In the south, fishermen often use "bream" as a catch-all name for bluegills and all the other sunfish. Also, some fishermen refer to all sunfish as bluegills. So, that raises a question: Are all these other fish a sub-species of the bluegill, or are they entirely different species? I'm assuming they are different species and that it is not technically correct to call them bluegills. I assume fishermen just use the bluegill name to include all of the sunfish for convenience, although not technically correct. What say some of you that have studied and informed yourselves?

Texas Parks and Wildlife identify the Sunfish as six different species. Bluegill,Redear,Redbreast,Longear,Green,and Warmouth. Add the different Hybrid types and you would have a few more. As for what anglers call em the most common I have heard is Perch.

In the North some fishermen call all the sunfish Bluegills.

In the South some fishermen call all small fish Perch.

In both regions some call all small fish Bream - often misspelled to brim. While not technically correct that usage is dignified by a long history. When the English settlers came they noticed a resemblance of sunfish to the Bream, a fish native to England.

There is no way we are going to change the majority. About all we can do is use the species names correctly in our posts and point out the error of their ways to those who do not. Be prepared for personal attacks if you do, however. Even the TPWD biologists have given up and call some of their ponds perch ponds.

The largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) is a freshwater gamefish in the sunfish family.
This section could also be called the "perch jerker" forum!

I usually just call em "Gills" or "Sunnies"!

Thanks for the replies. I guess sunfish would be the most accurate name when fishing for bluegills and the other species we catch such as longear, redbreast, and redear. But, for some reason, it just feels better when I say I am bluegill fishing, although I usually catch more of the other species than bluegills.

Smithaven, I just always figured those Englishmen don't know what a real bream is. LOL

I don't think it matters what they are called and any term mentioned people automatically know what you are after. The worms and bobber should give it away!
That's the problem nowdays we have too many people that want to be politically correct and that means naming each and every species you are after.
Nothing wrong with being able to identify them, but I don't worry about if I'm using the so called correct terminology.

Amen Brother!

Politically correct is a whole nother kettle of fish in my mind Jimbo, something I think is keeping people from being honest and forthright, and hurting our country.

In all sincerity, unless I was contest fishing for specific species, good eatin' panfish is what they're to my family.

+1 Jimbo. And Smithhaven, using the word "unlearned" is rather harsh but to each his own. As for me, unless I am targeting a specific species, I call them Perch. I can correctly identify numerous fresh and saltwater game and non game species and their nicknames. As Banker said it is a very common name used in Texas. Although TP&WD only acknowledge 6 species of Sunfish(excluding non true Basses and Crappie) there are actually more than 6, not including hybrids.

Perch...

You are correct. Unlearned is probably not the term I want, because many knowledgeable people adhere to the naming convention I mentioned. What you call them is not nearly as important as being able to find them and catch them. But a discussion of the proper name is a good conversation starter so long as no one is offended. I think I have ridden that horse about as far as it will go so I plan to stop correcting folks about Perch in the future. I apologize for any offense.

As long as you aren't talking to folks up north, perch is a good thing to call them. Anybody in the south will know you are talking about sunfish. Half the time, I call them bream or bluegills, although I catch more red ears than bluegills where I'm currently fishing.