Green Sunfish - Lepomis cyanellus

Also known as: Blue-spotted Sunfish, Green Perch, Rubbertail, Sand Bass

Occurs naturally west of the Appalachians throughout the eastern and central USA and into Ontario, Canada and northern Mexico. Its range has been extended so that it is found east of the Appalachians in Oregon, Nevada, and California, as well as throughout the southwestern USA and Germany. It is absent from peninsular Florida and most of the northwest portion of the USA.

It has a larger mouth and a thicker longer body than most sunfishes or of the genus Lepomis, and in this respect more closely resembles the warmouth (L. gulosus) or its larger relatives of the genus Micropterus, such as the small bass. Most species of sunfish in the genus Lepomis are deep-bodied, notably roundish in profile, and extremely compressed extended gill cover flat, or ear lobe, which is black edged with light red, pink or yellow. The body is usually brown to olive green with a bronze to olive green sheen, paling to yellow-green on the lower sides and yellow or white on the belly. There are emerald or bluish spots on the head and sometimes, wavy or radiating lines of the same color. Seven to twelve dark bars are vaguely visible on the back.

This is a panfish with white, flaky flesh, it is taken by angling with worms or other small live baits, flies, spinners, or poppers.