Over time GSF are increasing in numbers more rapidly than BG, possibly the opposite of what we normally see with those two species and LMB. Both sunfish species are easy enough to control with my culling efforts. As I think I wrote earlier, one of the incentives to my stocking GSH was to take some predation pressure Off the YP young. Maybe I've done the opposite?
I did see two different GSHs cruising around yesterday as I sat on the dock feeding and enjoying. GSHs should be in school, right? Haha.
Regarding edibility of GSF vs BG, my observations are, from the very same BOW, GSF fillets are softer raw than those of BG but indishtinguishable once fried. They taste about the same, which is to say mild. I'd prefer a much more flavorful product like YP or LMB, but sunfish are what I mainly harvest for the pan. Both are fine for fish tacos.
I scale then fillet nearly all the fish we eat from the pond. GSF have quite a bit smaller scales that come off easily. Their bodies are softer than those of BG so downward scaling pressure feels different. The BG under 5" don't need to be scaled; theirs are fine enough to cook up and eat. A bass more than a pound may get cooked whole. The last nearly 4 pound bass got filleted and butter poached after Hank Shaw. Amazingly tasty.
If I were to renovate our pond, I'd stock YP and SMB without and sunfish. But I enjoy the large variety of species out there right now.
