ID this New Jersey Fish Red Ear or Pumpkinseed?

[John Sheehan]

Caught this dink  today,4/22/12 in a very shallow stream (Ringwood Brook) Took a small worm on a #10 hook. Apparently New Jersey does have Redears but I never caught one before .What do ya think Red Ear (gotta admit it looks like one ) or Pumpkinseed?

 

Redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus) can grow to 10 inches, and have a long pointed pectoral fin. They

have a black ear flap with a light-colored edge with a bright red or orange spot, and a pointed snout. They

are light gold-green to white-yellow, with dusky gray spots on adults, or bars on the young. Fins are clear.

Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) grow to 16 inches, and have a pointed pectoral fin. These fish have a

short, black ear flap with a bright red or orange spot and a light-colored edge. The olive colored sides have

many gold and yellow flecks, with blue-green and orange spots. Many bold dark orange or brown wavy

lines can be found on the fins. Young and adult females have dusky chainlike bars along the sides.

 

 

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

The mouth and turquoise stripes scream Seed to me John but the body lacks the yellow spots that a Seed normally has....Maybe a cross.....I wouldn't rely on my fish identification skills and I didn't stay in a Holiday Inn last night.....LOL....You catch a lot of Seeds...I threw up a pic of a little Seed I caught recently that supports my theory....