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Northern Hogsucker

Northern Hogsucker

The Northern Hogsucker is a freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the sucker family (Catostomidae) found in North Carolina's streams and rivers.

In North Carolina, this species is considered non-indigenous, having been cryptically introduced to certain watersheds including the Yadkin-Pee Dee drainage after the late 1950s.

Scientific Name: Hypentelium nigricans

Physical Characteristics:
  • Bottom-dwelling fish with distinctive square heads and large lips covered by small bumps.
  • The species can reach up to 13 inches, with females typically growing larger than males.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • They have a limited distribution, confined primarily to the North Fork Reddies and Ararat subsystems and a short segment of the mainstem Yadkin River.
  • The species has also been documented in the Upper Broad, Upper Catawba, Upper Neuse, and Upper Yadkin watersheds.

Key Locations

  • North Fork Reddies and Ararat subsystems, mainstem Yadkin River, Upper Broad, Upper Catawba, Upper Neuse, and Upper Yadkin watersheds, Big Laurel Creek in Madison County, western mountain regions and Piedmont watersheds, Yadkin River system and its tributaries.

Specific Spots

  • Clear, fast-flowing water in riffle areas of warm and cold water streams, small to medium-sized creeks, and occasionally reservoirs.
  • Target riffle areas, runs, and pools in clear streams with gravel and rocky substrates.

Northern Hogsucker FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Northern Hogsucker in North Carolina?

Red worms or nightcrawlers on small hooks, Mini Trout Magnet soft plastics, small jigs and spinners.

What flies work for Northern Hogsucker in North Carolina?

Hare's ear nymph flies, Brown Sculpin, Black Marabou Sculpin, Grizzly Sculpin, and Cranford's Pandora's Box in Olive & Black.

How do you catch Northern Hogsucker in North Carolina?

Position your bait upstream of the fish and either drift it naturally with the current or anchor it lightly on the bottom with minimal weight. Small artificial lures require precise placement - placed directly in front of or under the fish. Work lures along the bottom near rocky structure.

What do Northern Hogsucker eat?

Their diet consists mainly of insect larvae, crustaceans, mollusks, diatoms, algae, and bits of vegetation. While feeding, they scrape surfaces of rocks, turn over stones, and vacuum up loosened material containing small organisms.

Where do Northern Hogsucker live in North Carolina?

They have a limited distribution, confined primarily to the North Fork Reddies and Ararat subsystems and a short segment of the mainstem Yadkin River. The species has also been documented in the Upper Broad, Upper Catawba, Upper Neuse, and Upper Yadkin watersheds.

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