09-19-2018, 06:30 PM
This fish was caught on The Snake River in Idaho. To me it is a green sunfish, but Randy and Nate weren't so sure.
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09-19-2018, 06:30 PM
09-19-2018, 07:05 PM
Cute little Pumpkinseed there, Kent. And just in time for all the usual fall "pumpkin-flavored" everything, too!
File photo of a pumpkinseed from Wiki...
![[Image: OWSQuj8l.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/OWSQuj8l.jpg)
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File photo of a pumpkinseed from Wiki...
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09-19-2018, 07:17 PM
09-19-2018, 08:24 PM
Thanks for the clarification!
I now have to change my fishing log. Just FYI...this is the first Pumpkinseed that I have ever caught to my knowledge. One more species added to my lifetime species count!
It does have some green sunfish markings (the neon lines on it's face) but didn't really have the mouth or the body shape that a green sunfish has. I was guessing it was some sort of hybrid (Green Sunfish/Bluegill).
The red dot on it's gill is the key apparently as when I just googled "Pumpkinseed" it shows pictures and describes the fish perfectly. Although referred to as "Pumpkinseed", it does belong to the Sunfish family and is called the "Pumpkinseed Sunfish". The following is from the Inter-web...
"The pumpkinseed, Lepomis gibbosus, is one of the most common and brightly colored members of the Centrarchidae family of [url "https://www.thoughtco.com/facts-about-freshwater-sunfish-1310894"]sunfishes[/url]. Though small on average, it is especially popular with young anglers because of its willingness to take a hooked worm, its wide distribution and abundance, and close proximity to shore. Its flaky white flesh also makes good eating.
ID. A brilliantly colored fish, the adult pumpkinseed is olive green, spotted with blue and orange as well as streaked with gold along the lower sides. There are dusky chain-like bars on the side of juveniles and adult females. A bright red or orange spot is located on the back edge of the short, black ear flap. Many bold dark brown wavy lines or orange spots cover the second dorsal, caudal, and anal fins and there are wavy blue lines on the cheek.
The pumpkinseed sunfish has a long, pointed pectoral fin which usually extends far past the eye when bent forward. It has a small mouth, with the upper jaw not extending under the pupil of the eye. There is a stiff rear edge on the gill cover and short thick rakers on the first gill arch."
![[Image: DR_LR_44pumpkinseedsunfish-568c12143df78ccc154e9a8d.JPG]](https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/R4lWrf0Cgkym0UTTsRICZ4flv7g=/768x0/filters:no_upscale%28%29:max_bytes%28150000%29:strip_icc%28%29/DR_LR_44pumpkinseedsunfish-568c12143df78ccc154e9a8d.JPG)
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I now have to change my fishing log. Just FYI...this is the first Pumpkinseed that I have ever caught to my knowledge. One more species added to my lifetime species count!
It does have some green sunfish markings (the neon lines on it's face) but didn't really have the mouth or the body shape that a green sunfish has. I was guessing it was some sort of hybrid (Green Sunfish/Bluegill).
The red dot on it's gill is the key apparently as when I just googled "Pumpkinseed" it shows pictures and describes the fish perfectly. Although referred to as "Pumpkinseed", it does belong to the Sunfish family and is called the "Pumpkinseed Sunfish". The following is from the Inter-web...
"The pumpkinseed, Lepomis gibbosus, is one of the most common and brightly colored members of the Centrarchidae family of [url "https://www.thoughtco.com/facts-about-freshwater-sunfish-1310894"]sunfishes[/url]. Though small on average, it is especially popular with young anglers because of its willingness to take a hooked worm, its wide distribution and abundance, and close proximity to shore. Its flaky white flesh also makes good eating.
ID. A brilliantly colored fish, the adult pumpkinseed is olive green, spotted with blue and orange as well as streaked with gold along the lower sides. There are dusky chain-like bars on the side of juveniles and adult females. A bright red or orange spot is located on the back edge of the short, black ear flap. Many bold dark brown wavy lines or orange spots cover the second dorsal, caudal, and anal fins and there are wavy blue lines on the cheek.
The pumpkinseed sunfish has a long, pointed pectoral fin which usually extends far past the eye when bent forward. It has a small mouth, with the upper jaw not extending under the pupil of the eye. There is a stiff rear edge on the gill cover and short thick rakers on the first gill arch."
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09-19-2018, 08:59 PM