Description: Other Names: cherry gill, improved bream, rouge ear sunfish, chinquapin, sun perch, and Georgia bream: Lepomis microlophus
When fishing in the waters of North America, you will inevitably come across the Redear Sunfish. This freshwater sport fish is highly popular among the fishing community in the U.S. It is native to the southeastern United States and has been introduced to waters throughout North America over the years.
In this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about this beautiful fish, from what they eat to how to catch one effectively. If you’re new to fishing or a veteran, we’re sure that you’ll learn something new from reading this guide on Redear Sunfish!
Redear Sunfish – Everything You Need To Know
Redear Sunfish, Lepomis Microlophus, also widely known as the shellcracker, cherry gill, improved bream, rouge ear sunfish, chinquapin, sun perch, and Georgia bream.
The scientific name, Lepomis microlophus, comes from Lepomis, meaning “scaled gill cover,” and microlophus, meaning “small nape” in Greek. The redear is included in the Centrarchidae family, commonly known by the name “sunfish.”
The redear sunfish’s coloration varies greatly, depending on factors such as age, sex, and water quality. The redear sunfish is best known for the red edge of its operculum or “ear” flap. Only males have this flap coloration, while females have a more orange coloration to. Their coloration can range from a dark olive green above to an almost entirely white bottom belly. Most of them will have green to yellow sides.
The average body size is 0.45 kg (0.99 lb). An adult can be around 20 and 24 cm (7.9 – 9.4 in) in length. They have a dorsal fin that usually has nine to eleven spines. Meanwhile, their anal fin only has three spines. The spinous dorsal fin is in front of a soft dorsal fin.
Finally, this deep-bodied fish has a unique set of teeth in their small mouth called pharyngeal teeth. These teeth are used to crush their favorite food, snails and mussels, which is where they get their nickname, shellcracker.
Habitat:
Redear sunfish became so popular when they were introduced to the majority of waters in North America, so much so that they’ve become an invasive species in many areas. However, they are originally native to some waters in the U.S.
This shellcracker was initially from Florida, North Carolina, southern Missouri, south of the Rio Grande drainage in Texas, and west to southern Illinois. They primarily inhabit warm, quiet freshwater habitats such as lakes, streams, reservoirs, and ponds. You can find them congregating in groups near vegetation, fallen logs, and freshwater marsh wetlands.
Diet & Reproduction:
The diet consists mostly of snails and mussels, with the occasional crayfish, insect larvae, and other small bottom-dwelling creatures.
As for reproduction, the redear sunfish can reach sexual maturity at the end of their second year. They typically spawn during warm months, which are late spring and early summer. There are usually around one or two peaks of activity during these seasons. Redear spawn their eggs in deeper waters compared to other sunfish species. They congregate when spawning, making “beds.” These nests are depressions in silt or gravel, shaped like saucers, and are located relatively close to one another.
Fishing for Redear Sunfish
Sunfish are a popular species to fish for because they are a challenge on ultra-light tackle and will take a wide range of bait. However, catching a redear is generally more difficult than their sunfish cousins.
Most of the time, a redear won’t bite on artificial lures. They tend to go for natural ones such as crickets, earthworms, especially mollusks, and snails. The best time to catch them is during their spawning season because after they spawn, they tend to stay in deeper water where they’re harder to locate.
World Record Size
The world record for the biggest redear sunfish caught was on February 16, 2014, in Lake Havasu.
It weighed 5.80 pounds and measured 17 inches in length. It also had a girth of 19.5 inches. You can visit the Bass Tackle Master Store located at London Bridge Road in Lake Havasu City to witness the mounted giant.
Redear vs Bluegill
The redear is quite similar to the bluegill, except in coloration and body size. These two sunfish look similar and inhabit the same ponds and lakes, to the point that many anglers mistake one for the other. Redear sunfish have a more gold and green coloration with faint vertical bars, while bluegills have more yellow or orange coloration.
The main difference between the two is their operculum colors. The bluegill features a deep blue or black color, while the redear sunfish has red or orange tips near its head.
Another significant difference is how they consume their prey underwater. The redear sunfish has teeth that allow them to crush prey that feed on the bottom, such as shellfish. The bluegill lacks this ability, so they will feed near the water surface, preying on small fish and insects similar to crappie.
Conclusion:
Understanding the fish and learning its behaviors are all part of becoming a better angler. We hope this guide has helped you expand your knowledge of redear sunfish to catch more of these incredible fish. Although they aren’t marketed as food, redear sunfish are quite edible and can be prepared into a delicious meal in camp. To read a similar article on smallmouth bass, read this!
