Redear Sunfish
The redear sunfish is a Deep-bodied, olive colored fish with darker spots and flecks of red, and occasionally vertical bars
along the sides. The hind end of the gill flap is black with a white border and
has a red spot on the tip, which is how it has gotten its name. The chest color is yellowish to
cream colored.The mouth is small and when closed barely reaches only to the
front margin of the eye. The pectoral fins are long and more pointed than those
of other sunfish; the first dorsal fin contains 10 sharp spines, followed by 10
to 12 rays.
Redear sunfish are native to the middle and lower Mississippi River Basin and
the Atlantic slope from the central Carolinas to Florida. Redears are found
throughout North Carolina, except for cold mountain waters.but this species is stocked in many lakes and ponds for anglers to enjoy catching. They are opportunistic feeders, but forage mostly on aquatic clams and snails. Snails and
clams are crushed by grinding teeth in the redear’s throat, hence their nickname
“shellcracker.”
along the sides. The hind end of the gill flap is black with a white border and
has a red spot on the tip, which is how it has gotten its name. The chest color is yellowish to
cream colored.The mouth is small and when closed barely reaches only to the
front margin of the eye. The pectoral fins are long and more pointed than those
of other sunfish; the first dorsal fin contains 10 sharp spines, followed by 10
to 12 rays.
Redear sunfish are native to the middle and lower Mississippi River Basin and
the Atlantic slope from the central Carolinas to Florida. Redears are found
throughout North Carolina, except for cold mountain waters.but this species is stocked in many lakes and ponds for anglers to enjoy catching. They are opportunistic feeders, but forage mostly on aquatic clams and snails. Snails and
clams are crushed by grinding teeth in the redear’s throat, hence their nickname
“shellcracker.”
Redear Sunfish
![Picture](/uploads/1/9/7/0/19701521/9229210.jpg)
This Redear Sunfish came from a pond near Lexington North Carolina, in the same pond as the Hybrid Bluegill was caught. The Bait of choice for this fish was a small rapala jig.