Saugeye

The saugeye (Sander canadensis × vitreus) is a hybrid freshwater fish of walleye and sauger of the family Percidae.

Description
The color of saugeye varies between olive green to gold but most individuals exhibit distinct dark saddles extending across the body. Additionally, saugeye exhibit distinct streaks across the dorsal fin that frequently have one to two rows of spots along the base. Sauger will have multiple rows of spots while walleye only exhibit indistinct crescents across the dorsal fin. Saugeye are difficult to identify based on external characteristics alone due to their similarity with both parent species. For example, 27% of presumed walleye sampled in the Ohio River were later determined to be saugeye through genetic techniques.

Diet
Like walleye and sauger, saugeye are predominantly piscivorous. Prey consumed ultimately depends on location and prey availability, but saugeye diets primarily consist of centrarchids, cyprinids, and clupeids. In many cases, saugeye are stocked to utilize abundant gizzard shad, a prey item they readily consume.

Management
Due to their relatively fast growth rate, environmental adaptability, and sterility, saugeye are raised in hatcheries and stocked in the U.S., including (but not limited to) the states of Ohio, Tennessee, Colorado, and Nebraska. Stocked saugeye provide an additional fishery opportunity for recreational anglers in reservoirs, rivers, and tailwaters.

In some waterbodies, saugeye occur naturally and backcross with sauger or walleye.