Pumpkinseed Sunfish

[Marc Martyn]

Pumpkinseed Sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus)

They seem to prefer weedy, warmwater lakes and ponds, using weed patches, docks, and logs for cover and usually staying close to shore. They are present in the calm pools of most rivers. The average pumpkinseed is about 5 to 6 inches in length, although some may approach 10 inches.

Pumpkinseeds bite voraciously on nearly any type of natural bait, providing it is small, and on a variety of small artificial lures; flies are especially effective. Their wide distribution, abundance, unhesitating tendency to bite on worms, and close proximity to shore have made them a favorite among youngsters. They make fine eating, but their small size limits their potential as sport fish.

http://pond.dnr.cornell.edu/nyfish/Cent ... nseed.html

wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pumpkinseed

Pumpkinseeds reach a maximum length of about 16 inches (40 cm), although sizes of 6–8 inches (15–20 cm) are more typical. Weights are normally less than 1 pound (450 g), although larger specimens can be encountered. The fish present an oval silhouette and are very compressed laterally; it is this body shape, resembling the seed of a pumpkin, which provides them with their common name. The coloration includes orange, green, yellow, or blue speckles on an olive back, yellow sides and a yellow to orange belly and breast. As with all centrarchids, they have sharp spines in the dorsal and anal fins.