Found in large streams and lakes of Central and Eastern United States. Golden shiners live in clear, weedy, quiet, shallow sections of lakes, ponds, and occasionally rivers (such as the St. Lawrence River)

Size: 2-6 inches. Feed on aquatic vegetation especially filamentous algae. Bright colorful deep bodied fishes sometimes with orange or red fins. Both young and adult fish show schooling behavior. Feed requirements Protein: 30-38% Fat: 3-8%

Spawning take place at a temperature of 70^oF or above, usually during May-August. Females deposit up to 10,000 eggs on vegetation. After spawning, the eggs are abandoned. Adults are usually less than 6 inches long. Sexual maturity will be reached after one year. In the southern United States they become sexually mature at 1 year of age at a length of approximately 2.5 inches, Some have been known to live 8 years and attain a length of over 10 inches. Domesticity has been bred into golden shiner broodstock.

Grows from the egg stage to a full adult of 4 inches in length in a single summer. Female golden shiners grow faster and larger than males.

Used as a baitfish in the sport fishery. Often stocked in farm ponds in combination with largemouth bass. Golden shiners are used extensively as bait.

Commercial production of the golden shiner is limited by the water quality. Usually dependent on the natural supply of feed. Production of 600-800 pounds per acre is common. Arkansas leads the production of this fish. As they are to be shipped live special care has to be taken in the harvest of this species. Considerable hand labor is required for the counting and size grading which makes the production more expensive. Also there is problem with the seasonal demand of this fish.

Dobie, J.R., O.L. Meehean, and G.N. Washburn. 1948. Propagation of minnows and other bait fish. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service circular no. 12. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.

Giudice, J.J., D.L. Gray, and J.M. Martin. 1981. Manual for bait fish culture in the South Little Rock. University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service 49 pp.

Stickney, R.R. ed. 1986. Culture of non-salmonid freshwater fishes. Boca Ranton, FL: CRC Press. Gray, D. Leroy. Baitfish. Publication 120. Stoneville, MS: Southern Regional Aquaculture Center, Nov. 1988.