Fish found in Wetlands
Fish Species | Interesting Facts | Wetland Role |
---|---|---|
Black bullhead |
Commercial and game fish that live in ponds, marshes, and backwaters. Eat insects and - Big Rivers crustaceans when young. Adults eat clams, snails, plant material and fish. | Food |
Black crappie | Build nests in shallow wetlands near vegetation. Females can lay up to 188,000 eggs. | Food; Nursery |
Bluegill | Live in shallow water marshes and fens among wetland plants. Males create nests for eggs and protect eggs until they hatch. Fry remain in marshes and use these wetlands as nursery areas. | Food; Nursery |
Channel catfish | Locates plant seeds, insects, crawfish, fish, and other prey through smell and touch. | Food |
Common carp | Undesirable nuisance species whose introduction into this country was an ecological and commercial blunder. While searching for food, carp rip up aquatic vegetation and muddy the water, making conditions less desirable for native fish. | Food; Nursery; Spawning |
Largemouth bass | Spawn in late spring to mid-summer. Males create nests and guard eggs and young. Wetland vegetation provides cover and supports its food source. Flooded stumps and trees and marsh plants such as water lilies and cattails provide cover. Adults move to deep water during the day and return to the shallow water at night to feed on small fish, frogs, and crayfish. | Food; Nursery |
Minnows | Minnows are important food to larger fish. Used by anglers as bait and in laboratory bioassays to test pollution levels. | Food; Refuge |
Muskellunge | Often found in heavily vegetated areas of lakes and large rivers. Scatter eggs near aquatic vegetation. | Food; Spawning |
Northern Pike | Spawn in shallow, vegetated areas along the borders of lakes where they are most vulnerable to being caught. Frequents marshes in search of food. The color pattern of northern pike allows it to hide from its prey among wetland vegetation. | Food; Spawning |
Pumpkinseed | Thrive in farm ponds and within marsh plants along the edges of larger ponds and lakes. Breed in shallow water and eat insects, snails, clams, and small fish. | Food; Nursery; Spawning |
Smallmouth bass | These popular sport fish can be found in fens and other freshwater marshes. | Food |
Walleye | Very sensitive to pollution. Visit marshes during cooler parts of the year and at night to feed, but move to deeper water when warm. | Food |
White crappie | Prefer aquatic vegetation and woody debris for cover. Eat small fish, insects, and crustaceans. | Food; Spawning |
Yellow bullhead | Visit wetlands to eat plant matter, crayfish, aquatic insects, mollusks, and fish. Males and females make nests in shallow wetlands among plants and roots. Juveniles also use these wetlands as nursery areas. | Food; Nursery; Spawning |
Yellow perch | Tolerant of acidic water. Eggs produced in long, sticky strings that stick to marsh plants or settle to the bottom. | Food; Spawning |
Source: WETLANDS AND FISH: CATCH THE LINK, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)