Sunfish identification

[Reefmonkey]

There is a sunfish I catch regularly in stormwater detention ponds here on the west side of Houston, in a cast net. Typical sunfish shape, definitely not a tilapia, head blunter and not "basslike" as a green sunfish can be, more like a bluegill or longear. I don't notice a dark spot on rear of dorsal fin. They are usually up to about 4 inches long, pale all over, with a pinkish-purplish sheen dorsally, and a yellow sheen (including yellow pectoral, ventral, and anal fins) ventrally. "Ear" on gill flap is short and round, dark with no noticeable contrasting margin color. They tend to change, becoming darker, after a few weeks in my garden pond. Sorry I don't have a picture, but can anyone hazard a guess as to likely species?

[pocfishin]

Here is a link to some common Texas freshwater fish species including sunfishes:
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/landwater/w ... land.phtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Could be a Rio Grande Cichlid
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wi ... s/cichlid/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hope this helps.

[Harold Ray]

Post a picture of the fish!!!!

[AllenOK]

If you spread out / extend the Dorsal and Anal fins, do they give the fish a silhouette similar to a Crappie? Does it have a dark vertical "bar" that extends down from the head, and through the eye, ending about 1/4" under the eye?

If so, it's a Flyer.

[Reefmonkey]

Here is a link to some common Texas freshwater fish species including sunfishes:
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/landwater/w ... land.phtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Could be a Rio Grande Cichlid
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wi ... s/cichlid/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hope this helps.

No, it's not a rio grande cichlid, I am certain of that, it is certainly in genus Lepomis, just can't tell species.

Could be a flier, looks like some drawings, but not other photos.

[Jigawatt]

Hybrid? A ditch with limited breeding space might make cross (pollination) a possibility. Houston seems to be home to several types of sunnies'.

[Roofish]

Here ya go, hope this helps

http://www.identicards.com/allaboutfres ... unfish.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.outdooralabama.com/fishing/f ... ish/bream/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.aa-fishing.com/tx/texas-panfish-fishing.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;