There are many species of sunfish, and sometimes it's easy to confuse them. I worked in the Aquaculture industry for three years, and it was then that I became fascinated with "Ichthyology" if you will. No I'm not an Ichthyologist, but I have studied on my own about the many species of sunfish, and I'm very interested in Ohio native species. I have kept different species of sunfish in an aquarium over the years as well.

Rather than try and post pics here copied (likely copyrighted anyway) from other sites, I will hyperlink to State game and fish sites with info and photos of each species. At some point I would like to have all the photos and info here on the site though.

So here we go. Click on the name of each fish to take you to the pic and info.

Bluegill

Pumpkinseed

Green Sunfish

Longear (Central and Northern Sub-Species)

Redear

Orangespotted Sunfish

Warmouth

Rock Bass

Redbreast

Banded Sunfish

Bluespotted Sunfish

Dollar Sunfish

Flier

Redspotted Sunfish

Shadow Bass

Roanoke Bass

Mud Sunfish

Blackbanded Sunfish

White Crappie

Black Crappie

Ozark Bass

Now for the Black Basses, also part of the family Centrachidae.

Smallmouth Bass

Largemouth Bass

Spotted Bass

Guadalupe Bass

Shoal Bass

Redeye Bass

Suwannee Bass

Green Sunfish are known to hybridize with other Lepomis species. These hybrids can be hard to identify, but I have some experience with them, and have kept a couple in the aquarium. If you have a question about a possible hybrid, let me know, I may be able to help you out.

I hope this guide helps folks out, and I'll do my best to improve it over time.

J.

Since most of what we call Bass are actually sunfish, can you include them here as well? I know I'd appreciate it.

Dave

Nice!!! Thanks J.

You guys are lucky over that side of the pond in having that sort of variety of sportfish available. Aussies freshwater 'Native' sportfish could be counted on two hands and none with the colour and reasonable size for UL, maybe that is why UL has never really kicked off in this country. There are those chasing salt water species on FT 2wts though and doing a good job of it. They are catching those species usually thaught of as 6wt targets and grow to 50 or more cms.

On a side note some of our common FW species top 100 or more cms. Now a Barramundi on a 2wt would be a fight to see...

FYI, if you ever want images for something that are free of copyright, visit Wikimedia Commons.  Here's the link to the category for Sunfish: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Centrarchidae

really nice resource..thanks

now lets make a chart for trout....

Did somebody say the "T" word ??..............Don S. in SC

Where's Sasha when you really need him!

Fellow "T" lovers.... UNITE!

---David

Aren't those carp?