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Gizzard shad are abundant in most of Mississippi’s rivers, streams, lakes, and reservoirs. Spawning takes place from mid-April to late June when water temperatures are 60ºF to 70ºF. They feed almost entirely on organic detritus but will also pick through mud and organic matter on the bottom for small food. Plant material is also consumed by gizzard shad and includes various kinds of algae that they filter from the water with long, closely spaced gill rakers. They grind up this material with a muscular gizzard.

These fish feed on the bottom seeking insects, mollusks, plants and algae. Bigmouth buffalo prefer large streams, rivers, oxbow lakes and reservoirs. Bigmouth buffalo spawn in the spring in shallow water when water temperatures are between 58ºF and 78ºF.

Similar to bighead carp, silver carp are native to Asia and were first imported into aquaculture facilities to improve water quality. They feed primarily on phytoplankton, small zooplankton, and other suspended organic matter.

Smallmouth buffalo prefer deep, large streams, rivers, oxbow lakes, and reservoirs; this fish feeds on the bottom for insects, mollusks, plants, and algae. Between March and May, spawning occurs in shallow water with temperatures between 57ºF and 70ºF.

Carp feed on the bottom for plant and animal material. Carp live in a variety of habitats from deep streams to marshes. Common carp are native to temperate portions of Europe and Asia. They were first introduced into North America in the late 1880s. Spawning occurs in shallow, weedy areas in the spring with water temperatures between 62ºF and 76ºF. Though common carp have historically been considered a nuisance, a growing number of anglers in the United States have developed an interest in carp as a sportfish.

Adults feed on fish, mussels, clams, and snails. Freshwater drum prefer to inhabit silty bottoms in rivers, reservoirs and oxbow lakes. Water temperature during spawning is between 64ºF and 78ºF; this occurs in May and June.

Bowfin prefer shallow oxbow lakes, sluggish rivers, and swamps and feed primarily on fish. They also eat crayfish, grass shrimp, frogs, and insects. Bowfin migrate into shallower areas and usually feed at night. They spawn in the spring when water temperatures are between 64ºF and 78ºF. Males build bowl-shaped nests, which are constructed in shallow, weedy areas. Bowfin are extremely tolerant of poor water quality and can survive in very poor habitats due to their ability to breathe air with their swim bladder.

Researchers once believed that the paddle was used as a shovel to find food; later, it was discovered that sensory organs cover the paddle, which is used to find food. The primary food sources for adult paddlefish are very small animals and insect larvae called zooplankton. Adults filter plankton using their gill rakers. Young paddlefish eat insects and large zooplankton. They are well-adapted to river systems, preferring large reservoirs and free-flowing rivers. Paddlefish spawn in late March or early April when water temperatures are between 58ºF and 62ºF. These fish spawn in swift-moving river waters with gravel bottoms. Paddlefish are most abundant in Mississippi in the Mississippi River and Delta rivers and oxbows.

The diet of spotted bass changes as the fish grow, changing from plankton, small aquatic insects, and small crustaceans to larger aquatic and terrestrial insects, crayfish, and small fish. Spotted bass live in streams and rivers, preferring faster waters than largemouth bass. They have adapted very well to reservoirs, and are often found around rocks or rip-rap. These fish spawn in mid-April through June. Spawning occurs in water temperatures of about 63ºF to 78ºF. Female and male spotted bass are mature at the age of two years. Spotted bass like other bass are nest spawners. The males build nests and guard the nests until the eggs hatch.

Warmouth feed on crawfish, crabs, small fish, insects, and insect larvae. Most feeding takes place at dusk, at dawn, or at night, with very little activity in the middle of the day. These fish are usually found in ponds, reservoirs, and slow moving vegetated streams. They are found near stumps and heavily vegetated areas. They are more common in dark, acidic, “swampy” waters. Like other sunfish, warmouth are nest spawners. Males build nests in areas with heavy cover. Spawning takes place between May and August when water temperatures reach about 70ºF. Many anglers consider the warmouth a popular sport fish. These fish do not appear to overpopulate small waters and do not show signs of stunted growth as other sunfish do.

Green sunfish are able to tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions and are found in streams, oxbow lakes, reservoirs, and ponds. Green sunfish nest in shallow water colonies where nests are often closely packed. Spawning occurs in late spring, when water temperatures rise above 70°F, and may continue throughout the summer. Adults feed on insects and small fish. Because of their enormous spawning potential, green sunfish often overpopulate small lakes and ponds. Small green sunfish often swim from lakes and streams up very shallow, running water after heavy spring rains to colonize new waters, often showing up in new ponds, giving the impression they were “rained in” or “came in on bird feet”. They may establish a population early in new ponds and may eat stocked bass and bluegill fingerlings. Green sunfish are often caught fishing for other sunfish, but are usually too small to be of much interest.

These fish normally inhabit small streams and creeks but are also found in reservoirs and oxbow lakes. Their main food source are insects and small fish. Spawning takes place in shallow waters in a period ranging from the later portion of spring into the early portion of summer. Longear are nest spawners with nests located close together.

Adults primarily feed on gizzard and threadfin shad. Hybrid striped bass are found in a variety of habitats from sandy, shallow areas to rocky areas near dams. Hybrids are more tolerant of warm water than striped bass and survive better in Mississippi lakes.

The diet of Yellow Bass consists of other fish and insects and may include shrimp and crabs in coastal areas. These fish mostly live in oxbow lakes and rivers, and are also found in areas with abundant aquatic vegetation. Spawning takes place in April and May in shallow water when water temperatures are between 60ºF and 70ºF. They tend to overpopulate and stunt in smaller lakes and ponds.

Walleye typically feed and spawn at night. These fish feed on insects and crayfish in rocky areas. However, the walleye’s most common source of food is fish, primarily gizzard and threadfin shad. In Mississippi, these fish are found mainly in the Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway and its tributaries. Walleye spawn in shallow water with rocky substrate when water temperatures are between 48ºF and 56ºF. This occurs in March. The Southern Walleye (Gulf Coast Walleye) is unique to the Mobile River Basin. It is genetically different from the northern strain of walleye. Southern Walleye are a “Species of Concern” because of habitat alterations.

Adults feed mostly on crayfish and small fish like shad, sunfishes, and shiners. They feed mostly in the early morning and late evening. They live in clear lakes and streams but prefer lakes with abundant aquatic vegetation. Pickerel spawn in vegetation as the sticky eggs attach themselves to the plants. Spawning takes place in late winter or early spring when water temperatures are between about 39ºF and 59ºF. Unlike some species pickerel do not guard the eggs after spawning.

Adults feed on smaller fish, various mollusks (mussels and clams), shrimp, crabs, crayfish, and aquatic insects. These fish are found in larger rivers, oxbow lakes, reservoirs, and brackish water near the coast.

Adult flatheads feed mostly on the bottom on crayfish and smaller fish such as darters, sunfishes, minnows, shad, and smaller catfish. Feeding and movement increase at night. Flathead catfish are normally found in deep pools of streams or rivers and are normally associated with underwater structure. They are often commonly found in oxbow lakes and reservoirs in Mississippi. Spawning begins in May and continues through July in logs, holes, or depressions on the bottom when water temperatures reach about 72ºF to 75ºF. Males guard the nests even after eggs hatch. Tagging studies have shown flatheads are territorial and tend to stay in the same area. Flatheads should never be stocked in bass-bream ponds due to their voracious fish-eating habits. They will eliminate almost all but the very smallest bream from a pond.

Adult black bullheads are bottom feeders, preying mostly on crayfish, aquatic insects, and fish. Black bullheads are found in streams, deep pools, and oxbow lakes. They are also found in reservoirs but do better in smaller water areas. Spawning for the black bullhead varies starting from early spring lasting through the summer when water temperatures are 68ºF to about 72ºF. Unlike other fish, the female usually constructs the nests and will guard it first before the male, and continues to guard it after spawning takes place. Like green sunfish, bullheads often colonize new ponds from existing water bodies and overpopulate and compete with bass and bream.

Yellow bullheads feed on crayfish, grass shrimp, worms, aquatic insects, beetles, and fish. Yellow bullheads can be found in streams, rivers, and ponds and are commonly seen in oxbow lakes. These fish prefer clear, heavily vegetated water. Spawning begins in spring and continues through early summer. Both the male and female will construct the nest with their fins and shovel material out of the next with their snout. Rocks are also removed with the mouth, and both fish will sit on the nest facing opposite directions.

Adults feed primarily on other fish, but also eat insect larvae and small crawfish, shrimp, and crabs. The shortnose gar prefers quiet back waters of large rivers and oxbow lakes. Shortnose gar spawn in the spring and early summer (April through June) or when temperatures are between 66ºF and 74ºF in vegetated shallow water. Shortnose gar eggs, like other gar eggs, are poisonous.

Adults feed on insect larvae and small crustaceans, but mostly fish. Spotted gar feed in shallow water at night while staying in deeper water during the day. Spotted gar prefer slow, clear waters of rivers and lakes and will spawn in shallow water with heavy vegetation and little water flow. Spawning season lasts from April to May.

A longnose gar’s diet consists of fish, particularly shad and sunfishes. Longnose gar are normally found in medium to large rivers but also inhabit oxbow lakes, reservoirs, and estuaries. These fish spawn in the spring in shallow water ranging from 62ºF to 70ºF.

Fish are the main component of the alligator gar’s diet. Alligator gar may also eat ducks and cormorants. Gar in brackish water near the coast prey on blue crabs, mullet, and other fish. Spawning occurs in late spring, in and around dense areas of aquatic vegetation. Alligator gar typically inhabit large river systems, but can also be found in oxbow lakes, bayous, and estuaries. Alligator gar have declined precipitously throughout much of their former range and are most common in south Mississippi.