9 replies to this topic

[sp8]

I caught this in a reservoir in eastern Massachusetts.  The long, solid ear flap seems like a redbreast sunfish, but the face coloring (particularly the chin area) seems like a pumpkinseed.  Any idea of what type this is?  Thanks!

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[Chasmodes]

Beautiful fish! I'm not an expert by any means, but my guess would be Northern sunfish (Lepomis peltastes). Did the dorsal fin and tail have red on it or was it a rust color? Hard to tell in the pic. In addition to your hybrid guess, I guess it could be a hybrid between a Northern and redbreast, or maybe Northern and pumpkinseed? I'm curious what others have to say.

[sp8]

Thanks! I dont recall specifically any red, but I wasnt looking carefully at that area so there very well could have been.

Edited by sp8, 23 May 2023 - 09:55 AM.

[Chasmodes]

Bob, another NANFA member, suggested this analysis and ID, and it makes sense to me: "There is no margin in the opercular flap, like a redbreast. So, one parent is probably a redbreast. Since the flap is long, the other parent likely had a long flap. The lower operculum has blue striations. Given the striations and opercular flap, my guess is the other parent is a Northern."

 

Another thing to note is the blue highlights on the upper lip, a Northern sunfish trait.

[Chasmodes]

Oh shoot, you said Eastern Massachusetts.  No Northern's there, I don't think. So yeah, you're probably right about the pumpkinseed x redbreast hybrid. Pumpkinseeds also have the blue on the lip, and rust color instead of red on the Dorsal, Tail and Anal fins.

[Chasmodes]

And the pectoral fin looks long, a pumpkinseed characteristic.

[Chasmodes]

It could also be a pumpkinseed x bluegill hybrid. Here is a Connecticut link, and apparently, they're very common there. But that ear flap just doesn't look right. Maybe lots of cross hybridization in that DNA!!!

 

https://portal.ct.go...common species.

 

You're probably more confused then when you posted.    Sorry about that!

[Chasmodes]

OK, Bob and I have gone round and round trying to figure this out. Now, I think we've found it. Well, actually, Bob found it.. Bluegill x Redbreast Sunfish.  Here's a pic that looks like your fish, scroll down to that hybrid:

 

http://flyfishingcts...-sunfishes.html

[sp8]

Wow, thank you guys!!  This is great information and analysis, and I'll read through those links you sent.  I really appreciate it!

[PBK]

My guess is pumpkinseed x redbreast hybrid.