If I didn't know better, as in someone just showed me those hybrid photos with no info, I might call HBG and not look back. Help me see what your seeing TJ, can you elaborate on the RES traits?
Good question T - I'm no lepomis expert, but the top fish lacks the bright yellow fin coloration I typically see in HBG of yours and Condellos. Also, their washed out, pale sides nudged me towards RES genetics. The fishery from where these were caught consists of RES and GSF - never caught a BG there but we fished hard for sunfish on a few occasions. SNRUB also cites the lack of electric blue stripes behind the eye which I've seen on the HBG I've caught. These details lead me to the GRES ID - but I can say I've never seen anything like these fish anywhere before personally, so I don't have a basis for comparison. They certainly were huge specimens for my fishery, however. Not known for growing big lepomis.