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Okay, I know they're sunfish, but I was silly and thought all it needed was a reddish/orange tip to the ear to be a shellcracker. Oops :).
I think 1 and 2 are the same type, different colorations. 4 has similar coloration but a different body shape. 3 is just a standard bluegill (I think, but want confirmation). 5 is an oddball with the black dots on it. 6 is beautiful. It looks like it should be on a saltwater reef.
So, there you have it, please help me identify these by their "correct" names.
My best guess, based on the pictures :
#2 #4 #5 .... Green Sunfish
#1 ... possible Green Sunfish/Bluegill hybrid :dono
#3 ... Bluegill
#6 ... Longear Sunfish
#2 is what we call a "Warmouth" locally.
I just found a good guide online. Freshwater Fish Pocket Guide - Department of Natural Resources ... for anyone else who has the issues I do of "what is this thing?" :)
And, to make things more interesting, https://twitter.com/NEGameandParks/s...171200/photo/1 says that pumpkinseed are "shellcrackers". :)
The KY Dept of Fish & Wildlife Resources (Dept of Fisheries) put out a booklet (reprint) in 1999 that shows the major fishes of the state. Color pics & descriptions, distribution areas, nicknames, etc. is contained in the booklet.
It shows a Longear Sunfish as being "Also called" a "bream", "sun granny", "sunperch", "creek perch", and (oddly enough) a "PUMPKINSEED" :yikes ..... YET, in the Description section it plainly says "This fish should not be confused with the Pumpkinseed (pictured on pg32)".
When you get into the "nickname" game, when trying to identify Sunfish species, you're gonna find yourself understanding why so many people just call them all "Brim" :Rofl
1. Bluegill Sunfish x Green Sunfish hybrid
2. Green Sunfish
3. Bluegill Sunfish
4. Green Sunfish
5. Green Sunfish
6. Longear Sunfish
Many of the sunfish in the lepomis genus have many characteristics that are very similar to other species within the genus. The red tip on the operlecular flap is a characteristic that is actually common to about a handful of sunfish. Take a look at this video I made that goes over all the sunfish species in the lepomis genus. There's a couple things in each species that makes it stick out from the others.
https://youtu.be/qUX-g5KREvE
I had actually watched that video (searched youtube) already. That's kinda what piqued my curiousity. The specks on #5 made me think it might be a spotted sunfish (which I hadn't even heard of until your video).
So, can you tell me which sunfish have the "largemouth" (sorta crappie style) vs the small mouth (like the actual bluegill)? If you have any photos showing the teeth, I'd love to see them.
Crappie Pappy and Arthur got it nailed. Normally I would put #1 totally into the bluegill species due to mouth size, but the fin edges sure do speak to greenie ancestry. You can also usually tell the greenies by their over sized mouths for a sunfish and they are also generally longer rather than so rounded as other sunnies. Also greenies are everywhere and are quite tolerant of low oxygen.
I don't have any pictures of their teeth. Green sunfish and warmouth are the two that are known to have bigger mouths than the rest. I also don't think you'll catch any spotted sunfish in your area. That's outside of their native range. Heres a spotted I caught over the weekend as well as a warmouth.Quote:
Originally Posted by Schmoopie
Attachment 375759
Thank you for the ID on nbr 6. I caught one of those last year that absolutely glowed in those colors. IMHO I think the longear is the prettiest Pan I have ever seen. Spectacular colors.Quote:
Originally Posted by CrappiePappy
Bob
Did that warmouth come from the Exxon Valdez oil spill? :)
Lol all the warmouths I've caught in that canal are super dark.Quote:
Originally Posted by Schmoopie
Interesting thread, for sure!
Attachment 378255
Here's another interesting catch. The belly was so dark, it looked like a purple-black. I assume it's a standard bluegill, but other than being extremely dark, his chest was huge. The length wasn't anything spectacular (like it'd grown as long as it could), but I expected more length before the chest bulked up like that. I'm lousy with guessing, but it was probably under half a pound, and maybe 6-8 inches. Any thoughts on why?
I would say bluegill, possibly with a bit or more of copperhead strain. Size looks like heavily populated small water stunted and possibly pretty close to the maximum size possible there.
coppernose cross is highly likely on the purple hull