State Fish Of North Carolina

State Fish Of North Carolina

Southern Appalachian Brook Trout Is The Official State Fish Of North Carolina. North Carolina Adopted the southern Appalachian brook trout as the official freshwater trout in 2005. Sometimes Southern Appalachian Brook Trout is called “specks” because of their unique spotted appearance, the North Carolina State Fish Southern Appalachian brook trout is North Carolina’s only native freshwater trout and a favorite of sport fishermen in the cold mountain streams of Western North Carolina. Southern Appalachian Brook Trout live in cool, clean, pure water (they cannot survive pollution and contaminated waters). State Fish Of North Carolina is a popular game fish with anglers, particularly fly fishermen. Many anglers catch and then release the fish (to help preserve the few remaining populations). The sale of fishing licenses provides funding for restoration of streams and creeks to habitat suitable for brook trout.

 

Characteristics of Southern Appalachian Brook Trout

Class: Osteichthyes (bony fishes)

Order: Salmoniformes

Family: Salmonidae

Average Size:

Length: 6 in. to 8 in.

Weight: 1/4 to 1/2 lbs.

 

Description

State Fish Of North Carolina Brook trout can be distinguished by the olive-green coloration of the upper sides with mottled, dark green “worm-like” markings on their backs and tails. The lower sides of fish is lighter with yellow spots interspersed with fewer spots of bright red surrounded by blue. The lower fins are orange with a narrow black band next to a leading white edge.

Food

Adults brook trout eat a wide variety of aquatic and terrestrial insects, as well as crustaceans, fish and other small vertebrates, while young feed on small aquatic and terrestrial insects.

Spawning

Occurs in fall, generally September through November. Females will construct a nest (redd) in gravel, and incubation period varies depending upon water temperature.

Life Expectancy

Generally short-lived, seldom longer than 4 years in the wild.

Habitat and Habits

State Fish Wild brook trout are most abundant in isolated, high-altitude headwater streams where the water is free of pollution and rich in oxygen. State Fish Of North Carolina Brook trout prefer streams with stable water flows, salt-free gravel for spawning and an abundance of pools and riffles with sufficient in-stream covers, such as logs and boulders. Young North Carolina State Fish brook trout feed on small aquatic and terrestrial insects. Adults Brook Trout eat a wide variety of aquatic and terrestrial insects, as well as crustaceans, fish and other small vertebrates.

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