Longear Sunfish
Longear
sunfish (Lepomis megalotis), like all sunfish, are well known to
most young anglers as being the first “perch” ever caught on a
cane pole with a dangling worm for bait. Also dubbed “panfish,”
“goggle eye” and “bream,” the name “perch” is inaptly applied to
sunfishes, probably because of our European ancestors. Upon
arrival to America, our immigrant forbearers found many
unfamiliar but similar looking fish to those occurring back in
their homeland. These new found fish needed a name; therefore,
“perch” was applied to these small, lively and energetic little
fish which now belong to the family Centrarchidae. Centrarchids
are exclusive to North America and widely distributed statewide
along the shallows of Oklahoma rivers, lakes, and ponds.
Longear sunfish are brilliantly painted in various hues of red,
orange, yellow, blue and green. Named for their elongated gill
cover that is typically bordered by white, longear sunfish get
their scientific name, Lepomis megalotis, from the Greek word
Lepomis, meaning “scaled gill cover,” and megalotis, meaning
“great ear.” Adult longear sunfish average five to eight inches
in length and normally weigh less than six ounces.
Longear sunfish spawn in spring and early summer. They prefer to
construct their nests in shallow substrates of pebbles, gravel
and sand. The male constructs the nest using its fins to clear a
circular depression and fan silt away. It then locates a mate
who lays sticky eggs in the nest and leaves. The male
aggressively guards these eggs as the embryos develop. Newly
hatched larvae dine on plankton and microscopic animals. Within
two weeks, the larvae are herded into dense schools and into
shallow water regions where they search for food and mature. As
they continue to grow and approach adulthood, larger insects and
even small fish become part of their diet.
Longear sunfish are known to everyone for their relatively small
stature and abundant numbers, but they more than make up for
their lack of size with their ferocity and willingness to bite a
variety of small jigs, lures, spinnerbaits, spoons, plastics and
artificial flies using light tackle and fly rods. This tasty
fish also eagerly strikes many natural types of bait including
worms, crickets, grasshoppers, and minnows suspended from
bobbers.
If you’re looking for a new and exciting challenge, get out your
ultra-light tackle, small baits and skillet and head to your
nearest stream, lake or pond, where you will find fast paced
action and fun for young and old alike in the form of longear
sunfish!