FRESHWATER GEORGIA FRESHWATER FISH LARGEMOUTH BASS Upper jaw extends beyond eye Spiny and soft dorsal fin separate or nearly so Tongue normally smooth, tooth patch rare World Record 22 lb. 4 ox. WHITE BASS •Seldom exceeds 3 pounds ⚫Tongue with one tooth patch Stripes often faint 2nd anal spine or more the length of 3rd anal spine State Record 5 b. 1 oz. BLACK CRAPPIE 7-8 dorsal spines Body color pattern irregular arranged spots State Record 4 lb. 4 or." RAINBOW TROUT Small black dots throughout the body that extend into the tail Red stripe along side on silvery body State Record 17 lb. 8 oz. SMALLMOUTH BASS Upper jaw extends to about middle of eye Usually has vertical stripes along body 3 short spines on anal fin •State Record 7 lb. 2 oz. HYBRID WHITE-STRIPED BASS Back arched, body deep Stripes distinct and usually broken Tongue with two tooth patches •2nd anal spine or more the length of 3ed anal spine State Record 25 lb. 8 o REDEAR CRACKER Red edge on operculam ear flap Spotted body State Record 4 lb. 2. BROWN TROUT Black and red-orange spots inside light circles on brown body Caudal fin (tail) square State Record 18 lb. 6 oz. SPOTTED BASS Upper jaw not past rear of eye Spiny and soft dorsal fin clearly connected Tooth patch on tongue State Record 8.2 oz. STRIPED BASS • Body slender Stripes distinct, occasionally broken Tongue with two tooth patches or 1 2nd anal spine % or less the length of 3ed anal spine State Record 63 b REDEYE BASS Small tooth patch found on tongue Sides olive to brown in Sides wetical bars coloring: dark vertical prominent dark spot on gill cover White margin on tail •State Record 3 lb. 7 oz. REDBREAST SUNFISH Long, dark ear flap Blue lines on head Ear flap (operculum) not wider than eye State Record 1 lb. 11 oz. BROOK TROUT Light, wormlike markings on dark upper body White leading edge on lower fins (pectoral, pelvic and anal) State Record 5 lb. 10 oz. CHANNEL CATFISH Numerous small, black spots present Deeply forked tail fin State Record 44 12 SHOAL BASS Found in Chattahoochee Flint, and Ocmulgee Rivers Vertical bars on fish of all sizes No tooth patch on tongue Light golden color World Record 8 lb. 3 oz. FLATHEAD CATFISH Head wide and flat Body dark in color Tail not forked State Record 83 Ib BLUEGILL Black spot on soft dorsal fin. Vertical bars on body State Record 3 lb. 5 oz BLUEBACK HERRING Pointed snout Small dorsal fin ⚫Lower jaw sloped upward Body not as deep as gizzard shad CHAIN PICKEREL (JACKFISH) Elongated body with chain-like markings Sharp needle-like teeth World Record 9 lb. 60 9. ок. 26 Fish identification pictures: Duane Raver or Joseph Tomelleri WALLEYE Sharp teeth No spots on dorsal fin. Dark area at base of dorsal fin White spot at bottom of tail State Record 14 lb. 2 oz. GIZZARD SHAD Mouth below end of snout Elongated dorsal fin ray Deep body Blunt snout Fish identification pictures: Duane Raver or © Joseph Tomelleri THREADFIN SHAD Mouth at end of snout Elongated dorsal fin ray Pointed snout Yellow tail fin Figure 1. Twenty-two of the most common freshwater gamefish found in Georgia rivers and lakes. Assume the morphological traits, body shap body proportions viewed above accurately represent the overall appearance of adults for these species. None of the images above are drawn to s 2 F 1. Start by identifying the following taxonomic information for each fish in Figure 1 above. Place all of this information in the table below to help you create a classification tree and dichotomous key. a. Scientific name (binomial name; Genus species) b. Family c. Order Common name Largemouth bass Scientific name Family Order Micropterus salmoides Centrarchidae White bass Black crappie Rainbow trout Smallmouth bass Hybrid white-striped bass Redear sunfish (Shellcracker) Brown trout Spotted bass Lepomis microlophus Salmo trutta Micropetrys Runctulatus Makane chrysops Comexis nigromaculatus Moronidae Centrarchidae Oncorhynchus mykiss Salmonidae Micropterus dolomien MaKane chrysops x M. saxatilis Moronidae Centrarchidae Salmonidae Centrarchidae Perciformes Eupercaria Centrarchiformes Salmoniformes Centrarchiformes Perciformes Centrarchiformes Salmoniformes Centrarchidae Centrarchiformes Striped bass Morong saxatilis Moronidae Eupercaria Redbreast sunfish Brook trout Lepomis auritus Salvelinus fontinalis Centrarchidae Salmonidae Centrarchiformes Salmoniformes Shoal bass Micropterus cataractar Centrarchidae Centrarchiformes Redeye bass Bluegill Micropterus ROSAR Lepomis macrochirus Centrarchidae Centrarchiformes Centrarchidae Centrarchiformes Channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus Istaburidae Siluriformes Chain pickerel (Jackfish) Flathead catfish Walleye Esox niger Esocidae Esociformes Pxladictis olivaris Istaburidae Siluriformes Sander viteux Percidae Perciformes Gizzard shad Dorosoma ceredianum Dorosomatidae Clupeiformes Blueback herring Alosa aestivalis Alosidae Clupeiformes Threadfin shad Darosoma pentenense Dorosomatidae Clupeiformes 2. Next, review the Fish Identification Guide and Glossary to familiarize yourself with traits that will be helpful when attempting your classification tree and dichotomous key. 3| Page