The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Fish and Wildlife has certified a new state record white crappie that was caught from Leonard’s Lake in Carney’s Point, Salem County on June 13. Tim Durand, also of Carney’s Point, caught a 2 pound, 11 ounce white crappie that weighed one ounce more than the previous record taken from Riverview Beach Park, Pennsville in 1997.
Durand was casting from his boat when he landed the record crappie measuring 18 inches in length with a 14-inch girth. He fishes the lake, located right next to his home, regularly and swears by the Storm Wild Eye Swim Shad lure (sold at the local Mart for less than $3 a pack)! In fact, he is convinced it made the difference, which just goes to show that equipment need not be expensive to land a record fish.
A member of the sunfish family, the white crappie is oval-shaped and silver in color, ranging from silvery-white on the belly to a silvery-green or even dark green on the back. Several vertical bars appear on the sides interspersed with dark spots and the dorsal fin is composed of numerous spines. White crappies possess a projected lower jaw and a forked tail. They are found throughout the eastern United States and frequent streams, rivers, ponds and lakes.
Like other members of the sunfish family, white crappie are nest builders. They are similar to bluegills in that they tend to nest in relatively large "beds" and they have very high reproductive potential. Fingerlings and adults tend to school and large numbers of individuals may be found in the middle of lakes.
Typically, white crappie grow three to five inches in length the first year, and reach seven to eight inches during the second year. Maturity is usually reached in two to three years. Adults feed on small fish and insects.
