Redear sunfish
Type: Panfish
Appearance: A bright red mark on the back edge of the gill cover is very distinctive.
State record: 4.86 lbs. Big Catch: 11 inches total length or 1.25 lbs.
BigCatch: To qualify your catch needs to exceed the listed weight OR length (not necessarily both).
Habitat: Redear prefer hard bottoms, congregating in deeper water than bluegill.
Behavior: They prefer snails and clams, giving them their common nickname. Shellcracker grow larger than bluegill, with fish over 1 pound common.
Tips: Redear sunfish are caught most often on earthworms around the full moons of March and April when their spawning activity peaks.