5 LB REDEAR SUNFISH, Lake Havasu

[FishnDave]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tripideas/fisherman-catches-giant-5-pound-redear-sunfish-on-lake-havasu/ar-AAXcoZq?li=BBnbfcL

 

[Johnsfolly]

52 minutes ago, FishnDave said:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tripideas/fisherman-catches-giant-5-pound-redear-sunfish-on-lake-havasu/ar-AAXcoZq?li=BBnbfcL

 

On my bucket list for sure. You know it's a big redear when you have to use two hands to hold it. I haven't looked enough to know what they are eating in that lake that allows them to bulk up like they do. I would probably settle for just a 2 to 3 lb redear😉

[JestersHK]

Man imagine the fun on a fly rod... on my bucket list as well

[Carl1969]

Yowza. MO record for 'em is "only" 2lb 7oz. Hoping to raise some monster bream in my new pond, specifically redears & redear-bluegill hybrids. Might be fun to try to grow a state record redear or hybrid (2lb 3oz).

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

Ive  ran across some in Norfork lake while diving that had to be 3 lbs. I didnt even know what they were at the time. I was explaining them to my brother as a world record perch and he said the were Redear

[MoCarp]

Another red ear I  saw posted in a FB panfish group

[FishnDave]

17 hours ago, Johnsfolly said:

On my bucket list for sure. You know it's a big redear when you have to use two hands to hold it. I haven't looked enough to know what they are eating in that lake that allows them to bulk up like they do. I would probably settle for just a 2 to 3 lb redear😉

They may be feasting on the invasive quagga mussels.

[Johnsfolly]

6 minutes ago, FishnDave said:

They may be feasting on the invasive quagga mussels.

Don't call them shellcrackers for nothing 👍

[FishnDave]

9 minutes ago, Johnsfolly said:

Don't call them shellcrackers for nothing 👍

Exactly...and if quagga are anything like zebra mussels, they must take some seriously strong crushers to crack open!

Found this: "Do Redear Sunfish Eat Quagga Mussels? This research project tested redear sunfish's ability to reduce quagga mussel settlement through predation. Results showed that some fish will consume significant amounts of quagga mussels and some will not."

Although breaking through the shells might take significant effort by the Redears, think how little energy would be expended in hunting for their food.  Its just sitting there, like a big buffet table.  No wonder the Redears get so big!  

[Johnsfolly]

7 minutes ago, FishnDave said:

Exactly...and if quagga are anything like zebra mussels, they must take some seriously strong crushers to crack open!

Probably was not a highly productive lake and likely to have been clear before the mussels. It must be super clear if there is a large population of mussels.