Goggleye?

[Quillback]

Caught a couple of these today fishing for bass here in Bella Vista.  I believe it is a goggleye, but I have never seen one so darkly colored.  What does the panel of experts say?

 

 

[moguy1973]

I'm gonna say Green Sunfish. Or some sort of hybrid of that species.

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

Im Saying sunfish too.   We caught a lot of goggle eye on Table Rock last week around Mill Creek, they def. Have a different distinct look.  Wish i would have taken some pics

[MoCarp]

Warmouth

[ollie]

No google-eye there. I have seen them darker, but that doesn't quite look like one.

[Guest]

Deleted.

[Flyfisher for men]

Agreed: warmouth.

[Quillback]

After seeing another goggle eye pic, I also think warmouth now.

[Johnsfolly]

QB - coming late to the party, but have to agree with the warmouth. That is a species that I have never caught. So I am a bit jealous. They are one of my target species here in Maryland this year. Hopefully I will have one caught in the near future.

[tjm]

So what are the differentiating characteristics  ?  I've caught several completely black looking similar fish, some with red eyes and some without. Some I thought were green sunfish or shell-crackers,  made me think older makes darker or deeper water makes darker.

"Black perch" is what the old guys called them 60 years ago.