They are sliver with a dark brown back with slate gray tail. They have 12-14 fin rays instead of dorsal spines. they have slighty concave dorsal fins that are equal in size. they weigh about 2-10 lbs and are about 18-29''
The world record for one caught is 14 lbs 14 oz in April 1995 in Pickwick Lake in Alabama
They eat mainly algae, mollusks, detritus becusae of thier inferior mouth postions.