Here are some fish that can be found in Ohio , that you probably never knew we had, some of the fish I will be posting in the future can be described as “RARE” at the least. If it were not for ODNR I (we) wouldn’t even know many of them exist at all!
This first fish is not that rare ….
#5 Black Crappie
The black crappie is a popular sport fish. They can be caught on a variety of baits using different methods which makes them accessible to many anglers year round. They are found in and around brush in spring and move to open waters in summer.
Description
Black crappie closely resemble white crappie, but have deeper bodies. Furthermore, their head, back, and sides are mottled with dusky or black blotches. These blotches do not form vertical bars as on white crappie. The most reliable characteristic, however, is that black crappie have seven or eight dorsal spines compared to the five or six of a white crappie. The dorsal fin is also set further forward on the body of a black crappie than it is on a white crappie.
Habitat and Habits
Black crappie are widely distributed throughout Ohio, but are generally not as wide spread as white crappie. Generally, black crappie prefer clearer water and more aquatic vegetation than white crappie. They are also less tolerant of silt and turbidity than are white crappie.
Reproduction and Care of the Young
Black crappie spawn during May and June in Ohio. Males construct a nest by fanning out small depressions on the bottom in and around brush, rocks, or vegetation in water between one and five feet deep. Females then lay 5,000 to 30,000 eggs in the nest. After hatching, crappie feed on zooplankton and insect larvae. As they grow, crappie switch primarily to a diet of small fish.
Black Crappie
Pomoxis nigromaculatus
At-a-Glance
• Family: Centrarchidae (Sunfishes)
• Other Names: Spec, paper mouth, strawberry bass
• Ohio Status: Sport fish
• Adult Size: Typically 5-12 inches, can reach 18 inches. Ususally weighs up to about 1 lb but can occasionally exceed 3 lbs.
• Typical Foods: Planktonic crustaceans, aquatic insects, and small fish.
# 6 Black Redhorse
The black redhorse is one of seven species of redhorse suckers found in Ohio. They are large bottom feeding fish that are often mistaken for carp. However these fish, unlike carp, are indicators of a healthy river system and are native to the state of Ohio.
Description
The black redhorse is gray or brownish-olive with silvery sides and a slate gray tail. Their dorsal fin is slightly concave (curves in toward body). The rear edge of the black redhorse lips forms a straight line. There are 44-47 scales found along their lateral line. The black redhorse is more long and slender in appearance than the golden redhorse. The back edge of the lips of a golden redhorse form a slight “V” and they have 39-42 scales along their lateral line. Silver redhorse are very deep bodied, the rear edge of their lower lips form a deep “V”, and have a convex (outwardly rounded) dorsal fin. Ohio’s other four species of redhorse have red tails.
Habitat and Habits
Black redhorse are native to Ohio and are found statewide. They inhabit swift flowing portions of moderate or large-sized streams with clear water. Preferred substrates include, gravel, bedrock or sand. Black redhorse are less tolerant of low gradients, turbidity, and siltation than golden redhorse. They are an indicator of good water quality. Young redhorse feed in schools near emergent aquatic vegetation near the edge of pools. Adult black redhorse usually feed in schools just above or below a riffle moving slowly over the bottom. Adults and young alike feed by filtering through the substrate for snails, insect larvae, and other aquatic invertebrates.
Reproduction and Care of the Young
Black redhorse spawn in late April. The eggs are buried in a substrate of fine rubble, sand, and gravel in water between 6 and 24 inches deep. This usually occurs at the top or bottom end of a riffle.
Black Redhorse
Moxostoma duquesnei
At-a-Glance
• Family: Catostomidae (Suckers)
• Other Names: Sucker, redhorse
• Ohio Status: No special status
• Adult Size: Typically 10-15 inches but can reach 18 inches. Usually weigh 1-2 pounds but can exceed 3 pounds.
• Typical Foods: Larval insects, snails, small mollusks and other aquatic invertebrates.
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