Whopper of a longear?

[mhall]

That's a green sunfish hybrid. They will outcompete the bluegill and every generation gets smaller and smaller.

They aren't ''SUPPOSE'' to reproduce but I agree with you they do and they aren't all they are cracked up to be. I have two friends that hate them and would never put them in another pond ever.

[cantcatchafish]

I sent the photo to KDFWR and this is what they had to say.

Hello name omitted,

That is a hybrid sunfish and it looks like a cross between a green sunfish and a redear (shellcracker). Hybrid sunfish are fairly common in ponds since many of the sunfish species (bluegill, green sunfish, redear) will spawn with each other if the conditions (crowding, turbidity, etc.) are right….

Jeff

Jeff Ross
Assistant Director - Fisheries Division
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
#1 Sportsman's Lane
Frankfort, Ky 40601
Phone: (502) 564-7109 ext. 4455
Fax: (502) 564-3178
Did you know...The world record smallmouth bass (11 lb. 15 oz) was caught in Kentucky?
Experience the Unbridled Spirit of Kentucky www.kentuckyunbridledspirit.com

[roadrunner]

Check these out

Green Sunfish | Missouri Department of Conservation

Longear Sunfish | Missouri Department of Conservation

[mhall]

I sent the photo to KDFWR and this is what they had to say.

Hello name omitted,

That is a hybrid sunfish and it looks like a cross between a green sunfish and a redear (shellcracker). Hybrid sunfish are fairly common in ponds since many of the sunfish species (bluegill, green sunfish, redear) will spawn with each other if the conditions (crowding, turbidity, etc.) are right….

Jeff

Jeff Ross
Assistant Director - Fisheries Division
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
#1 Sportsman's Lane
Frankfort, Ky 40601
Phone: (502) 564-7109 ext. 4455
Fax: (502) 564-3178
Did you know...The world record smallmouth bass (11 lb. 15 oz) was caught in Kentucky?
Experience the Unbridled Spirit of Kentucky www.kentuckyunbridledspirit.com

Just like we said..The only thing I will add is they raise those and sell them as do many fish suppliers...

[cantcatchafish]

Just like we said..The only thing I will add is they raise those and sell them as do many fish suppliers...

How well do they reproduce?

I'm trying to determine what the population might be like.

I know the pond hasn't been stocked in the last 4 years before that I do not know.