Stalking the Elusive Bluegill

The bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) is in the sunfish family and is native to North America.

The most distinguishing characteristic is its blue or black coloring on the tip of the gill cover. This does not give it the name "bluegill", however. It gets its name from the bright blue edges of the gill rakers. I was not able to photograph these as handling the fish would have severely stressed it, more than it already was.

Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus

Our bluegill was 7 inches long. Reasoning for thinking this is a bluegill and not a pumpkinseed sunfish is that our fish does not have the crimson coloring along the edge of the gill cover.