Panfish Species of North America- Which Ones Have You Caught?

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

I have personally caught 11 of the 12 panfish featured in this discussion. I have never lived in any location in which Sacramento Perch are either native or introduced…it’s interesting because the Sacramento perch is the only one that is a native to California waters…..Sacramento perch have been introduced into new waters across the west and central U.S., but in each case the fish didn’t reproduce and became extinct in those locations…….

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

Growing up in Louisiana into a fishing family I got many introductions to the Sportsman’s Paradise, but the two panfish we caught most often were Spotted Sunfish and Warmouth, their Louisiana names are Stump Knockers and Goggle-Eye respectively……….great childhood fishing two to three times a week……the ironic thing looking back we rarely caught a bluegill in the canals and bayous we fished……

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

There’s multiple variations in the Spotted Sunfish….in Louisiana the Red Spotted Sunfish is most abundant and an 8” fish is a trophy……the Orange spotted sunfish is rare but can be caught in the Louisiana brackish bayous……an even more rare species is the Blue Spotted sunfish which Do live in the natural lakes of North Carolina like Phelps and Mattamuskeet…..

Blue Spotted Sunfish…

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

Orange Spotted Sunfish

[John Sheehan]

Only caught five of these Species up here in New Jersey. Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Red Breasted Sunfish, Black Crappie and Green Sunfish. The Green Sunfish is listed as invasive.

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

Thanks for sharing John……you have patterned your available species pretty good over the years…..

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

Some quality Warmouth I caught in my early years on the Albemarle…..

[John Sheehan]

Hey Jeffrey! Does the Warmouth have about the same sized Mouth as a Black Crappie of equal size, or is it smaller mouthed?

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

This is a great comparison John…..I added another photo to give perspective…..

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

Often bass fisherman will catch Warmouth on 9” worms……..they. don’t fight very hard but very tasty…..