Black Crappie
Black Crappie where origionally introduced in 1905. Their head and back are heavily and irregularly spotted with black blotches on a silver-olive background. Their tail, dorsal and anal fins are also spotted. Black Crappie have flat or compressed bodies. They most accurately identified by the seven or eight spines on its dorsal fin. The oldest recorded age of a specimen is fifteen years, although seven years is a more typical life span for the species.
Average Length: 6 to 12 inches.
Average Weight: 3 oz. to over 4 pounds.
Habitat
Black crappie are far more abundant than white crappie and are found in most of Arizona's major warm water reservoirs. Black crappie (and White crappie) are attracted to submerged brush and trees and generally travel in schools. Spawning is often in open water, typically over mud, sand or gravel bottoms. Males guard the nest, and young after the eggs hatch. Generally mature in second or third year of life, rarely live more than 6 to 7 years.
Diet
Black Crappie are primarily insect and plankton eaters until they reach four or five inches, then they will switch to a fish diet. In Arizona, threadfin shad are their main diet.