Sunfish 101: How to ID a bluegill, pumpkinseed or redbreast

Rate this post

NYS DEC

Ever catch a sunfish?

Technically, the sunfish family contains 14 species of fish, including largemouth and smallmouth bass. However, New York is home to three species of “true sunfish,” according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation. They are bluebills, pumpkinseeds and redbreasts.

All are usually easy to catch, good to eat, and extremely popular with anglers, especially children.

How does one identify one from another? The state Department of Environmental Conservation offers the following tips and information about the fish:

Bluegill

“Bluegills are generally found in slow moving or standing water where there is plenty of vegetation or other shelter. They are a pretty fish, green to brown on their backs and upper sides shading into brown, orange, or pink with traces of vertical bars along their bottom sides.

“The breast is yellow to copper-orange, and the sides of their heads have metallic blue and green overtones. The large, square-shaped, blue black gill flap and conspicuous dark blotch on the back of the soft-rayed portion of their dorsal fins distinguishes bluegills from their close relatives, the pumpkinseed.”

“Bluegills average four to ten inches in length.

“Like other true sunfish, the bluegill eats mostly insects and crustaceans. But unlike its cousins, the bluegill will also consume some plant material.”

NYS DEC

Pumpkinseed

“Pumpkinseeds are the most abundant and widespread species of sunfish in New York State. They live in a wide range of habitats from small lakes and ponds to shallow, weedy bays of larger lakes and quiet waters of slow moving streams.

“Pumpkinseeds are a small- to medium-sized fish, averaging four to eight inches in length. They are one of the most colorful warmwater fish, with a bronze to red-orange belly and irregular, wavy interconnecting blue-green lines over a golden brown to olive background.

” Although often confused with bluegills, they can be recognized by the pale margin surrounding a bright scarlet spot on the rear portion of their gill flaps and the wavy emerald or blue streaks on the sides of the their heads. In addition, pumpkinseeds have long, pointed pectoral fins and no spot on the soft portion of their dorsal fins.”

“Pumpkinseeds have similar feeding habits to other true sunfish. They eat a wide variety of prey, including insects, crustaceans, and small fishes. Spawning takes place from May until August. Like bluegills, pumpkinseeds construct their nests close to shore in colonies. Nests are usually found in areas of submerged vegetation in six to 12 inches of water. “

NYS DEC

Redbreast

“The redbreast sunfish is confined to the eastern portion of the state and is of lesser importance to New York State anglers. While it inhabits lakes and ponds, redbreasts mostly live in clear, slower moving streams with sandy and rocky bottoms.

The redbreast is a relatively small sunfish, usually growing four to eight inches long. Its body is golden brown to olive on top, with lighter sides having reddish spots and vague blue streaks. The redbreast gets its name from its bright yellow to orange-red breast. It closely resembles the pumpkinseed, but can be identified by its long, narrow, black gill cover and small, rounded pectoral fins.”

Tips on catching these fish

The DEC offers the following advice:

“Sunfish (bluegills and pumpkinseeds) can be found around all types of structure, including weeds, rocks, brush, docks, and overhanging branches. Smaller sunfish form large schools and will bite quickly. Larger sunfish (8-10″) usually are loners or may form small groups. They tend to be deeper than the smaller ones and are a little more finicky. A good rule of thumb is if you do not get a bite in 5 to 10 minutes, move to another area.”

“Many bait and lures are used to catch sunfish. Live baits; such as crickets, grasshoppers, earthworms, grubs, and waxworms; work very well. These baits can be threaded onto a #8 or #10 hook and fished just over or next to structure. Small spinners, flies, poppers and jigs are all good choices for catching larger sunfish.”

“Jigs and live bait can be fished slowly under a bobber over weeds or under overhanging limbs. Fishing slow is the key to catching sunfish. They generally bite better in the morning and evening, but they can be enticed to bite all day long.” Read more about catching these and other panfish.

Special to NYup.com

MORE OUTDOORS ON NYUP.COM

Lake Ontario anglers enjoying good fishing despite high waters (Reader photos)

13 things you need to know about NY’s new boater safety law

You are viewing this post: Sunfish 101: How to ID a bluegill, pumpkinseed or redbreast. Information curated and compiled by Kayaknv.com along with other related topics.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here