Freshwater Fish in Texas

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Freshwater Fish in Texas

• Aquaculture

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How many of you have ever caught a fish and did
not have a clue what kind it was?

• Well, hopefully after this lesson you will have a
  better understanding of the different species of
  freshwater fish in Texas.

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Largemouth Bass

• Color- Green with dark blotches that form a
  horizontal stripe along the middle of the fish.
• The upper jaw reaches far beyond the rear margin
  of the eye.
• Member of the sunfish family.

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Smallmouth Bass

• Color- Green with dark vertical band instead of
  horizontal along the side.
• The upper jaw never extends beyond the eye.
• Member of the sunfish family.

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Review Questions

• What are two differences between the largemouth
  bass and the smallmouth bass?
• The largemouth bass has horizontal stripes and
  the smallmouth bass has vertical stripes.
• The largemouths lower jaw reaches far beyond the
  rear margin of the eye.

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White Bass

• Color- silvery shading from dark-gray or black on
  the back to white on the belly.
• Several incomplete lines or stripes run
  horizontally on each side of the body.
• Also known as a sand bass.

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Striped Bass

• Color- Silvery shading to olive-green on the back
  and white on the belly.
• Has seven or eight uninterrupted horizontal
  stripes on each side of the body.
• Member of the sea bass family.

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Channel Catfish

• Color- olive-brown to slate-blue on the back and
  sides, shading to silvery-white on the belly.
• Typically small black spots are present.
• Anal fin is rounded with 24-29 rays.

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Blue Catfish

• Color- usually slate blue on the back, shading to
  white on the belly.
• Anal fin is straight with 30-36 rays.

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Review Questions

• Out of the channel catfish and the blue catfish,
  which species is known for being heavier?
• The blue catfish

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White Crappie

• Color- silvery-white on the belly to a
  silvery-green or even dark green on the back.
• There are several vertical bars on the side.
• Males develop dark coloration on the throat while
  spawning.

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Black Crappie

• Color- silvery-green with irregular black
  blotches.
• Males do not develop any color during the
  spawning season.

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Review Questions

• Of the two crappie, which species male changes
  color during the spawning season?
• The white crappie

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Bluegill

• Color- The back and upper sides are usually dark
  olive green blending to copper, and
  reddish-orange or yellow on the belly.
• Color is more intense in breeding males.
• Also known as brim or perch.

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Redear Sunfish

• Color- ranges from dark olive green above to
  almost white on the belly.
• Its most distinct characteristic is the red edge
  on the ear flap of the male and orange on the
  female.

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Review Questions

• Whish sunfish species is known for having a red
  or orange edge on the ear flap?
• The redear sunfish

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Common Carp

• Color- color varies from brassy green or yellow,
  to golden brown, or even silvery. The belly is
  usually yellowish-white.
• The common carp is a heavy-bodied minnow with
  barbells on either side of the upper jaw.

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Grass Carp

• Color- silvery to olive in color, lacking the
  golden hue of common carp, and they have no
  barbells.
• The grass carp is one of the largest members of
  the minnow family.

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Review Questions

• Which carp is known for having barbells on
  either side of the upper jaw?
• The common carp.

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Alligator Gar

• Color- generally brown or olive above, and
  lighter underneath.
• Distinguished from other freshwater species by
  their long, slender, cylindrical bodies, and
  their long snouts.

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Freshwater Drum

• Color- silvery in color and lack the distinctive
  tail fin spot of red drum.
• The drum is know for making grunting sounds.

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Threadfin Shad

• Color- The upper surface is silver-blue and
  grades to nearly white on the sides and belly.
• The chin and floor of the mouth is speckled with
  black pigment.

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Flathead Minnow

• Color- silvery-brownish in color.
• Most often known for being used as a bait-fish.

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Guided Practice

• Everyone get a partner and between the two of you
  write down four fish and a characteristic that
  you learned about them in class today.