The controversy continues: Which is larger - black crappie or white crappie?

With all the new white crappie coming from Poverty Point Reservoir recently that look to make the Louisiana's top 10 records, crappie (sac-a-lait) anglers should take note.
A minority of us crappie anglers over the years have been pretty much alone in thinking that white crappie can reach larger sizes than the black, so I also researched the top crappie from southern and southeastern states.
Lo and behold . . . 7 of the 11 states demonstrated the white crappie as the largest crappie on record.
The gist of it all is when comparing white and black crappie of equal length in inches - usually the black crappie will deliver larger fillet sizes due to the white crappie's denser bone structure.
Please see the attached chart.Attachment 233966

Great read. Those numbers are awesome. I've caught several over 3 but I couldn't imagine catching a 4 or 5 pound crappie!!!

I still want a 2 #er.....:(

I would like to just be able to catch a crappie :bash

They all eat good lol

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Originally Posted by bluethunder

Great read. Those numbers are awesome. I've caught several over 3 but I couldn't imagine catching a 4 or 5 pound crappie!!!

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The Toledo Bend Lake Record is a black crappie at 4 pounds; and a white going 3.44 pounds. Both fish weren't entered into Louisiana records but they are listed in the lake records. But they could have been Texas anglers who caught the fish - so still not sure. I have heard of 4 pound crappie taken at Toledo Bend but they're rare and are never reported.
But there are several 3 pound crappie taken yearly - and talking to one of the guides they're just never reported for record status because large crappie are numerous there.

Thanks. Great post.should be a sticky!!!

I would take any species over 2 #'s.

2 pounders are easy on darbonne and evidently in one particular spot on poverty point. Lol

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Originally Posted by bluethunder

2 pounders are easy on darbonne and evidently in one particular spot on poverty point. Lol

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Hump off of the Graveyard. LOL!!!

Yuuuup!!!

The one that got away was 3# I just know it! Fausse Point I've caught about 10 whites over the years that were 2# personal best 2.25# white and 1.87# black.

In the past, the closer we were to the Atchafalaya River - the more whites we caught. When I was a youngster, I wish we would have weighed them - they were huge.

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Originally Posted by speckmeister

In the past, the closer we were to the Atchafalaya River - the more whites we caught. When I was a youngster, I wish we would have weighed them - they were huge.

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I call em big river whites! You're right I find the closer to main river better chances of catching whites!

Is this Graveyard underwater?

Negative. The graveyard is not underwater.

Hey SM,
The LA State record is a 6-pound fish caught Nov. 28, 1969, by Lettie Robertson from Westwego Canal in Louisiana.

Where did you come up with the white crappie's having denser bone structure? Got a link?

Hi jig rig,
Unfortunately Robertson's 6-pound crappie was removed from the La. state records when the crappie species was divided into the two categories we have now: black crappie and white crappie.
I agree with you though - it should still retain its top spot.
I am attaching the most recent La. crappie listings - not showing the recent Poverty Point white crappie since they were just caught and not yet certified.
As for the denser bone structure - it's in the head and gill plate - less fillet only when comparing white and black crappie of the same length. It's due to the way the head slopes on the white crappie - the way it curves making the bone structure longer and a little wider at the forehead.

Here's a link on differences - and the denser bone structure part is listed under More Crappie Facts in the article: Do You Know Your Crappie? - Wired2fish - Scout

Attachment 234015Attachment 234016


For those new to crappie fishing, here are some pictures I have taken at Toledo Bend when brushpile fishing that show the difference. First photo (left) - black crappie and notice the specks are scattered. Second photo (right) - white crappie and notice the specks are in vertical bars and the head is sloped differently.

Going to be some shakeups to that list this year. I'm proud to say that my name will appear on it. Probably not for long but maybe I'll get my 3 seconds of fame. Lol

Here's a link to the current World Record crappie. Also explained is the reason why the Robertson fish was removed. Wish we could go back in time and revive that record.

Here's the link: http://www.fishingloft.com/world-record-crappie.html

Speckmeister, it's great to have someone on the board who is familiar with such things and the knowledge of where to find it. Thanks for the info.
"gene"

Great read, thx for sharing. I learned a bunch. But it's more or less THOUGHT FOR FOOD.....
We should all visit with the old timers more often...I know they ate a ton of history.

Great read, thanks.

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Originally Posted by speckmeister

Here's a link to the current World Record crappie. Also explained is the reason why the Robertson fish was removed. Wish we could go back in time and revive that record.

Here's the link: http://www.fishingloft.com/world-record-crappie.html

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Have heard from some folks that the fish was not a crappie but a gaspergou in actuality.


If people were interested in having their names in the record books, the Louisiana top ten wouldn't have a crappie under 3.6 lbs in it. Many 3+ come out the point and MS River oxbows that go right to the filet table

To add even more confusion, I found some old 1975 Louisiana freshwater records from an old Louisiana Conservationist. Lettie Robertson's 6-pound crappie is listed along with some 4-pounders!
But this was before 1994 when the old records were dismantled due to non-identification as black or white crappie.
Anyway - it's a pity we couldn't keep these old records intact.
Attachment 234056

Attachment 234058

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Originally Posted by PointMan3

Have heard from some folks that the fish was not a crappie but a gaspergou in actuality.


If people were interested in having their names in the record books, the Louisiana top ten wouldn't have a crappie under 3.6 lbs in it. Many 3+ come out the point and MS River oxbows that go right to the filet table

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I agree. There is a fabled Mississippi oxbow that has delivered immense white crappie I have seen over the years. Many of those would have made the records and some I do believe were over 4 pounds. But no one has ever listed them in the records. Toledo Bend too is not well-represented and at least one 4-pounder every year comes from there. Some 3s I know of and aplenty over 2 pounds.

Because of the lakes I fish, I catch WAY more blacks than whites. OTOH, the 5 biggest I've caught have been whites. I've only caught one true 16" black.