Are bluegill and shellcracker the same?
Although Shellcracker and Bluegill look similar and they often inhabit the same lakes and ponds, they are two totally different species of Sunfish. A Bluegill, (Lepomis macrochirus) is smaller than a shellcracker, and lacks the red or orange opercular ear flap.
What kind of fish is a shellcracker?
redear sunfish
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.
Can you eat shellcracker fish?
Often mistaken for bluegill, redears are distinguished by a red ear patch on the gill plate. The popular sunfish of the south are great fun to catch and delicious on the dinner plate. Redears are also found in parts of southern Missouri.
Where can I find shellcracker?
Shellcrackers often congregate around stumps, roots, logs, standing timber and green aquatic vegetation such as water lilies, coontail and elodea. They prefer deeper water than most other sunfish and commonly are found at depths of 25 to 35 feet.
Which is the best shellcracker fish in Florida?
Shellcrackers are the best tasting freshwater fish in Florida, which makes since they’re just a large Bluegill and we know Bluegills are the best tasting panfish in the Mid-West. The Shellcracker is also known as the Redear Sunfish and will average between one and two pounds during spawning.
How big can a shellcracker sunfish get?
Shellcracker grow larger than bluegill, with fish over 1 pound common. State Record: 4.86 lbs. Big Catch minimum: 11 inches or 1.25 lbs. Fishing Tips and Facts: Redear sunfish are caught most often on earthworms around the full moons of March and April when their spawning activity peaks.
How old are the shellcracker fish in Lake Havasu?
On a well managed lake with an ample food supply, that same fish may be 3 years old. Lake Havasu is considered one of the top shellcracker lakes in the country, producing several fish over 4 pounds due to the bottom content and the lake mussels that are prevalent there. It’s not uncommon to catch a 3 pounder or a couple on almost any given trip.
When do the shellcrackers spawn in South Florida?
If you can only fish one choose the full moon closest to the first week of April. 1. Shellcrackers spawn about 1 month before the Bluegills (Copperheads) spawn. 2. In South Florida, the shellcracker will typically spawn around the 3rd & 4th week of March.