What kind of sunfish is this?

[ksiaquatics]

Definitely a longear! Nice color. I've got around 8 small ones in one of my small stock ponds.

Chip in SC

 

[sandtiger]

Just in your state or in general?

Just in my state, it may be in some others as well but overall it is a pretty common fish.

Look at the two side by side. The difference is more clear.

Notice the size of the gill flap.
Pumpkinseed

Longear

 

[Dan1]

Nice pickup I knew you were going to take those home!

 

[repair]

Nice pickup I knew you were going to take those home!

I just couldn't help myself..... you know that 55 looked empty with only one fish in it.

 

[teleost]

That longear looks a little strange. The body color is right (and very nice) but the ear flap is much wider than normal. Also I noticed it only has a partial white outer margin that runs the parimeter of the flap. This is unlike any longear I've seen. Don't get me wrong, longear have a big range with many differences within the range and I haven't see 1/4 of the range.

Do you know where that fish came from?

 

[sandtiger]

Longears are strange, I see a lot of fish labeled as them and they sometimes look extreamly different. A lot of regional variations.

 

[rallysman]

awesome fish repair!!

 

[Harps]

Sunfish hybridize with other sunfish, quite readily... well at least bluegill, redears, and pumpkinseed do. That (and regional differences) may explain the oddities.

 

[repair]

These were cought in west central Ohio

 

[guppy]

Several states list them as threatened but in other states they still thrive, the biggest threat to them is introduced bass and bluegill. They are quite variable