One of the most common questions we get here at the hatchery is when different species spawn. To make things easy, we’ve compiled a list of every species we carry and their respective spawning information in a one-stop-shop fashion just for you!
Fathead Minnows
- Spawn early spring through mid-summer
- Females can spawn up to 12 times a season
- Eggs laid on flat surfaces
Golden Shiners
- Spawn when water temperature is 70-80F range only
- Females can spawn up to 5 times a season
- Eggs are sticky and are commonly laid on vegetation
Coppernose Bluegill
- Spawn around late spring when water temperature is around 70F and continues through the summer
- Females can spawn up to 5 times a season
- Eggs are laid in nests known as “bluegill beds” that are made out of sand or rocks
Redear Sunfish
- Spawn around late spring when water temperature is in 68-75F range and through early summer
- Generally only spawn once per season
- Eggs are laid in nests similar to bluegill beds, but at slightly deeper depths
Largemouth Bass
- Spawn early spring to early summer when water temperatures are around 60-70F, typically January-April in Texas
- Females typically can spawn 2-3 times per season
- Males make nests and aggressively protect eggs and fry
Hybrid Catfish
- Yes, they have the ability to spawn! They technically do not have a natural spawning season since they are a man-made cross, but reproduction has been observed in “normal” spawning weather, which is when the water temperatures reach 68F
- Any offspring that may occur will not be considered a true Hybrid Catfish genetically; the favorable traits of the F-1 Hybrid Catfish start to diminish in a process called outbreeding depression
Hybrid Perch (Green Sunfish x Bluegill)
- Since this cross is usually around 80% male, reproduction is extremely limited and rarely occurs
Green Sunfish (Goggleye, Slick, Bait Perch)
- Spawn when water temperatures exceed 70F and typically continue through the summer
- Males build nests like bluegill beds
Hybrid Striped Bass
- This species does not reproduce, hence why they are a popular gamefish option for small ponds
Black Crappie
- Spawning occurs around March-May, with the peak spawning temperature being around 68-72F
- This species can spawn up to 50 times a season, making them a difficult gamefish to manage in ponds less than 4 acres
- Black Crappie are nest builders as well, and eggs are usually laid around submerged vegetation
Hybrid Crappie
- Reproduction is extremely limited in this species, making them a great gamefish option for smaller ponds
Red Drum
- While Red Drum are highly prolific in their natural saltwater habitat, Red Drum that have been converted down to 0ppt salinity to be stocked in freshwater ponds and lakes are not able to reproduce successfully. Red Drum eggs have to float to be viable, and will not do so in freshwater.
Tilapia
- Spawn at 68-75F and will continue through the summer
- Females can spawn every 28 days
- Males build nests, females lay eggs–once fertilized, the female then scoops the eggs into her mouth and holds them there until they hatch. This is called “mouth-brooding”.
Triploid Grass Carp
- Triploid Grass Carp are a regulated species in the state of Texas, and are genetically sterile. Reproduction is not possible in this species
Author: Jordan Moore