Bluegill sex identification.

Comment

Comment by Jim Gronaw on June 7, 2010 at 5:43pm

Hey Zack...probably the surest way to identify a mature male bluegill from a mature female would be the size of the eartab, which is longer and broader in the male throughout it's adult life. During the spawn, the males traditionally develope dark, copper or deep rust colored breast, and they may lighten as the spawn subsides and then get lighter yet during the fall and winter months. If you'll notice in Bruces' photos all the females have shorter, narrower eartabs and are traditionally lighter in color on the breast area, even during the spawn.

I would say that all of these fish are regular, maybe northern strain, bluegills. No coppernose here. They all appear to be adult specimens.

Comment by Zach Pierce on June 7, 2010 at 1:28pm

Ok are these all the same type of bluegill?

Do the female males lineup for the same ones.

I think I have caught at least 2 of the 3 but not sure if all that is why I would like to know what kind they are.

Great info though.

Thanks