Fish Profile - Bluegill Sunfish

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.  Congregates around vegetation and sunken trees of shallow backwater lakes.

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

Bluegills spawn from May to July. Nests are usually built close to shore in firm sand or mud in two and one-half feet of water. Bluegills often nest in colonies with nests sometimes right next to each other. Some male bluegills have been known to raise two or three broods during one spawning season.

Bluegills fight hard when hooked, providing good sport for anglers. They bite just about any bait, worms, crickets, meal worms, small jigs, spinners, poppers, artificial fly, or small lure dropped in the water. Because of these qualities, they are frequently stocked in farm ponds and other impoundments.

Species Facts

Science Name: Lepomis macrochirus Other Names: bream, blue bream, sun perch, blue sunfish, copperhead, copperbelly, roach Ideal Temp: 70 to 75 World Record: 4 lbs. 12 ounces AL Environment: stream, river, lake Techniques: light tackle, medium tackle Range: Throughout North America

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