Bluegill
Lepomis macrochirus
- Look for deep blue and purple coloring on the face and gill cover. This is the most distinctive marking on a bluegill.
- The belly glows a fiery orange to yellow color, which stands out clearly when you hold the fish up.
- Dark olive-colored vertical bands run down the sides of the body, helping separate it from plain-sided sunfish species.
- The body is noticeably deep and flattened side-to-side, a rounded panfish shape typical of the true sunfish group.