How To Measure A Crappie

[FishermanJay]

Just wondering how you guys measure your crappies? because you can measure them many different way. Personally I lip them and then measure them end of their jaw down. I know you can also measure them flat on the ground with their mouth open or closed, which can make quite a difference in the length.

[joejv4]

NY has a 9" minimum length and since the DEC defines minimu length this way:
"Minimum Length means the greatest possible length measured from the tip of the fish's snout to the tip of the tail. The mouth may be open or closed and the tail may be spread or compressed in order to achieve the greatest length."

I lay them down and measure from the bottom lip to tip of tail.. I fish crappie for the table, not for sport, so however I can legally measure them and have them meet the 9" minimum, that's how I do it. Most times I don't need to measure because they are either dinky enough or big enough that they don't need to be measured - so I keep or release based on knowing big a keeper is from experience.

[father of 4]

I lay them down with their mouth closed and the tail to a point. If they dont reach the right limit, I might just sit on them lol.

[BigD]

If I put fish on ice they seem to shrink about a half an inch.

Bad time for measurement. So I always keep fish a little larger.

D

[harpenter]

I don't normally measure my Crappie's (unless they are big 'uns). When I do measure fish I lay them down, mouth closed, tail together. That's how the club does it at our Tuesday bass fishing weigh in's.

[SweetHomeAlabama]

Ask a game warden in your state. However he will measure them is how you should measure them.

[creekslick]

Here it is mouth closed tail pinched together.

[DC Crappie Kid]

Ask a game warden in your state. However he will measure them is how you should measure them.

That's the truth! Most states have a particular method. For instance, in Oklahoma they must be measured from the tip of the lips with the mouth closed, and if the tail is forked you must measure to the fork in the tail, not to the end of the tips! But who cares? There's no length limit on crappie in OK!

[PieEye]

Mouth closed,,,, tail pinched.

[LBM]

Kansas KDWP regulations

Total fish length: The length as measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail, with mouth closed and tail lobes pressed together.