What is this?

Caught a few of these this morning at a farm pond. Is it a rock bass or some kind of bluegill? they have a bigger mouth like a bass and wonderful coloring. Never seen what I think is a rock bass that big. Little help?

Isn’t that a “pumpkinseed”

Green Sunfish

Warmouth….

We’ve got them here in a lake in town. I know thier not a regular bluegill and all the warmouth I’ve seen haven’t been that big so I’m leaning twards a pumpkinseed strain but don’t know forsure.

I cant tell on this computer, but it is either a green sunfish or a hybrid (green sunfish x bluegill). Absolutely not a pumpkinseed or a regular bluegill, it has greensunfish in it. Either 100% greeny or maybe a hybrid, again I cant tell on this computer. Does look a little too big top to bottom to be 100% greeny.

I have caught green sunfish up to 10-11″ long in farm ponds. Hybrids will get much bigger. Those 9″ green sunfish are actually good eating. They taste better than a bluegill or crappie because all they eat is bugs and micro tiny fish.

That is a dandy of a fish

I still think it’s just a big ole Warmouth…

I’d say it is a pumpkinseed bluegill hybrid, but not 100% positive.
Looks like some good kitty bait though

Green sunfish-

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Portals/9/Images/fishing/fish/male%20green%20sunfish%20from%20Dillon%20Reservoir%2026May09%20by%20BZ.jpg

Warmouth-

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSA4V_jzfgmqmgS5k5DF908bOxpDHMo-0yER_7ppCyqSJ-LhLocgtRbx0BS

Pumpkinseed X Bluegill hybrid-

http://www.aofrc.org/.a/6a00e553907a7f88330133f5312cf3970b-450wi

Pumpkinseed Sunfish-

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Portals/9/Images/fishing/fish/male%20pumpkinseed%20sunfish%20from%20Dillon%20Reservoir%2026May09%20by%20BZ.jpg

Green Sunfish X Bluegill Hybrid-

http://api.ning.com/files/5cIDsYb8LGIZAUmOR24KDD1Q0KWA2LI70n6Jv9S-n3yzZgaZREiJUGfInXbEwaHfZ*wDahu5BXlEGNtFJkn0PfgtXyUyZd5H/P1020322.a.JPG?width=737&height=552

It’s a green hybrid. Greens have a mouth and an attitude like bass but the general body shape of a sunfish. They easily hybridize with bluegill and will take anything from a waxie on a slip bobber to a small daredevil.

Insane little fish and fun to catch on ultralight gear.

Oh, and the hybrids lack the gene that controls growth hormone so they grow insanely big insanely fast.

There is only one type of sunfish that has the red/yellow/orange on the fins, and that is a green sunfish or their hybrids.

Sounds like its a mystery. Maybe I can get a better photo tommorrow. Thanks for all the input!

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Sounds like its a mystery. Maybe I can get a better photo tommorrow. Thanks for all the input!

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Umm… no. It’s no mystery. A dozen people are all telling you exactly what it is.

The mystery is why you think this is a mystery.

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Sounds like its a mystery. Maybe I can get a better photo tommorrow. Thanks for all the input!

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Its not a mystery, just a bunch of people here who have different names for different species. I’d be willing to bet over half the people who did not say green sunfish or green sunfish hybrid meant that species, but just call it a different name.

I am 100% sure it is a green sunfish or a green sunfish hybrid, I have caught thousands of them. Most people call them warmouth or rockbass, but they are green sunfish.

If in doubt, look at the DNR’s website at the list of species. It is CLEARLY a green sunfish. The people who are saying otherwise have probably never even seen one in person. Once you know what a green sunfish is, you can spot one from 100 yards away.

Nearly every body of water in Iowa has green sunfish. It will not be the last one you see.

Looks alot like that green sunfish hybrid picture. Thanks!

Its a bullhead.

warmouth

Looks like a bullhead to me too Stuart, everybody here can take our word for it.

grouper

Definitely not a warmouth… here is a Warmouth

Here is a rock bass…

here we would just call your fish a Sunfish…I have seen them get over 12″ long.

nice post – Tom

It is clearly either the Kraken or the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

It is a green sunfish.

Tom, I assume the guys saying warmouth are meaning green sunfish. I have heard more people call them warmouth or rock bass than by their correct name around here. They all mean the same fish, just misunderstood. Just like the people who call bluegill “perch” or crappie “white perch”.

I think the USFW should put out a fish ID pamphlet and hand it out all across the county. Would be very handy.

Somebody better lock this down before it gets out of hand!

I have to figure at least a few of you remember this argument from a few years ago???

Call it what you want, green sunfish make GREAT flathead bait!
-Rev

Its a green sunfish, there slimey and a little darker than a bluegill but have a white or cream color around the fins. Right, catfish bait or you can eat em if you want.

looks like a hybrid bluegill or sunfish, most likely a hybrid bluegill with the yellow belly and larger mouth ….I love this fish I used to catch them as larger than my hand and what a nice fish..hard to find them..

Flatheads LOVE ’em!