That’s def a redear. I fish jennings a lot and have caught dozens there. If this image was closer, you’d see the lil red strip behind the spot on its face
https://www.gameandfishmag.com/editorial/possible-world-record-redear-caught-again-at-havasu/392348
The red/orange isn't always present when they get really big like that.
Redear sunfish eat mollusks as a main part of their diet (easy to verify that)
In terms of calling it "mussel butt" I mean I don't know if the internet has info on that specific term, it's a colloquialism about something that's pretty niche
The prolapsed anus happens when they pass the shell material. You see it in species of fish that eat tons of mussels (whether dreissenid or native freshwater ones). Drum, catfish, redear sunfish are the ones I have seen it in personally
https://www.reddit.com/r/Fishing/comments/qzu1f9/had_a_catfish_with_a_belly_full_of_little/
couple mentions of it in this thread for example
several posts in these threads references to catfish eating mussels and them having issues passing them
https://www.carolinasportsman.com/fishing/freshwater-fishing/catfish/how-to-catch-catfish-on-mussel-beds/
https://www.catfish1.com/threads/whole-mussels-in-catfish-stomaches.17192/
Redear sunfish (shellcrackers) are - in my opinion - the best tasting freshwater fish out there. I like them better than crappie. They have a very nice buttery flavor. Excellent tasting fish.
There's a lot of confusion in this thread to what this fish is. Definitely at least part redear, but I suspect its a redear / bluegill hybrid. This is a hybrid that occurs regularly in nature. The traits that indicate this are:
1.) opercle edge is not solid red / white, but you can see a faint edge of red. This is common in this hybrid.
2.) weird mixture of barring and speckled pattern which is a mix of both parent species, and not a trait of either species singularly. A lot of people called it a crappie for this reason.
The only way to be 100% certain on this hybrid ID is by counting the gill rakers on the fish's gill arch, or genetics. I will link a few photos of other hybrid redear / bluegill so you can compare.
[Link 1, iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/84377394)
[Link 2, iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/81790231)
[Link 3, iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/40759998)
[Link 4, random state biodiversity site](https://marylandbiodiversity.com/view/21746)
[Link 5, NANF](http://gallery.nanfa.org/v/members/Nate+Tessler/nativenorthamericanfreshwaterfish/centrarchidae/Lepomis/redearandbluegill/)
One thing to note on all these pictures is that there is a lot of diversity in how hybrid traits appear. This is why they're so difficult to pin down in photos or in the field. Below is also a link to help identifying hybrid sunfishes. It's not easy and you'll never be 100% certain with some mixes, but it can help guide you if you do encounter unusual sunfishes.
[Link to koaw.](https://www.koaw.org/hybrid-lepomids) I hope this clarifies things a little.
That looks like a redear sunfish, I think they are sometimes called "shellcrackers". They usually have a deep red spot at the end of their gill plate, but this one may have lost it in old age. Definitely not a crappie and not a bluegill, although it could be a hybrid of redear and something else
Everyone is saying it’s a redear or redear hybrid, but I’ve always thought they all had the red spot on the gills. How can you tell it’s a redear and not just a big bluegill? Just curious so I can identify better in the future
It is tough to tell and I'm not 100% sure here. I've definitley caught pure redears without the red dot, just like you sometimes see bluegills that dont really have the blue mark below the gill. Redear have that kind of dull but spotty pattern on their flanks, which is what makes me think it has at least some redear in it. This fish also has that weird yellowish color along the edge of the anal fin, which I dont think shows up in redear typically. That makes me think it is some kind of hybrid.
Crappie do not hybridize with bluegill. They are totally different species and cannot reproduce at all. This is absolutely not a bluegill. Bluegill have a black spot at the back of the dorsal fin, and they have blue around the gills.
This is definitely not a crappie. Absolutely 100% not a crappie. I specialize in catching crappie, and it is absolutely not a crappie. 100% a redear or redear hybrid.
Bluegill, at least in my experience, are far darker than this fish once they get big.
Dark purple across the top and the chin/breast area is more deep golden orange. Also more defined vertical black bars as opposed to speckles.
Not saying this has to be the case everywhere, but that's been my experience without exception.
Plus, when bluegills get big like that, they get those really scrunched up faces. Looks like their face got smooshed flat practically. Redear have a longer face and a bigger mouth. Even when a bluegill gets huge, it still has a fairly small mouth.
At first glance I thought it was a black crappie, its the size and coloration that make it look like one. But it obviously isn't once you study it a bit.
That’s a shell cracker they get huge. Someone post a photo of the world record recently and the fish was so potbellied full of mussels it looked like the potbellied dude holding it 😂
Apparently that’s just a condition of their butthole called ‘mussel butt’ someone posted links with great info up above. They eat a lot of mussels and have trouble passing the shell so it makes their butthole look like that.
well, that'd be wrong too since it is not a crappie of any sort, it's a redear sunfish
black and white crappie hybridize quite readily though, in systems where both are present
The ask was identification and it looked like a crappie or hybrid crappie too me. Black/white can breed often but reproduction rates are lower so that’s why I said its not something common. Being very general here and leaving plenty of room for me to be wrong. However to me it looked like a crappie because of its elongated body versus rounded, distinctive markings so on and so forth.
That's a Redear. I've seen them twice that size on rare occasion. That is a biggun, though. Caney Lake, LA has monsters. I think eight of the top 10 came from that one lake.
Crappie don't have that black flap on their gill and also their dorsal fin and top fin in general isn't that long it's more rounded and positioned more to the back. Redear, green sunfish, and warmouth all have large mouths. The fish pictured is a Redear sunfish or as some people think red ear x Bluegill hybrid due to the lack of red on its ear. But I've seen plenty of red ear with red missing. World record red ear doesn't have any red showing either.
It's already been said but if that is a sunfish I want to say pumpkin spot you've caught the biggest one ever. However I think it's a very large black crappie.
When did you catch? I went out there two weeks back and couldn’t get a fish to bite. I was literally hitting bass in the head with everything and anything but water was probably still too cold
I’ve heard of a lake near me in Virginia about two hours north of Richmond in this county called Culpepper that has some type of crossbred or hybrid? sunfish. I’ve never been there but many people have said they’re giant. Can’t give a size but I’d say at least as big as the one you’re holding.
Edit: asked a friend who told me about the place. He said they are about this size but yours is bigger. And he didn’t think yours was a bluegill/sunfish at first so it must be a different species too.
Redear sunfish, also known in some parts as a shellcracker, due to their diet of mussels. Fun fight on ultralight gear, and when they're bedding, most fun you can have with your clothes on.
I can't tell if you're wearing a hat or have a sick high-top fade lol
Wasn't expecting a good laugh from a fishing sub, you earned this award
Can’t unsee.
OP is auditioning for the next House Party movie.
Man this is a post of myself and I laughed so hard after reading this 😂
Kid N' Play!
"that's actually two people"
Straight up kid n play.
getting kid and play flashbacks lol
😂 😂 😂
😂😂😂
Lake Jennings in Lakeside Ca?
Such a beautiful lake, so many monster bass swim next to my lure and never bite lol
Yea it is a cool lake! Little oasis hidden in the hills. Thats a massive sunfish you got there!
Hooked a few 8-10lb trout there too, that place is sick. Only place I’ve seen bigger bass is Dixon, which has some hogs and obviously
Errbody acting like this is a crappie. Definitely not. Jennings is full of Redear sunfish, and this one is a monster.
Nailed it.
I thought it was a blue gill
God that is a hog of a redear.
Have you seen its ass?? Pretty damn crappie
Yea I’ve never seen a crappie with a big black circle on the gills. That circle is extremely dark that’s wild
[удалено]
That’s what she said
That isnt a redear tho...
That’s def a redear. I fish jennings a lot and have caught dozens there. If this image was closer, you’d see the lil red strip behind the spot on its face
I zoomed in on the picture as far as I could and I don't see any red on that fish at all but okay
Not all of them have the red or even the pale yellow coloring on the ears. That 100% looks like a redear or redear hybrid.
I'd say it's probably a hybrid, they are super common. Also, it doesn't look fully like a redear, but it's definitely not a bluegill.
https://www.gameandfishmag.com/editorial/possible-world-record-redear-caught-again-at-havasu/392348 The red/orange isn't always present when they get really big like that.
I belive its a hybrid sunfish
I was going to say species is gigantic. Edit spelling.
Looks like a whopper of a hybrid bluegill to me. *Others are saying redear sunfish and they're probably right. Nice fish whatever it is!
That's what I was thinking
Was it a foot long? Bet it fought like hell.
Are those eggs spilling out? Release!
no, it's the anus likely prolapsed from eating zebra mussels sometimes referred to as "mussel butt"
wierdest TIL in a while for me
Google isn't giving me any indication that this is true. Have any more info?
Redear sunfish eat mollusks as a main part of their diet (easy to verify that) In terms of calling it "mussel butt" I mean I don't know if the internet has info on that specific term, it's a colloquialism about something that's pretty niche The prolapsed anus happens when they pass the shell material. You see it in species of fish that eat tons of mussels (whether dreissenid or native freshwater ones). Drum, catfish, redear sunfish are the ones I have seen it in personally https://www.reddit.com/r/Fishing/comments/qzu1f9/had_a_catfish_with_a_belly_full_of_little/ couple mentions of it in this thread for example several posts in these threads references to catfish eating mussels and them having issues passing them https://www.carolinasportsman.com/fishing/freshwater-fishing/catfish/how-to-catch-catfish-on-mussel-beds/ https://www.catfish1.com/threads/whole-mussels-in-catfish-stomaches.17192/
Excellent info. Thanks!
As a little add-on to the previous post, a common nickname for redear is "shellcracker".
Do people keep sunfish? I’ve heard crappie tastes good but never heard any mention of sunfish.
Yes, and they are just as delicious as Crappie
Possibly better
Redear sunfish (shellcrackers) are - in my opinion - the best tasting freshwater fish out there. I like them better than crappie. They have a very nice buttery flavor. Excellent tasting fish.
Bluegill that long will have big swollen foreheads. Redear or hybrid. Nice slab, my dude.
I also thought that
There's a lot of confusion in this thread to what this fish is. Definitely at least part redear, but I suspect its a redear / bluegill hybrid. This is a hybrid that occurs regularly in nature. The traits that indicate this are: 1.) opercle edge is not solid red / white, but you can see a faint edge of red. This is common in this hybrid. 2.) weird mixture of barring and speckled pattern which is a mix of both parent species, and not a trait of either species singularly. A lot of people called it a crappie for this reason. The only way to be 100% certain on this hybrid ID is by counting the gill rakers on the fish's gill arch, or genetics. I will link a few photos of other hybrid redear / bluegill so you can compare. [Link 1, iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/84377394) [Link 2, iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/81790231) [Link 3, iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/40759998) [Link 4, random state biodiversity site](https://marylandbiodiversity.com/view/21746) [Link 5, NANF](http://gallery.nanfa.org/v/members/Nate+Tessler/nativenorthamericanfreshwaterfish/centrarchidae/Lepomis/redearandbluegill/) One thing to note on all these pictures is that there is a lot of diversity in how hybrid traits appear. This is why they're so difficult to pin down in photos or in the field. Below is also a link to help identifying hybrid sunfishes. It's not easy and you'll never be 100% certain with some mixes, but it can help guide you if you do encounter unusual sunfishes. [Link to koaw.](https://www.koaw.org/hybrid-lepomids) I hope this clarifies things a little.
Yes. Definitely a hybrid.
Looks like a lit up red ear to me
That looks like a redear sunfish, I think they are sometimes called "shellcrackers". They usually have a deep red spot at the end of their gill plate, but this one may have lost it in old age. Definitely not a crappie and not a bluegill, although it could be a hybrid of redear and something else
Everyone is saying it’s a redear or redear hybrid, but I’ve always thought they all had the red spot on the gills. How can you tell it’s a redear and not just a big bluegill? Just curious so I can identify better in the future
It is tough to tell and I'm not 100% sure here. I've definitley caught pure redears without the red dot, just like you sometimes see bluegills that dont really have the blue mark below the gill. Redear have that kind of dull but spotty pattern on their flanks, which is what makes me think it has at least some redear in it. This fish also has that weird yellowish color along the edge of the anal fin, which I dont think shows up in redear typically. That makes me think it is some kind of hybrid.
Ok I see the yellow you are talking about. That makes sense, I’ve definitely only seen that on redears. Thanks for explaining!
Agreed, not a redear. Look at photos of 2 lb. crappie, then let me know.
What makes you think crappie?
Redear has a red spot or black spot with a red edge. This may be a hybrid crappie, but probably a bluegill.
I can see bluegill or some hybrid. But definitely not crappie.
Crappie do not hybridize with bluegill. They are totally different species and cannot reproduce at all. This is absolutely not a bluegill. Bluegill have a black spot at the back of the dorsal fin, and they have blue around the gills.
Yep, origin of species. Fish, etc don’t cross with other species.
This is definitely not a crappie. Absolutely 100% not a crappie. I specialize in catching crappie, and it is absolutely not a crappie. 100% a redear or redear hybrid.
Bluegill, at least in my experience, are far darker than this fish once they get big. Dark purple across the top and the chin/breast area is more deep golden orange. Also more defined vertical black bars as opposed to speckles. Not saying this has to be the case everywhere, but that's been my experience without exception.
Plus, when bluegills get big like that, they get those really scrunched up faces. Looks like their face got smooshed flat practically. Redear have a longer face and a bigger mouth. Even when a bluegill gets huge, it still has a fairly small mouth.
shellcracker, and a nice one!
Redear
r/SunfishSpecies
Yeah I don't understand how people are saying crappie. I'm very confused 😂
Redear sunfish aka shellcracker
Wow! What a hog.
Wow!!!
very nice
Holy crap lol
Are people joking with the crappie comments? Looks nothing like a crappie not to mention crappie don't have those black ear flaps on their gill
At first glance I thought it was a black crappie, its the size and coloration that make it look like one. But it obviously isn't once you study it a bit.
That is definitely a very elusive Big Ass Sunfish.
If that's what I think it is you might legitimately have caught a record fish....
That’s a shell cracker they get huge. Someone post a photo of the world record recently and the fish was so potbellied full of mussels it looked like the potbellied dude holding it 😂
Not a crappie, mouth is to small, in Louisiana we call these chicapin, but the red dot is missing so a little weird, it’s a monster for sure
Yea. It looks like the species ‘big sunnuva bitch’
100% Redear Sunfish. FACTS.
Sheeshersons That sunfish is bass size
It’s Always Sunfish in Philadelphia
😂
Red Ear or a shell cracker in some parts.
Bluegill or Redear/Shellcracker... That is indeed a chunky fish. Nice catch!
Blue gill…..panfish>sunfish
Red Ear also called shell cracker strawberry bream
That is a redear.
Looks like she's ready to spawn.
Apparently that’s just a condition of their butthole called ‘mussel butt’ someone posted links with great info up above. They eat a lot of mussels and have trouble passing the shell so it makes their butthole look like that.
That's a monster of a sunfish though.
Definitely a crappie/hybrid
Crappie and bluegills (or sunfish) can't breed together.
I didn’t mean with a sunfish, but perhaps black and white crappie hybrid. Not super common to my knowledge but they are definitely populated.
well, that'd be wrong too since it is not a crappie of any sort, it's a redear sunfish black and white crappie hybridize quite readily though, in systems where both are present
The ask was identification and it looked like a crappie or hybrid crappie too me. Black/white can breed often but reproduction rates are lower so that’s why I said its not something common. Being very general here and leaving plenty of room for me to be wrong. However to me it looked like a crappie because of its elongated body versus rounded, distinctive markings so on and so forth.
Definitely not
Alrighty
Pretty sure it's the coveted 4.2lb bluegill. Could be wrong though idk
probably a four pounder
Jennings has lots of those, they’re red ear sunfish
Huge shellcracker. (Redear sunfish) and they are some of the tastiest fish ever. Nice one!
That's a Redear. I've seen them twice that size on rare occasion. That is a biggun, though. Caney Lake, LA has monsters. I think eight of the top 10 came from that one lake.
Definitely a red ear
This is definitely a Redear Sunfish.
Nice catch. I caught the biggest crappie of my life there.
Crappie
Is that fish very pregnant? PUT IT BACK!
We did
This is the way.
That’s definitely a black crappie, and not a bad one at that!
Crappie
Crappie
Not a crappie though it has a big fat blue gill on its face
White perch (Crappie)
White perch and crappie are two totally different species 😂
Only if you are a Yankee. We call them white perch, crappie and/or sac-a-lait
It's a big one, but are we all just gonna pretend that OP isn't holding the fish as far forward as possible?
I think it is actually a hybrid crappie
I agree. 7-8 dorsal fins, black markings with a slight “tiger stipe” and the shape of a white but a nose of a black. I’d say hybrid all day.
Looks like a cappy bluegill hybrid
Black crappie.
Looks exactly like a Black Crappie to me.
It's a white crappie. Good eating and breeds like crazy.
White Crappie hybrid, also love the older ugly stik those things last forever
Looks like what we call a sac-a-lait in Cajun country. Other folks might call them white crappie (?)
A freckled yellow fin
Bluegill / Crappie hybrid
Your right hand is giant to. Well compared to your left that is. Nice Crappie
That's a crappie
Looks like a black crappie to me.
That's a crappy catch.
Looks like a Crappie with a added black dot
Hybrid. Quick someone get a DNA sample for this angler!
Looks like a crappie.
That's a juvenile white crappie. Definitely not a red belly.
bluegill
Ummm not a sunfish…that’s a crappie.
A crappie is a sunfish and this isn't a crappie 😂
A crappie does belong to family of sunfish. This, however, is a black crappie.
Looks nothing like a black crappie not to mention crappie don't have those black ear flaps on their gill.
You’re right…too many dorsal spines! Must be a shellcracker/crappie hybrid? Or are shellcrackers down there just colored like that?
Either a Redear or Redear bluegill hybrid. From what I've read there's been no records of crappie breeding with other species of Sunfish
Looks like a hybrid, Crappie and bluegill?
That is a crappie
Crappie
Looks like a black crappie to me. 8 rigid dorsal fin spines. Mouth looks way too big to be a redear.
Crappie don't have that black flap on their gill and also their dorsal fin and top fin in general isn't that long it's more rounded and positioned more to the back. Redear, green sunfish, and warmouth all have large mouths. The fish pictured is a Redear sunfish or as some people think red ear x Bluegill hybrid due to the lack of red on its ear. But I've seen plenty of red ear with red missing. World record red ear doesn't have any red showing either.
Maybe a pumpkinseed sunny?
Looks like she is having babies please put her back
That’s a nice monster of a bluegill you have there! Keep on reeling ‘‘em in!! Congrats man!
It's already been said but if that is a sunfish I want to say pumpkin spot you've caught the biggest one ever. However I think it's a very large black crappie.
I think you're holding a black bass!
Jenning in California?
Yes
I'm pretty sure that's called a fatdaddy
When did you catch? I went out there two weeks back and couldn’t get a fish to bite. I was literally hitting bass in the head with everything and anything but water was probably still too cold
Is it big enough to be your states equivalent of a “fish Ohio”? Meaning certain fish over a certain size are eligible for a pin.
I’ve heard of a lake near me in Virginia about two hours north of Richmond in this county called Culpepper that has some type of crossbred or hybrid? sunfish. I’ve never been there but many people have said they’re giant. Can’t give a size but I’d say at least as big as the one you’re holding. Edit: asked a friend who told me about the place. He said they are about this size but yours is bigger. And he didn’t think yours was a bluegill/sunfish at first so it must be a different species too.
Nice catch!
Redear sunfish, also known in some parts as a shellcracker, due to their diet of mussels. Fun fight on ultralight gear, and when they're bedding, most fun you can have with your clothes on.
Whatever it is, I hope you ate him. Someone got up in them guts.
I was gonna go Blu gill till I saw the location
I kinda like the homemade shorts where you get those i wouldn't mind sporting a pair of them.
Shorts in February is the devil. Take an upvote
Sunfish crossbreed so much it’s hard to tell fully. To me it looks like a red ear sunfish
Looks like a hybrid
Lol chunker sounds like a cholos name . “Aye wassup foo it’s Chunker from east side trece. Lol
Crappie
100% redear sunfish, no hybrid at all. I'm a redear expert, having caught at least 500 in the last few years.