# name, scientific name, length average (low), length average (high), weight average (low), weight average (high), description
# length is in inches. weight is in pounds.
# All information from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
# https://www.dnr.sc.gov/freshwater.html

/Temperate Bass
Hybrid bass, striped bass x white bass, 11, 23, 2, 3.25, Similar to the striped and white bass that it is a product of, the hybrid bass has an elongated body. However, its sides fade from a dark olive to steel green in color along the top edge to a silver along the side and belly. Hybrids commonly have distinctly broken lines along their sides. Its back is arched similar to that of the white bass but it has a longer sloping forehead than typically seen in striped bass.
Striped bass, Morone saxatilis, 20, 36, 3, 10, The coloration of the dorsum ranges from deep olive to steel blue and gradients to a silvery abdomen flanked by 7 to 8 longitudinal dark stripes (sometimes broken) running from behind the gills to the base of the tail. It is common for adult fish to exceed 10.8 inches and weight 20 pounds. The size helps distinguish this species from striped bass x white bass hybrid, which rarely exceeds 10 pounds.
White bass, Morone chrysops, 10, 10, 1, 1, The white bass is a wide-bodied fish with an overall dark bluish green to gray color with yellow eyes. The two dorsal fins—spiny and soft—are completely separated. The white bass has stripes running laterally down its sides that may be broken. The lower jaw sticks out further than the upper jaw on the mouth. A tooth patch is present on the tongue.
White perch, Morone americana, 6, 9, 0.3, 1, White perch are silver-green to olive in color. The underside of their lower jaw is often purple. The spiny and soft dorsal fins are joined by a membrane. The anal fin contains three spines; the second spine is thicker than the first and almost as long as the third. There are no teeth on the tongue of the white perch.

/Diaromous Fish
American eel, Anguilla rostrata, 30, 30, 0.5, 3, American eel have a snakelike body that is olive green in color that fades to yellow or white on the belly. It lacks pelvic fins.
American shad, Alosa sapidissima, 24, 24, 4, 4, The American shad’s body is blue or green in color along the top of its body with silvery sides.  At the upper side of the operculum or gill flap, a dark spot is present which is usually followed by a row of smaller spots along the upper side of the body.
Atlantic sturgeon, Acipenser oxyrinchus, 36, 168, 600, 700, Atlantic sturgeon have dark bronze to brown sides that fade to lighter browns on the sides with a white belly. The Atlantic sturgeon has a small mouth with a relatively pointed snout. Large individuals can have a blunted snout. There are a row of two to six small bony plates, or scutes between the base of the anal fin and the midlateral row of scutes. Atlantic sturgeon have small mouths; the inner gape width (measured between the inside corner of the lips) is usually less than 60% of the interorbital width. A row of two to six small bony plates, or scutes, is present between the base of the anal fin and the midlateral row of scutes. Body coloration is dark bronze to brown above, lighter on the side, and white below. The lining of the body cavity and the intestine is pale. The Atlantic sturgeon has a pointed snout and a narrow mouth; however, the snout can be relatively blunt in large individuals. In the adult the distance from the tip of the snout to the anterior edge of the upper lips is about twice that of the width of the outer gape (measured across the outer edges of the lips).
Blueback herring, Alosa aestivalis, 10, 10, 0.3, 0.3, The blueback herring has a bluish color on the upper side of its body with silver on the rest.  There is usually one small dark spot located on the upper side of the body just beyond the operculum or gill flap.
Hickory shad, Alosa mediocris, 14, 24, 4, 4, Hickory shad are gray green on their back and upper sides that fades to silver. A row of dark spots is present on its sides and the tip of the lower jaw is darkly colored. The mouth is superior with the lower jaw distinctly projecting forward of the snout.
Shortnose sturgeon, Acipenser brevirostrum, 12, 48, 20, 50, Shortnose sturgeons are generally brown in color with pink or salmon colored tones above that fade into white along the belly. Shortnose are much lighter in color than the similar Atlantic sturgeon. They also have a larger mouth, shorer snout which is bluntly V-shaped. Shortnose sturgeons lack the scutes or small bony plates between the base of the anal fin and midlateral scutes.

/Black Bass
Largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, 4, 25, 1, 5, The upper jaw extends back past the rear margin of the eye. Dorsal fin is deeply notched and the two sections of the fin are nearly separated. The upper body is dark green to olive while the lower body and belly are white. It has a series of dark blotches that merge into a dark lateral band. Largemouth bass usually have no teeth on the tongue.
Redeye bass, Micropterus coosae, 6, 9, 0.4, 1, The redeye bass has a slender bronze-olive body that fades into white on the belly. It has dark lateral blotches along the side and horizontal rows of spots on the lower side and distinguishing white edges along the upper and lower edges of the caudal fin which similar species don't have. An orange margin is also often present on the caudal and anal fins. The mouth is large and extends to the rear edge of the eye, but not beyond.
Smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieu, 10, 18, 0.5, 2, The smallmouth has bronze to olive green sides with dark brown to bronze specks which sometimes look like bars on the sides of the fish. There are no specks on the lower side. Extending outward from the eye are three dark stripes on the cheek. The mouth is large and extends to about the middle of the eye, which is usually red. The two dorsal fins—spiny and soft—are separated by a shallow notch. This species does not have the row of spots or specks on the lower side of its body like a redeye or spotted bass; nor, does it have the dark horizontal stripe that is present in the largemouth and spotted bass.
Spotted bass, Micropterus punctulatus, 11.8, 24, 1, 3, The spotted bass has a gold-green body with dark olive mottling that fades to a yellow-white belly. It has small black spots below a dark band along the middle of its side with a distinct black spot on the body right before the tail or caudal fin. The spotted bass’ large mouth extends to the rear edge of the eye, but not beyond. Spotted bass have teeth on their tongue.

/Sunfish
Black crappie, Pomoxis nigromaculatus, 5.1, 19.3, 0.5, 1.25, The black crappie body is overall gray-green to bluish on the back that fades to a silvery side and belly. Black mottling is present on the sides of the body as well as the anal, dorsal and caudal fins. The mouth is large and extends to beneath the eye. Black crappies appear to have a "receding fin line," as the area in front of the dorsal fin is highly arched. The black crappie has 7-8 dorsal fin spines.
Bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus, 5, 10, 0.2, 0.5, The bluegill is a laterally compressed or flattened sunfish, olive in color with an orange to yellow breast with clear fins except for a distinguishing large black smudge near the bottom of the soft dorsal fin. The operculum or gill cover is tipped distinctly with black and there are several wide dark vertical bars on the side of the body. Bluegills have small mouths with no teeth on the tongue. The bluegill name comes from breeding males who exhibit pale blue to violet on the top half of the body with powder blue on the lower jaw and lower portion of the operculum or gill cover. The breeding males also develop a red breast.
Flier, Centrarchus macropterus, 5, 5, 0.2, 0.2, The flier looks almost circular. The body is olive green to silver in color and has interrupted rows of black spots along the side. A distinct, large black teardrop-shaped marking below the eye. The operculum or gill cover lobe is black. Young fliers have a dark spot outlined in an orange ring on the dorsal fin. These spots fade and disappear with age. The flier has 11-13 dorsal fin spines.
Green sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus, 4, 6, 0.2, 0.4, Green sunfish have a slender, thick body with a large mouth and an upper jaw that extends back to the near middle of the eye. Its body is greenish-brown with irregular rows of metallic blue-green flecks along its sides. From the mouth to the cheeks and the operculum, iridescent blue lines radiate. A distinctive large black blotch is present on the rear of the dorsal fin and on the anal fin. The soft dorsal and anal fins, pelvic and caudal fins are edged with white followed by a faint, but distinct, yellow-orange edge. The pectoral fin is short and rounded. The opercular lobe is short and black with a wide pale margin.
Pumpkinseed, Lepomus gibbosus, 4, 6, 0.13, 0.25, The pumpkinseed is easily recognized by the wavy and iridescent blue lines that radiate from the mouth along the side of its head. The sides of the body fade from olive, covered with gold and yellow flecks, to blue green covered with orange spots, to a yellow or orange belly. The dorsal, anal and caudal fins are decorated with brown wavy lines or orange spots. The pectoral fin is long and pointy and usually extends far past the eye when bent forward. The gill cover or operculum is stiff, short and mostly black with a light colored edge of bright orange to red-orange. The mouth is small. Pumpkinseeds have pharyngeal teeth, which are molar shaped teeth located in the throat area of the fish. 
Redbreast sunfish, Lepomis auritus, 2, 9, 0.2, 0.5, The redbreast sunfish is laterally compressed or flattened like other sunfishes; however, it has a more elongated body than other sunfishes. The redbreast's body is a bluish-green that fades into a bright orange-yellow belly in females and a deep orange-red belly in males. Both males and females have vertical rows of red-brown to orange spots on the sides of the body. Traces of these spots can sometimes be seen tapering on the edge of the tail or caudal fin where the body connects. The caudal fin is generally an orange-red color. The operculum or gill cover has a distinguishing long black lobe. Blue lines can be found on the face or cheek area of the redbreast sunfish. Teeth are present on the roof of the mouth.
Redear sunfish, Lepomis microlophus, 6, 10, 0.25, 0.5, Like other sunfishes, the redear has a laterally compressed or flattened body that is olive in color with an iridescent gold-green sheen that fades from the top side of the fish to yellow. The redear's side is speckled with brown spots. The operculum or gill flap cover is short, black and distinguishably tipped with red or orange along the edge. The redear's operculum edge is flexible. The fins are clear but the pectoral fin is long and pointed. The mouth is small with no teeth on the tongue. The nose of the fish is pointed. 
Spotted sunfish, Lepomis punctatus, 4, 5, 0.13, 0.25, The spotted sunfish has distinct black spots along the side of its head and body and noticeably on the operculum or gill cover. The body is olive in color, with an orange or yellow tinge along the belly. The tips of the dorsal, caudal and anal fins are silvery to white. The operculum lobe is black with a white edge and is stiff. The bottom of the eye is underlined with a blue iridescent half moon. The mouth is small with no teeth on the tongue or the roof of the mouth.
Warmouth, Lepomis gulosus, 5, 8, 2, 2, The warmouth gets its name from the large mouth that extends to beneath the pupil of the large red eye. The body is an overall olive brown with a purple sheen. The sides of the body are mottled dark brown with dark red-brown lines that radiate out towards the gill flap or operculum from the eye. The edge of the operculum is stiff and short with a reddish spot. A patch of teeth is found on the tongue and in the roof of the mouth. Breeding male warmouths develop a bright orange spot at the base of the dorsal fin.
White crappie, Pomoxis annularis, 6.7, 20.9, 0.5, 1.25, Overall body color is a gray-green with a silver side and white belly. The dark spots on the side tend to form wavy vertical bars. The white crappie has a deep and highly compressed body, a large mouth that extends rearward to beneath the eye, and a concave nape.

/Pickerel
Chain pickerel, Esox niger, 14, 15, 0.75, 0.9, The chain pickerel is a narrowly elongated fish with a duckbill snout that is long and narrow.  The body is olive green in color with rows of a chainlike pattern along the side.  A black bar streams straight down from the eye.
Refin pickerel, Esox americanus, 6, 10, 0.4, 0.4, The redfin pickerel is a narrowly elongated fish with a duck-like snout that is short and wide.  The body is brown to dark olive in color with numerous wavy horizontal bars with a white belly.  The fins are often bright orange-red to red, especially in spawning adults.  A black bar slants backward toward the gill flap or operculum from the eye, and can sometimes be vertical.

/Coldwater Trout
Brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, 4, 7, 0.06, 0.2, The brook trout has dark-olive colored sides with pale, often yellow, spots and scattered red spots with a lighter colored halo.  The edges of the pectoral, pelvic and anal fins are bright white, outlined by a black line.  The belly of the brook trout along with the pectoral, pelvic and anal fins can be a vibrant red to orange in spawning trout.
Brown trout, Salmo trutta, 8, 10, 0.25, 0.5, The brown trout's body coloration in South Carolina varies between wild and hatchery-reared fish.  The wild brown trout’s body coloration is typically dark olive with brilliant yellow and large black spots.  The olive background generally extends down the sides of the fish with brilliant red spots on sky-blue halos.  The body color fades from olive to a richly colored yellow belly.  The anal fin of wild brown trout often exhibits a white leading edge with a black outline (much like brook trout) but this pattern is absent on the other fins along the belly.  Wild brown trout often have black spots present on the head and upper side of the body, including the dorsal fin.  Red spots also occur also along the sides and are sometimes present in the dorsal and adipose fins.  Black spots are found on the dorsal and adipose fins, but not the caudal. The edge of the anal fin is white.
Rainbow trout, Onchorhynchus mykiss, 7, 8, 0.25, 0.3, The rainbow trout is an elongated fish with sides that fade from green below the dorsal fin to yellow to white.  A pink to red stripe runs laterally along the sides of the rainbow.  Small, dark spots are found on the head, body and most of the fins.  The black spots on the caudal fins appear to be in rows.

/Catfish
Blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus, 20, 45, 3, 40, Blue catfish has a deeply forked tail fin. This large catfish is distinguished by its blueish back and side, lack of black spots and humped back near the dorsal fin.
Channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, 16, 16, 1, 1.5, The channel catfish has a slender body that is pale blue to olive on the back and sides with a white belly.  Dark spots are usually present on the back and sides, but these tend to fade in larger adults. The caudal fin is deeply forked.
Flathead catfish, Pylodictus olivaris, 15, 45, 1, 45, The flathead catfish is very large in size compared to other catfish in South Carolina.  It has a broad and flat head with small eyes atop.  The mouth's lower jaw sticks out farther than the top jaw. The flathead's body is mottled yellowish brown which fades to a gray belly.  The upper tip of the square caudal fin may be white.  This coloration is absent in large adults.
Yellow bullhead, Ameirus natalis, 6, 10, 1, 1, The yellow bullhead has a body that fades from olive to yellow to bright yellow on the sides to a white belly.  The chin barbells, commonly known as whiskers, are distinctly white to yellow in color.  The yellow bullhead also has a distinctly long anal fin and a rounded or nearly straight caudal fin.

/Perch
Walleye, Sander vitreus, 18, 24, 2.25, 2.25, Walleye are a long, slender-bodied fish with a large mouth that extends back past the middle of the eye, large canine teeth and a silver eye.  The body of a walleye is yellow-olive to brown in color with a creamy white belly.  Two dorsal fins atop the body are separated.  The spiny dorsal has a black spot at the base.  There are six or seven faint saddles on the back.
Yellow perch, Perca flavescens, 5, 8, 0.4, 0.6, The yellow perch is yellow in color with most individuals having six to nine black vertical bars that run along the side of the fish.  Pelvic and anal fins can range from red to yellow-orange in color.  A dark spot is found on the base of the spiny dorsal fin.  The mouth has small teeth.

/Other
Bowfin, Amia calva, 18, 24, 2, 2, The bowfin is a stout fish, olive in color with darker mottling along the sides.  A large, black oval spot with a yellow to orange outline is present on the body at the upper corner of the base of the caudal fin.  The caudal fin is rounded.  The dorsal fin is long and extends for more than half of the length of the body.  Breeding male bowfin have bright green fins and the orange outline around the black spot at the base of the caudal fin is intensified.
Common carp, Cyprinus carpio, 36, 36, 1, 10, The common carp is a large, robust fish with two barbels on each side of the upper jaw.  The body color can range from gray in young carp to a brassy green-gold in adults.  The scales are edged with a black spot at the base.  At the front of both the dorsal and anal fins, there is a strong spine-like ray.
Gizzard shad, Dorosoma cepedianum, 10, 12, 2, 2, The gizzard shad has a body that is silvery in color with a bluish-gray back with a large purple-blue spot on the upper side of the body just beyond the operculum or gill flap.  The snout, with its downward pointing mouth, is distinctly blunt.  There is also a distinguishingly long dorsal fin ray at the back of the dorsal fin.
Grass carp, Ctenyopharyngodon idella, 24, 36, 3, 15, The grass carp has a thick, mullet-like body with a white head and a terminal mouth. The scales are large with dark edges. The dorsal and pectoral fins start at the same midway point along the body almost appearing parallel. The grass carp’s body can range from silvery to olive in color on its back fading to a yellow and white below.
Longnose gar, Lepisosteus osseus, 30, 36, 4, 4, The longnose gar has long and narrow forceps-like jaws that are more than twice as long as the rest of the head.  The body is olive brown to green with scattered dark oval spots on the body and fins.
Threadfin shad, Dorosoma petenense, 2, 3, 0.1, 0.1, The threadfin shad has bluish gray on its upper side that fades into a silver side and belly.  There is a prominent purple to black spot on the upper side of the body just beyond the operculum or gill flap.  The caudal fin tends to be yellow.  A distinguishingly long dorsal fin ray occurs at the back of the dorsal fin.  