Pond Boss Forums PHOTO GALLERY Image Gallery Fish ID Please

I have been fishing a local reservoir lately that is about 6 acres. I have caught several fish that I believe have a heavy influence of pumpkinseed genetics. Will one of the experts please chime in? Thanks

I'm willing to be wrong first and say I think it looks like a Redbreast Sunfish.

Disclaimer: I'm not an expert, but I play one on the Internet.

Redbreast or Longear

I lean toward Longear. The white margin of the ears are a good indication of LES IMHO. That's a handsome male in breeding color.

First ask the pond manager what fish were stocked.
Compare the pic links and data below and see what you think

Note that both state
v
v
Hybridizes with many other sunfish species

https://www.efish.fishwild.vt.edu/families/longearsun.html

https://www.efish.fishwild.vt.edu/families/pumpkin.html

I'm willing to accept being wrong as well but I "think" it's LES with something else crossed. The first Pic is a pretty good shot of a male, but my LES in captivity look a bit different, especially the breast.

Growing up we called Longears by the name of pumpkinseeds all the time. My Dad called them pumpkinseeds and so did we. We also threw Longears in with GSF (aka Rockbass, goggleye), in with RES, and BG collectively as "perch". This reminds me of that old song ... I say Tomotto ... you say Tomayto ... Let's call the whole thing off ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOILZ_D3aRg

More -- FYI Redbreast

Can naturally hybridize with L. cyanellus, L. gibbosus, L. macrochirus, and L. microlophus

https://www.efish.fishwild.vt.edu/families/redbreastsun.html

Unfortunately, I have PS. That doesn't look anything like PS to me. Looks like redbreast cross.

OP said " I have caught several fish that I believe have a heavy influence of pumpkinseed genetics."

That is why I included PS info.

Sunfish genetics id can be very difficult and its not all about outward appearance.

Agree it could be a RB cross.

https://www.efish.fishwild.vt.edu/families/hybrid.html

Here is some sunfish info from WiscFish


Compare Similar Species

Lateral Scales

Bluegill
39-45
Sunfish, Green
44-51
Sunfish, Longear
34-38
Sunfish, Orangespotted
36-41
Pumpkinseed
38-43
Warmouth
36-40
Bass, Rock
39-43

Opercular Flap Color

Bluegill
Solid dark
Sunfish, Green
Dark with light margin
Sunfish, Longear
Dark with light margin
Sunfish, Orangespotted
Dark with light margin
Pumpkinseed
Dark with light spot at tip
Warmouth
Dark with light margin
Bass, Rock
Solid dark

Gill Rakers

Bluegill
13-16, moderately long
Sunfish, Green
11-14, long and thin
Sunfish, Longear
9-11, short and thick
Sunfish, Orangespotted
10-15, long and thin
Pumpkinseed
9-12, short and thick
Warmouth
9-12, moderately long
Bass, Rock
7-10, long and thin

Pectoral Fin

Bluegill
Long, pointed
Sunfish, Green
Moderately long, rounded
Sunfish, Longear
Short, rounded or blunt point
Sunfish, Orangespotted
Long, rounded or blunt point
Pumpkinseed
Long, pointed
Warmouth
Moderately long, rounded
Bass, Rock
Short, rounded

Pigment Pattern on Sides and Soft Dorsal Fin

Bluegill
Sides dark or silver blue or bluish-olive, solid color or with dark vertical bars, sometimes fine irregular dark blue spots; fin solid, often with large diffuse spot at base
Sunfish, Green
Sides yellow or blue-green, with solid color, dark mottling, faint light spots or faint dark bars; fin dusky, spotted or with dark blotch at base
Sunfish, Longear
Sides dark bluish-olive, with solid color or light irregular spots or blotches/mottling; fin solid or faint spots/mottling
Sunfish, Orangespotted
Sides blue or gray, with occasional irregular orange spots, faint diffuse vertical bars; fin solid or faint spots/mottling
Pumpkinseed
Sides olive or yellow-olive, with many irregular yellow-orange spots or blotches and sometimes faint vertical bars; fin solid or faint spots/mottling
Warmouth
Sides yellow-brown or olive with dark mottling, faint spots or faint bars; fin mottled and/or spotted
Bass, Rock
Sides brown solid color or with dark mottling or many indistinct spots; fin mottled and/or spotted

Other Characteristics

Bluegill
Opercular flap slightly elongated in large adults
Sunfish, Green
Rarely a few teeth on tongue
Sunfish, Longear
Opercular flap greatly elongated in adults
Sunfish, Orangespotted
Opercular flap often elongated in adults; large sensory pores above lip; 8-9 anal fin rays
Pumpkinseed
None
Warmouth
Well-developed supramaxillary bone; teeth on tongue
Bass, Rock
5-7 anal spines; 9-11 anal rays
Similarity Index
Bluegill
Small juveniles very similar, adults moderately similar
Sunfish, Green
Small juveniles very similar, adults moderately similar
Sunfish, Longear
N/A
Sunfish, Orangespotted
Very similar
Pumpkinseed
Very similar
Warmouth
Very similar
Bass, Rock
Small juveniles very similar, adults moderately similar

Maybe these will help:

https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet.aspx?SpeciesID=379

https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet.aspx?SpeciesID=388

https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?speciesID=382