Lifespan

[ripnlips]

I am wondering about the average lifespan of crappie have read 4 years? And does it change with lakes or regions?

[Tmason]

The oldest crappie i have ever aged is 9 years old in MO, out of a northern MO farm pond. you are probably very close with the 4 year old average, since harvest really targets 3 year old fish in most lakes, and fishing mortality is very high with crappie. Yes, it does change with regions. Way up north is way different, those fish tend to grow slower, but live longer. In the Southern reservoirs, crappie fish grow extremely fast, but live shorter lives.

[Birddogs54]

Good to see you on the site Mr. Mason.

[MOfishmgr]

Tory is dead right. Crappie that are growing quickly don't live as long. Typically 5 years is the maximum age you'll see in a fast growing population. Slow-growing crappie can hang on a lot longer. Eight years is the oldest one I've aged. The further north you go the slower the growth rate, but over-population can lead to slow growth in southern regions too.

[ripnlips]

Thanks for the biologist input guys.

[Joedog]

thanks for the biologist input guys.

x2!

[Crappie ciller]

So- in a one acre farm pond with good forage and catch and release practiced how long before an oklahoma crappie dies of old age- 7-9 years?

[Tmason]

very good guesstimate, but only way to know for sure is to age some of the bigger fish...

[Crappie ciller]

How do I go about determining the age of a fish? Will the Wildlife Dept. Do that for me? Count the rings on a scale? I am obviously curious but clueless.

[Tmason]

we use the ear bones, or otoliths out of harvested fish...its a lethal method of aging, but works very well...you can count the annuli on the scales, but it takes a trained eye and a microscope to get the hang of it....I cant speak for the guys in Oklahoma, but I have aged crappie for people here and there when they brought the crappie's head in for me