IDENTIFICATION: A deep sided fish with a black ear flap rimmed in red or orange.Specially modified teeth in the throat allow them to crack mollusk shells. Redear Sunfish (Lepomis microlophus) is native to the southeastern United States. A female bluegill can lay between 10,000 and 60,000 eggs. REDEAR SUNFISH (Lepomis microlophus) ALIAS: Shellcracker, stump knocker, yellow bream, cherry gill, chinquapin.
They are able to crush the shells by the special teeth in their throats. You’ll need to buy a new fishing license, available in the sporting goods section of department stores and tackle shops, to fish now.
Snails can carry grub parasites that threaten your fish health, so stocking Redear Sunfish is a great way to control snail populations, produce forage for your predators, and provide another sportfish angling opportunity. Big Catch minimum: 11 inches or 1.25 lbs.. You’ll need to buy a new fishing license, available in the sporting goods section of department stores and tackle shops, to fish now. Bluegills are also called sunfish, bream, or copper nose. They bear a close resemblance to a Native Bluegill but have a bright red/ orange patch towards the back of their gill plate (see above).
Redear Sunfish are the best way to clean mussels off anything. The Redear sunfish is only moderately deep bodied, much less so than the Bluegill or Pumpkinseed sunfishes. The license year expired Feb. 28, 2013. The opercular (ear) flap is small with a black center and a white outline with a distinctive red center. State Record: 4.86 lbs. Shellcracker. Redear Sunfish are important for lake and pond management because they are specialized for eating snails and crustaceans.
Yellow-green or olive, with faint vertical bars and random dark spots. Redear Sunfish Facts.
Redear sunfish and bluegill are willing strikers all day long, perfect for introducing a child or adult novice to fishing. Redear Sunfish (Lepomis microlophus) is native to the southeastern United States. Redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus), as the name implies, are best distinguished by a distinct red opercle flap.They are also known as shellcrackers because their diet is primarily composed of snails and other mollusks. A relative of the Bluegill, the Redear sunfish is similar in shape and size. This means they pick around and eat stuff on the bottom of the pond. With a diet consisting mostly of mussels, snails, and other shelled prey, the redear sunfish is also known as a “shellcracker.” They are able to crush the shells of their prey, blowing out the hard shell and consuming the soft flesh. They can survive in salinities up to 20 ppt but in California they tend to avoid brackish water. Due to its popularity as sport fish, it has been introduced all over North America. State Record: 4.86 lbs. DIET: Snails and other mollusks are preferred, but diet also consists of crayfish, insects, insect larvae and fathead minnows. Redear sunfish are most commonly found in the deeper waters of warm, quiet ponds and lakes, or in back waters and sloughs with substantial beds of aquatic vegetation. The species is usually found near the bottom in warm water with little current and abundant aquatic vegetation. Redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus), as the name implies, are best distinguished by a distinct red opercle flap.They are also known as shellcrackers because their diet is primarily composed of snails and other mollusks. It lives in vegetated littoral zones of small to large lakes, marshes, and reservoirs, and streams or rivers with sluggish to slow-moving flow (French and Morgan 1995). 1995 survey show that redear natural reproduction has been highly successful in Clear Lake in Jackson County, MI (Herman 1996).” “Robison and Buchanan (1988) reported Redear Sunfish as widely stocked in Arkansas in ponds and reservoirs, presumably in native waters.
The pectoral fin is long and pointed and when bent forward reaches well past the eye. 1995 survey show that redear natural reproduction has been highly successful in Clear Lake in Jackson County, MI (Herman 1996).” “Robison and Buchanan (1988) reported Redear Sunfish as widely stocked in Arkansas in ponds and reservoirs, presumably in native waters.
Fishing Tips and Facts: Redear sunfish are caught most often on earthworms around the full moons of March and April when their spawning activity peaks.
redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus) The redear (to ten inches in length) is a deep-sided sunfish with a small mouth. Redear Sunfish; Scientific Name.