Yes they do. They also have a much larger mouth than this specimen compared to their body size. A warmouth will also have heavy mottling that often appears as horizontal bars on the cheek (absent in this fish). Another thing to check for ID is the opercular margin or "ear". In many sunfish species, this ear has a light edge and is occasionally red in some species (pumpkinseed, red ear, etc. and this is occasionally seen in warmouth). You will notice in the fish in question, it is solid black all the way to the edge. As many have already said, this is a bluegill. Maybe you should consult a field guide.
I need a fish ID'ed...
- Thread starter JesseJamez
- Start date
Excuse Me? Warmouth may have vertical bars but they are also mottled, much like Rock Bass. Warmouth also has large mouth (the sunfish in question do not have large mouth). This sunfish in question also has dark blotched spot in dorsal fin which Warmouth lacks of. Yellow belly...all sunfish have yellow belly (bluegills, redear, pumpkinseed, green, redbreast and longears)....
BlueGill. Very common in cali lake's and the Delta. Im starting to see some pumpkin seed/Warmouth/ Dark Brown Warmouth and some Colorful sunfish in local lakes and the delta. Great fish to keep and Ive kept them in warm water with Oscars and they do just fine. FYI great bait for Cats/Bass/Striped Bass and good eatting
best part of ur comment "great bait for Cats/Bass/Striped Bass"
until i get my 2000 gal tank that will be my only use for these guys
Thanks! Get all the species we have in Ca. side note Ive always wanted a Stripe Bass in a Monster Tank.....
Are people really still arguing about this? It's a Bluegill and it's not worth making enemies over.
