. Ventral scales scutelike, forming distinct keel.

Related Species Threadfin Shad (D. petenense) has slender body, dorsal ray almost reaches caudal fin; ridge on back before dorsal fin scaleless; occurs along coast south from Florida to Central America and in associated freshwater streams; introduced in w. United States.

Similar Species Atlantic Thread Herring (Opisthonema oglinum) has scales on ridge of back before dorsal fin; occurs only in salt water from Cape Cod to Brazil, including Gulf of Mexico.

Habitat Fresh water in large rivers, reservoirs, lakes, and estuaries; also in salt water.

Range Atlantic Coast and associated rivers from New York to mid-Florida, Gulf of Mexico from mid-Florida to central Mexico; St. Lawrence River, Great Lakes, and Mississippi River system.

Discussion The Gizzard Shad is a very common herbivorous fish associated primarily with freshwater habitats. It has no commercial value, but is a forage fish for larger, carnivorous fishes.

Family: Cyprinidae, Carps and Minnows view all from this family

Description To 30" (76 cm); 60 lbs (27.2 kg). Robust, moderately compressed; back dark olive; sides lighter, yellowish below; fins dusky-olive. 2 paris of barbels on upper lip. Dorsal fin long, has 1 stout, serrate spine, 17-21 rays; anal fin with similar spine, 5-6 rays. Lateral line complete, 32-39 scales.

Similar Species Goldfish (Carassius auratus) lacks barbels; has larger scales.

Habitat Streams, lakes, ponds, sloughs, and reservoirs in turbid or clear water over mud or silt with aquatic vegetation; more common in warm waters.

Range Introduced in s. Canada, throughout United States, and Mexico.

Discussion Carp were introduced into the United States during the late 1880s by the United States Fish Commission as a food fish. They proved detrimental to native fish populations and have never become as popular as game and food fishes in North America as they are in Europe. Carp will take a variety of bait, such as dough balls, cheese, corn, and worms, and fight when hooked.

Family: Centrarchidae, Sunfishes view all from this family

Description To 12" (30 cm); 4 3/4 lbs (2.2 kg). Deep, compressed, profile rounded under dorsal fin; body and median fins dark olive-green; sides lighter, olive with brassy reflections, often with dusky bars; belly whitish. Mouth terminal, not extending past front edge of eye; opercular flap broad, moderately long, dusky to black. Pectoral fin long, pointed; second dorsal fin with black blotch near middle of posterior rays; anal fin base about half length of dorsal fin base. Lateral line complete, 39-45 scales.

Habitat Clear, warm pools of streams, lakes, ponds sloughs, and reservoirs, usually in shallow water with vegetation.

Range From S. Ontario, S. Quebec, and Great Lakes drainage south to Florida, west to S. Texas. Introduced throughout United States and N. Mexico.

Discussion The Bluegill is the most common sunfish and probably the most popular freshwater game fish in the United States. It is also commonly stocked in ponds as forage for larger fishes.