Pond Boss Forums FISH & FISHING Sunfish-Including Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass HBG Spots on filets - What are they

Take a look at this article. You might know the authors....

http://www.sdstate.edu/nrm/outreach/pond/upload/Redear-Sunfish-May-June-2010.pdf

"Redear sunfish have "molariform pharyngeal
teeth," which are grinding surfaces in the throat
(think of the molars in your mouth). Thus,
they can grind snails and small clams because
of these structures. Bluegills do not have such
structures and thus cannot grind. Pumpkinseeds
do have the grinding pharyngeal teeth and are
the snail eating sunfish of the north. Both redear
sunfish and pumpkinseeds have that further
benefit in their ability to eat snai ls, which often
are hosts for fish parasites. Common examples
are yellow grub and black-spot disease. If
the snail population in a pond is reduced, the parasite cycle is disturbed and the incidence of
the grubs may decline."

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