Lepomis microlophus, or redear sunfish is the epitome of everything we big sunfish enthusiasts crave. The redear sunfish is a freshwater fish in the family centrarchidae and is native to the southeastern united states. Pending worldrecord redear sunfish plucked from lake. Redears are cousins to the bluegill, green sunfish, and pumpkinseed. May 04, 2011 redear sunfish body color varies, depending on water quality, sex and age. Redear sunfish the ultimate bass fishing resource guide llc. All fishing buy, all about redear sunfish, habitats, fishing.
Yet its unlikely the arizona game and fish department would stock redear sunfish with the sole purpose of reducing populations of the quaggas, which also have affected lake mead, lake mohave, the lower colorado river below lake havasu to mexico, the central arizona project canal, lake powell, lake pleasant, canyon. Shellcracker fishing tips and information on shellcracker fishing in florida on some of the top lakes in the country. I went fishing for shellcracker at clarks hill the week after easter last year. Shellcracker grow larger than bluegill, with fish over 1 pound common. While its a great way to introduce a youngster to the great sport of fishing, it tends to bring out the kid in all of us once the bobber disappears time after time. Yellowgreen or olive, with faint vertical bars and random dark spots. Fishing habitat and techniques for bluegill and redear sunfish are much alike.
A deep sided fish with a black ear flap rimmed in red or orange. Shellcrackers are the best tasting freshwater fish in florida, which makes since theyre just a large bluegill and we know bluegills are the best tasting panfish in the midwest. We listed that web link back in the reference section for this paper towns 2003. Large shellcracker before preparation for consumption. However, insect larvae and cladocerans may also be found in. Shellcracker, or redear sunfish, are the biggest of the beam, with the world record a 4 pound ounce monster caught in florida in 1986. Redear sunfish are also called shellcracker, georgia bream, cherry gill, chinquapin. If your catching giant bluegill, theyre probably redear. Redear sunfish lepomis microlophus texas parks and wildlife. The ear flap is black with a whitish border and a prominent orange or red spot. Both will eat fish feed, but shellcrackers main diet is snails, mollusks, and other small shelled creatures hence the name. Most redear are caught during spawning season by fishing with red worms on the bottom.
This cuts down on the resistance the fish feels when it takes the bait, and better detects light nibbles. The redear sunfish is a deep, slabsided fish with pointed pectoral side fins. Id like to hear from people who have personal experience too but everyones welcome to chime in. Seemed every time i turned off the camera i caught a fish. In some small ponds, redear practically eliminate snails. Florida shellcracker fishing spawning bluegills mwoutdoors. Live fish for pond stocking in nc, sc, and va, carolina. Shellcracker fishing during the midsummer months after the first shellcracker spawning rush has diminished. Carolina fish offers farm direct prices, delivery and pond stocking recomendations. As their name tells, they eat snails and muscles, crushing the shell with a tough muscle in their gullet. Find out more about shellcracker and other fish american sportfish stock here. The redear sunfish is deep and slabsided, with a small mouth, with the upper jaw not reaching past the front of the eye. Catching bluegill and shellcracker on kentuckhy lake.
They dine on small snails, mussels and other mollusks they crush with teeth in their throat, thus the shellcracker nickname. The body coloration is light olivegreen to gold, with red or orange flecks on the breast. Two nice redear sunfish caught on barkley lake both over 2 pounds. Redear sunfish lepomis microlophus, as the name implies, are best distinguished by a distinct red opercle flap. We dipnet these fish because it breaks your heart when trying to flip one into the boat and it comes unbuttoned. They have a small mouth, and their ear flaps have a white rim surrounding them with a red orange spot on tip, giving the redear sunfish their name.
This seems to be the year that i finally get it all lined up. They are bigger than other sunfish, 7 to 10 inches in length, 1 to 2 pound weight. To crack hard shells, redears have specially modified teeth in their throat and is how the redear received the name shellcracker. Redear sunfish are caught most often on earthworms around the full moons of march and april when their spawning activity peaks. As quoted from the book secrets to catching more and bigger bluegill. Spawning redear can easily attain sizes of 1 to 2 pounds in lakes with an. Redear sunfish to biologists, or chinquapin to louisiana anglers, these feisty fish typically favor deeper haunts, but when a. Fishing for bluegill and shellcracker in the peak of the spawn is one of them.
I like to catch plenty of fish that fight hard, test my tackle and my angling skills and taste delicious when i eat them. Mar 29, 2019 whatever you choose to call them, you can recognize them by the prominent red mark on the back edge of the gill cover. They will also refuse a popping bug, but will eat a sinking fly such as a beadhead nymph or a black knat. This gaming fish is similar in appearance to the bluegill relative but typically is found to be darker in color and larger in size. This fish is adapted for feeding on snails and other mollusks, in addition to insect larvae. The fish farm is a large producer of game fish and japanise koi fish for water gardens. While they are considered a southern fish, there is a very thorough report on redear sunfish in michigan that is available on the web. Although we caught only a few fish on that trip since it was too early, it did bring back memories of how much fun bream fishing can be.
Gamefish redear sunfish shellcracker gamefish 1 to 3. However, one of their neighboring species the redear sunfish aka shellcracker or chinquapin makes a convincing case for more attention. Mar 11, 2019 i have designed these packages for the pond owner that wants their body of water to produce big bass for sport fishing, big pan fish blue gill and hybrid blue gill for the table and fly fishing, perch for the taste of lake erie, shell cracker for parasite control in the water and fish, white amur for vegetation control, minnows for that. According to the arizona game and fish department, a pending worldrecord redear sunfish was hauled out of lake havasu, weighing in at a whopping 5.
Jul 30, 2018 as their name tells, they eat snails and muscles, crushing the shell with a tough muscle in their gullet. The redear sunfish lepomis microlophus, also known as the shellcracker, georgia bream, cherry gill, chinquapin, improved bream, rouge ear sunfish and sun perch is a freshwater fish in the family centrarchidae and is native to the southeastern united states. It is called shell cracker, georgia bream, cherry gill, chinkapin, advanced bream, rouge ear sunfish and sun porch, which is a freshwater fish in the centraarchidae family and native to the southeastern united states. They coexist well with bluegill and do not compete with them for nest sites. They also eat other food like insects, worms, and crawfish, but feed on the bottom. Locally known as shellcracker, redear sunfishes are one of.
Both were on a stretch of chunk rock leading into a small pocket. They can be distinguished from other panfish by their bright orange red margin on the tip of each gill cover, a more slender body than the bluegill, and a typical greenish color blending to pale yellow on the lower body and abdomen. Mar 31, 2017 we would anchor the boat, put a gob of red wigglers on the hook and cast out about six different outfits, put them in rod holders and then sit back and watch for the line to twitch. The best and simplest rig is to tie on a number 4 long shank cricket hook, thread a redworm on and attach a split shot about 12 inches above the hook. Redears feed on snails, insects, and small bait fish. The other method is to attach a slip cork setup only do not use a bobber stopper. Of all of the fish, ive been fortunate enough to pursue, two have remained steadfastly at the top of the list. Best spots for bama bream fishing great days outdoors. The redear sunfish lepomis microlophus, also known as the shellcracker is a freshwater fish in the centrarchidae family and is native to the southeastern united states. The back and sides are golden or light olive green. Big shellcracker redear sunfish fishing with 1 lb line and. By the end of march, depending on water temperatures and water levels, redears shellcracker start migrating to the shallows in preparation for the spawn.
The redear, or shell cracker as it is called in the southern us, has generally the same shape and coloration as the bluegill except for the ear flap which has a red edge that wraps around the back portion. The nickname of the redear sunfish, shellcracker, comes from its. In natural waters, it is confined to the southern half of missouri, but it is widely stocked in small reservoirs and ponds. However, insect larvae and cladocerans may also be found in their diet. The ramp at toolsboro is paved but the road to the ramp is gravel. They nest deeper than bluegill on average, like deeper water, and can be picky eaters of food from the bottom, rather than taking bugs on top. I spend a lot of my lunch breaks fishing a small storm drain adjacent to a wooden dock behind my house, but the usual bass and bluegill targets took a backseat to the unexpected appearance of bedding shellcracker. The breast of a mature redear is typically a rather bright yellow. Weight the float so it just barely stays on the surface. Snails and other mollusks are preferred, but diet also consists of crayfish, insects, insect larvae and fathead minnows. During spawning, the margin of the males gill cover flap turns bright red. This massive expanse of bayous, creeks, backwaters and big rivers has a strong population of both bluegill and redear sunfish, also called a shellcracker, but they are not always easy to access. When we go for redear sunfish record analysis, we need to consider the arizona game and fish department, which tells redear sunfish world record is counted as of a catch out of lake havasu, weighing in at an astonishing 5. For best delta bream fishing, a small boat of some kind opens up the world of fishing.
In south florida, shellcracker may spawn as early as the last week of february but more likely around the fourth week of march. Instead this is a fish that likes to be in deeper water. Theres another two or three weeks of prime spawning time too so grab a friend and head on out. They are also known as shellcrackers because their diet is primarily composed of snails and other mollusks. Folks today, i explain ways you can locate bluegill and shellcracker when they are not bedding. The redear sunfish is a deep sunfish with a small mouth. The name shellcracker was derived from the ability of this fish to capture and eat snails, clams, small mussels and other mollusks. The redear sunfish lepomis microlophus, also known as the shell cracker is a freshwater fish in the centrarchidae family and is native to the southeastern united states. May 01, 2015 it was a rare opportunity that i couldnt waste. Found a strange egg just sitting on a log and caught a big redear sunfish. Sep 24, 2010 a nickelsized float, a few bb split shot, and a small aberdeen hook is a rig both simple and deadly effective.
They have a special set teeth in their throat that allows them to grind up snail shells. In the south, shellcracker fishing is common among pan fisherman. Stocking redear as a featured sport fish in some locations is a possibility. How to tell a bluegill from a shellcracker youtube. How to catch bluegill and redear sunfish the fishing advice. While i failed to land a single redear i did lose two big fish that i thought might have been redear. They have a distinct red coloring around its ear flap. Redear sunfish at havasu have been reaching world record sizes. Now is the time to strike a trot to the lake and wet a hook for these babies.
They generally bed only one time each spring, when the water warms into the 70s. The dorsal fin usually has 10 spines, but may range from nine to 11, whereas the anal fin has three spines. Are invasive quagga mussels leading to huge redear sunfish. Locating bluegill and shellcracker when they are not on. Lepomis is the greek word for scaled gill cover, while microlophus is the greek word for small nape. Shellcracker fishing catching huge monster slabs youtube. Hector brito caught this worldrecord redear sunfish at lake havasu in 2014. Redear look different from bluegill, and they also have their own unique behavioral characteristics which we will discuss. Also known as shellcracker or chinquapin perch, stumpknocker, or yellow bream, their scientific name is lepomis microlophus. Gamefish redear sunfish shellcracker gamefish 1 to 3 size.
Five to 10 vertical bars are more or less evident on the sides, depending on the size of the fish. May 22 2017 fishing and giant redear sunfish youtube. Body is rounded like other sunfish and has a relatively small mouth. Redear prefer hard bottoms, congregating in deeper water than bluegill. Redear shellcracker at dunns fish farm we know that your satisfaction is essential to our success. Thats why we work hard to bring you the information you need to know to manage your pond or lake. Believe it or not, shellcracker will associate a cork with danger. Redear sunfish are caught most often on earthworms around the full moons. Indiana division of fish and wildlifes animal information series. Redear bream, are often referred to as shellcracker, because of their preference for snails. As the name redear suggests, shellcrackers are known for having a distinct red color on the side fin, although the reddish hue is more common in males while females tend to have a slight orange tinge to their side fins. Since it is a popular sport fish, it has been introduced to bodies of water all over north america.
A light subtle presentation and a slow fall can actually trigger strikes from fish that are spooky from heavy fishing pressure. Most redear are caught during the spawning season by fishing with red worms on the bottom. They will also refuse a popping bug, but they do love sinking flies such as a beadhead nymph or a black knat. They are called redear due to the red or orange colored border on the ear flap. The redear spends much of its time in deep water and seldom feeds on surface insects like the bluegill. Redear sunfish fish stocking and pond management solutions. Redear sunfish, sometimes called shellcracker, feed on aquatic insects, snails, small fish and other small aquatic animals. Florida lake tarpon and lake guntersville shellcrackers. Also known as shellcracker, the redear sunfish is an even larger growing version of the bluegill. I fished 4 days straight, at least 8 hours each day, and i caught exactly 0 redears. Carolina fish hatchery produce live fish for lake and pond stocking in nc, sc, and va.
Specially modified teeth in the throat allow them to crack mollusk shells. Redear sunfish lepomis microlophus do they have any other names. I fish lake barkley here in western kentucky, it produces some large redear every spring. Redear sunfish are a deep, slabsided fish similar to the bluegill sunfish, except the ear flap opercle is black with a red or orange spot at the rear edge. The redear sunfish is deep and slabsided, with a small mouth, the upper jaw not reaching past the front of the eye. Redear seldom respond to floating fish food, as do bluegill.
Ive been wanting to put together a bluegillshellcracker trip to lbl for the past three or so years and have never really had the time or money to do so. They are stocked alongside the bluegill because they add variety to the pond, but do not compete much with bluegill for natural food. They prefer snails and clams, giving them their common nickname. Red ear sunfish, also know as shellcracker, georgia bream, cherry gill, sunny, sun perch, improved bream, government bream, rouge ear sunfish, and chinquapin, look like bluegills, but the back part of their gillcovering has a red edging male or orange edging female. If an area has had alot of fishing pressure, a cork hitting the water surface can turn active fish off. Redear feed primarily on snails and larger aquatic insects that are associated with submersed aquatic plants. But, i had the location and a photo by the bass anglers shellcracker for encouragement. Redear sunfish lepomis microlophus, also known as shellcracker, georgia bream, cherry gill, sunny, chinquapin, improved bream, stumpknocker, and sun perch is native to the southeastern united states from south carolina to texas in the south, and from the southern illinois east to the atlantic coast in the north, but since it is a popular sport fish it has been introduced to bodies of water. But wetting a baited hook isnt likely to garner as many bites as youll get when bluegill fishing.
By eliminating the snail population, the redear bream will have effectively broken the cycle of the worm. Pound for pound, there is not another fish that out pulls these little bullies. All fishing buy, all about redear sunfish, habitats. Redear sunfish often utilize snails as a major food item, hence the common name shellcracker. Redear sunfish shellcracker typically begin spawning about one month before bluegill. There is some shore fishing along the parking area and at. How do i get a fish icon on my id to show that i have a fishing license. Redear sunfish are also called shellcracker, georgia bream, cherry gill, chinquapin, improved bream, rouge ear sunfish and sun perch. Shellcracker usually bed in quieter waters during april and remain active through the earlyfall months.
Fishing for redear sunfish fishing rambling angler. Due to its high sporting characteristics the redear sunfish lepomis microlophus has become a popular species among anglers throughout north america. When redear fishing, you want the bait on bottom and this guarantees the bait finds the bottom every time. Perhaps the most notable different between crappie and shellcracker is their color. They will spawn in eight to 15 feet of water depending on how clear the water is. Mar 30, 2012 10 fishing knots for hooks, lure and swivels how to tie a fishing knot duration.
The redear sunfish will reproduce when it is one year old. Redear have blunted molaform teeth that allow them to crack the shell. The body is heavily spotted and they have long, pointed pectoral fins. Phoenix have the redear sunfish at lake havasu really gone quagga crazy. Redear top out over 4 pounds with rich food sources. Redear sunfish have a dark olive compressed body, fading to light green and silver on the sides with dark spots and sometimes stripes, often seen on younger fish. Have these panfish that really can fill a pan, and are widely regarded as one of the better fish species to eat, found a surplus of invasive quagga mussels to munch. Big shellcracker redear sunfish fishing with 1 lb line. The species is usually found near the bottom in warm water with little current and abundant aquatic vegetation.
Locating bluegill and shellcracker when they are not on bed duration. Redear will typically spawn a month earlier than bluegill. Whats the better choice for big shellcracker, barkley or ky lake. Shellcracker fishing tips sheelcracker fishing florida. The following article is a must read, and will give you the insight you need for your next pond management decision. Shellcracker, stump knocker, yellow bream, cherry gill, chinquapin. While these arent havasu fish, they are like pulling in a frisbee with fins at that size. For river and stream lovers in floridas panhandle, the choctawhatchee river and holmes creek are ideal, particularly for shellcracker redear sunfish aficionados. They have a small mouth, and their ear flaps have a white rim surrounding them with a red. The shellcracker is also known as the redear sunfish and will average between one and two pounds during spawning. We did catch shellcracker, bluegill, white perch, and catfish. Redear are equipped with a set of crushers in the back of their throat. Redear have blunted molaform teeth that allow them to crack the shell open then consume the snail. These fish, which are kissing cousins to the bluegills, are commonly stocked with the bluegill in new ponds.
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