Lake Prince Citation Crackers

[Daniel Salvitti]

Found some active beds.  Caught a total of 17 citations with 4 being 13" or better.

[Jim Gronaw]

Those are 'lifetime' catches for most panfishers. The Tidewater Lakes/Suffolk Lakes have been producing high numbers of big 'crackers for several decades. I recently read an article on crappie.com where a local angler, caught and kept, 43 citation red ears from Prince during a two-day session. Sensational catch though it was, it would seem to me that a little restraint could go a long way in preserving this phenomenal fishery.

I think Prince produced over 800 citation red ears in a single year back in the late 1990's. 2000 time frame. Also, with the VDGIF citation program now charging $5 per entry, we may not be seeing the true number of citation fish, of many species, caught in this region or throughout the state in whole.

Still, this area remains one of the premier panfish regions in the nation. Great catch!

[Leo Nguyen]

Great looking catch. Dark and juicy.