Search

Bighead carp are a deep-bodied carp with the eye located low on the head near the angle of the jaw. The back and head are olive to dark gray, becoming silvery to yellow-white on the sides and abdomen. Their body is covered with numerous dark gray to black blotches. Bighead carp can reach lengths of over 4 feet and weigh in excess of 100 pounds. As adults, bighead carp are most often confused with silver carp.

Grass carp are one of the largest members of the minnow family. There is no keel on the belly. They have a wide mouth, a thick body, and a small, centrally positioned dorsal fin. The eyes are low on the side of the head, about even with the tip of the snout. Their back is gray to green, becoming silvery on the sides and underbody. Grass carp can reach lengths of over 4 feet and weigh over 50 pounds.

American eel have a slender, snakelike body with very small scales. A long dorsal fin extends more than two-thirds of the body length and is continuous with the tail; pelvic fins are absent. There are numerous small, sharp teeth in the jaws. Their back may be olive-green to brown, shading to greenish-yellow on the sides, and light gray or white on the belly. American eels in Mississippi range from 10 to 29 inches in length and weigh 0.5 pounds.

Shovelnose sturgeon are primitive, odd-looking fish. They have several rows of sharp, bony plates along their elongated body, a strongly forked tail, spade-shaped snout, sucker-like mouth, and four barbels. Shovelnose sturgeon are normally brown or olive colored with a cream-colored belly. Average lengths of adults range from 22 to 26 inches in length. These fish are long-lived, reach sexual maturity at age 5 to 10 years, and do not spawn every year.

Threadfin shad are similar to gizzard shad. They have a silver-blue back that changes to nearly white on their sides and belly. All fins have a yellow tint, except the dorsal fin. A black oval or round spot is located behind the head. Adults are considerably smaller than gizzard shad adults, rarely exceeding 7 inches in length.

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.

Bigmouth buffalo are deep-bodied fish having a large, wide mouth. They have a coppery olive-brown or gray back and sides with a white belly and white lips. Bigmouth buffalo can be distinguished from common carp by the lack of barbels on the mouth, and from smallmouth buffalo by the mouth pointing straight ahead. Bigmouth buffalo can reach lengths of 4 feet. They normally weigh between 3 and 12 pounds, but can reach weights of 80 pounds. Bigmouth buffalo can live up to 10 years in Mississippi, however, some have been reported to live as long as 20 years.

Silver carp are a large, deep-bodied carp with a large eye located low on the head near the tip of the jaw. The back and upper sides are olive green, becoming silvery on the sides and abdomen. As adults, silver carp are most often confused with bighead carp. Silver carp may reach weights of 40 to 60 pounds.

Smallmouth buffalo are deep-bodied. They are light to dark gray or black with a high arched back. This species of buffalo has a large head and large eyes with a small, downward turned mouth. Smallmouth buffalo can be distinguished from common carp by the lack of, and from bigmouth buffalo by the mouth being downward pointing, and sucker-like. These buffalo can grow to lengths of around 36 inches. This fish usually weighs between 6 and 8 pounds, but can reach weights of up to 50 pounds. In the Yalobusha River, smallmouth buffalo can live at least nine years, but they have been reported living up to 18 years in different states.

Common carp are heavy-bodied minnows with barbels on either side of the upper jaw. Typically, they are orange, but their color varies from olive green, brassy green or yellow, golden brown, or even gray on top with yellowish-white on the belly. Carp measuring 12 to 25 inches in length and weighing 5 to 25 pounds are common. Common carp can weigh over 75 pounds and reach lengths of 48 inches. Carp may also live in excess of 47 years in ponds. In the wild, their lifespan usually does not exceed 20 years.

The common name comes from the drumming sound it makes with its air bladder. Drum are silvery all over, sometimes having a purple or reddish tinge. They have a down-turned mouth and a humped back. Their most distinctive feature is a tail that comes to a single point. Drum have large ear stones (otoliths) in the inner ear used or associated with motion detection and hearing. These ear stones are called “lucky bones.” They were used by Native Americans to ward off sicknesses or to use in ceremonies; they were also used as wampum by certain tribes. These fish have a blunt rounded snout; they are deep bodied and silvery. Drum can reach weights of 50 pounds, but their weight is usually less than 10 pounds. Drum can live up to 13 years.