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 Flatfishes, sunfishes, and perchlike
fishes
Pumpkinseed
Lepomis gibbosus
DescriptionTo 10" (25 cm); 1 lb (500 g). Deep,
short, compressed; back dark greenish gold mottled with reddish
orange, sides greenish yellow, mottled orange and blue-green, belly
yellow-orange. Head small; mouth extends to eye; opercular flap
"ear" stiff, with spot, black anteriorly, bordered by white above
and below, red posteriorly; cheeks with wavy bluish lines. Pectoral
fin long, pointed; soft dorsal fin spotted, edge yellowish to white;
3 anal fin spines. Lateral line complete, 36-47 scales.
Related SpeciesSpotted Sunfish (L.
punctatus) lacks wavy blue lines on cheeks; pectoral fin short,
rounded; occurs in sluggish water with vegetation in Mississippi
River valley south from Illinois to Coastal Plain drainages, and S.
North Carolina west to Texas.
HabitatCool, quiet, shallow waters of slow
streams, ponds, marshes, and lakes with dense vegetation.
RangeFrom New Brunswick west to S. Manitoba;
south along Atlantic Coast to NE. Georgia; Great Lakes and upper
Mississippi River system south to S. Illinois. Widely
introduced.
Discussion The Pumpkinseed is not sought by most
experienced anglers, but is often caught by beginners. It is
aggressive and will take a variety of
bait.
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