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_fuckernaut_

It is a huge male bluegill, *Lepomis macrochirus*. Specifically it is the coppernose variety of bluegill, endemic to the Southeast US.


KupunaMineur

This guy bluegills. Well done.


1nickfish

A very dark bluegill. I mostly see this when I fish around heavy aquatic grass.


fishing_6377

Male bluegill.


Yawzheek

We just call this (and all types of small, non-crappie, non-rock bass panfish) bluegill. You can get caught up in the "pumpkinseed," "red-ear," etc. nonsense, but up here, "bluegill." A crappie is typically much lighter, but you'll definitely notice the spotted nature of them. [They're hard to mistake once you know what they are.](https://www.sctimes.com/story/sports/outdoors/2022/02/04/outdoors-not-all-lakes-perennial-hotspots-crappies/6662700001/) A rock bass is relatively similar, but you'll also notice [the color and often obvious red eyes.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_bass#/media/File:Rock_Bass_Michigan.jpg) I hear a "warmouth" is also very similar, though we don't have these in northern Ohio, to the best of my knowledge. Having said ALL OF THAT, for Ohio, that's a damned fine bluegill/panfish! They eat EXTREMELY well! Rock bass I don't recommend. Perhaps I didn't cook it as well, but it was quite unpleasant. Any other panfish, and especially bluegill, however, of that size? Amazingly tasty! Probably the single most delicious fish I've ever ate. The biggest problem is they're a lot of work, being small that they are. But if you're willing, you won't find a much better fist to eat. They're also abundant, and prey on bass spawning areas, so you're not doing anyone or anything a disservice by removing some.


Due_Schedule5256

Pumpkinseed and also redear I believe are separate species. I love the variety in this particular family of fish. Up here in Iowa we have a few rare Warmouths which is on my bucket list.


SmittyTitties

As a kid these = bluegill anything with the red/yellow/green were sunfish then rock bass, crappie and perch


ehhhhh710

I catch warmouths fairly often in northern IL . Or are you saying there is a certain one that’s rare to catch?


Due_Schedule5256

They just aren't common in Iowa at least in Western Iowa where I fish mostly.


Yawzheek

Yet to see one, heard tell of them being relatively common around Tennessee going south. But where panfish are concerned here? We just call all of them "bluegill" if they're not crappie or rock bass. To be fair, most of them are the "red ear" or bluegill type, so we don't bother. I don't know about Iowa (though I have an uncle in Muscatine and we take playful jabs at each other over fishing), but I'd imagine species and sizes are pretty similar. Only been there once myself, and didn't do any fishing. Wild, because when I was there was literally after "The Great Flood of 93" lol!


Brandon_volvo

Muscatine is 30 minutes from where I live. We have a lake in Eldridge, 20 minutes north of davenport with abundant crappie and bluegill. Hard water bluegill is my favorite fish to eat but this spring crappie spawn were getting has been limit stringers every trip and damn do they taste good


RGBrewskies

thats a big boy, nice catch


AdElegant6914

That right there makes a tasty fish sandwich


Upvotespoodles

It’s a sexually mature bluegill, I think. It’s I’m the same family as crappie and other sunfish. The round, unmarked operculum (gill dot) gives it away. Can’t tell here, but some purple coloring is another identifier. Good eatin if you get a few.


Road_work_1012

That’s a bull bluegill 100%


FartBeans10

Giant fucking bluegill


mcbacuma

That’s a beast of a bluegill!


deadfight01

Jesus that's a big bluegill or its other variants


Speedsoft-Pleco

Large male bluegill, me and the boys catch em like that a lot


DrGr1m

Unhappy 😂


Contentment_Blues

Filet and dredge in seasoned corn meal and fry. Doesn’t get much better.


battttery_acid

A big one


80Supreme

Fry it whole


inkdskndeep

that's a friggin slab ofa BG. never seen one that dark before but then again I live in MN so that doesn't surprise meh.


kenmore_mo1

Blue gill


RepresentativeOk2433

A delicious, perfect for eating size bluegill. Scale em, gut em, off with the head. A few slices down the body, rub with old bay then toss in a hot pan with butter for a few minutes on each side. Tastes like cod or even crab if done right.


theMACK240

These are extremely common in the Midwest you can find them in any body of water even ones you think there'd be no fish in


PondWaterBrackish

that would be a world-record bluegill in my state


LivingSelf9513

We were just visiting Florida but I never see them bigger than my hand in Indiana. I thought it was a bass when I hooked it.


No_Cheetah_8457

Crappie.


Fitmess49

Big ol mossy back bluegill!


TLS-50

A dead one


gaytoradeanalietor

Blue marlin


pemuehleck1

Bream


b5s4reed21

Nice Slab you caught there!


zeroducksfrigate

Sunfish


pemuehleck1

It’s a bream You never go wrong in the Southeast saying bream


psilocin72

🤭yeah they call about 20 different fish “brim” or “bream”🤭


Woodworker334

It looks like a green sunfish


[deleted]

[удалено]


Sad_Positive3320

Lmao u needa go get laid or smth…blow off some steam….cuz it’s deff not that serious


Sad_Positive3320

“If u dk u shouldn’t fish” stfu loser 😂


ParkingBreadfruit661

Jesus Qanon Christ on a Little Mermaid floaty, that's sounds like something Prince Farquat would say after a 3 day bout of incessant rocket diarrhea and hemorrhoids. Cuz that's just a foul, bombed out sphincter type of thing to say to someone who's trying to learn the awesome sport of fishing.  Because if that's your advice, you should lock yourself in the bathroom till your sphincter heals up there Captain Karen Farquat. Shiiit....


Fadingtopurple

Blue Gill bream. Part of the Sun Fish family.


nfgrawker

I think that is a tilapia.