I agree on the BG. Not so sure on the RES. If the top RES is female it is the biggest one , at 10.5 inches that I have seen and that much larger than the male RES and BG male. Not sure about the color on the op. flap both orange ? CB1 and I had this dicussion before -- red on the male , orange on female .I never heard this until CB1 provided it and I later found a LA state fisheries web site that said the same thing. The underside of the top RES is lighter which makes me think female , but not much color. Isn't this fun !!! I just wish I was better at it.
I will do some checking and post what I find.
Checking :
Texas web site
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/species/sunfish/ The species' most distinct characteristic is the red edge on the opercle ("ear") flap of the male (orange on the female).
Fla. site
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=h...6lr%3D%26sa%3DN Males and females are similar in appearance, although the male is generally more colorful.
Aub. pict.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=h...3D %26sa%3DN U Mic.
http://images.umdl.umich.edu/cgi/i/image...start=1;resnum= ...back edge of opercular flap with red border in male, orange in female; no wavy lines on cheek 3 anal spines.
I would say both of these are male but look at color/shade difference.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=h...6lr%3D%26sa%3DN
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