The torpedo-shaped redfin pickerel has numerous sharp teeth in a relatively pointed snout making it perfectly designed for its ambush–type feeding behavior. Due to its small size, sport fishing for the species is limited primarily to coastal areas where the ideal habitat for growth exists.
Range: Statewide, common in the Coastal Plain and lower Piedmont
Commonly Mistaken Species: One species of fish that is commonly mistaken for this species
Chain pickerel The redfin pickerel, however, has a shorter snout and a black bar below the eye that angles slightly towards the rear.
Habitat & Range
Redfin pickerels inhabit heavily vegetated slow-moving streams.
Life History
Spawning: - Redfin pickerels spawn in January and February when water temperatures approach 50°F.
- Females deposits their eggs in vegetated areas where they are fertilized and left unattended. A large female may deposit as many as 4,000 eggs at one time.
Diet: - Fish
Frequently Asked Questions
Size
6-10 inches 5 ounces
Lifespan
Approximately 6 years (southern populations 4 years)
State Record
: 1 pound 8.8 ounces (1983)
