Florida shellcracker fishing spawning bluegills mwoutdoors. Mar 29, 2019 whatever you choose to call them, you can recognize them by the prominent red mark on the back edge of the gill cover. The redear sunfish is deep and slabsided, with a small mouth, the upper jaw not reaching past the front of the eye. Redear sunfish the ultimate bass fishing resource guide llc. Redear sunfish often utilize snails as a major food item, hence the common name shellcracker. I like to catch plenty of fish that fight hard, test my tackle and my angling skills and taste delicious when i eat them. Snails and other mollusks are preferred, but diet also consists of crayfish, insects, insect larvae and fathead minnows. Redear feed primarily on snails and larger aquatic insects that are associated with submersed aquatic plants. Most redear are caught during the spawning season by fishing with red worms on the bottom. This fish is adapted for feeding on snails and other mollusks, in addition to insect larvae.
Shellcracker, or redear sunfish, are the biggest of the beam, with the world record a 4 pound ounce monster caught in florida in 1986. Shellcracker fishing tips and information on shellcracker fishing in florida on some of the top lakes in the country. Redear sunfish, sometimes called shellcracker, feed on aquatic insects, snails, small fish and other small aquatic animals. The fish farm is a large producer of game fish and japanise koi fish for water gardens. Redear sunfish fish stocking and pond management solutions. Of all of the fish, ive been fortunate enough to pursue, two have remained steadfastly at the top of the list. Carolina fish hatchery produce live fish for lake and pond stocking in nc, sc, and va. Redear sunfish lepomis microlophus, as the name implies, are best distinguished by a distinct red opercle flap.
Yellowgreen or olive, with faint vertical bars and random dark spots. Shellcrackers are the best tasting freshwater fish in florida, which makes since theyre just a large bluegill and we know bluegills are the best tasting panfish in the midwest. Also known as shellcracker, the redear sunfish is an even larger growing version of the bluegill. Pending worldrecord redear sunfish plucked from lake. Shellcracker usually bed in quieter waters during april and remain active through the earlyfall months. The ramp at toolsboro is paved but the road to the ramp is gravel. Found a strange egg just sitting on a log and caught a big redear sunfish. This gaming fish is similar in appearance to the bluegill relative but typically is found to be darker in color and larger in size. Redear sunfish lepomis microlophus do they have any other names. We dipnet these fish because it breaks your heart when trying to flip one into the boat and it comes unbuttoned. Yet its unlikely the arizona game and fish department would stock redear sunfish with the sole purpose of reducing populations of the quaggas, which also have affected lake mead, lake mohave, the lower colorado river below lake havasu to mexico, the central arizona project canal, lake powell, lake pleasant, canyon.
Spawning redear can easily attain sizes of 1 to 2 pounds in lakes with an. The body coloration is light olivegreen to gold, with red or orange flecks on the breast. While i failed to land a single redear i did lose two big fish that i thought might have been redear. I went fishing for shellcracker at clarks hill the week after easter last year.
Two nice redear sunfish caught on barkley lake both over 2 pounds. They are bigger than other sunfish, 7 to 10 inches in length, 1 to 2 pound weight. The redear sunfish is a deep sunfish with a small mouth. We listed that web link back in the reference section for this paper towns 2003. How do i get a fish icon on my id to show that i have a fishing license.
They have a small mouth, and their ear flaps have a white rim surrounding them with a red orange spot on tip, giving the redear sunfish their name. The redear sunfish is a deep, slabsided fish with pointed pectoral side fins. Red ear sunfish, also know as shellcracker, georgia bream, cherry gill, sunny, sun perch, improved bream, government bream, rouge ear sunfish, and chinquapin, look like bluegills, but the back part of their gillcovering has a red edging male or orange edging female. Now is the time to strike a trot to the lake and wet a hook for these babies. Redears are cousins to the bluegill, green sunfish, and pumpkinseed. They are also known as shellcrackers because their diet is primarily composed of snails and other mollusks. Redear seldom respond to floating fish food, as do bluegill. Phoenix have the redear sunfish at lake havasu really gone quagga crazy. They are stocked alongside the bluegill because they add variety to the pond, but do not compete much with bluegill for natural food. Believe it or not, shellcracker will associate a cork with danger. They dine on small snails, mussels and other mollusks they crush with teeth in their throat, thus the shellcracker nickname.
Id like to hear from people who have personal experience too but everyones welcome to chime in. Redear look different from bluegill, and they also have their own unique behavioral characteristics which we will discuss. But wetting a baited hook isnt likely to garner as many bites as youll get when bluegill fishing. They will also refuse a popping bug, but will eat a sinking fly such as a beadhead nymph or a black knat. Shellcracker grow larger than bluegill, with fish over 1 pound common. Carolina fish offers farm direct prices, delivery and pond stocking recomendations. Gamefish redear sunfish shellcracker gamefish 1 to 3 size. I fished 4 days straight, at least 8 hours each day, and i caught exactly 0 redears. When redear fishing, you want the bait on bottom and this guarantees the bait finds the bottom every time.
They have a distinct red coloring around its ear flap. Best spots for bama bream fishing great days outdoors. As quoted from the book secrets to catching more and bigger bluegill. How to catch bluegill and redear sunfish the fishing advice. Perhaps the most notable different between crappie and shellcracker is their color. However, insect larvae and cladocerans may also be found in their diet. Large shellcracker before preparation for consumption. There is some shore fishing along the parking area and at. Pound for pound, there is not another fish that out pulls these little bullies. Sep 24, 2010 a nickelsized float, a few bb split shot, and a small aberdeen hook is a rig both simple and deadly effective.
To crack hard shells, redears have specially modified teeth in their throat and is how the redear received the name shellcracker. The breast of a mature redear is typically a rather bright yellow. The redear spends much of its time in deep water and seldom feeds on surface insects like the bluegill. Lepomis microlophus, or redear sunfish is the epitome of everything we big sunfish enthusiasts crave. Redear sunfish are caught most often on earthworms around the full moons of march and april when their spawning activity peaks. They coexist well with bluegill and do not compete with them for nest sites. Seemed every time i turned off the camera i caught a fish.
The name shellcracker was derived from the ability of this fish to capture and eat snails, clams, small mussels and other mollusks. The redear sunfish lepomis microlophus, also known as the shell cracker is a freshwater fish in the centrarchidae family and is native to the southeastern united states. In some small ponds, redear practically eliminate snails. May 01, 2015 it was a rare opportunity that i couldnt waste. Redear bream, are often referred to as shellcracker, because of their preference for snails. According to the arizona game and fish department, a pending worldrecord redear sunfish was hauled out of lake havasu, weighing in at a whopping 5. Redear sunfish shellcracker typically begin spawning about one month before bluegill. Shellcracker fishing tips sheelcracker fishing florida. May 22 2017 fishing and giant redear sunfish youtube. While they are considered a southern fish, there is a very thorough report on redear sunfish in michigan that is available on the web. The redear sunfish lepomis microlophus, also known as the shellcracker is a freshwater fish in the centrarchidae family and is native to the southeastern united states. During spawning, the margin of the males gill cover flap turns bright red.
Also known as shellcracker or chinquapin perch, stumpknocker, or yellow bream, their scientific name is lepomis microlophus. Redear sunfish are also called shellcracker, georgia bream, cherry gill, chinquapin, improved bream, rouge ear sunfish and sun perch. As the name redear suggests, shellcrackers are known for having a distinct red color on the side fin, although the reddish hue is more common in males while females tend to have a slight orange tinge to their side fins. A deep sided fish with a black ear flap rimmed in red or orange. This massive expanse of bayous, creeks, backwaters and big rivers has a strong population of both bluegill and redear sunfish, also called a shellcracker, but they are not always easy to access. Redear sunfish are a deep, slabsided fish similar to the bluegill sunfish, except the ear flap opercle is black with a red or orange spot at the rear edge. By the end of march, depending on water temperatures and water levels, redears shellcracker start migrating to the shallows in preparation for the spawn. Redear sunfish have a dark olive compressed body, fading to light green and silver on the sides with dark spots and sometimes stripes, often seen on younger fish. Redear have blunted molaform teeth that allow them to crack the shell. However, insect larvae and cladocerans may also be found in. Locating bluegill and shellcracker when they are not on.
Lepomis is the greek word for scaled gill cover, while microlophus is the greek word for small nape. Shellcracker fishing during the midsummer months after the first shellcracker spawning rush has diminished. If an area has had alot of fishing pressure, a cork hitting the water surface can turn active fish off. This cuts down on the resistance the fish feels when it takes the bait, and better detects light nibbles. Redear top out over 4 pounds with rich food sources. All fishing buy, all about redear sunfish, habitats. Have these panfish that really can fill a pan, and are widely regarded as one of the better fish species to eat, found a surplus of invasive quagga mussels to munch.
Folks today, i explain ways you can locate bluegill and shellcracker when they are not bedding. Fishing for shellcrackers panfish rambling angler outdoors. Shellcracker fishing catching huge monster slabs youtube. This seems to be the year that i finally get it all lined up. Mar 30, 2012 10 fishing knots for hooks, lure and swivels how to tie a fishing knot duration. Are invasive quagga mussels leading to huge redear sunfish. The species is usually found near the bottom in warm water with little current and abundant aquatic vegetation. We did catch shellcracker, bluegill, white perch, and catfish. Due to its high sporting characteristics the redear sunfish lepomis microlophus has become a popular species among anglers throughout north america. While its a great way to introduce a youngster to the great sport of fishing, it tends to bring out the kid in all of us once the bobber disappears time after time. The best and simplest rig is to tie on a number 4 long shank cricket hook, thread a redworm on and attach a split shot about 12 inches above the hook. All fishing buy, all about redear sunfish, habitats, fishing. Five to 10 vertical bars are more or less evident on the sides, depending on the size of the fish.
I spend a lot of my lunch breaks fishing a small storm drain adjacent to a wooden dock behind my house, but the usual bass and bluegill targets took a backseat to the unexpected appearance of bedding shellcracker. Although we caught only a few fish on that trip since it was too early, it did bring back memories of how much fun bream fishing can be. The back and sides are golden or light olive green. Redear prefer hard bottoms, congregating in deeper water than bluegill. While these arent havasu fish, they are like pulling in a frisbee with fins at that size. It is called shell cracker, georgia bream, cherry gill, chinkapin, advanced bream, rouge ear sunfish and sun porch, which is a freshwater fish in the centraarchidae family and native to the southeastern united states. The following article is a must read, and will give you the insight you need for your next pond management decision. The redear is similar in shape to the bluegill, but lacks the dark spot at the base of the posterior portion of the dorsal fin and has a red or orange border around the ear flap. Since it is a popular sports fish, it has been introduced to aquaculture throughout north america. Redear sunfish to biologists, or chinquapin to louisiana anglers, these feisty fish typically favor deeper haunts, but when a.
Weight the float so it just barely stays on the surface. The redear sunfish will reproduce when it is one year old. They nest deeper than bluegill on average, like deeper water, and can be picky eaters of food from the bottom, rather than taking bugs on top. Redears feed on snails, insects, and small bait fish. They have a small mouth, and their ear flaps have a white rim surrounding them with a red. Mar 11, 2019 i have designed these packages for the pond owner that wants their body of water to produce big bass for sport fishing, big pan fish blue gill and hybrid blue gill for the table and fly fishing, perch for the taste of lake erie, shell cracker for parasite control in the water and fish, white amur for vegetation control, minnows for that. Shellcracker, stump knocker, yellow bream, cherry gill, chinquapin. Shellcrackers look much like a bluegill on steroids, and of course, they have an opercular flap with an orange red edge ahead of a dark splotch. I fish lake barkley here in western kentucky, it produces some large redear every spring. Indiana division of fish and wildlifes animal information series.
Big shellcracker redear sunfish fishing with 1 lb line and. Ive been wanting to put together a bluegillshellcracker trip to lbl for the past three or so years and have never really had the time or money to do so. Thats why we work hard to bring you the information you need to know to manage your pond or lake. Redear sunfish lepomis microlophus texas parks and wildlife. How to catch bluegill and redear sunfish best techniques. Stocking redear as a featured sport fish in some locations is a possibility. The shellcracker is also known as the redear sunfish and will average between one and two pounds during spawning. Big shellcracker redear sunfish fishing with 1 lb line. The dorsal fin usually has 10 spines, but may range from nine to 11, whereas the anal fin has three spines. Live fish for pond stocking in nc, sc, and va, carolina. They prefer snails and clams, giving them their common nickname. Locally known as shellcracker, redear sunfishes are one of. Specially modified teeth in the throat allow them to crack mollusk shells. For river and stream lovers in floridas panhandle, the choctawhatchee river and holmes creek are ideal, particularly for shellcracker redear sunfish aficionados.
How to tell a bluegill from a shellcracker youtube. A light subtle presentation and a slow fall can actually trigger strikes from fish that are spooky from heavy fishing pressure. May 04, 2011 redear sunfish body color varies, depending on water quality, sex and age. They are called redear due to the red or orange colored border on the ear flap.
They also eat other food like insects, worms, and crawfish, but feed on the bottom. They generally bed only one time each spring, when the water warms into the 70s. But, i had the location and a photo by the bass anglers shellcracker for encouragement. Theres another two or three weeks of prime spawning time too so grab a friend and head on out. Redear are equipped with a set of crushers in the back of their throat. Most redear are caught during spawning season by fishing with red worms on the bottom. Redear have blunted molaform teeth that allow them to crack the shell open then consume the snail. Catching bluegill and shellcracker on kentuckhy lake. Redear will typically spawn a month earlier than bluegill. The other method is to attach a slip cork setup only do not use a bobber stopper. Both will eat fish feed, but shellcrackers main diet is snails, mollusks, and other small shelled creatures hence the name. As their name tells, they eat snails and muscles, crushing the shell with a tough muscle in their gullet.
The body is heavily spotted and they have long, pointed pectoral fins. Jul 30, 2018 as their name tells, they eat snails and muscles, crushing the shell with a tough muscle in their gullet. They will spawn in eight to 15 feet of water depending on how clear the water is. Mar 31, 2017 we would anchor the boat, put a gob of red wigglers on the hook and cast out about six different outfits, put them in rod holders and then sit back and watch for the line to twitch. Redear sunfish lepomis microlophus, also known as shellcracker, georgia bream, cherry gill, sunny, chinquapin, improved bream, stumpknocker, and sun perch is native to the southeastern united states from south carolina to texas in the south, and from the southern illinois east to the atlantic coast in the north, but since it is a popular sport fish it has been introduced to bodies of water. The redear sunfish is deep and slabsided, with a small mouth, with the upper jaw not reaching past the front of the eye. The redear sunfish is a freshwater fish in the family centrarchidae and is native to the southeastern united states.
In natural waters, it is confined to the southern half of missouri, but it is widely stocked in small reservoirs and ponds. Gamefish redear sunfish shellcracker gamefish 1 to 3. Redear shellcracker at dunns fish farm we know that your satisfaction is essential to our success. Find out more about shellcracker and other fish american sportfish stock here. Florida lake tarpon and lake guntersville shellcrackers. They can be distinguished from other panfish by their bright orange red margin on the tip of each gill cover, a more slender body than the bluegill, and a typical greenish color blending to pale yellow on the lower body and abdomen.
The ear flap is black with a whitish border and a prominent orange or red spot. Both were on a stretch of chunk rock leading into a small pocket. Since it is a popular sport fish, it has been introduced to bodies of water all over north america. For best delta bream fishing, a small boat of some kind opens up the world of fishing. Redear sunfish at havasu have been reaching world record sizes.
However, one of their neighboring species the redear sunfish aka shellcracker or chinquapin makes a convincing case for more attention. In south florida, shellcracker may spawn as early as the last week of february but more likely around the fourth week of march. Redear sunfish are also called shellcracker, georgia bream, cherry gill, chinquapin. The redear sunfish lepomis microlophus, also known as the shellcracker, georgia bream, cherry gill, chinquapin, improved bream, rouge ear sunfish and sun perch is a freshwater fish in the family centrarchidae and is native to the southeastern united states.
Whats the better choice for big shellcracker, barkley or ky lake. They have a special set teeth in their throat that allows them to grind up snail shells. When we go for redear sunfish record analysis, we need to consider the arizona game and fish department, which tells redear sunfish world record is counted as of a catch out of lake havasu, weighing in at an astonishing 5. Body is rounded like other sunfish and has a relatively small mouth. If your catching giant bluegill, theyre probably redear. Instead this is a fish that likes to be in deeper water.
The nickname of the redear sunfish, shellcracker, comes from its. Fishing for redear sunfish fishing rambling angler. Redear sunfish are caught most often on earthworms around the full moons. They will also refuse a popping bug, but they do love sinking flies such as a beadhead nymph or a black knat. Fishing for bluegill and shellcracker in the peak of the spawn is one of them. In the south, shellcracker fishing is common among pan fisherman. By eliminating the snail population, the redear bream will have effectively broken the cycle of the worm. Fishing habitat and techniques for bluegill and redear sunfish are much alike.
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