What is a Shell Cracker? Are they on Kentucky Lake?

[RoadToad]

Bluegil and shellcracker are two completely different species.

Yes, I knew that. What I was saying (and hoping someone would either correct me or corroborate this) is that only larger redears are commonly called shellcrackers, because when they're small they don't eat snails.

[SmallmouthChaserGLX]

Shellcracker is just an acronym. The name is redear sunfish but some call them shellcrackers, redear... so on so forth. Bigger redear are not necessarily called shellcrackers more than little ones are. Its much like pumpkinseed and sungranny other than a designation of size.