WHITE CRAPPIE VS. BLACK CRAPPIE: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

White Crappie (Pomoxis annularis)  

As you will see, the two species have different taxonomic names, but they are both categorized as part of the sunfish ancestral tree, as are rock bass and bluegill.

White crappies are most quickly recognized by counting their dorsal spines, which vary from five to 6, and checking for patterns on their sides.

There are other separating elements also.

White crappie tend to be a bit more extended in the body and thinner than their counterpart, making them a bit lighter on the scales.

They normally reach the 1/2- to 1-pound range, but the IGFA world record white crappie still stands at 5 pounds, 3 ounces.

The white crappie has a mouth that is a bit longer and straighter than the black crappie, however either fish can be really light or dark colored, at least to the naked eye.

White crappie does not mind being in the open. They spend much of their time swimming in open water areas near cover, typically in clear or murky conditions.

I have actually captured crappie in lakes, slow-moving rivers, and ponds so small that you would never believe they might hold fish. They’re a durable fish and very fun to catch.

Black Crappie (Poxomis nigromaculatus)

The black crappie is typically much shorter and stubbier than their lighter cousins, with lots of irregular dark spots along their sides.

Black crappie also has seven to eight needle-like spinal columns on their dorsal fins, a few more than their white loved ones, and a mouth that turns upward in profile.

While the typical length of either fish can be anywhere from 8 to 15 inches, the thicker, tougher black crappie can achieve a weight from nearly one to over two pounds.

The IGFA world record for the types now stands at a massive 5 pounds, 7 ounces, caught in May, 2018 by Lionel Ferguson.

Both species will eat on minnow, shiner, or fathead, and both love to chow down on crawfish.

Crappies white or black are also partial to night crawlers, grasshoppers, ants, and other terrestrial unfortunate enough to come their way.

Black crappies prefer lighter, more transparent waters but also reside in and around the cover of vegetation and other ambush locations such as dock pilings and sunken timber.

As with white crappies, black crappies share a similar diet in minnows, shiners, crawfish, worms, crickets, and many other panfish baits.

Crappie Distribution

Substantial overlap exists in the distribution of the two typical crappie types, consisting of areas where they have actually been presented.

Their most significant native habitats are based around the center of the country eastwards, but there are non-native populations in the western U.S

While they both blanket U.S. waters, they also reach up into southern Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec in Canada.

Anglers can find them from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, all the way south to Florida.

This fish is extensively distributed for young and old anglers alike.

Spotting Hybrid Crappies

With the right conditions and in the proper areas, black and white crappies can reproduce efficiently.

With this in mind, and in areas where they both exist, it is common for white and black crappies to cross-breed.

In waters where both thrive, hybrids will have the body type of white crappie and at least some vertical bars.

The bars begin to become distorted or fade into a random speckled pattern towards the tail, or they may be stockier and shorter while having the spine count of black crappie.

Hybrid crappies generally do not reproduce very well and breed far slower than black or white crappies. Not only that but the generation that follows after the initial breeding is very often unsuccessful.