Caught my biggest 'gill ever & released it. (pic)

[TwoWatt]

Actually I'm posting this for help to identify the fish.<br />Too me it lookes like a redear sunfish (per my IN DNR flyer).<br />This thing was HUGE!! I'd say well over a pound. I could actually lip it. <br />I was just trolling around the weeds early morning, threw out my bobber/cricket & there it was. Funny thing, when I first caught it, I thought it was just a normal fish, so I set the pole down & reach for the anchormate to stop the boat, all the sudden the rod flys up & nearly goes overboard. I had to catch it. <br /><br />However, I was taught when you catch a seriously large fish to let it go. Keep that gene pool going <br />So am I right about the type of fish? (and there's no chance on it being a "record" fish is it? , I thought about it but then thought "NAH, Couldn't be")<br />

 

[Barlow]

Re: Caught my biggest 'gill ever & released it. (pic)

congrats on the catch skunkedagain ... fine looking panfish indeed!!! If I was to guess I'd say you're right with the red ear ...but, I'm no Biologist<br />How large is your hand from middle finger to the crease in your wrist?? or did you get an exact # on it? .. just wondering cause my hand is 9" from tip of finger to first skin fold on my wrist ...which would make that lil' pig all of 12" probably pushin' 13".<br /><br />What ever the size - my hats off to you for letting 'em swim to defend spawning beds next spring!!! <br /><br />Shows you're a real sportsman and conservation minded!!<br /><br />great catch!! hope there's many more infront of you like it!

 

[TwoWatt]

Re: Caught my biggest 'gill ever & released it. (pic)

LOL. I had to measure, from my wrist to the tip of my finger is 7 inches. Making it around a 10-12 inch fish. It was fat too, big body.... I was in awe as I was holding it. Glad I brought the camera. (which I do just for these occasions )<br /><br />Thanks for the hats off...<br />I think it's everyone responsibility to protect the waters we fish, if we kill all the fish, we kill the fish-ing <br />For example, something new I started doing a couple years ago...... if a fish swallows the hook, and it's not a keeper fish, I cut the hook & take the time to re-tie instead of killing a fish. I just hope what they say is true that it will quickly rust away & the fish will be OK.

 

[rolmops]

Re: Caught my biggest 'gill ever & released it. (pic)

Great catch.<br />Make sure you buy iron hooks and not bronze ones the iron will rust,steel rusts away slowly and bronze not at all.The best thing to do is pinching of the barbs on your hooks.

 

[JB]

Re: Caught my biggest 'gill ever & released it. (pic)

Yup, SA. <br /><br />That is a red-ear sunfish, also commonly called a shellcracker. Real hard fighter.<br /><br />Biggest one I ever caught was 12" and weighed 2.25lb. Yours actually looks a bit larger than that.<br /><br />Congratulations on a catch of a lifetime.

 

[eurolarva]

Re: Caught my biggest 'gill ever & released it. (pic)

Keep catching fish like that you will have to change your moniker. Sunfish is my staple. I caught one similar in size but it was a pumpkin seed using a tiny jig with three eurolarva in the middle of winter. I believe the term for the big males is a buck and you did the right thing releasing it. That is what is going to allow this sport to continue on. I put my pumpkinseed back as well. They have the genes to make bigger sunfish. I keep the smaller ones and fillet them up. My 7 year olds favorite fish is sunfish. It is about the only meat she dont put ketchup on.

 

[bubbakat]

Re: Caught my biggest 'gill ever & released it. (pic)

Yep! Nice catch. Yes guys I think we have us another sports fisherman in amongest us.<br />Way to go.<br /><br />I to catch and release and makes me feel good.

 

[conchecko]

Re: Caught my biggest 'gill ever & released it. (pic)

looks like a rock bass dated a sunfish once upon a time.............LOL<br />Thats a nice one skunkedagain!!!!<br /><br />tightlines,<br />Conchecko

 

[TELMANMN]

Re: Caught my biggest 'gill ever & released it. (pic)

GOOD JOB letting it go. Maybe you will catch its offspring latter?

 

[papasage]

Re: Caught my biggest 'gill ever & released it. (pic)

yep we call them shellcrackers .