How to distinguish between black crappie and white crappie

Body patterns, number of spines tell the tale

North and South Carolina both have black crappie and white crappie spread throughout their waterways, and both species tend to live in the same areas. It’s not uncommon to catch both species in the same spot, and a mixed bag is not at all out of the ordinary.

Despite their colorful names, it’s not as easy as just looking at which one is darker or lighter than the other to tell what type of crappie you’re looking at. But it is possible to positively identify which one you’re holding, if you know what to look for.

Jonathan Phillips, a TTI Blakemore Road Runner pro staffer, and the winner of the 2017 Alabama Crappie Masters State Championship, shows us how to distinguish the two species from each other.

About Brian Cope 2726 Articles
Brian Cope is the editor of Carolina Sportsman. He has won numerous awards for his writing, photography, and videography. He is a retired Air Force combat communications technician, and has a B.A. in English Literature from the University of South Carolina. You can reach him at brianc@sportsmannetwork.com.