fish
Bluegill
Lepomis macrochirus
Low riskEdibleabundant
The pond staple. Black ear flap, dark spot on the soft dorsal.
A deep-bodied sunfish, olive with vertical bars, blue-black gill flap, and a dusky blotch on the back of the dorsal fin.
- Habitat
- Ponds and slow creek pools.
- Season
- Beds in May–June on full moons. Easy all summer.
- Size
- 4–8 in typical
- Field marks
- Dark ear flap; dorsal spot
Use
Pan-fried whole. A well-managed pond is a quiet protein factory.