10.5 Inch Bluegill

[kafishak]

Caught 5 July 2007 at Sandy River Resv. in Farmville, Va.

Using 3" powerbait realistix power minnow.

[deathb4disco]

Are you sure that's not a shellcracker? There looks like there might be a little red on the ear flap. The coloration and body shape also say "shellcracker". Gills that size tend to develop the "ping pong paddle" body shape whereas 'crackers keep the traditional fish shape.

It's impressive whatever it is.

[dixieangler]

I don't see a dark spot on the rear part of the dorsal fin either. The easiest way for me to tell if it is a Bluegill or not is the black spot at the base of the posterior portion of the dorsal fin. If the bream does not have that spot or the black spot on the gill cover, then it must be some other kind of bream.

See this link:
Bluegill

[kafishak]

Maybe it is from Mars, or somewher

[TJ Adams]

I think thats what I call a red ear...We catch them up here around the same size..Nice fish..

[wrwest]

Hey that is still a nice fish, I wouldn't mind catching some like that.

Good Going...

[shadow]

I would have to agree with deathb4disco. I think that is a shellcracker or what we call a chick-a-pen. The colors are all wrong to be a blue gill.
It is still a nice fish though and thanks for the picture.

[squirrel hunter]

That's a beauty! Shellcracker for sure!

[FishnLine]

I agree with the others. I think it's a shellcracker, but a very nice fish either way. Congrats.

[kafishak]

http://www.cnr.vt.edu/efish/families/bluegill.html

For all of you that don't know what a bluegill is go to the above link.

This fish did not have any red on his earflap. I have caught hundreds of shellcrackers, this is not one.