Mega Longear Sunfish

[Huntingducks117]

I shot this giant Longear Sunfish out of Bull Shoals Lake while spearfishing.  It was 8.75 inches long. 

Have you caught or seen one larger?

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

thing is so big it looks deformed 

[snagged in outlet 3]

I thought it was deformed from the spear??

[Johnsfolly]

I was thinking that it may have some bluegill genetics. Maybe its a pure one and just never saw one that big. Congrats!

[Huntingducks117]

Nope it was that big before I shot it.  Massive.  It looked even bigger under water. 

[Huntingducks117]

1 hour ago, Johnsfolly said:

I was thinking that it may have some bluegill genetics. Maybe its a pure one and just never saw one that big. Congrats!

 

I'm 99.9% sure it's a pure Longear Sunfish. Thanks!

[tjm]

from Wikipedia "The longear sunfish reaches a maximum recorded length of about 24 cm (9.5 in), with a maximum recorded weight of 790g (1.7 lb). Most do not live beyond six years. "

http://wrec.igfa.org/WRecDetail.aspx?uid=19304&cn=Sunfish, longear

Huge fish, my biggest longear was about 7.5" and I wasn't sure what it was at the time because of the size, I thought hybrid.

[Johnsfolly]

6 hours ago, Huntingducks117 said:

 

I'm 99.9% sure it's a pure Longear Sunfish. Thanks!

I think you're right. Found some images of large ones and a couple look like yours. Its a great fish.

[Ham]

This one ate a Ned in Bull Shoals this Spring, but I think his momma had a BlueGill in the Woodshed.

Nice Fish!

[Chief Grey Bear]

So do we have to start  trying to decimate the bluegill population like we do the Spots??