Blackmouth shiner

Notropis melanostomus

A state link is a recorded source association, not a catch guarantee or confirmation that targeting is legal. Check current regulations with the responsible state agency.

Peak months
Typical depth
Typical size
Catch minimum
National record

See state records · Browse all fishing records

Biology, seasons and size reflect the canonical source record, which may contain Florida context. They are not state-specific guidance for every linked state. Missing fields remain unfilled.

Overview

Habitat summary: The blackmouth shiner inhabits the backwaters of rivers and streams off the main channel (Florida Natural Areas Inventory 2001; Bortone 1993). This species may be found in the Yellow, Shoal, and Blackwater River, and Pond Creek in Florida; Bay Minnette Creek in Alabama; and the Pascagoula, Lower Black Creek, and Chickasawhay River in Mississippi. (Bass et al., 2004; Bortone 1993; O’Connell et al., 1998; O’Connell et al., 2005; Suttkus and Bailey, 1990). Blackmouth shiners have been collected along shoreline areas associated with pond cypress, Atlantic white cedar, sweet gum and various pine species (Bortone 1993).
Diet: diet of the blackmouth shiner primarily consists of a variety of algae, phytoplankton, zooplankton, rotifers, and small crustaceans (Bortone, 1993).
Water type: freshwater

When to fish

Seasonality: Breeding occurs from late spring through the summer between the months of March and August because of the warmer water temperatures available during that time of the year (Bortone, 1993). Spawning has never been observed; however, they are probably substrate spawners (lay eggs on subsoil) (Gilbert 1992).

Where to fish

Habitat summary: The blackmouth shiner inhabits the backwaters of rivers and streams off the main channel (Florida Natural Areas Inventory 2001; Bortone 1993). This species may be found in the Yellow, Shoal, and Blackwater River, and Pond Creek in Florida; Bay Minnette Creek in Alabama; and the Pascagoula, Lower Black Creek, and Chickasawhay River in Mississippi. (Bass et al., 2004; Bortone 1993; O’Connell et al., 1998; O’Connell et al., 2005; Suttkus and Bailey, 1990). Blackmouth shiners have been collected along shoreline areas associated with pond cypress, Atlantic white cedar, sweet gum and various pine species (Bortone 1993).
Habitat zone: freshwater
Fishing zone: freshwater

How to catch

Not in the source.

Bait & lures

Not in the source.

Size

Not in the source.

Records

Recorded catches retain their source scope; state and world catches are not national records.

No record catch is in the source.

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Related states & places

Place links are planning context, not proof of local species presence. Florida city links marked local context follow existing directory relationships, not catch reports.

Florida fishing guide

Florida species evidence · All Florida city starting points

Source-linked directories

Real local listings currently cover Florida only. Boat-ramp, charter and creator links below follow existing Florida species relationships. Bait-shop links are city context only, not species-targeting evidence.

Boat ramps — Florida

Selected examples from 1580 source-linked directory records.

Browse the Florida boat ramps directory

Charter captains: no matching local listing in the source for this species.

Bait shops — Florida

Selected examples from 628 source-linked city-context records.

Browse the Florida bait shops directory

Fishing creators: no matching local listing in the source for this species.

Blackmouth shiner

For other linked states, local listings are not in the source yet; use the state and species guides above.

Related species

Navigation links share a recorded scientific genus or a source state and water-type grouping. This is not a claim of identical habitat or legal targeting.

Source evidence by state

Florida

State guide · State species

common name local: Blackmouth shiner
scientific name local: Notropis melanostomus
water type local: freshwater
enrichment status: enriched
geo regions fl: Statewide Freshwater
range precision: region

LoveToFish is a national fishing guide. Fish species coverage spans all 50 states. Ramp, charter, bait shop, and creator directories currently cover Florida. Verify current local regulations with the responsible agency.