Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Panfish question...

A friend of mine was fishing my new lake last week to help me in my LMB culling project. He said he caught a few "red breasted panfish." I didn't see them and he didn't take a picture. Our original electroshock survey didn't bring up a single BG -- just some green sunfish -- so we assumed little to no BG population. Do you think these were BG? He said the breast was dark reddish purple, and the fish were pretty good size (8-9 inches)and fat. I'll try to catch one this week and take a picture, but wanted everyone's thoughts. Thanks.

Dan :

There is a red breasted sunfish . I don't know if they are in Texas . My guess is that he caught male BG which have the coloration you described. Here is a site for a red breasted sunfish which ae very red and are located in the eastern US. In the upper right of the site you can click for more pics.

http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=3370

ewest

Dan:

Here is the "Redbreast Sunfish" listed by Texas Parks & Wildlife (Lepomis auritus - same species ewest refers to). They are stated to reach weights of up to a pound.

Redbreast Sunfish

Yes, we've seen redbreast in private texas lakes. They seem to do better in lakes with little or no aquatic vegetation present, where bluegill populations are low.