08-13-2008, 10:38 PM
[left][size 3]this is the culprit.. as well as the shellcracker you showed.. [/size]
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[center]Red-breasted Sunfish (Lepomis auritus)
This fish is one of the most colorful fish in the sunfish family. They are found in small to medium rivers and streams over rocky and sandy pools. In lakes they are most commonly found around rocky and vegetated margins.
This fish is one of the smaller members of the sunfish family rarely reaching over 2 lbs. and more than 9 inches in length. The state record is only 1lbs. 11oz. This fish has a dark olive back and sides with yellow specks and rows of red-brown to orange spots on the upper sides. The lower side has scattered orange spots going down to a white to orange abdomen. They have rounded pectoral fins and thoracic pelvic fins. The shape is more bass-like being slender and thicker with a larger mouth. There are wavy blue lines going from the snout to the opercle and a long black ear flap usually bordered by blue lines. The breeding male (pictured above) is considerably brighter in coloration than the female.
This fish can be caught on the small live bait or small artificial lures. All of the smaller sunfish species will generally eat the same types of food. This allows an angler to catch several species with one bait type.
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[center]Red-breasted Sunfish (Lepomis auritus)
This fish is one of the most colorful fish in the sunfish family. They are found in small to medium rivers and streams over rocky and sandy pools. In lakes they are most commonly found around rocky and vegetated margins.
This fish is one of the smaller members of the sunfish family rarely reaching over 2 lbs. and more than 9 inches in length. The state record is only 1lbs. 11oz. This fish has a dark olive back and sides with yellow specks and rows of red-brown to orange spots on the upper sides. The lower side has scattered orange spots going down to a white to orange abdomen. They have rounded pectoral fins and thoracic pelvic fins. The shape is more bass-like being slender and thicker with a larger mouth. There are wavy blue lines going from the snout to the opercle and a long black ear flap usually bordered by blue lines. The breeding male (pictured above) is considerably brighter in coloration than the female.
This fish can be caught on the small live bait or small artificial lures. All of the smaller sunfish species will generally eat the same types of food. This allows an angler to catch several species with one bait type.
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