black crappie
Pomoxis nigromaculatus
Freshwater fish from North America, introduced to Mexico and Panama, reaching 49 cm. It is sought in sport fishing and lives among vegetation.
Also called: crápi-negro, mojarra negra, black crappie
- maximum
- 49 cm
- record/max.
- 2.7 kg
who is the black crappie
The black crappie is a fish of the family Centrarchidae and reaches 49 cm and 2.7 kg. Its native range is hard to pin down, because the species was heavily introduced in the United States, but it occurs in lakes, ponds and river backwaters. In Mexico and Panama it is exotic. It forms schools and lives among vegetation, over mud or sand, preferably in clear water. Adults eat small fish, and young ones eat small crustaceans and insect larvae. Males build and guard the nests. It is sought in sport fishing and also appears in commercial fishing.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the black crappie; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- Males guard the eggs for about 5 days.
identification
Deep-bodied, laterally compressed fish with a large mouth, with the typical shape of crappies and other centrarchids. To tell it apart from the white crappie, which occurs in the same region, look at the habitat: the black crappie is more common in clear water, while the white crappie is usually in turbid water.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
Native to North America; in Mexico and Panama it was introduced and is exotic.
Habitat: Lakes, ponds and river backwaters, with vegetation and a mud or sand bottom.
when to fish
best time of day
Nighttime. The source says it feeds at dawn, between midnight and 2 a.m.
rules for the black crappie
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
The fin spines can injure: handle with care and release quickly, without keeping it out of the water for long.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01072, b = 3.06; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa da própria espécie)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Pomoxis nigromaculatus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Pomoxis nigromaculatusNames by country and language.
