focus fishing

Bluegill

SPECIES INFORMATION

  • The Bluegill or the Lepomis macrochirus is a freshwater species. It is also known as the brim, bream, copper nose, sunny or perch. A member of Centrarchidae or the sunfish family, the Bluegill is of the Perciformes order. Bluegill is native to North America. It is found at a distance of 230miles from Tennessee and it lives in lakes, streams, ponds, and rivers. It is a popular game fish. Bluegill has now been introduced in various freshwater habitats across the western United States as well as in many parts of the world.
  • The colour of the Bluegill is variable and it can be dark green, olive brown, olive green or silvery and yellowish green. The fish generally have five to seven bars that are vertical and extends down to its sides. The lower part of its cheek and the cover of the gill are bluish. The throat is yellow in colour for females and it is bright orange in the males. This gets brighter during the spawning phase
  • The Bluegill is a panfish and it is caught using live bait. This could be crickets, worms, grasshoppers, small crankbaits, small frogs, spinners, shrimp or even when using a bare hook. Bluegill is attracted to and bites on the vibrant colours like green, orange, red and yellow especially during dusk and dawn. They seek out underwater for cover. These can also be caught using the artificial baits like spinner baits, jigs and using fake edible worms.

SIZE

The average length of the Bluegill is 7.5 inches or 19.1 cms. The maximum length that has been reported is 16 inches or 41 cm. The heaviest weight that has been published is 4.8 lbs or 2.2 kgs.

RANGE

Bluegill has a range from North America that extends from Canada to Northern Mexico. It occurs in the United States towards the east of the Rocky Mountains. This ranges all the way from Virginia to Florida and west of Texas to northern Mexico. It also ranges from north to western Minnesota and western New York. Bluegill has now been introduced in almost all places in North America as well as Europe, Zimbabwe, South Africa, South America, Asia, and Oceania.

HABITAT

The weed beds are the prime habitat of the Bluegill. They live in the sunken islands, creek channels, and the off deep points. The Bluegills like ponds, quiet streams, and small to medium-sized lakes. They can also stay in the swimming rafts, the shade of the piers, shores that are shaded with trees or stay submerged in the aquatic vegetation. They spawn in the late spring season or in the early summer season when the water temperature is 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

After spawning, the males will stay in the shallow waters to feed and to roam. In the non-reproductive months, the Bluegill will spend time in water that has a temperate of 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. They stay in schools of 10 to 20 fishes and the school could include other panfish as well.

DIET

The Bluegill feed on insects, small crustaceans, insect larva and on worms. They are opportunists by nature. They are not fussy about what they eat.

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