Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations sunfish id

Two fish I would like help with

Both appear to be bluegill to me, especially the second one. First one, possibly something else in there, but I'll go with bluegill for both.

I think there's a possibility of some Redbreast in the first photo, and maybe some Redear in the second?

I'm glad I am not the only one thinking that. The second photo appears to have a very thin orange area on the ear tab.

The first sunfish is a redspotted sunfish

The second one appears to be a RES.

My bet is, these fish were not caught from your typical run of the mill pond... Either a swampy area or creek of some type.

This just shows the skills on pondboss.
They were both caught out of a beaver pond that backs up to my property. Have been surprised by the number and size of fish it holds for being so small and shallow (max 5ft deep) Lots of sunfish and lmb

Not sure on number one, but number two appears to be a female RES but I think there could be some other genetics at play in the RES...might not be pure.

I'm clueless on the first one.

The second one clearly has SOME redear sunfish genetics, but unlikely to be pure RES.

I figured it wasn't a normal pond. No one stocks redspotted sunfish and although they can survive in a normal farm pond, they generally don't thrive. So I figured it was some other body of water type. Fish that pond during the spring spawn, see if you can catch a male redspotted sunfish in spawning colors. WOW! They are gorgeous...

What traits are visible in the photo that make it RSF?

No dark spot at posterior base of dorsal fin(as BG have). Adults have square, red or purplish red (in males) or yellowish (in females) spots along the sides forming irregular rows(this fish is a male). The cheeks have dark, coffee-colored spots. The back is dark brown or olive, the belly is reddish orange, and the opercular spot is black with a narrow white or reddish border(this one is hard to see, probably because it is red and thus doesn't stick out as much). The fins are dusky, with the margins of median fins reddish orange. The front and back of the iris is reddish and the lower part light blue or turquoise.

This fish is a classic non spawning colors male.

Good eye T, I have a long way to go before I could make that call.

TJ, take a close look at the bony structure right in front of the operculum. It's completely different than a male BG. Mouth seems larger than a straight BG mouth too.

Man, I don't know.....That first photo still makes me think this:

http://txstate.fishesoftexas.org/lepomis%20auritus.htm

The literature even states that they are particularly common in beaver ponds.

Having caught 1,000's of RBS, it isn't one. One thing I've seen with RBS from every region I've caught them, they always have distinct white or at least light colored lines above and below the operculum flap, even in immature fish that haven't developed the extended flap.

I don't see the blue crescent under the eye that is common to RSS in this photo...Travis, is this something that develops as the fish matures?

Might just be the photo angle.

How do you catch such big fish on such a tiny hook? And those scrawny crawlers...

I was bass fishing with plastic worms, decided to try for sunfish but had no small hooks...

If that pond is close to montgomery, it wouldn't be a redbreast unless it was specifically stocked in the pond. Even though they may seem to be everywhere (particularly in the hill country) they aren't native. The only population I know of in East Texas in public waters is the Angelina River between Sam Rayburn and Steinhagen (great sunfish fishery fwiw).

I agree with red spotted sunfish on the first. Very common native fish in the creeks here. I would bet you also have some longear sunfish in that pond as well. The San Jacinto/Navasota River drainage is loaded with them.

I would also think it's not out of the realm of possibility to have spotted bass in your pond if a local creek backs up into it from time to time. They're probably the most abundant black bass in those rivers near Montgomery.

Here you go – try your hand at this. Bruce is right the second fish has a lot of RES genetics. The first fish is a mystery because of the pect fin length which is unlike any of the noted fish other than RES.

http://web1.cnre.vt.edu/efish/families/redbreastsun.html RBS – note the pect fin shape.


http://web1.cnre.vt.edu/efish/families/hybrid.html RBS hybrid again note the genetic dominate pect fin shape/size

http://web1.cnre.vt.edu/efish/families/redearsun.html note pect fin again in RES

http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/fish/freshwater/spotted-sunfish/ spotted sunfish

http://www.bing.com/images/results.aspx?...electedIndex=33 Orangespotted sunfish


RSSF range --- http://nas2.er.usgs.gov/viewer/GetStatic...p;speciesid=391

http://www.bing.com/images/results.aspx?...electedIndex=80 RSSF male

The first fish is without a doubt a redspotted sunfish. I guess we could argue it all day long, with the actual fish in hand and genetic testing done, it can never be proven. I suppose you can argue any fish is anything and in the end, well some will believe what they wish...

Another redspotted sunfish


redspotted sunfish map

Notice redspotted sunfish are widespread in eastern Texas and other parts as well.

redbreast sunfish


redbreast sunfish map

There are a few scattered drainages in Texas where RBS were introduced. However, they are few and the RBS never did overly well.

I'm not arguing, as I'm sure Travis is correct. But I do think Texas can turn out some impressive RBS.

Take a gander at these, courtesy of BBG member Federico Del Toro......


http://bigbluegill.com/photo/photo/listForContributor?screenName=2en341qkmwo9w

And he's not alone...Texas appears to be well represented with trophy RBS, at least from some of its waters.

I am sure they are impressive, I am banned from BBG so I can't see them though. Big RBS are awesome looking fish!

I cant see it either, my work computer blocks it....

Unless you meant you are actually banned by them .....