Green Sunfish

Green Sunfish, Green Sunfish ID, Green Sunfish Identification, Sunfish ID, Sunfish Identification, Green Sunfish on the Fly, Fly Fishing for Green Sunfish, Sunfish on the Fly, Sunfish of Texas, Texas Sunfish Identification, Texas Fly Fishing, Fly Fishing Texas, Texas Freshwater Fly Fishing, Pat Kellner
Green Sunfish
South Llano River, Kimble County, May 2021, Marcus Rodriguez

Common Name: Green Sunfish
Species Name: Lepomis cyanellus

Texas Distribution: State Wide 

Characteristics:

  • Large mouth compared to most sunfish
  • Dark (often with orange edge) "ear" (Opercal Flap)
  • White margins on the fins
  • Dark spot at base of Dorsal Fin
  • Greenish/blueish coloration
  • Yellow Breast (often turning orange in breeding males)
  • Rounded Pectoral Fin
  • Faint vertical bars may be visible on sides
  • Some turquoise spots along the sides
  • 10 Dorsal Fin Spines
  • 13-14 Pectoral Rays
World Record: 2 lbs, 2 oz, 15 inches; Stockton Lake, Missouri; Paul M. Dilley
Texas State Record: 1.3 lbs, 11 inches; Private Lake; Jamie Meaux; Fly Rod, Crawfish Briminator 
State Fly Fishing Record: 1.3 lbs, 11 inches; Private Lake; Jamie Meaux; Fly Rod, Crawfish Briminator 

Info: The Green Sunfish has the ability to tolerate a wide range of conditions, making it a very successful sunfish species in the fluctuating streams, rivers, and ponds, here in Texas.  They do have a tendency to reproduce quickly, allowing them to repopulate waters that were recently dried up, or sometimes overpopulate, stunting the growth of the fish.

Green Sunfish spawn in shallow water, in closely packed nests, preferably on rocky bottoms.  Their spawning begins when the water temperatures reach around 70 degrees, and will continue throughout the summer.  Green Sunfish do have a propensity to hybridize with other Sunfish species.

The diet of Green Sunfish consists of up to aquatic and terrestrial (that have fallen into the water) insects and smaller fish.  Because of this and their mouths are larger than many other sunfish, Green Sunfish will attack a wide range of flies. Small "buggy" looking flies (like Pat's Hot Tail Mini-Craw, Rio Poquito, and Deer Hair Ants) are typically very effective, as well as larger patterns of Wooly Buggers, Foxy Clousers, and Mini-Minnows.  

Green Sunfish Identification Images from Texas

Green Sunfish, Green Sunfish ID, Green Sunfish Identification, Sunfish ID, Sunfish Identification, Green Sunfish on the Fly, Fly Fishing for Green Sunfish, Sunfish on the Fly, Sunfish of Texas, Texas Sunfish Identification, Texas Fly Fishing, Fly Fishing Texas, Texas Freshwater Fly Fishing, Pat Kellner
Green Sunfish
Cooper Creek, Denton County, May, Charlie Cole

Green Sunfish, Green Sunfish ID, Green Sunfish Identification, Sunfish ID, Sunfish Identification, Green Sunfish on the Fly, Fly Fishing for Green Sunfish, Sunfish on the Fly, Sunfish of Texas, Texas Sunfish Identification, Texas Fly Fishing, Fly Fishing Texas, Texas Freshwater Fly Fishing, Pat Kellner
Green Sunfish
Marine Creek, Tarrant County, Riley Henderson

Green Sunfish, Green Sunfish ID, Green Sunfish Identification, Sunfish ID, Sunfish Identification, Green Sunfish on the Fly, Fly Fishing for Green Sunfish, Sunfish on the Fly, Sunfish of Texas, Texas Sunfish Identification, Texas Fly Fishing, Fly Fishing Texas, Texas Freshwater Fly Fishing, Pat Kellner
Green Sunfish
Private Pond, North Texas, June 2018, Duane Holcomb

Green Sunfish, Green Sunfish ID, Green Sunfish Identification, Sunfish ID, Sunfish Identification, Green Sunfish on the Fly, Fly Fishing for Green Sunfish, Sunfish on the Fly, Sunfish of Texas, Texas Sunfish Identification, Texas Fly Fishing, Fly Fishing Texas, Texas Freshwater Fly Fishing, Pat Kellner
Green Sunfish
San Gabriel River, Williamson County, May, Pat Kellner

Green Sunfish, Green Sunfish ID, Green Sunfish Identification, Sunfish ID, Sunfish Identification, Green Sunfish on the Fly, Fly Fishing for Green Sunfish, Sunfish on the Fly, Sunfish of Texas, Texas Sunfish Identification, Texas Fly Fishing, Fly Fishing Texas, Texas Freshwater Fly Fishing, Pat Kellner
Green Sunfish
San Marcos River, Hays County, Mike Schlimgen

Green Sunfish, Green Sunfish ID, Green Sunfish Identification, Sunfish ID, Sunfish Identification, Green Sunfish on the Fly, Fly Fishing for Green Sunfish, Sunfish on the Fly, Sunfish of Texas, Texas Sunfish Identification, Texas Fly Fishing, Fly Fishing Texas, Texas Freshwater Fly Fishing, Pat Kellner
Green Sunfish
South Llano River, Kimble County, May 2021, Paul Robertson

Green Sunfish, Green Sunfish ID, Green Sunfish Identification, Sunfish ID, Sunfish Identification, Green Sunfish on the Fly, Fly Fishing for Green Sunfish, Sunfish on the Fly, Sunfish of Texas, Texas Sunfish Identification, Texas Fly Fishing, Fly Fishing Texas, Texas Freshwater Fly Fishing, Pat Kellner
Green Sunfish
Walnut Creek, Travis County, May 2021, Jason Hobbs

Green Sunfish, Green Sunfish ID, Green Sunfish Identification, Sunfish ID, Sunfish Identification, Green Sunfish on the Fly, Fly Fishing for Green Sunfish, Sunfish on the Fly, Sunfish of Texas, Texas Sunfish Identification, Texas Fly Fishing, Fly Fishing Texas, Texas Freshwater Fly Fishing, Pat Kellner
Green Sunfish
Z Boaz Park, Tarrant County, June 2021, Zachary Melman





Green Sunfish Hybrids

Bluegill Identification, Green Sunfish Identification, Bluegill Green Sunfish Hybrid, Green Sunfish Hybrid, Sunfish Identification, Hybrid Sunfish, Texas Fly Fishing, Texas Freshwater Fly Fishing
Bluegill x Green Sunfish Hybrid
Heath County, Eric Grove

Bluegill Identification, Green Sunfish Identification, Bluegill Green Sunfish Hybrid, Green Sunfish Hybrid, Sunfish Identification, Hybrid Sunfish, Texas Fly Fishing, Texas Freshwater Fly Fishing
Bluegill x Green Sunfish Hybrid
San Gabriel River, Williamson County, May 2021, Pat Kellner

Longear Sunfish Identification, Green Sunfish Identification, Longear Green Sunfish Hybrid, Green Sunfish Hybrid, Sunfish Identification, Hybrid Sunfish, Texas Fly Fishing, Texas Freshwater Fly Fishing
Longear Sunfish x Green Sunfish Hybrid
Purtis Creek, Henderson County, April 2021, Connor Dunnill

For more information on Sunfish Identification: Texas Sunfish Identification Guide

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