Sunfish or Bluegill

[kenjenmo]

I have a question for the experts...We catch a lot of bluegill on our home lake of various sizes and color. Some have beautiful bright yellow underbellies with the blue gill and blue color through-out. I was under the impression that the bluegills that have the vibrant colors are females and the ones that have more of a dark striped pattern were the males. Would the ones that are yellow be considered sunfish or do they have to have the 'redear'. Can someone set me straight? Thanks. I can provide pics if needed.

[Terry Beeson]

Click here... this might help...

[Don]

Nice link, thanks Terry.

I couldn't find hornyhead chub on the list. The women at work looked at the forum and laughed at me because of my fish handle. They want to know what really is a hornyhead chub.

Don

[Terry Beeson]

Sounds like sexual harrassment to me, Don. You should sue...

Of course, I'd rather be a Fundulus catenatus aka Northern studfish, except the SOUTHERN version...

Click here for hornyhead chub

[Quillback]

From my "Fishes of Arkansas" book:

"In breeding males, all colors more intense, fins becoming densely pigmented, pelvic and anal fins becoming almost black."

Bluegill also have a very long, pointed pectoral fin. Redears also have a long, pointed pectoral fin, but most other sunfish have a short, rounded pectoral fin.

[kenjenmo]

Thanks for the link Terry, that was really helpful. All of the info was helpful. Just looking at the pics on the link that Terry provided and I think we have caught most of the bluegill/sunfish listed there. Gonna try and post some links to pics of my oldest and some of his catches...

And another...

[gonefishin]

The upper right hand picture is a Longea. The one in the on the lower right is a Green Sunfish and the two on the left are bluegill.

Looks like you got a good fishing partner there.

[kenjenmo]

Thanks gonefishin. Yeah, he is really starting to "get it" when it comes to fishing. He outfishes me most every time out and that is fine with me.

My home water is a small 50 acre lake in a private community in New Haven that we have a couple campers on. The fishing there is amazing. We have caught a wide variety of fish - Largemouth and spotted bass, all of the bluegill and sunfish varieties it seems, channel catfish, and black crappie. We have also seen huge grass carp patroling in there too. Last weekend we were chasing White bass all over the lake as they were busting baitfish on top of the water. Everytime we saw the water boil we would troll on over and cast to it and hook up almost every time.

We are truly having an amazing spring/early summer so far on the lake.

[gonefishin]

That is a nice longear. If I remember correctly the record Longear is only a little over a pound.

Keep training him and you will have a fishing partner for life. I have 4 kids, all grown, but none of them care to fish.