Illustration Source: floridafisheries

NAME THAT SUNFISH A E BLUEGILL WARMOUTH REDBREAST SMALLMOUTH BASS REDEAR FLIER BLACK CRAPPIE PUMPKINSEED LARGEMOUTH BASS F B C G I H D Illustration Source: www.floridafisheries.com

FLIER E FLIER (Centrarchus macropterus): The flier is a small sunfish that has a strongly compressed, deep, round body and small mouth. The coloration is greenish or silver green to brown on back and sides with a cream or yellowish belly. A brown dot on each scale gives the appearance of numerous rows of dots. Young fish have a large black spot surrounded by bright orange in the soft rays of the dorsal fin. The dorsal and anal fins are nearly symmetrical. They inhabit dark, acidic waters of coastal swamps, creeks, ponds and canals.

REDBREAST SUNFISH F REDBREAST (Lepomis auritus): The redbreast is one of the brightest colored sunfishes. Males have a yellow, orange or red breast, olive upper sides, blending into blue-tinged bronze on the lower sides and blue streaks on the cheek. Females are less colorful; their breasts are yellowish or pale red. The most distinguishing characteristic of this species is a long, narrow (no wider than the eye) extension of the gill cover. Redbreasts inhabit sandy bottom areas as well as rocky areas of streams, rivers, and lakes.

WARMOUTH SUNFISH G WARMOUTH (Chaenobryttus gulosus): The warmouth has a stout, deep body similar to that of a bluegill or redear sunfish, yet has a large bass-like mouth. The red eye and large mouth are conspicuous field marks of mature warmouth. They vary from brassy to dark-olive green and often have a purple tint overall. Broad, irregular dark bars give it a mottled appearance. Warmouths inhabit swamps, marshes, shallow lakes, slow-moving streams and canals with soft, muddy bottoms.

SMALLMOUTH BASS H SMALLMOUTH BASS (Micropterus dolomieu): The smallmouth is one of the strongest fish for its weight. Many anglers who hook a 2-pounder think it’s twice that big until the fish is in the net. The smallmouth is native to Virginia’s western rivers but has been introduced throughout much of the Piedmont. It has a moderately elongated body with a dark, olive-colored side that is often barred. The dorsal fin is not deeply notched and the caudal fin is slightly forked. There are three horizontal, dark green bars on the cheek. If the jaw extends only to the middle of the eye, it’s a smallmouth. If it extends beyond the back of the eye, the fish is a largemouth.Illustration: Joseph Tomelleri

LARGEMOUTH BASS H LARGEMOUTH BASS (Micropterus salmoides): The largemouth is the largest member of the sunfish family. It generally has light greenish to brownish sides with a dark lateral band that tends to break into blotches towards the tail. Often confused with smallmouth and spotted bass, it is easily distinguishable because the upper jaw extends beyond the rear edge of the eye. Also, its first and second dorsal fins are separated and there are no scales on the soft-rayed second dorsal fin or on the anal fin. The species prefers clear, non-flowing waters with aquatic vegetation where food and cover are available. They occupy brackish to freshwater habitats, including upper estuaries, rivers, lakes, reservoirs and ponds.

NAME THAT SUNFISH A E A. PUMPKINSEED B. BLACK CRAPPIE C. REDEAR D BLUEGILL E. FLIER F. REDBREAST G. WARMOUTH H. SMALLMOUTH BASS I. LARGEMOUTH BASS F B C G I H D Illustration Source: www.floridafisheries.com

Do You Know Virginia Game Fish Study the fish illustrations. As each fish is highlighted, match it to its correct common name. Then see if you are correct.

NAME THE GAME FISH A F AMERICAN SHAD BLUE CATFISH BROWN BULLHEAD CHAIN PICKEREL STRIPED BASS BOWFIN YELLOW BULLHEAD CHANNEL CATFISH REDFIN PICKEREL FLATHEAD CATFISH WHITE BASS G B C H I D K J E Illustration Source: www.floridafisheries.com

Yellow Bullhead Catfish A YELLOW BULLHEAD (Ameiurus natalis): The yellow bullhead closely resembles the brown bullhead with a squat body and a round or square tail. It is yellow-olive to slate-black above and lighter on its sides with little to no mottling. The belly may be white, cream or yellow. The chin barbels are yellow to buff or pale pink and help distinguish this species from brown bullheads. The habitat is variable and includes vegetated areas of clear, shallow lakes, reservoirs, ponds, and slow-flowing streams. They are more tolerant of polluted environments than most other members of the catfish family.

NAME THAT FISH A F AMERICAN SHAD BLUE CATFISH BROWN BULLHEAD CHAIN PICKEREL STRIPED BASS BOWFIN YELLOW BULLHEAD CHANNEL CATFISH REDFIN PICKEREL FLATHEAD CATFISH WHITE BASS G B C H I D K J E Illustration Source: www.floridafisheries.com

Brown Bullhead Catfish B BROWN BULLHEAD (Ameiurus nebulosus): The chin barbels on browns are pigmented, not whitish as with yellow bullheads. The sides of brown bullheads have a distinct, irregular brownish mottling over a light background. The belly is creamy white. Browns generally inhabit still or slow-flowing warm water in ponds, lakes, reservoirs, large rivers and sluggish streams.

NAME THAT FISH A F AMERICAN SHAD BLUE CATFISH BROWN BULLHEAD CHAIN PICKEREL STRIPED BASS BOWFIN YELLOW BULLHEAD CHANNEL CATFISH REDFIN PICKEREL FLATHEAD CATFISH WHITE BASS G B C H I D K J E Illustration Source: www.floridafisheries.com

Channel Catfish C CHANNEL CATFISH (Ictaluruspunctatus): Channel catfish closely resemble blue catfish with deeply forked tails. However, channels have a rounded anal fin with 24-29 rays and scattered black spots along their back and sides. The back is blue-gray with light blue to silvery-gray sides and the belly is white. Larger channels lose the black spots and also take on a blue-black coloration on the back that shades to white on the belly. They are common in lakes and rivers and prefer deep water with sand, gravel or rubble bottoms.

Illustration Source: floridafisheries