Identification Freshwater Fish

FRESHWATER FISH
SPECIES
IDENTIFICATION
Agriscience 381
Wildlife and Recreation Management

#8985-C
TEKS: (c)(3)(B)
Table of Contents
Introduction
Game Fish Species
Non-Game Fish Species

Protected Fish Species
Introduction
Freshwater fish live in public or
private waters such as rivers, streams,
creeks, lakes, ponds, and reservoirs.
The salt content of freshwater ranges
from 0 to 5 parts per thousand.
Any person can have access to public
waters.
Private water is any body of water

that is completely surrounded by
privately owned land.
Water can flow through private
property.
People can have access to this
water, but not to the property on
either side.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

(TP&WD) identified the nine main
species of freshwater game fish
discussed in this presentation.
TP&WD regulates not only the game
fish, but the non-game species and
protected species.
To help in identification of fish species, lets

review some terminology and parts of the fish.
Anterior on or towards the head.
Posterior on or towards the tail.

Anterior
Picture by Timothy Knepp courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Posterior
Dorsal toward the back or upper

surface.
Ventral toward the abdominal or
lower side.
Dorsal
Ventral
Picture by Timothy Knepp courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Medial toward the central or middle of

the body.
Lateral on or toward the right or left side
of the body.
Lateral
Medial
Lateral
Photo by Jan Dean courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Game Fish Species

TP&WD closely regulates taking of
game fish species.
Some species may be natural hybrids.
Drawing by Glenn Young courtesy of U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
The following fish will be discussed in

this presentation of game species:
Bass
Chain Pickerel
Catfish
Trout
Crappie
Walleye
Sauger
Bass
There are two families of bass

discussed in this lesson:
Sea bass family
Sunfish family
Temperate or true bass belong to

the sea bass family. They include:
Striped Bass
White Bass
Yellow Bass
Hybrid Striped Bass
Striped Bass
Morone saxatilis
Photo by Duane Raver courtesy of U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
The striped bass is a saltwater

species that moves far upstream
during spawning.
Photo by Eric Engbretson courtesy of U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
White Bass
Morone chrysops
The white bass is a freshwater species

that can be identified by a double
dorsal fin in which the front spiny
portion separates from the rear softrayed portion.
Yellow Bass
Morone mississippiensis
The yellow bass gets its name from

the yellow color on its belly and
sides.
It is easily confused with the white
bass or a young striped bass.
The bottom two stripes on each side

are broken slightly behind the
middle of the fish.
The yellow bass is a small species,
usually less than one pound.
Hybrid Striped Bass
Morone saxatilis x Morone chrysops
The hybrid striped bass is a cross

between the striped bass and the
white bass.
This is a unique cross because the

striped bass is a saltwater species
and the white bass is a freshwater
species.
The sunfish family, also called black

bass, include the following species:
Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Guadalupe Bass
Spotted Bass
Largemouth Bass
Micropterus salmoides
The largemouth bass exists in Texas

waters as the native largemouth.
The Florida largemouth is an exotic
to Texas waters.
Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
The smallmouth bass is similar to

the largemouth species, except for
the size of its mouth.
Guadalupe Bass
Micropterus treculli
Spotted Bass
Micropterus punctulatus
Catfish
There are five catfish species common to
Texas waters. (Note: three are game species and
two are non-game species.)
Channel Catfish
Blue Catfish
Flathead Catfish
Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
The channel catfish and the blue

catfish have very similar
characteristics.
The channel catfish is a popular
species for aquaculture.
Blue Catfish
Ictalurus furcatus
The blue catfish are big-river fish that

reach weights up to 300 pounds.
Flathead Catfish
Pylodictis olivaris
The flathead catfish, sometimes called

the yellow cat, is another popular
freshwater sport fish in Texas waters.
The flathead or yellow cat is

considered the largest popular
freshwater sport fish.
Crappie
White crappie and black crappie are
popular game fish in Texas waters.
Both are sunfish.
White crappie is common statewide,

whereas the black crappie is limited
to East Texas.
White Crappie
Pomaxis annularis
Black Crappie
Pomoxis nigromaculatus
Sauger
Saugers (Strizostedion canadense) are

members of the perch family.
They resemble walleye.
They are another exotic to Texas,
coming from the Ohio River and Lake
Erie.
They are a food species for winter
fishing.
Chain Pickerel
The chain pickerel (Esox niger) is related
to the northern pike and the
muskellunge, or muskie.
They are another species that are
fished for during colder weather.
Trout
Trout are cold-water species and, as
that would suggest, this does not allow
them to thrive in warm Texas waters.
Two species of trout are popular game
fish:
Rainbow trout
Brown trout
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Rainbow trout are anadromous.

That is, they live in the sea, but
return to rivers to breed.
Brown Trout
Salmo Trutta
The brown trout is an exotic to

North American waters.
They are often stocked in Texas
waters during the winter.
Walleye
Sander vitreum
The walleye is a member of the

perch family.
This species has been stocked in
many lakes and reservoirs.
They normally reach the 12 to 15
pound weight range.
Non-Game Fish Species

Non-game fish are often referred to
as trash fish.
There are two reasons for this:
(1.) Most of their meat has little
appeal; and
(2.) They tend to interfere with the
production of game fish species.
Non-game fish have no season and no

limits.
However, this does not include any
species on the threatened or
endangered species list.
The following non-game species

are discussed in this presentation.
Sunfish
Drum
Alligator Gar
Bullhead Catfish
Carp
Tilapia
Sunfish
Sunfish are a popular species that do

have tasty meat.
Often they are stocked to provide
food or fodder for game fish species.
Five species of sunfish are discussed.

Bluegill Sunfish
Warmouth
Green Sunfish
Redear Sunfish
Longear Sunfish
Bluegill Sunfish
Lepomis macrochirus
The bluegill sunfish is the most

popular sunfish and is found
statewide.
Warmouth
Lepomis gulosus
Warmouth is another species found

statewide and averages eight
ounces in weight.
Green Sunfish
Lepomis cyanellus
The green sunfish has a large

mouth like the warmouth and can
easily hybridize with other sunfish.
Redear Sunfish
Lepomis microlophus
The redear sunfish does not have

an ear as its name suggests. The
males opercule flap is red and the
females flap is orange.
Longear Sunfish
Lepomis megalotis
The longear sunfish have a long

opercule flap that gives the illusion
of a long ear.
Freshwater Drum
Aplodinotus grunniens
The drum is a non-game fish that

produces a deep booming sound.
The drum is a statewide species
that is found in all major rivers
and impoundments.
Alligator Gar
Atractosteus spathula
The alligator gar is the largest

member of the gar family.
It can reach and often exceeds 150
pounds in weight.
The gar is an air breather and can
survive in stagnant waters where few
other species could survive.
Bullhead Catfish
The black bullhead catfish and the
yellow bullhead catfish are nongame species.
Both will weigh about two pounds.
Black Bullhead
Ameiurus melas
Yellow Bullhead
Ameiurus natalis
Carp
The two species of carp common to
Texas are the common carp and the
grass carp.
These exotic species were originally
native to Asia.
Common Carp
Cyprinus carpio
The common carp, which can live

over 45 years and exceed 75
pounds, is a scavenger that feeds
on plants and animal materials.
Grass Carp
Ctenopharyngodon idella
The grass carp is a potentially invasive

species that can strip a water body of
all aquatic vegetation.
A triploid species has been genetically

developed to be sterile.
The triploid grass carp is protected
and should be returned to the water.
The grass carp, also known as the

diploid grass carp, is not protected.
Tilapia
Oreochromis
There are several of the Oreochromis

species, but the one commonly
found in Texas waters is the
Oreochromis mossambicus or
Mozambique variety.
Tilapia are exotic to Texas waters.

They are native to Africa, specifically
the Nile River region.
They are herbivores and will not take
a bait of earthworms or insects.
False hooking can occur.
Tilapia are common aquaculture

species.
Protected Fish Species

There are many fish in Texas waters
that are on the threatened or
endangered species list.
The paddlefish is one species that
can be caught with a hook and line
using a technique called snagging.
Paddlefish
Polyodon spathula
Since the paddlefish is a plankton

feeder, it will not take bait.
Its meat has value, but it was once
sought after for its caviar.
Although classified as a game fish,
TP&WD does not allow harvesting
of this species.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Reproduction or redistribution of all, or part,
of this presentation without written
permission is prohibited.
Instructional Materials Service
Texas A&M University

2588 TAMUS
College Station, Texas 77843-2588

http://www-ims.tamu.edu
2006

Identification Freshwater Fish

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FRESHWATER FISH

Wildlife and Recreation Management

Non-Game Fish Species

Private water is any body of water

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

To help in identification of fish species, lets

Anterior on or towards the head.

Posterior on or towards the tail.

Picture by Timothy Knepp courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Dorsal toward the back or upper

Medial toward the central or middle of

Photo by Jan Dean courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Game Fish Species

Some species may be natural hybrids.

Drawing by Glenn Young courtesy of U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

The following fish will be discussed in

There are two families of bass

Temperate or true bass belong to

Photo by Duane Raver courtesy of U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

The striped bass is a saltwater

Photo by Eric Engbretson courtesy of U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Photo by Duane Raver courtesy of U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

The white bass is a freshwater species

Photo by Eric Engbretson courtesy of U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

The yellow bass gets its name from

The bottom two stripes on each side

Hybrid Striped Bass

Morone saxatilis x Morone chrysops

The hybrid striped bass is a cross

This is a unique cross because the

The sunfish family, also called black

The largemouth bass exists in Texas

Photo by Duane Raver courtesy of U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Photo by Eric Engbretson courtesy of U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

The smallmouth bass is similar to

Photo by Duane Raver courtesy of U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Photo by Eric Engbretson courtesy of U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

The channel catfish and the blue

Photo by Duane Raver courtesy of U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Photo by Eric Engbretson courtesy of U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

The blue catfish are big-river fish that

Photo by Duane Raver courtesy of U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

The flathead catfish, sometimes called

The flathead or yellow cat is

Photo by Duane Raver courtesy of U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Photo by Eric Engbretson courtesy of U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

White crappie is common statewide,

Photo by Duane Raver courtesy of U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Photo by Duane Raver courtesy of U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Photo by Eric Engbretson courtesy of U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Saugers (Strizostedion canadense) are

Photo by Duane Raver courtesy of U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Photo by Duane Raver courtesy of U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Rainbow trout are anadromous.

Photo by Duane Raver courtesy of U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Photo by Eric Engbretson courtesy of U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

The brown trout is an exotic to

Photo by Duane Raver courtesy of U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

The walleye is a member of the