Sunfish/Crappie Identification
Bluegill
- Very small mouth
- Distinct ear flap without border or orange spot
- Distinct blotch on back of dorsal fin
- Long pointed pectoral fin
Green sunfish
- Usually has a dark splotch on back of dorsal fin
- Long, dark ear flap
- Rounded pectoral fin
Longear sunfish
- Long, dark ear flap
- Rounded pectoral fin
Rock bass (Goggle-eye)
- Mottled tail fin
- No blotch on dorsal fin
White crappie
- 5 or 6 dorsal fin spines
- Dark markings usually in bars
- Black crappie have 7 or 8 dorsal fin spines
Black bass
Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass are actually members of the sunfish family. Striped and white bass are in the temperate bass family.
See the Bass ID page for identification information on these species.
Illustrations by Joseph R. Tomelleri. Used with permission.
