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August 2008 Blog Posts (7)

When it comes to bluegill, how old is "old"?

I posed the question to biologist Daryl Bauer what qualifies as an old bluegill, and asked if he had sampled some really ancient specimens in his years as a fisheries professional.

Here was my question.

"Actually, I'd like to know from Daryl if he's seen any truly ancient bluegill in his sampling days. You know, like 12 or 13 year old fish. I've probably aged, or assisted in aging somewhere around or over 200 bluegill, but haven't run across any real oldies like… Continue

Added by Bruce Condello on August 30, 2008 at 1:30pm — 1 Comment

Food "A" vs. food "B".

The following blog will document the introduction of a new pelleted feed for a specific group of bluegill. Eventually the brand and formulation will be revealed.

Food "A" has been in use for a group of bluegill for 1 year. These bluegill are currently age-1 and age-2. The fish grow well on food "A", and seem to eat vigorously.

Food "B" is the feed that we wish to convert to.

Food "B" was delivered to my house at 1:30 p.m. today. The feed was then brought to the… Continue

Added by Bruce Condello on August 27, 2008 at 8:30pm — 16 Comments

Trophy Savannah River Shellcracker

Throughout late summer and early fall, the larger shellcrackers move into several ox-bows off the upper Savannah River to feed and spawn. Through trial and error, I have figured out that one must take on a mentality similar to that of a trophy bass fisherman in order to catch these fish. Like a big bass, and a mature buck for that matter, these fish do not get big by being stupid, so outsmarting them is the key. One particular ox-bow lake that my father and I frequent is riddled with flooded… Continue

Added by Kelly Nobles on August 25, 2008 at 5:37pm — 15 Comments

Pond Boss editor Bob Lusk nails mammoth bluegill.

Pond Boss editor Bob Lusk describes the ridiculously big bluegill that he caught just two days ago.

"This bluegill measures 10.75 inches and weighed 1 lb 10 oz on a hand held scale. It is a coppernose bluegill, stocked in December, 2005 into Richmond Mill Lake, a 125 acre impoundment outside Laurel Hill, North Carolina. The fishery is a combined stocking of feed trained largemouth bass up to 6 pounds with a remnant population of… Continue

Added by Bruce Condello on August 19, 2008 at 10:00am — 9 Comments

Big Redear Sunfish. Article and photo courtesy of North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

Young Angler Reels in State Record Redear Sunfish

RALEIGH, N.C. (May 30, 2008)– A last minute decision to go fishing with his mother netted a 13-year-old from Rocky Mount a new freshwater fish state record.

Travis Jackson reeled in a 4-pound, 15-ounce redear sunfish from a private pond in Edgecombe County on May 19, using a worm as bait. The fish measured 15 1/16 inches in length and 18 1/8 inches in girth.

According to Arlene Jackson,… Continue

Added by Bruce Condello on August 10, 2008 at 12:30pm — No Comments

Big redear sunfish! If you're a big bluegill fan, are you also a big shellcracker fan?

Of course you are!

Lepomis microlophus, or redear sunfish is the epitome of everything we big sunfish enthusiasts crave.

Also known as "shellcracker", the redear sunfish is an even larger growing version of the bluegill. Redears have been known to achieve sizes of over five pounds, and are known for their enthusiastic bites and fights. But don't get me wrong--big redears aren't easy to catch. Quite the contrary. Sometimes redears practically disappear from a water body for… Continue

Added by Bruce Condello on August 9, 2008 at 9:30pm — 1 Comment

Coppernose bluegill--identification and characteristics

A frequently asked question is "How do I identify a coppernose bluegill?"

Here are some photos, and an informative narration on this subject. Bigbluegill member "Ewest" generously assisted with compiling this blog.

Coppernose bluegill have been around for a long time. They are only one of three recognized subspecies of bluegill (lepomis macrochirus). Coppernose (lepomis macrochirus purpurescens) is native to Peninsular of Florida.… Continue

Added by Bruce Condello on August 6, 2008 at 10:00am — 8 Comments