BLUEGILLS (Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque)

THE FISH

The appearance of the bluegill varies with sex and age and among individuals of the same sex and age. But it can be identified by the splash of black on the end of the dorsal fin and the black gill flap.

Usually the body is light to dark olive with a touch of purple in older individuals. Breeding males have bright orange and blue on their bodies. The belly may be bright yellow. The females and the young tend to be less colorful and are mostly grayish green.

It has a small mouth which does not extend back beyond the large eye. Its body is a flat, elongated oval. The average size of a bluegill in Ontario waters is eight inches but they do reach 15 inches and almost four pounds. A 12-inch fish is considered a big catch.

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