{"id":10821,"date":"2024-02-23T14:15:25","date_gmt":"2024-02-23T13:15:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=10821"},"modified":"2024-02-23T14:15:25","modified_gmt":"2024-02-23T13:15:25","slug":"how-big-are-the-fish-in-the-mississippi-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/how-big-are-the-fish-in-the-mississippi-river\/","title":{"rendered":"How Big Are The Fish In The Mississippi River"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Types of Fish in the Mississippi River<\/h2>\n

The Mississippi River is home to a variety of fish, many of which are quite large. These include catfish, sturgeon, carp, drum, bass, and white crappie, as well as a variety of smaller fish species. Each fish has an average size that ranges from comparatively small to truly massive.<\/p>\n

Catfish<\/h2>\n

Catfish are the most widely recognized, and widely caught fish in the Mississippi River. The most common species is the channel catfish, which has an average size of one to three pounds. The largest species of catfish, however, can reach up to twenty-five pounds.<\/p>\n

Sturgeon<\/h2>\n

Sturgeon are some of the biggest fish in the Mississippi River, but they are usually not fished for sport because of their large size. The average size of the lake sturgeon is twenty-five to forty-five pounds, but the average size of the shovelnose sturgeon is five to thirty-five pounds. The record for the largest sturgeon caught in the Mississippi River was a 122-pound monster.<\/p>\n

Carp and Drum<\/h2>\n

Carp and drum are another two species of large fish found in the Mississippi River. The average size of carp is roughly two to four pounds, while the average size of drum is five to twelve pounds. Carp and drum tend to be more active during the warmer months, making them a popular catch throughout the summer.<\/p>\n

Bass and White Crappie<\/h2>\n