The fish I'm holding was 15 1/4". A detailed genetic analysis using the polymerase chain reaction to amplify specific genes only known to occur within crappie yielded some interesting results. The fish was evidently more closely related to Lepomis cyanellus and a California-based accountant than it was to other crappie. More study is definitely warranted, but it is certain that something unusual is occurring. At this point, we don't know who the accountant is, but I'm hopeful a friend of mine with strong NSA/CIA connections can identify the individual. It's got me stumped, although I feel the answer is right in front of me.
