Green Sunfish

[flytyer57]

FT- that black spot on the dorsal makes me think yours is a bluegill x green sunfish hybrid. Cool fish.

The searches I did all show the green sunfish with the black spot on the dorsal.

Although I wouldn't doubt that it may be a cross with something.

But for now, I'm calling it a green sunfish.

[Wayne SW/MO]

FT the shape would suggest a cross.?

[flytyer57]

Possibly. But the overall markings and colors are those of a green sunfish.

I had another picture of another fish (green sunfish) I caught in the same area on the same day, but I don't know what happened to it. Must have been deleted.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Looking at it closer on the computer, rather then the phone, I think the way you're holding it might make the body appear a little deeper than it actually is. I think Gavin is referring to the slight elongation of the gill flap. Personally I don't think it's abnormal.

[Al Agnew]

Yeah, looks like pure green sunfish to me, with a bit of a perspective problem due to the way it's being held.

Warmouth are found all over the Ozarks but are fairly rare in Ozark streams. I've caught them here and there throughout the Ozarks. They vary somewhat in appearance in different river systems.

We always called green sunfish black perch, too, although I know a lot of people in this area also call them "pond perch".

I have some decent photos of both warmouth and green sunfish. I'll see if I can dig them up.

[tjulianc]

Those green sunfish eat pretty good too. Mix a couple in with a couple of spotted bass and you could have yourself a good meal with enough to share.

[flytyer57]

Those green sunfish eat pretty good too. Mix a couple in with a couple of spotted bass and you could have yourself a good meal with enough to share.

Nope. I hate cleaning fish and rarely if ever keep any.

[tjulianc]

Since I don't keep smallies, and I like to eat fish, sometimes I got to settle for greenies, goggle-eyes, and spots. As far as cleaning fish, I don't mind at all to clean enough for me and mine. Of course I'd rather be eating walleyes and crappies, but I don't always have a means to go and get them.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Nope. I hate cleaning fish and rarely if ever keep any.

Me neither, maybe a half dozen crappie in the spring or some whites if I get them, but not many. I'll bet the blacks are good though because they can be thick and meaty.

[Al Agnew]

I can't imagine anybody not liking to eat members of the sunfish family, though I know some don't. Fillet 'em so you don't have to mess with bones, dip fillets in a mixture of egg and milk, toss them into a paper bag with salted and heavily peppered cornmeal and shake them a bit, and drop them into a deep fryer for just enough time to make the meat flaky. Don't over-fry! And don't use all those fish fry seasoning mixes, they just take away from the nice, clean taste of the fish. Bluegill, green sunfish, goggle-eye, crappie, and SMALL bass, less than 14 inches long and optimally less than 12 inches. And take care of them before you clean them. Either keep them alive until filleting, or put them on ice as soon as you catch them. And when freezing, freeze them in a container full of water. It's worth the trouble to clean them, as far as I'm concerned.