Hunters Like to Fish Also
I know this blog is supposed to be about hunting, but during the hazy-lazy days of summer I’de wager that most hunters are hunting their favorite fishing hole. There will be thousands upon thousands of kids, (young and old alike) in pursuit of natures bounty in the form of a fish. Michigan has quite an array of various fish species, but the one that probably brings more smiles to a kids face than any other is the sunfish/bluegill.
The sunfish and bluegill are both members of the largemouth and smallmouth bass family. There are four species of sunfish. They are the green sunfish, redear, orangespotted, and pumkinseed. Along with the bluegill they probably are reeled into more boats and docks than any other species. Anyone who has tasted a nice mess of sunfish will tell you it’s some of the best “eatin” they’ve ever enjoyed.
Currently the state record bluegill tips the scale at 2.75 pounds at 13.75 inches long. That is one big bluegill! The redear record weighs 1.97 lbs. at 12.75 inches, while the green sunfish weighs in at 1.53 lbs. at 10 inches long. The very popular pumkinseed record is 1.35 lbs. at 11 inches long. As you can see these pan fish can sometimes take a good sized pan.
The state awards a master angler award to fishermen and women who legally catch any of the species listed in the Michigan fishing guide. Of course there is a minimum required weight for each species, but I would venture to say that more than a few potential contenders are never recognized as such. Maybe the above listing of records will give you anglers out there an idea of what a really “big boy” is.
Well as my wife would say “record smekord -who cares just pass the fish.” I think maybe I tend to agree with her on this one.
Mike