Sunfish help

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rc6750
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Sunfish help
<p>I caught four fish out of the nearby lake this weekend that are new to me. I think they are all the same species and have&nbsp;tentatively identified them as Bluegills. However, sunfish are particularly confusing to me so I would appreciate any input from you all. This is in the <a href="http://cfpub.epa.gov/surf/huc.cfm?huc_code=03100206">Tampa Bay Watershed</a>&nbsp; Thanks!</p> <p><img alt="" src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/7dc0de84494ea6edafb53bf82ea4c644/tumblr_mmovxt8klc1qjrzplo1_1280.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 450px;" /></p> <p><img alt="" src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/3a2fb6cc302dae97ddc6f135065906a8/tumblr_mmovxt8klc1qjrzplo2_1280.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 450px;" /></p> <p><img alt="" src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/1c226fa348c1203af9321eca54431b72/tumblr_mmovxt8klc1qjrzplo3_1280.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 800px;" /></p> <p><img alt="" src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/12421a609235affd371f6acc0f430b1b/tumblr_mmovxt8klc1qjrzplo4_1280.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 450px;" /></p>
Cast_and_Blast
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I've caught different variati

I've caught different variations of Bluegills like that before.  It's amazing they differ so much and even out of the same water.  I think there are gender differences too.  Your darker one (2nd pic down) might be a male.  Females seem to have more of a yellow breast.

 

I caught one once that was almost all black.

 

rc6750
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Thanks for the feedback - the

Thanks for the feedback - their variation is pretty interesting actually and that all black one is pretty cool.  I went down and got two more examples. One has orangish belly - sort of like the females you mentioned and - I am not sure it came out well, but the second one had a purplish color on its gill plate.

Dr Flathead
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The second one in the second

The second one in the second set of pics looks like its a Florida Bluegill.  The first four look to be regular bluegills.  The very last one in the first set might have some Redear influence. 

rc6750
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thanks - is Florida Buegill a

thanks - is Florida Buegill a subspecies or variation or something?

Deftik
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Docs right Florida Bluegill a

Docs right Florida Bluegill aka copper nose bluegill

http://www.pondking.com/tag/coppernose-bluegill

rc6750
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thanks

thanks for the input- I love this site - I am always learning something new.