Specially modified teeth in the throat allow them to crack mollusk shells. Just wondering if anyone has had any success using hair jigs. 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. Pond stocking shouldnt be so ive come up with fish stocking packages that simplify the whole process. Redear sunfish often utilize snails as a major food item, hence the common name shellcracker. Redear sunfish primarily feed on the bottom and seldom feed on surface insects, especially compared to bluegill. It is documented that red ear sunfish eat zebra mussels, along with blue catfish and some type of foreign goby. Redear sunfish are also called shellcracker, georgia bream, cherry gill, chinquapin, improved bream, rouge ear sunfish and sun perch. Lake havasu is the location of over a dozen fishing tournaments and activities a year. By eliminating the snail population, the redear bream will have effectively broken the cycle of the worm. As quoted from the book secrets to catching more and bigger bluegill. The nickname of the redear sunfish, shellcracker, comes from its preferred diet of snails and other mollusk types. Big shellcrackers redear sunfish personal best and possible. They have a special set teeth in their throat that allows them to grind up snail shells.
Redear sunfish to biologists, or chinquapin to louisiana anglers, these feisty fish typically favor deeper haunts, but when a. Shellcracker fishing tips sheelcracker fishing florida. 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. They prefer snails and clams, giving them their common nickname. Redear shellcracker at dunns fish farm we know that your satisfaction is essential to our success.
The redear sunfish is often difficult to catch, in part because this sunfish prefers to stay close to the bottom in deeper water up to 10 feet in depth, and if it feels any resistance on the. They are called redear due to the red or orange colored border on the ear flap. The accepted common name by the american fisheries society is redear. Lake perry is checked regularly by biologists for restocking needs and fertilized yearly. Biologically speaking, the shellcracker are known as red ear sunfish. The pumpkinseed also has a red or orange tab, but pumpkinseeds have wavy blue lines near the mouth and dark spots on their soft dorsal fin that redear sunfish do not have. By eliminating the snail population, the redear bream will. The ear flap is black with a whitish border and a prominent orange or red spot. As their name tells, they eat snails and muscles, crushing the shell with a tough muscle in their gullet. Whatever you choose to call them, you can recognize them by the prominent red mark on the back edge of the gill cover.
This family of fish contains many species, including bluegill, largemouth bass and white crappie, just to name a few. May 01, 2015 it was a rare opportunity that i couldnt waste. More recently it has been discovered that the redear sunfish is capable of adding quagga mussels to its diet. The redear is similar in shape to the bluegill, but lacks the dark spot at the base of the posterior portion of the dorsal fin and has a red or orange border around the ear flap.
Although black bass are technically in the sunfish family, they are not considered to be bream. The following article is a must read, and will give you the insight you need for your next pond management decision. The species is usually found near the bottom in warm water with little current and abundant aquatic vegetation. Growing up fishing the upper midwest, redear sunfish were one of those other panfish, like. It lives in vegetated littoral zones of small to large lakes, marshes, and reservoirs, and streams or rivers with sluggish to slowmoving flow french and morgan 1995. Thats why we work hard to bring you the information you need to know to manage your pond or lake. 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 common fish that are caught by the regular fisherman are the smallsize species. The most common of these are bluegill, redear sunfish shellcracker, redbreast sunfish, spotted sunfish stumpknocker and warmouth. Redear sunfish are important for lake and pond management because they are specialized for eating snails and crustaceans. Like the bluegill, do large male redears also get the larger gill cover tab theirs having a red orange edge than the female re. After my last pursuit of searching for some big ol sunfish and coming up a bit short of any trophy sized tough guys, i decided i needed at least.
Jun 05, 2017 after my last pursuit of searching for some big ol sunfish and coming up a bit short of any trophy sized tough guys, i decided i needed at least one more trip to dedicate to hopefully finding some. Shellcracker, stump knocker, yellow bream, cherry gill, chinquapin identification. The dorsal fin usually has 10 spines, but may range from nine to 11, whereas the anal fin has three spines. We are please to offer 3 sizes of redear sunfish, also known as shell cracker.
Big shellcracker redear sunfish fishing with 1 lb line and. To crack hard shells, redears have specially modified teeth in their throat and is how the red ear received the name shell cracker. The redear sunfish lepomis microlophus, also known as the shellcracker, georgia bream, cherry gill, chinquapin, improved bream, rouge ear sunfish and sun perch, is native to the southeastern united states, but since it is a popular sport fish it has. Seemed every time i turned off the camera i caught a fish. Shellcracker, bluegill bedding times near outdoors. 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. The species is usually found near the bottom in warm water with little current and. Redear sunfish are caught most often on earthworms around the full moons of march and april when their spawning activity peaks. Sep 24, 2010 it is the rare angler who didnt start their fishing career by catching bream, primarily bluegill and redear sunfish shellcrackers. They have a distinct red coloring around its ear flap. Most redear are caught during the spawning season by fishing with red worms on the bottom. Redear sunfish, or shellcrackers, are giants of the sunfish clan. Redear and other sunfish, sometimes called bream, are.
When using this method, watching your line for the strike is a must. Here is a pic of a cross between shell cracker and a bluegill. Snails can carry grub parasites that threaten your fish health, so stocking redear sunfish is a great way to control snail populations, produce. Hector brito caught this worldrecord redear sunfish at lake havasu in 2014. However, insect larvae and cladocerans may also be found in their diet. Thinking of tying some 2 black hair when the shellcrackers go on bed. Big shellcrackers redear sunfish personal best and. Redear sunfish are caught most often on earthworms around. Shellcracker grow larger than bluegill, with fish over 1 pound. 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.
Redear sunfish, which are kissing cousins to the bluegill, are commonly stocked with bluegill in most new ponds. 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. Shellcracker grow larger than bluegill, with fish over 1 pound common. Big shellcracker redear sunfish fishing with 1 lb line. Pending worldrecord redear sunfish plucked from lake. Redear sunfish the ultimate bass fishing resource guide llc. A twra fish biologist confirmed this as a cross between the two. Redear sunfish lepomis microlophus do they have any other names. They are able to spit out the shell, retaining only the flesh of the shellfish.
A deep sided fish with a black ear flap rimmed in red or orange. Redear sunfish lepomis microlophus species profile. Like many fishes, newly hatched redear sunfish feed on. 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. Teresa gardner of spring valley entered the record books on monday with the largest redear sunfish ever caught in san diego county. Fishing conditions on lake havasu are ideal almost yearround. The shape and size of their bodies, mouths and fins are similar to bluegill. Jan 21, 2019 winter bluegill and shellcracker fishing 2019. Mar 29, 2019 the scientific name for this species of sunfish is lepomis microlophus.
How to catch bluegill and redear sunfish best techniques. While redear sunfish can be found in nearly all of the local lakes, they seem to prefer the clearer bodies of water like miramar, murray and san vicente. Redear sunfish body color varies, depending on water quality, sex and age. The red ear spends much of its time in deep water and seldom feeds on surface insects like the bluegill. This method aslo works well on red worms and crickets. They also eat other food like insects, worms, and crawfish, but feed on the bottom. The redear sunfish is deep and slabsided, with a small mouth, with the upper jaw not reaching past the front of the eye. Typically, you will come across a sunfish or a bluegill. Redear sunfish, its habitats, characteristics, fishing methods. Introduced into virginia waters, redears prefer cleaner water lakes and ponds than other sunfish, and quieter waters that have an abundance of submerged vegetation. This gaming fish is similar in appearance to the bluegill relative but typically is found to be darker in color and larger in size. The body coloration is light olivegreen to gold, with red or orange flecks on the breast.
All fishing buy, all about redear sunfish, habitats. 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. What is the difference between bluegill vs sunfish giga fishing. Does anyone use hair jigs for shellcracker or redear i make my own crappie hair jigs, but have never used them for shellcracker. 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. Redear sunfish to biologists, or chinquapin to louisiana anglers, these feisty fish typically favor. Redear sunfish lepomis microlophus is a member of the sunfish family. Redear bream, are often referred to as shellcracker, because of their preference for snails. Shellcracker, or redear sunfish, are the biggest of the beam, with the world record a 4 pound ounce monster caught in florida in 1986.
Among the fish species thriving in the lake are largemouth bass, striped bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, channel catfish and flathead catfish. How to catch bluegill and redear sunfish the fishing advice. If you are a lover of fishing, you most definitely have come across multiple types of fish all along. However, insect larvae and cladocerans may also be found in. Also known as shellcracker or chinquapin perch, stumpknocker, or yellow bream, their scientific name is lepomis microlophus. The redear sunfish lepomis microlophus, also known as the shellcracker, georgia bream, cherry gill, chinquapin, improved bream, rouge ear sunfish and sun. The redear sunfish is deep and slabsided, with a small mouth, the upper jaw not reaching past the front of the eye. It is known as shellcracker in most of the southeast. I have fried them with a beer batter mix, available at the grocery store.
The world record redear sunfish is well over 5 pounds and was caught at lake havasu on the arizonacalifornia border about 300 miles northeast of san diego. After my last pursuit of searching for some big ol sunfish and coming up a bit short of any trophy sized tough guys, i decided i needed at least one more trip to dedicate to hopefully finding some. These panfish are abundant, strong fighters for their size, usually willing to bite, and taste great when rolled in corn meal and deepfried. Redear sunfish description, diet, lifespan and record sea. What is the difference between bluegill vs sunfish. Some other sunfish, as well as the redear sunfish, are often called bream, or sometime, named as perch, mistakenly. Redears also feed on nymphs and other aquatic insects.
The nickname of the redear sunfish, shellcracker, comes from its. With the expansion of the range of zebra mussels, and the damage they cause, i began reading up on which native animals eat them. Mar 28, 2017 teresa gardner of spring valley entered the record books on monday with the largest redear. Locally known as shellcracker, redear sunfishes are one of alabamas least colorful but most. Redear look different from bluegill, and they also have their own unique behavioral characteristics which we will discuss. Redear prefer hard bottoms, congregating in deeper water than bluegill. Information for information on the best bait, lures and times to fish for different species. Historically they were not found upstream of the mouth of the wabash river in the ohio river system. The redear sunfish is a molluscivorous species of the centrarchid family. We did catch shellcracker, bluegill, white perch, and catfish. None of their close relatives grows as big, and none.
The scientific name for this species of sunfish is lepomis microlophus. In bream, some anglers found all they ever wanted in a fish. 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. Catching bluegill and shellcracker on kentuckhy lake. Bream is the common term used throughout the south when referring to bluegill. In natural waters, it is confined to the southern half of missouri, but it is widely stocked in small reservoirs and ponds. Redear have blunted molaform teeth that allow them to crack the shell open then consume the snail. It is the rare angler who didnt start their fishing career by catching bream, primarily bluegill and redear sunfish shellcrackers. Tackle shop 16 species panfishfishing hotspots for monster shellcrackers. However, it has many common names, depending on which region of the country you are in. Redear sunfish are not native to ohio, but have been stocked in ohio waters since 1931.
All fishing buy, all about redear sunfish, habitats, fishing. Redear sunfish description, diet, lifespan and record. How to tell a bluegill from a shellcracker youtube. Gamefish redear sunfish shellcracker gamefish 1 to 3. The distinct red gill flap separates them from bluegill and usually theyre larger and somewhat longer. May 22 2017 fishing and giant redear sunfish youtube. Since it is a popular sport fish, it has been introduced to bodies of water all over north america. Gamefish redear sunfish shellcracker gamefish 1 to 3 size. The back and sides are golden or light olive green. Redear sunfish panfish florida bass fishing experts. Redear or shellcracker are typically added at a rate of 5 to 15 percent of the total bream stocked. A sunfish that can reach several pounds and wont overpopulate.
Lake perry is well stocked with florida largemouth bass, bluegill, coppern ose bluegill, shell cracker red ear sunfish, crappie, and channel catfish. Due to its high sporting characteristics the redear sunfish lepomis microlophus has become a popular species among anglers throughout north america. May 04, 2011 redear sunfish are mostly known by the red trim along the opercular gill flap. Pending worldrecord redear sunfish plucked from lake havasu. 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. The local twra lakes at williamsport have quite a few of these. During the spawning season of the re, its easy to tell the males from the females because they get a very dark, almost black breast, while the females get bright yellow. 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. None of their close relatives grows as big, and none fight harder than these scarleteared beauties. 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. They are bigger than other sunfish, 7 to 10 inches in length, 1 to 2 pound weight.
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