Probably a simple question to most of you thought I'd throw this one out to the crowd and learn something.... Something about this fish seemed different. It didn't have the obvious bluegill look, so I figured it was a hybrid (as good a guess as any, right?). Mostly green with red breast, a little bit slender, the ear does not look long, about 8-8.5 inches in length..... . Maybe a standard red breasted sunfish. For a moment the spots seemed to really stand out but not so much in the photo. Normally catches in this area are clearly bluegill and coppernose. Maybe this is something else. ??

Hybrid for sure.


Side Note: Possibly Redear/Bluegill Mix. Just guessing.

For what I have been seeing the years I have followed this forum I would say Hybrid Sunfish. I am far from being an expert and do not target sunfish.

Hybrid seems like the early favorite. Thanks for the replies.

Hybrid. Bluegill/Redear. Also nice fish.

This has caused me to dig a little deeper into the hybrids (not too deep!) I always assumed the hybrid was the result of a controlled breeding program, basically a laboratory concoction, which was then stocked intentionally into lakes. I never thought any more than that about it. There can be a controlled aspect to it, but I saw where the hybrid also occurs naturally. When in the same waters, Red Ear and Bluegill can naturally crossbreed, as can other panfish species. Interestingly, I checked to see if the Coppernose is a result of crossbreeding. The answer to that is that it is not, it is a subspecies of the bluegill. It seems the most common intentionally produced hybrid is the Green with Bluegill, resulting in 90% males. Intentionally produced Red Ear with Bluegill produce 98% males. They can be used to control over population concerns. Also, contrary to legend, crappie cannot crossbreed with the common panfishes.

looks like a nice specimen of the northern strain bluegill to me. Beautiful!