Kayakwars

[Tim Cotton]

Hello all,
I participate in a online contest called kayakwars. We are currently discussing size limits for submission of sunfish. This is nationwide, so its tough. What length would you consider as a quality sunfish? What length would you consider a trophy? Should redears be a seperate category? I figured I would ask the experts. Currently, the 2 sizes are set to 9" & 12".

[Tim Cotton]

So here's our current numbers:

Redear(10 & 13)

Flier(9 & 10 1/2)

Other(9 and 11)

 

[Tim Cotton]

You guys are a incredible resource for gills.  I wasn't very successful at getting bluegills their proper respect on kayakwars.  Oh well we don't always get what we want in life.

 

One of the newbies posted this pic and I wanted to get your opinions of the authenticity of the photo.  Can you ID the gill for me and tell me how big they get.

[Randy Goad]

I would be shocked if that is a 13 inch Gill. What kayak was that taken in. One has to list the kayak you fish out of then you can compare the round area the fish is laying in and get some perspective. Scupper holes to me look like a Coosa....Cuda...a Jackson product....but am not sure.

                                                               Regards

[Tony Livingston]

Looks like a northern strain male BG to me. The fish's eye is large, as is the tail. The body dynamics appear wrong for a reputed 13" fish also, with it's pointed nose and relatively "short" body.

A 13" BG should probably weigh between 2.75 - 3 lbs, and I have a hard time seeing that in this fish.

[Randy Goad]

I am participating in Kayak Wars this year and I think that Shell Crackers should most certainly be separate from bluegill. Here in TN....the waters I fish....12 inch Shell Crackers are quite common...a 12 inch bluegill is not. I can post many 9 inch Gills and some at the 10 inch mark....but over that would be a trophy....unless one has access to private waters....and even then I don't think you will see many 12 inch Gills. Kayak Wars is a great way for guys to have some fun and do some team work.

                                                                                         Regards 

[Jason Preslar]

Nice fish for sure, when I look at the pic at the 13" mark, then kind of imagine an inch increment correlating with that measuring tape from the 13" mark back to the fish's nose it seems that it couldn't be more than maybe 10"