If you’ve ever been fishing on a lake or a reservoir, chances are you’ve caught Crappie and Bluegill at least once. These tasty Panfish are a family favorite and the first catch of many American anglers. But what’s the difference between them? This short guide is all about Crappie vs. Bluegill, from how to tell them apart to which tastes better.
How to Tell the Difference Between Crappie and Bluegill
The easiest way to recognize Bluegill is, well, their blue gills. They’ve got a signature blue patch on their gill covers which other Sunfish and Crappie don’t have. On top of that, Bluegill are more colorful than Crappie. They can be orange, green, blue, and more. Crappie are less colorful. They come in black or white, but are mainly greenish most of the time.
There’s more setting these fish apart than color, though. There are some differences in basic shape and size. To begin with, Crappie have much larger mouths than Bluegill. Bluegill also have a more rounded shape, partly due to their small mouths and heads.
Beyond all that, Crappie grow to be a lot larger and heavier than Bluegill. Bluegill are normally around 6 inches long and rarely hit double digits. White and Black Crappie are slightly different, but even so, your average catch will be in the 9” range. Fish over 12 inches long show up from time to time.
Crappie vs. Bluegill Taste
Both these fish are pretty. Both can be fun to catch. But let’s be honest, the reason people catch them is that they’re delicious. Most anglers agree that Bluegill taste slightly better. They have more fIavor and their flesh is firmer and flakier. Crappie, on the other hand, have a soft meat which some people find bland.
So why eat Crappie? For one thing, they’re bigger. This makes it much easier to get a proper fillet out of them. On top of that, they put up more of a fight, so people enjoy catching them for more than just their meat. Throw either fish in the fryer, though, and you’re in for a tasty treat. That’s why they’re called Panfish, after all.
Which one do you think tastes better, Crappie or Bluegill? Do you agree that Crappie are more fun to catch? Let us know your thoughts and recipes in the comments below!
To begin with, Crappie have much larger mouths than Bluegill. Bluegill also have a more rounded shape, partly due to their small mouths and heads. Beyond all that, Crappie grow to be a lot larger and heavier than Bluegill. Bluegill are normally around 6 inches long and rarely hit double digits.
perch, bluegill, sunfish, there's not a lot of differences where it counts, i.e. they all kinda look the same, fish the same, eat the same. Crappie is much bigger, MUCH tastier, and fishes differently. You'll wanna use minnows for crappie, or small panfish jigs.
When they become large enough to eat fish, crappie will eat young bluegill as well. Stocking fathead minnows into a new pond may give crappie a single-season boost in growth, but fatheads usually disappear after a year or two of predation by bass or crappie.
Although often overlooked as table fare, large crappie, perch, bluegill, and pumpkinseed are some of the best tasting fish around. With just a little bit of practice with a fillet knife, you can enjoy the delicious fish that were so much fun to catch! Read on for tips for catching and cooking panfish.
Use as little weight as possible so that your bait sinks slowly and so bluegill don't feel resistance when they pick it up. Using an ultra-light rod and reel with light line will allow you to cast your bait with no weight at all. If your bait sinks slowly, bluegill will often bite as it is sinking.
Some anglers claim summer crappies are mushy and not good to eat. I do not find that to be true as long as I take good care of them after they are caught.
General growth and mortality guidelines: crappies should reach 10 inches in length by age 3 and have natural mortality less than 40%; they should reach 9 inches by age 3 and have natural mortality less than 30%; or they should reach 8 inches by age 3 and have natural mortality less than 20%.
Black crappie are used exclusively for stocking in smaller lakes or ponds, above two acres, as they are less prolific than the white crappie, but still have great reproductive potential. That being said they too need to be harvested somewhat heavily to keep from overpopulating.
Fish that are higher in fat, such as salmon, mackerel, herring, anchovies, and sardines, have much stronger flavors than other fish. These are the fish known for their heart-healthy omega-3 fats.
Like all the other true sunfish, bluegills have rounded, dish-shaped bodies, small mouths, and spiny dorsal fins. The name bluegill derives from the iridescent bluish coloration on the cheek and gill plate. They also have a black earflap, which is one way to distinguish bluegills from other true sunfish species.
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