My Son's Catch - Bluegill?

I took my 7 year old son fishing this afternoon. We drowned some crickets in about 4-6 feet of water on Crystal Lake in Valley Center, Kansas. I found myself watching him because I was just flat out getting out-fished:cool:. He caught quite a few but we only kept 3. Now, growing up in Alabama, all of these type of fish were just called bream. In my older age, I am interested in identifying the fish a little better. I am fairly certain that the one on the left is a bluegill. The other 2 aren't as round as that one and the right 2 had distinctively larger mouths. Perch? I was wondering if I could get some help identifying these fish. Thanks! Thumbs Up

Attachment 73395

They go by several names. The one on the left is a green sunfish... kinda looks like a redear (red ear). The other two are what we call goggle eye, rock bass, war mouth, etc. They are of the panfish family, taste fine, fight hard, usually caught close to shore, love rocky areas.

I feel like I should have known Rock Bass... Mouth was just like a largemouth... I don't think that the one on the left was a red ear. I looked for the orange or red lining on the outside of the spot... Unless there is another way to tell...

Thanks for the info! Now I know!

nice catch good eating

welcome fishin ks

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kcbrown

They go by several names. The one on the left is a green sunfish... kinda looks like a redear (red ear). The other two are what we call goggle eye, rock bass, war mouth, etc. They are of the panfish family, taste fine, fight hard, usually caught close to shore, love rocky areas.

---

Better check your ID? tHe one on the left looks like a hybrid of Green Sunfish/ Bluegill and other two are Green Sunfish for sure. Some call Green Sunfish by Ricefield Slicks. The Warmouth is a similar fish as are Rock Bass, but none of them are either.

http://www.catchphotorelease.com/gill3.htm

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NIMROD

Better check your ID? tHe one on the left looks like a hybrid of Green Sunfish/ Bluegill and other two are Green Sunfish for sure. Some call Green Sunfish by Ricefield Slicks. The Warmouth is a similar fish as are Rock Bass, but none of them are either.

Green Sunfish #1

---

X2 Not a great sunfish IDer by any means, but the 2 right ones are what we here in KS call "perch". Commonly found in rocky areas, and probably one of the better baits also. They are good eating, for everything it seems, nice firm meat, small, soft scales and hardy.

Lets make it easy and call them good eating. Congrats to you and your son. Sounds like you had fun.

Ha ha... Yeah I like to eat them... But I have just always included anything that is close to sunfish, perch, bluegill, etc. as a bream... These fish were caught in sort of a backwater part of the lake... There is a drop-off in the slough to allow for pontoon boats to travel... But we were in the back of the slough and the bottom was pretty muddy... There was sort of a color change on those fish as we had them on ice... It doesn't really matter to me... My curiosity about the type of fish was my excuse to break the ice and start posting on this forum... I am just happy to see my son take an interest in fishing...

Regardless, thanks for everyone's help!

The two on the right are green sunfish. I gotta agree with Nimrod. No rock bass in that picture at all, either.

Welcome to Crappie.com and congrats to your son on his catch Thumbs Up. I know dad enjoyed it..

Welcome aboard and thanks for sharing your fishing trip with your son with us.

Yup the two on the right Green Sunfishatches the slope on the head, we call em Black Perch. The one on the left ???? Maybe a

Wow I need to proof read lol

I just usually call em all bream too. Easier that way. The important thing is that your son got to go fishing with you and had some success too. Great memories in the making. Congratulations.

Tell your son great catch!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by no1son

The two on the right are green sunfish. I gotta agree with Nimrod. No rock bass in that picture at all, either.

---

X3, I agree. I think the one on the left is a hybrid gill/green. But no rock bass (red eyes) nowhere in pic. I had rather seen a pic of the smile on his face. Im 39 and it still puts a smile on my face.