Redfin Pickerel :: essays research papers

Description The Redfin pickerel has 15 to 36 dark, wavy vertical parallel bars and reddish-orange lower fins. The coloration is much the same as that of chain pickerels, a dark backward slanting bar below the eye. The snout is shorter and broader than any other pickerel. There argon normally 11 to 13 branchiosstegal rays on a lower floor the lower jaw. The cheek and gill covers are completely covered in scales. They weigh up to one and a half pounds, which is the world prove to this day. They have an average length from 6-10 inches with an average weight of 5 ounces. The Redfin Pickerel has a cylindrical, torpedo-shaped body with numerous sharp teeth at the point of the snout. work The range of the Redfin pickerel is found statewide with the exception of mountain habitats.Environment They are usually found in heavy growths of aquatic plants in boggy streams. They are also found in shallow coves of lakes or in ponds. They prefer water from 75 to 80 degrees. Redfin pickerels may b e the predominate predator fish in small creeks. They prefer slow moving, severely vegetated swamps and millponds.Food Small fish make up most of the Redfin pickerels diet, alone they also eat aquatic insects and various other invertebrates. Reproduction The Redfin pickerel spawns in the early spring as water temperature approach 50F. Spawning occurs in shallow water when the female deposits her eggs in vegetated areas where they are fertilized and left hand unattended. A large female may deposit as umpteen as 4,000 eggs at one time. Some fish as small as 5 inches may release no more(prenominal) than 400 eggs. They become sexually mature by at to the lowest degree age two. No parental care is given to the eggs.Unique characteristics The Redfin pickerel has numerous sharp teeth in a relatively pointed snout devising it perfectly designed for its ambush-type-feeding behavior. Due to small size, sport fishing for this species is special(a) to coastal areas where the ideal habi tat for growth exists. This fish is highly prized by many low country natives who grew up eating this sweet flavored fish.